Well - I guess that was 2009!

The last day of the year..... where has it gone! The project has been going for more than six months now and we are looking at another month before moving back - at least to the upper level whilst downstairs is finished off. The last couple of weeks has seen a slow down by many contractors as they get into the holiday/party mode. That is fairly frustrating. Builders left a couple of days before Christmas and will be back in mid January with only a workforce of two or maybe three.

The stoppers and painters (bless them) have worked right through with the exception of Christmas Day. They have done a great job and the exterior rear of the house is finished as is virtually all of the interior upstairs. The exception is a couple of feature walls which will be done last, when we finally decide on colours. The turret is also being held back until the ash wood flooring is complete to avoid damage to the paint finish. I have stripped and restained the old garage door and it matches the front door perfectly. We are ready to have all the rear scaffolding removed - just awaiting the gutters to be installed. The dining room and the new rear bedroom only require lights and carpet to complete.

The other good news is the kitchen is ahead of schedule and due to arrive from Germany on the 12th January. That will get the cabinet units installed in the following week and then we get the granite benchtops templated and made. Some portions of the kitchen are being made locally and will follow after the cabinetry is in place.

Getting plastered!

Well today saw the first of the plaster going on the exterior of the house. This layer has small polystyrene beads imbedded in it and after this layer, there is a layer of re-inforcing mesh and two more layers of standard plaster. The stairs also went in today so the new look at the entrance is now becoming evident. These stairs will be covered in oak wood flooring.

Our first setback saw a rainstorm on Friday damage some of the ceiling panels that had been installed just the day before. About a quarter of the ceilings has been removed and will be replaced tomorrow at the builders expense. Two parapets on the roof were awaiting cladding and leaked. Bugger!

Almost lined up ....

Well - here we are into December. The gib board (sheet rock) arrived this morning - a day late but nobody to fix it to the walls. Presumably that will be done tomorrow and then we will be completely lined upstairs. The plasterer has done preparatory work outside and should commence the first layer of plaster in the next couple of days. Weatherboarding is complete on the western side of the house and they are making progress on the remainder of the back new bedroom which should be complete by the end of the week.