Christmas Eve

So it's Christmas Eve and as we stand inside the house and look up we can still see the sky (and no we don't have a sky light).  The contractor who is going to sheet the roof has finished up for the year and will be back in January to sheet our roof.  So the dream of a roof for Christmas has been shattered and I must say it was a bit deflating for a few days but now we have got used to it and we must push on.

So since the last blog post we have completed most of the verandah structure.  There are still some bits to finish and the battens to add but the bulk of it is done.  The carport is still to be done but we have a plan for how to do that.  So by the end of the year I anticipate it will all be done and we will be starting to install windows.  Now for a couple of days off including over indulging on Christmas day and sitting down in the cool to watch the Boxing Day test on the tv.

Merry Christmas all.

Roof Carpentry Continues

The push is on to finish the roof carpentry and verandah so the roof sheeter can sheet the roof prior to Christmas.  It has been another huge weekend.  Progess is detailed below.

Roof Battens - The main roof line is done, Valleys between the main roof line and raked ceiling area are done

Raked Ceiling Area - rafters in.  Roof Battens in progress

Verandahs-  The base for Nan's carport and alfresco is in.  The verandah construction is under way.

Roof trusses

Another massive week and weekend of work has seen the roof trusses installed and the large laminar LVL Oregon  beam lifted into place.  This takes us closer to our dream and goal of having a roof by Christmas.  Given the temperatures over the weekend were in the low 30 degree Celsius range and that at times felt seriously hot, having the shade provided by  the roof will be a welcome relief. Especially when those temperatures start climbing towards the 40 degree mark in January.

Getting the Oregon beam in place was  major achievement.  Getting a 9 meter long, 400kg beam 4 meters off the ground without the use of a crane took some creative thinking.  After a few nervous moments and change of ends for the chain blocks we used to lift it we got it up and into place.

The roof truss installation was assisted by our friend from Denver Brian Krzys coming for a visit.  No free lunches around our place at the moment so we put him to work.  Enticed by the promise of good home brew beer he toiled away alongside us for a couple of days.  Disaster struck on Sunday evening when the beer keg ran out after only two glasses.  This necessitated a run to the local bottle shop.  Not as good as home brew but desperate times call for desperate measures and building houses is thirsty work.

 LVL Beam in place 1

 LVL Beam in place 2

 Securing the beam

 Brian lends a helping hand

 The latest in building site fashion

 The view from Below

All the trusses in place