Robin's Blog

Let there be light ....

2010-03-02T22:00:00.008+13:00

Well - almost all of the electrics work - as shown by some of these pictures. The painters finished yesterday and the kitchen bench glass splashback was installed today. It is a deep red (Pohutukawa) colour and looks very rich and moody. The last of the appliances (refrigerators/freezers and microwave) arrive on Friday. Carpet will go down in the next few days downstairs (the old stuff) but the new carpet upstairs will have to wait for a while until the bank account recovers. The last picture is of the bathroom which is looking just great with a super tiling job done by Bartek Wypych. Tomorrow the plumbers start connecting the kitchen and bathroom (taps, toilet, shower and appliances). We turned on the hot water today so are really approaching completion. The air conditioning was completed also, but there is a glitch as it appears the compressor has been under-spec'd and will need to be upgraded to a bigger model to support the system. Strange that it needed the units themselves to tell the company that it couldn't support the demand.... I will await their offer with interest!!

Moving back this weekend although there are still things to be done but at least it is survivable.

Enjoy the pictures.

Unfrocked!

2010-02-17T19:17:00.007+13:00

Well, today was the day the scaffolding came down - all of it. It took a team of four over half a day to remove the scaffolding. The last job was to complete the capping of the chimney top which we finished last week. I spent the weekend installing burglar alarm lights and cleaning windows that couldn't be reached without the scaffold in place. At $2,000 a month it was a relief to see it go.

Half of the place is now powered up with most of the lights operating. Kitchen benchtops went in last week and what a beautiful finish. The granite has a textured finish and a deep black lustre. Cupboard doors are yet to arrive for the stained ash cupboards. One picture will show the finished look of the white kitchen cabinets. Kitchen appliances have hit a small glitch with the provider being put into receivership by the bank last Friday but we are now dealing directly with the importers and no money has been lost. They will arrive in about ten days now that the house is secure.

The last few days the tiler (Bartek) has been busy in the upstairs bathroom and the job is just superb and that should finish by the end of the week. Next week the house will be closed up for three days as the floors are sanded and finished. Painters will be complete by the end of this week as they finish off the downstairs areas. Today the chandelier was placed in the stairwell - and it works. Much debate about size and finish but it looks terrific and will go well with the wrought iron balustrades for the stairwell. All is looking well for the move back in a couple of weeks.

Kitchen treats ...

2010-01-21T22:13:00.003+13:00

I had hoped to get you some views of the house without the external scaffolding - that will have to wait another week. All the exterior plastering is complete with a beautiful job being done by the tradesmen. It just needs the painted coating on to it before we can remove the scaffolding. Tomorrow the gutters and downpipes are installed and over the weekend the stoppers will be in the garage and laundry tidying that up ready for painting.

Early this week the kitchen was delivered from Germany and it is about halfway assembled. These pictures were taken as the benchtops were measured this morning by Ross and Reg and patterned for the granite to be cut. Andrew who is doing the kitchen installation will be back next week to complete the cupboard units. The Germans are impeccable in the quality of the kitchen but how the guys know what to do I do not know. All the labels and data is in German - no English at all. It will take about two/three weeks before the granite is ready and then it will start to look like a house. We have lights in the kitchen working off a temporary circuit and most of the top level is complete except for the floor areas and a couple of walls. Tiling should start in the upstairs bathroom by the end of next week.

Stay tuned!

Stoned on Friday ...

2010-01-08T18:48:00.004+13:00

Yes - this week we have been deep in the schist!

Dave Tudor from Hamilton came up with his mate and over the last three days they have done the stone panel by the front door. In a couple of weeks, when the plasterers have finished, they will complete two columns under the balcony by the pool in the same material. The stone is from Central Otago and is extremely hard to work but reflects the work by stone masons of past years. It also reminds me of the good Pinot Noir from that very harsh region where Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings was shot. In fact the quarry where these stone was obtained is within just a couple of km from the very site. (We are almost famous ... by association.....)

Well - I guess that was 2009!

2009-12-31T15:52:00.004+13:00

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!

2009-12-08T20:53:00.004+13:00

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 ....

2009-12-01T18:39:00.004+13:00

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.

Glad to be clad ....

