The Simpson desert

About time I updated ReefSmacker.

It seems like years ago now but it was only in August that I crossed the Simpson desert with a great bunch of guys one my bike. Really awesome time was had but unfortunately it was all too short.




We thought it was a good time of year to go. Very much colder and wetter than expected.




4 bikes started the trip. Only 3 made it back.


What Could Possibliy Go Wrong.

Bathrooms finished

Finally finished the two upstairs bathrooms. The stone bench tops were the last items installed.

Saturday 1st October. All hands on deck

Many thanks to Michael, Clay, Stephen, Gary and Adrian for coming to assist me with the pouring of the concrete out the back. As we only needed 1.8 cubic metres, it wasn't worth getting a pump so we used wheel barrows to get it out the back. Interesting that the concrete companies charge $3 per minute for anytime greater than 30 to 45 minute unload times. We just scrapped in with 45 minutes :).
Of the 5 wheel barrows we had on site, 2 naturally had a flat tyre. At least Murphy didn't get his way with the other 3..

I found a good painter

The A/C ducts in the wak-in robe finally get covered up.

Josh finally connect the new system to the sewer line and has replace all the old terracotta piping.

The communications cupboard takes shape and houses security, phone and internet.

A lip has been added to all the bathroom doors ready for tiling to commence.

Nothing like a good recommendation for a painter. I asked Jo to find me a painter and 2 days later we were signed up. They did a great job too.

Tiarna's room

Nichayla's room







Jo paints skirting boards





Final piece of flashing is installed





Need a good painter.

Everybody I speak to says "Don't paint, get someone to do it." Damn, I wish I could. There have been many suggestions and recommendations but they never turn up or call back. Very frustrating.
Besides the lack of acquiring a good painter, work is progressing quiet well. The bathroom floors have been leveled and now waterproofed.

The doors are hung and the handles fitted.

All the flooring is complete.

Security, phone and network are installed.

 

The Heater is almost installed.

The guttering is done. I really wish I did it before putting the roof on....

and I found the problem that has caused alot of my paving around the pool to collapse.

It would appear that the Waterboard was the culprit. My theory is that when they converted from the septic system to sewerage, they must have just dug everything up including the terracotta stormwater pipe. Rather than fixing it properly they added a small section of plastic pipe in between. This was open at the joint and has allowed several tonne of soil to disappear down the stormwater.

No more daily updates.. To much time involved

Here's all the pictures since my last post

I picked up 45 bags of cheap R3.5 insulation. Enough for all the walls and ceilings

The first stringer

The second stringer duplicated from the first.

The first treads.

The rendering continues. Looking really good.

Completed stairs

Gyprok arrives

Ducted heating arrives

The first sheets go up.

Stand still for too long and you'll end up with Gyprok attached to you..

Spin away added to the roof for ventilation

Cement rendering starts

Setting of the joints the fast way.