Construction Days 31 and 32 were Friday 1st and Monday 4 August2014, with a weekend of torrential rain in between. The roofers arrived and did some metal sheeting, but were unable to attend to the heat-sealing of the waterproofing membrane under the wet conditions (we had no less than 122mm on Saturday/Sunday!), until today Monday, a typical sunshine Spring day in the middle of Winter!
Builder John’s men went about their carpentry duties as a united team and one team ended the day with considerable visible progress on numerous aspects of preparation for fixing the external wall cladding, whilst another completed cutting and installing all the ceiling batons in each roof, giving the almost-dry floors a bit of a clean-up. The place is starting to look more like part of a house and less of a building site. Can’t wait…
(Above): This shows the pine batons around the window frame to which the external rusticated weatherboards will be attached. The blue tape is called “blue tape” and is stapled over the weatherproof fibre Tekton sheeting. At the bottom of the sheeting, they fix a white perforated plastic channel which acts as a water-drain as an escape passage for possible inter-layer moisture, but prevents access by insects, vermin, etc
(Above): View from the bedroom looking towards the sitting room, with all the ceiling batons affixed as well as the outer weatherboard batons on the right. The place now looks like a jungle of pink timber. Or perhaps a jungle-gym of timber?
(Above): The view of the dressing-room window and roof overhang behind the bedroom. The roof sheeting has been completed, with the exception of the corner on the left and the western side of the bedroom on the right. The roofers are apparently scheduled to return Tuesday 5th to complete their contract.
(Above): As Builder John has not been contracted to do any painting of the exterior surfaces, we have started with the application of first coat to the 200x25mm fascia boards with a Wattyl Paint product called Solagard. The colour, I’ve discovered, is a standard metal roof colour called ‘Karaka’ a dark blackish Brunswick Green. For some strange reason, the colour in this picture came out completely different, because of the reflection of the afternoon sunlight! There is about 30 linear metres of board which have been coated on both sides. Once they have been fitted (and probably the PVC gutters have been affixed to them), I will apply a final finishing coat.
(Above): Next to the ladder in the laundry stand a couple of the 2.4x1.2 panels of what I know as “Flexit”, a type of fibre-cement board which will be cut to size and used as soffit. I have always called it a “soff-fit”, but in New Zealand, the building trade uses the French version “sof-feet.” We have primed six of these boards with a white acrylic sealer.
Another paint job for outside surfaces on my agenda are applying two coats of weathering acrylic paint to both sides of all the weatherboards. These may be delivered to-morrow, and I’ll have a better idea of the volume of work involved.
John has also indicated that he will soon start with the wooden deck outside the bedroom French windows. The main material is in narrow floorboard size decking strips, which also require a couple of coats of Solagard acrylic to both sides. The deck is an add-on project which does not form part of the original plan, as it is of such a size and height above ground level that it does not require planning permission. I will also re-coat the deck outside the main bedroom with the same colour paint. The ladies have chosen “Rustic Brown” for these surfaces. Whilst some people may perhaps find painting a monotonous bore, I experience it as an enjoyable light physical exercise creative activity… More reports and pictures on this next time.