2009-11-18T20:45:00.004+13:00

Well this week has seen the commencement of the real cladding. Some of the weatherboarding has been started near the front door/staircase area. It will no doubt grow over coming days. As well the roof over the upstairs balcony is complete, except for the long run roofing, which should arrive next week. That will complete all the roofing work. More scaffolding arrived this week which diminished the look of the place, but I am assured that this is the last lot and when it comes down next it will be for good. The TV installers have done their thing with the antenna wires, the electrician's bill says we installed 1 kilometer of electrical cabling. I am battling with the phone and security wiring. We have the pre-line inspection next week which will clear the way for the gib board (sheet rock) to be applied to the inside walls. All in all - pretty good progress. Enjoy!

Week twenty ....

2009-11-07T17:17:00.006+13:00

Well, with the windows now all in the work is proceeding to get the cladding on. The area that is to be covered in plaster is getting clad with "hardi-backer' which is a fibrous board. It is nailed over wooden battens with stainless nails. When that is done the plasterer will do his magic with the mortar. He should start in about a week and the builders will then be on to the weatherboard. Most wiring is complete inside... I am spending this weekend getting the security and stereo wiring in. (Much faster when the guys are not around doing their thing). The upstairs patio extension is starting to take shape and I would imagine be complete this coming week when they can scaffold and start work on the last of the roof above that area. We are busy trying to select floor coverings, taps, tiles, etc. The choices never end - and neither does the cost! Cedar front door is in and stained in its final colour which looks terrific.

Lost one day with bad weather last week and down to four builders this week as Dave takes his honeymoon in Rarotonga (Cook Islands). In the wet weather the builders worked indoors and got ahead of me by gluing the floors down before I had got all the wiring in - bugger! Managed to pull it up before the glue had dried and saved the day.

I have also take a picture of the bi-fold doors. As you can see one of them folds back on itself to create a very open area out to the patio.

Windows - at last!

2009-10-23T16:37:00.007+13:00

This week saw the installation of all the windows and doors. Some are without glass - particularly the larger double glazed ones as they are just too heavy to lift into place. It does mean we have got rid of all but one of the tarps that were draping the structure and more of the house shape can now be revealed. Next week should see the glaziers starting to install the last of the glass and cladding will commence. Plasterer will be here in two weeks to plaster the exterior cladding and one week later the gib board (sheet rock) will go in. A mad frenzy at the moment to get all the wires and plumbing in place. The elctrician has pretty much finished wiring, the plumbers almost .... and I am dragging up the rear with one more day to get the security wiring in. All that remains is the TV, phone and computer wiring before they line the house. Painted the first coat of stain on the new cedar front door and that will dry for a few days and be installed next week. Colour is great! Completion of the house may drag out to about the end of January.

Week seventeen ....

2009-10-17T09:23:00.008+13:00

One of the less pleasant jobs on site is the waterproofing of the deck areas. The membrane is composed of two layers of thick bitumastic type material that is heat torched on to the deck. The two layers provide leakproof security (and we are all into that!) but it is a dirty and hot job. The two guys who do the job are Russians who have been in New Zealand from Moscow for a couple of years. One barely speaks English, the younger has a reasonable vocabulary but they seem to do a pretty good job.

This week saw the departure of Phil to another job as a maintenance manager at a local supermarket. Apparently he prefers the choice of work hours and getting off earlier in the day. We are now down to five builders and the contractor has said he is getting out of the building business after a 33 year involvement. Ours will probably be the last job as he moves into retirement. We may well see some more departures but hope the tempo of work keeps up. To celebrate Phils departure the BBQ was cranked up and a few beers consumed yesterday. Phil got the job of cook. Top picture is Phil cooking, the group photo shows Greg (electrician) Matt and one of the plumbers. Other group with BBQ in the background is Nick, Phil and Dan. Solo photo is Dave contemplating the lack of fishing and his forthcoming wedding in a weeks time.

Doors and windows arrive this week - yahoo!!!

Well - okay ... one photo!

