We Had Some Visitors

When I was down the coast I found some frogs round our tank! They did not get in but it was cool to see them round. 2 white ones and the one in the pics below. Liked seeing them there, my little croaking friends for a few nights.

Final Touch-Up with Water Harvesting

Well, I went down just on New Years to finishes up our down pipes and fix up the others. Have a good little system on there now with leaf catchers etc. Should collect a small rivers worth off the roof now!

We have a new kitchen!

Well, we now have our kitchen. Thanks to Ebay, we found this one, bid on it and picked it up for $800. Not bad, but we had to dismantle it and then take it down, from Sydney to Wallagoot. After trailer hire we will be up for about $1,000. This includes all appliances!

Dad helped me take it apart on the Friday while Mum looked after the kids. Took us most of the day but we got it done!

On Saturday, Mel & I drove the kitchen down to the property and it is now waiting in the shed for the walls to be fixed and tiles laid and then we will fit it in. We have a real good idea how it will fit and think it should look good. Photos of finished product to come!

Here is what it looked before we took it out and in the shed awaiting our magic!

Eaves

We had Ian Gowing back on site to do our eaves. We are really happy we persisted in raked eaves. I think they look great and Ian did a great job!

Cool Site

Been finding some cool site and really nice people. Here is one really cool site to check out.

http://www.strawbale-building.co.uk/

Another Visit

Headed down the coast, with the kids, to meet a few people on site and a bit of cleaning. Been run about so not much time for a tidy up of late. Had the plaster in who fixed our outside areas & plastered them. Spoke to Ian Gowing about getting our eaves put up & even managed to sell some let over bales and tidy up a bit.















Finished Plaster on Undercover Areas












Shed Before & After. Bethany helped me with sweeping












Start of the Vege Patch












Trav helping with drive way & straw spread as mulch

Outside Ceilings & Gardening

I went down over the long weekend with Mum, Dad & the kids to batten the outside areas and a bit of extra work. We got up all the battens & insulation for the front and back areas. We also sheeted the front alcove. Mum got the window sills sanded and a 2nd coat of seal on them. We also did a massive tidy up, moving pallets to form a compost area, spreading more straw over the batter which should break down with all the rain we have had, cleaning up timber piles, rubbish dumps and laying bales out to stop water flowing toward the house. Have a few pics for this trip, just so much getting done and so much to do!

Inspection & Testing Carried Out

Frank Thomas came out to have a look at our mold problem on our internal walls. We are a bit worried because he said he'd never seen anything like this before. He took some samples off the walls and they are being sent to a local lab and also a lab over in Germany for testing. We are hoping to get a result soon so we can keep moving on. Will keep you posted on the test results and remedy.

We Are Painting

We went down with the kids over the weekend to have a look at our new plastered walls. They look amazing. Really makes it look like a home. We went down to paint the walls with there first coat of sealer. Really comes up great with just the undercoat on the walls. Trav & Beth helped out with the painting & Trav also helped with taking some photos. The kids really kept them selves entertained and were really excited to see their rooms and the house as they had not seen it with the internal walls up. Thanks to John at Inspirations Paint & Accessories for supplying our paint. Very friendly people out there that know there stuff. Thanks.

Biolytix Blunder

If you have been keeping track of this blog for long you will realise in the early days I would rate highly the Biolytix Sewage System. So much so, we went out early & purchase a system in full with free irrigation hose, a great offer & could not pass up. The Biolytix cost over $7,200.

At the beginning of this year, Biolytix Australia went into liquidation and we ended up loosing our system & our money. The thing that has upset me the most now is that the Australian leg of Biolytix was purchase by New Zealand Biolytix. They are now trading, in Australia, again. Same system, same name but no supply of systems or money back to anyone that lost out.

I really do like this system. I think it is the best going round but I do not like the Biolytix business ethic. I have contacted Biolytix NZ to see if they were going to help out the people, including myself, who lost out in this Biolytix Blunder but have had absolutely no response from them. If they are going to buy up the remainder of Biolytix Australia & then trade back in Australia, under the same name, then I believe they have an obligation to fill or refund orders lost. At least offer some sort of decent discount on a new system for people that have lost out.

