Phase 1 Part 1

In the last 10 weeks we (mostly the builders) have:

Got the keys to the house.

Emptied the house

Finalised the plans and put in for building consent. Twice.

Negotiated with engineers about underpinning, roofing, the state of the old timber, drains.

• Underpinning: Massive job. See below.
• Roofing: There’s no need for entirely new carpentry for the roof. Strengthen and repair the existing.
• Timber: considering the place was built in 1928, hardly any of the external timber needs replacing. Win!
• Drains: The street drain is lower than the toilet in the new basement, so no need for waste pumps. Win! Need to dig ditch to road to lay down new drain pipes. Much expensive excavation equipment. See photo above.

The excavation and underpinning of the basement

To get extra height in the basement, the guys had to knock through a 25 inch concret slab, originally poured in 1928.

Then, according to engineers requirements, they had to dig under the existing walls of the house, and insert a steel cage. on top of the broken up concrete, they laid a layer of gravel, and then steel mesh over the top of it. Pipes for the plumbing are laid through the foundations, and concreted in.

To get the concrete truck down the driveway, we had to cut the hedge, to provide access for the trucks rear view mirrors… the concrete is to be poured down the corrugated iron chute bottom left.

Into a wheelbarrow in the basement.

The new basement floor, which will be covered in a level screed and polished up.

Stripped the top two floors

And put in a new floor

We worked with the plumber to figure out which boiler [boiler story to come] to have and how it is all going to work

Soon to come: the stripping and replacement of the roof, reinstallation of the insides of the house, plumbing and electrics throughout, fixtures and fittings.