2009-10-13T07:50:00.002+13:00

Just to show that there is some progress. Here is a view from inside the lounge with the fireplace on the left edge. Directly above is one of the three air conditioning units and the view looks back to the rear of the house. The metal bars on the ceiling are to support the gib board (sheet rock) when the ceilings go in. Today we start the electrical wiring for lights and power points upstairs. Front balcony is ready for our Russian contractor to apply the waterproof membranes over the next two days. Windows soon!

Progress...

2009-10-10T17:47:00.002+13:00

Well - sorry for the lack of photos this week. To be fair it would just be boring as the house is covered in tarps still. We expect a truckload of windows this coming week so that should see all the tarpaulins removed as the builders then get on with installing the windows and starting on the outside cladding. Under the covers the front balcony is complete and awaiting the waterproofing membrane to be applied. All the upstairs ceilings have been battened and ready for the gib board (sheet rock) to be fixed in a few weeks time. Also the plumber and electrician will start doing their thing inside this coming week. Stay tuned for photos.

Grand Entrance!

2009-09-20T17:17:00.002+12:00

Whilst I always admire the minimalistic approach to things - I think we have gone too far with the entrance. Whilst we gained a roof on Friday, we lost the front door and all of the turret. The old stairs are hanging in the breeze. You can see the new footings poured for the framing and also to support the schist stonework. Hopefully by later this week the new entrance should be framed up and it will be looking much improved.

Week Twelve Starts

2009-09-16T16:20:00.005+12:00

Work is now ready for the roof. The remaining area of the roof with the exception of over the kitchen, family room and balconies goes on tomorrow and Friday with beautiful weather forecast. The turret was demolished today and footings will be poured for that early next week. That will be the last major structural part to be completed. Progress has been steady this week. The painters arrive tomorrow to get a head start on the external high parts so we can drop the upper level of scaffolding next week and cut the account a little. If you are interested the house colours can be checked on the Resene website. The roof is Ironsand (not a Resene colour) and the other two colours are Wheatfield for the plastered surfaces and Pravda for the weatherboard.

Topless in Takutai!!

2009-09-04T16:15:00.004+12:00

This week is starting to see the major changes to the original structure. The roof is now all off, as is the dining room glass area. The new roof lines are starting to become evident. We expect the roof to go on late next week and the painters have been arranged for just over a weeks time so they can do all the upper work around the roof and we can then dismantle the scaffolding down a level.

Don't get your hopes up ....

2009-08-27T20:47:00.004+12:00

Just because one side is fiinished really lets them get started on the other side. This should be scaffolded tomorrow but the balcony outside the dining room has gone with an old steel beam removed today. Repairs to the floor here should see work started soon on removing the roof from this side.

The indentations in the garden outside the front wall have been appearing of late. It seems they are caused by the toes of people's shoes as they stand on the edge of the garden to peek over the wall to see what is going on. Curiouser and curioser!!

Roof half on ....

2009-08-25T14:28:00.003+12:00

This morning the roofers installed half of the roof. Pretty impressive to watch I gather as they used our neighbours drive (the little old house that used to be owned by Thelma Ellis) and a crane and hoisted the roofing iron over the driveway. They were done in under a couple of hours and Alison our neighbour was pleased with the colour. The back is now starting to look a little like a house. Scaffolding is now going to be placed over the driveway to complete the western side of the house so exterior photos may be a little difficult to take whilst the house is surrounded by scaffolding until the remainder of the roof is fitted.

Week seven

2009-08-18T16:27:00.003+12:00

This week has seen settled weather although windy and the roof has all but gone from the Eastern side of the house. We expect the new roof to be fitted next week with the exception of about a 20 foot strip down the Western side of the house. Our first accident on site yesterday - Dan dropped his brand new chisel from his carpenter's pouch slicing his lower leg ... needing six stiches to hold it together. He will be off for a few days as they are afraid if the stiches burst they will not be able to suture again.

Radical surgery

2009-08-11T11:34:00.002+12:00

Well - they've finally done it. The top is coming off the kitchen area. This was the scene this morning (no one actually working as it was their tea break). The weather forecast is for deteriorating weather over the next couple of days so that will limit progress on actually removing the roof. Plan is to progress enough so they can retain covers over the area and the cladding will be stripped around to the front balcony for another building inspection so work can commence there.

Consent!!