There is no Biolytix news for me or the other customers that lost out any time soon which puts me up s**t creek without a sewage system!

Plaster Going Up

Mel went to the property today to check on the progress of the ceiling going up, cornice's & setting of plaster. All looking good. Great to see the finishing surfaces in place. In a few weeks it should be ready for painting. Can't wait to see it.

We Are Starting Our Plaster Work

Just wanted to give a wrap to Col Searston Plaster & Peter from Sapphire Plaster. Both of these guys so far have gone above and beyond with helping us on our house.

Peter has been out a few times delivering plaster board, showing us how to apply it on the walls correctly, delivery of battens & metal corners. Great guy and great service.

Col has also been out to quote, show us how to put up battens & insulation. He is starting next week, Monday, so cannot wait to see the transformation with the insulation, plaster board & cornicing up.

Thanks again to Col Searston Plastering & Peter at Sapphire Plaster for all your help so far.

We've Got Mold

When I was down this weekend we noticed that all our walls have got mold over them. Every single one. Not sure what is going on with it as it must have been introduced into the mix. We are not quite sure how to fix this but will let you know how we do when we get an expert opinion. If anyone has heard of a solution please let us know. Here are some photos of what is looks like.

Ceilings & Window Sills

Went down over the weekend to start putting up the battens & insulation for the ceiling. Did not get it all done but about 80% there. Our plasterer, Col, is going to help out with finishing off. We had some help over the weekend from Frex & Dad with the ceiling and Mum with the window sills. Corine helped out as well as we had a problem with the walls. Here are some photos.

We Have Water

I went to the property today to set up a few things in preparation for the long weekend. We are putting up our ceiling battens for the plaster board to go up. We have insulation purchased at a really good price, Thanks Ebay & the failed government insulation scheme. While I was waiting for the plaster dude to come and show me how to put them up I managed to get all out fresh water lines run to the house ready for connection to hot & cold water service. I also had a nice surprise of our water tank being full too. No more tankers needed.

We Have Solar

We have our solar panels installed now. I was down over the weekend to fix the power box and watch them finish our solar panel install. Also fitted the last do lock too so the house is now locked up. It's nice to be generating some power too.

We Have Locking Doors

Went down over the weekend to finish of some electrical work, run some phone line & fix our front door locks. We got these front door locks sent from the US as you cannot buy this style in Aust. The brand is Kwikset and they have a big range. Not that much to send over as well. I think it was worth the time and effort for these door handles. What do you think?

Catching Some Rain

I went down this weekend to hook up some of the down pipes & fix up some drainage around the outside of the house because of a water build up issue we have had. Got the drainage sorted but only managed to hook up about 2/3 of the house as I ran out of time. At least if it rains now we can collect some water. Hoping to get down and hook up the rest of the piping in the next few weeks.

The Finish Is Getting Closer ???

Got photos of the window sills & final internal coat of clay render. I think it looks really good but allot of money spent. Everything is getting closer to finishing too. Holes are getting filled & covered, locks getting put on, finishes are presenting them selves. Mel has been whipping the crew to put in some hard, long & tough days down on the property. I'm proud of her efforts & what she is putting in to this build. See for your self.

Finished Strawbale Walls, Window Sills & Wood Panelling over the top of the back door

We are glad Frank Thomas, Strawtec, has finally finished. He & his associates have done a good job but not sure it is worth the massive amount we have paid so far. Not sure I'd hire him again if I had my time over, just because of the massive strain on our budget among other things.

Gyprock & Plastering

Over the past few days we had been putting up the Gyprock. Peter from Sapphire Plaster measured up, supplied, delivered & gave us a 30 min run down on hanging the Gyprock. They are a good bunch of guys at Sappire Plaster. Worth a look if you are doing any ceilings or walls in the area. Stud Walls & Gyprock going in.