Week 9 - Batons and Bracing

Week Nine 12 - 16 Nov

 

Day 38.  Today the deck construction was finished.  The two wooden roof supports have been put in place and they look really nice.  They have also put the roof tresses up above it so now the frame is basically totally finished with the exception of one roof panel over T's bedroom at the front and the correction to the wall frames.  I am not sure what bit happens next I think it might be the window frames and the colourbond on the roof - exciting! 

Day 39 - 40.  The builders started putting in ceiling batons.  These batons are what the ceiling panels will be attached to.  Apparently if the panels are attached directly to the frame the rivets in the frame show through the panels "Princess and the Pea" style.  My site manager was saying that apparently they used to fit the panels without them, and a fair number of builders still do.  

Tip - If you are building with a metal frame and you want a smooth ceiling make sure your builder puts in batons between the frame and the ceiling panels. 

With the batons I also got the builder to ensure that the spacing between two of the batons and the roof frames lined up so we could get a flue for the fireplace out where we will eventually put a fireplace.   The windows have been delivered so they must be coming up soon.

Day 41 - 42.  The supports for the frame are starting to be removed now and replaced with cross bracing.  They have put the braces on many of the upper walls as well as under the floor.  

We have another house starting in the street too, two houses up from our place had their cut done at the end of the week.  They have dug into their block the same as we did and we have found out our other neighbour who have not started yet will also be doing this too.  They are putting in a lovely four level split level house and it looks like the height difference between their place and ours will not be significant although I have not seen the contour plan yet so this assumption is based on the rough plan they showed me.  It will be good if its not too big as that will reduce the retaining wall on that side although for us its the utility side of the house so not really a big issue either way.