Fireplace feature wall and hearth.

I promised Heather that the fireplace would be in by winter... well it is booked for the 3rd of June, only a couple of days late. I spent many a night and morning getting it ready, doing my bit, so I could meet the deadline. The wood had been deliver and mostly chopped up so we are ready to go.  We are very very very excited to get our wood heater in! It has been three winters without one.

Close up. The timber is from the old studs. The nail holes would have been from the weather boards. 

At this point I was like wow that is big! I wondered if I had made it too big and high. 

'Apparently' if i painted the new cement slab with my waterproof primer I could lay the tiles within 2 days. Hmmmm

Done. The tiles are black slate. Interesting to lay. 

The children love it. They are using it as a stage. Only the corner pieces to do.... I might get the tiler to cut them for me. 

Erin missing a few teeth and with her new glasses. 

Now back to the roof. Except I looked at the extra timber they delivered to finish the roof off and I found out that they had cut them wrong again!!! I have no idea what to do. Time is short, the mill is shutting down and so is the other mill down the road. 

Next on the list is tiling and kitchens. I have quotes done and have pretty much decided on whom I am going with. Just need to finalise the kitchen measurements and get back to Ezikit. All in a week! The bank balance will be haemorrhaging from now on....

Lining out the roof

Hello!

These holidays were fruitful but I am feeling very unfulfilled as a builder. I spent the first week putting up the roof lining and the second in Launceston holidaying. I had a great time but I haven't finished the roof lining or installed my hearth ready for my fireplace which all could have been done in the two weeks. So I am torn between the great relaxing time I had and staring down at the unfinished work I started. These school holidays have also coincided with the Easter holidays and ANZACs holiday so I have also been ripped off two long weekends to get some extra work done during the term.

I must admit though it is terrific to finally have most of the stud work covered, it gives it a finishing feel instead of a construction feel and the insulation and windows have made a huge difference to the temperature in the front room. Well, here are some photos of the evolution of my roof.

The strip on the right is what I still have to do. It will involve a bit of fiddle as there are struts and rafters in the way. The mill who is proving my timber had given to too little and the new stuff they have brought it isn't that terrific. I am not to pleased with them. I hope it all works out. I still need to put some finishing trims on the whole thing as well. 

Up in Launceston I went to the design centre where they have all these innovative designs and creations made out of wood. I like going there and stealing some ideas. 

These stools were made from large burnt chunks of wood.

The autumn coloured stone is what is going to be a feature wall behind my fireplace.  It will have a timber surround and a black slate hearth. All going well it should look terrific. 

This is a photo of the tiles I have selected for my kitchen. They are porcelain and are a stone look alike and represent the latest in digital printing technology where no two tiles are a like. Also they are so life like that I keep trying to feel the ridges I can see but there are none. I really like them.  I had planned for a darker tile so i could have a light carpet in the lounge... now I am unsure on the colour of the carpet I want. A big bonus was that I got the last of a print run so I was able to get them for less than half price!! Yippee. 

Painting....

Well, I thought once I hated painting until I realised it wasn't the job it was the tools! I love painting with my new HVLP gun! I absolutely fly through the job and it does a fantastic finish. Cannot wait to paint something else... hmmm i do still have 12 doors in the bedroom I haven't touched. Since I have 70m2 of timber roof to paint I am glad I have it. I still have to sand it all by hand though... man that is a bit rough. I am doing it in batches at the moment. The second photo is only 1/4 or 1/5 of what I have to do, crazy. I hope it is worth all the effort. I am working pretty hard before and after work to have it all painted and ready to be installed by the school holidays. Goal is still to have the fireplace in before winter.... tic tic tic.... time is running out. roof, hearth, feature wall, fireplace!

Stopping and Painting

By popular demand here is an update. Firstly I would love to show you some instructions I got in a box for installing a door closer. You know the ones that you put on the outside of doors so they close when people leave. Well good luck understanding these ones...

I decided to do my own stopping. It was a bit adventurous of me but it has turned out pretty good if you ask me. Not perfect by any means but a great learning experience.  

Ahhhh sanding plaster by hand on the roof is like working in a snow storm. 

Gee my scaffolding has been invaluable!

One of my cheer leaders. You have to keep an eye on this girl she loves to climb and climb and climb. 

Base coat! 

cutting in the top coat.

done!

I am going to cover the black paint with some reclaimed timber. The black is to mask any holes or cracks in the timber. Amazing stuff to put on. It was really thin but you only needed one coat. Watch out for drips!

Love the cream with timber look. 

Well it is now onto the roof then the floors. Heather and I are unsure what to use for the kitchen dinning area floor. I want something natural so that narrows it down to stone or wood. I don't mind either. I would go for oak (reclaimed if i can get it) but with a wooden roof, beams, benches, doors, skirting, fans, etc.. it might be getting too much and it can dent and stain. I like slate as a stone as it is hard wearing, long lasting, and could act as a thermal mass with all the north facing windows, etc.... but it is cold and hard most of the time. Any thoughts???? 

Old photos of the shed in its heyday.

My neighbour grew up in the house next door and remembers playing in this shed and it being reshingled. I asked her for photos of the shed and she has provided me with a treasure trove of images.