Sunday 11 September 2016

Progress !!!!

Our concrete  verandah base  has had a few weeks to cure.  We had visitors in the interim ( our daughter,son in law, grandchildren and some friends of theirs).
We  had a big pig on a spit and celebrated the  2nd birthday of our grandson. It was a wonderful few days and we deliberately postponed the building as we didn't want  all that going on while the children were running around.
So the morning they left, Brian  and an old mate he used to work with started to build us a verandah.! .
We are using a product called Groove Tube, which comes in 8 metre lengths which have to be cut to size. We had to  attach one beam along the  width of the house first before anything else could be done.
Another friend and neighbour popped in to lend a hand to help get this initial beam up.
To this long beam, brackets are attached at measured intervals to slot the horizontal beams into at a later stage.
One vertical post up and one horizontal and it was morning tea time.  I was the gopher, cuppas, lunches and everything else that they needed.
Brian then continued  slowly on his own,  while this was all happening, he  had helped hi brother next door to load some whether sheep to take to market and while rounding them up at speed on the motorbike took a nasty tumble and was black and blue and very sore for a few days. Luckily no bones were broken.
It's a fairly big area and the front view of our house above  shows  how it sits in relation to the house.
Later that afternoon we wandered over next door and I took the photo below looking back at our house.
Over the next few days  Brian just worked  on the verandah alone, as he found it was easier, and I just gave him an extra  balance or lift as  and if he needed it.
This  system really works well and goes together  quite quickly.
Rather than carrying the big steel  beams up from where our deliverer had left them down in the front paddock, Brian was bringing them up a few at a time on the ute, and then I would help him  place them ready for cutting. There was very little waste here, as all the  cut pieces will have other uses in future projects.
The  rest of the  horizontal  roof beams all went  up  quickly,
I love this photo of Brian, proudly  sitting looking up at what he had built, and I think he has every right to be proud
The next day he got onto attaching all the brackets up the centre to take all the centre beams.
Finally he was able to finish all those smaller central beams and  now the structure is really strong and looks great.
It has been a big two weeks, but I am amazed at what Brian has been able to accomplish in this time as well as all his other jobs and his injuries.
This week we will travel to Dubbo to purchase, support netting,silver thermo foil lining ,electrical wires,switches and lights and all the  extra bits needed to complete the job.
I am so excited that finally it is all coming together.
Then we will need to do guttering,drainage and some minor landscaping.
We had visitors on the weekend and  temporarily put our verandah furniture back and  were really able to visualize what a great space this is going to be for us, year round hopefully.
I will update when the  roof is  fully up.
Until we meet again, take care everyone,
Cheers
Jane.

14 comments:

  1. It looks wonderful. WhT great progress you have made. Glad hubby wasn't more hurt in his fall! Stay safe xx

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    1. Thank you,
      It's been a long time coming, but a great feeling that we are nearly there now. Brian is now just about fully recovered, Thanks
      Cheers
      Jane.

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  2. Oh my, it will be so wonderful when it is finished, you will have all that extra living space and you will use it nearly every day.You will have the furniture protected from the weather under such a big area and your windows and doors can be left open for fresh air, even when it is raining.
    Is the verandah on the Western side of the house? it will make a huge difference to the inside temperature in the heat of Summer if it is and some deciduous shade trees planted nearby will stop the hot air blowing onto the verandah.
    It looks like it will be all finished in good time to beat the heat, I lived in Dubbo 4 years so I know how hot it gets.
    Looking forward to seeing it finished and set up for outdoor living.Brian must be quite chuffed at the great result of all the hard work.

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    1. Thanks Margaret,
      I am so looking forward to having all that undercover area, and yes it is on the western side of the house, and even though it will be hot out there in the summer the protection that it will give the house will more than make up for it.
      As you said this area can be very warm, and we will probably have shadecloth or blinds of some sort as well. My Mum lives in Dubbo. Brian is very proud of his efforts( he did learn a lot from the older builder we had here last year.)
      take care
      Cheers.
      Jane.

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  4. What a great achievement. Brian should be doubly proud of his work. My husband does the same. He sits and gazes at his work when its done as if to say "how did that happen", "bloody hell, good job i did"....... I get asked again and again if i like it. Im not sure what more i can say other than great, fantastic, awesome, well done etc etc..

    Enjoy your verandah. So many great times to be had underneath it all year round.

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    Replies
    1. That's exactly the same here, Brian keeps saying "So you don't like it ??" I keep laughing, we are both very proud of what he has acccomplished.
      we have had rain the last few days and more predicted over the next week, it might be a while before we get the cover on.
      Take care
      cheers
      Jane.

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  5. starting to look good, can't wait to see it finished!
    hope everyone heals fast
    thanx for sharing

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    1. Thanks Selina,
      The rain has slowed everything down,but hopefully it will happen over the next few weeks.
      Brian is feeling much better now, almost healed fully
      Take care
      cheers
      Jane.

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  6. Hello Jane,

    I can see things are still busy around your neck of the woods. I have had a break from blogging and now I am on the catch up.

    The verandah is looking great. I am pleased to hear that Brian has recovered from his fall.

    xTania

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    1. Hi Tanya,
      Life is a merry go round and it just seems to be getting faster...we love it but it's hectic at times.. I am struggling at times to find online time and I get a bit behind..and I hardly get time to sit and enjoy other peoples stories, hopefully I will in the future as things slow down a bit...glad your back
      Take care
      Cheers.
      Jane.

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    2. Sorry "Tania"..I have a neice spelt the other way and auto brian kicks in...sorry ☺☺☺

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    3. Sorry "Tania"..I have a neice spelt the other way and auto brian kicks in...sorry ☺☺☺

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    4. Hi Tanya,
      Life is a merry go round and it just seems to be getting faster...we love it but it's hectic at times.. I am struggling at times to find online time and I get a bit behind..and I hardly get time to sit and enjoy other peoples stories, hopefully I will in the future as things slow down a bit...glad your back
      Take care
      Cheers.
      Jane.

      Delete