We have walls

Once the concrete slab had cured, the next step was to crane in the Blocks, Bricks, Sand and Cement for the mortar, as well as insulation and all their equipment. With limited room on site, manouvering around the materials on site was going to be a challenge for the builders.

After a quick early morning meeting to discuss rainwater tanks and dimensions for the fireplace, we let them get on with it, and within a few hours we had our first wall, complete with opening for the fireplace!

The brickwork also started on the exterior walls, starting with the back wall of the house, behind the pantry.

While the outer Brick walls are to be rendered, the inner block walls will hold up the concrete slab for the second floor, and needed to be core filled for strength.

Getting a series of Cement Trucks and a Concrete Pumper down the narrow driveway is tight.

To keep on top of the schedule, the boys worked on Saturday to maintain the momentum while the Sun kept shining.

The Outer Wall behind the Fireplace is completed to the height of the second level

The footings for the retaining wall holding the garden on the entrance side of the house are prepared. This wall will also hold the capping over the drainage at the rear of the house.

The exterior wall for the lower ground toilet is constructed. The gap between the two walls here will be a glass sliding door out to the clothes drying area.