Deck Reno #9

The boys have been around again, this time laying black plastic to stop any yucky smells and water marks coming through.

On top of that is the rio.

Slab is being poured on Thursday. Fingers crossed the rain stays away.

Deck Reno #8

 The reno just keep rolling along. The rain we've had has slowed things down a little but not by too much. The pouring of the slab was set for Tuesday next week, but has been pushed back till Thursday. So not too bad all things considered.

Rob has ordered the pergola for us, so that part should go ahead quite quickly.

The fill had been completely laid and compacted.

 

Wooden edging in place getting ready for the slab to be poured. Rob is planning on being on site next week to finish all the prep before the slab is poured.

He has also kindly offered to bring in the bob cat and clear the yard, leaving it a clean slate ready for us to plant and mulch to our hearts content :) We've also asked him to quote on fixing the mess we have on the side ramp. There doesn't seem much point in planting a garden and then needing machinery in the yard again at a later stage.

Deck Reno #7

We had a truck delivering fill get bogged today. Much excitement for the kids. Especially when an even bigger truck came along to get him out.

We've had some rain so it was quite wet under foot. Not overly surprised the truck got bogged where it did.

Left: Pile of fill. Covered up the hole left behind.

 Right: The fill has been compacted with the whacker packer.

Rob's left the Whacker Packer behind as he hasn't finished with it yet.

Amber Cat has been giving it a wide berth.

You can also see the one step onto the path close to the house.

Deck Reno #6

 

 L: Charlie Dog checking where the plumbers have been.

R: Tap has been removed and copper pipe has been laid to they new tap site.

The plumbers came out yesterday, on a Saturday, to move our existing tap. The old tap would have been right in the middle of the new deck and given the slab height wouldn't have had any clearance.

The new tap is now right next to the old path and new steps. It is in the wall now in a much more central spot in the backyard, so happy with that.

This week we will hopefully have the fill compacted, the slab poured and Rob is also planning on ordering the pergola :) Not long to go and it will all be finished.

Deck Reno #5

The deck is going along really smoothly. The brickies came through during the week and have done their thing.

We now have a flight of stairs off the high side of the deck, which will connect onto the existing footpath. We also have one step down onto the footpath near the family room.

 

 L: steps off the deck.

R: piers to support the slab and crushed concrete fill.

Rob has brought the digger back again as he needs it to move the fill around and to also dig a trench for the pergola down pipe to connect to.

Today we are expecting the plumber to arrive. We've decided to just move the tap instead of putting a drain in. Too fiddly and not exactly visually pleasing. The tap will be moved to be next to the steps.

Deck Reno #4

 

Left: the foundations have been laid.                                           

Right: exposed pipe that will become a drain for the tap.

Rob has done a really good job matching the deck bricks closely to the existing house bricks. You wont be able to tell much of a difference unless you look very closely.

The brickie is booked in for this week. This reno is taking place very quickly and easily so far!

A Fun Week

What a busy but fun week. We attended the Annual Scouts and Guides Trivia Quiz.

The theme was the Olympics and Husband Deluxe was the MC.

Fuzzy Wuzzy won 'Player of the Week' for his amazing soccer skills on field.

He played goalie and didn't let anything get past him.

What a star!

Squealy has also been enjoying soccer but invariably he ends up absolutely shattered and freezing after his early morning game.

Poor little guy just crashes out wherever he can!

Deck Reno #3

 

 Rob and the boys got busy digging footings for the slab late last week. On the left are the footings for the stairs off the deck and on the right the trench for the footing on the long side of the deck.

Cool shot of the digger (again) lol.

Left: hole/footings.

The backyard is a total bombsite. The kids can't go out there at the moment. The builder said not to let them onto the digger. hmmmm major temptation but so far, so good. They've stayed away!

Deck Reno #2

 The first day on site Rob and the boys removed the small concrete deck that was original to the house and totally useless. It was so small you couldn't fit an outdoor setting out there.

 The slab gave them alot of trouble. In the end they had to cut it to remove it. Our home is built tough!!!

You can see where the existing deck used to be and they have also removed the footpath leading up to it!

Exciting stuff!