One step back

So to make the house bigger, first we need to make it smaller.

Here's how we did it.

We need to build a new floor frame in the old living room at the back which will join onto the new stepped up floor in the new living area. Because of this step up, we wouldn't have been able to swing open the backdoor, so we had to move the whole doors closer to the kitchen.

So Dave build a new wall to sit the doors.


Then we removed the doors, (proved tricky because we couldn't find the secret screws hidden under the door runner strip of plastic) and moved them into the new wall.

Little miss Heidi thought it was great so ran to get the steps and started swinging.

So now it looks like this from the back.

We planned to get lots more done but Christmas plans got in the way. I think Hubby wants to dig the last hole tonight and put up some acrow props to support the walls.

Later folks,

All full up

I don't think we could fit anymore in if we tried.
I spent 3.5 hours yesterday and about 2 hour today along with Hubby who did about 3.5 hours yesterday. Thank God that it is all gone. Fingers crossed that will be the last of the mud, although we do still have one big hole to dig but will probably reuse that soil to top up the stump holes after we half fill them with concrete.

 

Much cleaner. Now we just need the bloody rain to stop.

 

So sick of dirt.

 

Til next time,



Ideas to hide the post

Whilst we have been digging holes for the supporting posts for the upper floor it dawned on us that we don't really want ugly metal posts in the back. We will need to cover them or hide them.

I remember one of my favourite bloggers, Young House Love, hid their columns by boxing them out. So we will probably do something similar. I got some great ideas off Houzz.com.

These are my favourites.

Problem is I like them all.

Might have to let Hubby decide which is easiest and cheapest.

Later,



Oh holey night

Holes, holes, holes. Will they ever end?

On Saturday we had another concrete truck deliver 3.5m of concrete. With the help of a friend we filled the remaining large stump holes for the steel beams and some of the stump holes under the existing house. It was a warm day and luckily little miss 1 was having her sleep so I could help spreading the concrete.

Now we have started digging the rest of the stump holes in the backyard. We have 11 to do and are trying to do 2 each night after the kids are in bed or after work. Last night we did 2 and finished after 9pm.

Also on Sunday we hung all our Christmas lights and put up the tree. The house looks so festive now and the kids just love it!



I wonder what the house will look like this time next year? Hmmm... hopefully a lot better.

Seasons Greetings,