2009-08-05T09:07:00.002+12:00

Only one picture with this one - we finally got building consent last evening. I am off to pay the $4,952.72 bill right now so we can pick up the piece of paper. The builders are anxious to get an inspection done as they have some concrete to pour on a couple of supports for the upstairs balcony. That work will go on through next week as they work anti-clockwise around the house.

Dig this ....

2009-07-26T11:27:00.002+12:00

Well guess what arrived on the site on Friday afternoon! It clearly flew in over the wall and I believe is to drill two footings for the support poles to hold up the extended deck area. The rear bedroom has now been framed up and replacement framing on the downstairs bedroom completed. By the end of this week most of the damaged components will have been removed and all should be positive progress again. The covers survived gale force winds three nights ago. Colour consultants are working on the exterior colours and we see our second kitchen designer this coming week.

End of week three

2009-07-17T14:03:00.004+12:00

This shows progress up to yesterday. The floor has been built for the new bedroom and scaffolding has now been placed around the garage ready for the additional bedroom framing to go up. We had our "Weathertightness Inspection" yesterday but don't know yet what the outcome is from that effort. We are having to sort out exterior colour schemes in order that the roof can be manufactured. Windows are on the agenda for next week. At some cost we may go to double glazing upstairs to get the benefits of the changes.

The start of construction.

2009-07-13T15:38:00.004+12:00

This shows the start of the build of the new garage.Two new steel beams were required to support the additional bedroom that will go above the garage. More progress has been made today which I will show shortly.

So who really parked the car?

2009-07-09T01:54:00.003+12:00

Hi all,

This is what is left of our garage. I have been overseas for some time and whilst Denny assures me that the builders did it - I do believe it could have been caused by a "pedal-to-the-metal" parking of the Volvo. What do you think?

Progress ----- or is it!

2009-07-07T00:11:00.001+12:00

A couple of pictures from two days ago (4th July) taken by Denny shows further intrusive surgery into the house.

The turret views are not that significant as all of that structure including the staircase is removed.

The garage is stripped, a new switchboard is being installed by the electrician Greg in this picture and preparations being made to install a new section of concrete blocking on the back wall to form a waterproof wall with the pool shed (should have been done in the first place!). A new roof structure with steel beams will support the new room above the garage.

The picture of a ceiling removed is the second bedroom that has had some damage from the leaking butynol from the deck above. God - its depressing....

These are the culprits .....

2009-07-01T21:16:00.001+12:00

This is a rogues gallery of who is responsible for the current damage to the house. In order they are Nick, Dan and Aidan and between them they have done amazing damage in a short space of time to the project. The kitchen is now totally stripped as is the upstairs toilet and work now starts on the garage. No surprises with water damage so far - all as expected. Stay tuned as there will be a two week break whilst I go to work to amass some funds to allow these fellows to continue wreaking havoc!!

So - who trashed the house?

2009-06-27T07:08:00.000+12:00

As many of you know we have had some problems with our house at Takutai Avenue over the last few years. A week ago we moved out so the builders could move in and start a six month renovation project. The nature of the work precluded us living there for the duration but we have found a lovely house for rent at 39A - just down the street with magnificant sea views. These photos show the progress over the first two days of work. The pool has been covered with boards as scaffolding will be built on it and the kitchen is pretty well stripped out. A couple of these views show the damage to floors and walls. The builders assure us that this sort of stuff is readily fixed!!

We are holding back on external work as the neighbours have an open home this weekend as they prepare to go to auction in a month's time.

Space Flight

2008-11-17T18:35:00.000+13:00

After some time in training our hero Richard joined the space race by blasting off in the Shuttle today for a short sojourn in space helping the Americans. You can see him here occupying the pilots seat ready for the launch. The pre-flight briefing was very short - don't touch anything! You can see that my associate was picked on looks whereas in me they looked for experience. See you when I re-enter! Richard

Introducing our hero - Richard (call me Dick)

2007-06-10T13:15:00.000+12:00

Our hero Dick, is often seen frequenting wide open pastures. Not sure if he is on grass - or checking for the origins of greenhouse gases. Whatever it is, he still sometimes seems to get high.

Richard Toprudder ( a legend in his own mind!)

2007-06-10T13:11:00.000+12:00