Status of framework

Friday 23 May 2014

Well they started erecting the framework 2 days ago (on Wednesday) and things seem to be moving along nicely.  There's only been 2 workers on site erecting the framework and we're amazed at how much they've accomplished.  They're obviously very good workers.  One thing that strikes me is the lack of noise from our new home construction site.  There's really no need for saws and hammers and other noisy tools and machinery because there's no wooden/timber frames.  All the frame work is prefabricated steel which is already cut and shaped to size with excellent precision. 

McDonald Jones Homes’ TRUECORE steel frames are manufactured from Australian-made BlueScope Steel (BlueScope Steel is a flat product steel producer with operations in Australia, Asia, New Zealand, North America and the Pacific Islands.  It was demerged from BHP Billiton in 2002 as BHP Steel and was subsequently renamed BlueScope Steel in 2003).  The TRUECORE steel frames have a 50 year structural warranty and erecting the framework is quick and easy using a patented Supaloc precision-engineered steel building system.  And of course, the steel framework is 100% termite-proof!

Some of the pitched roof frames have already been erected on the rear of the house.  All being well, all the framework, windows and sliding glass doors should be up and finished by Monday 26 May 2014.  Unfortunately, McDonald Jones Homes has hit a hurdle with problems about rostering the Brickies (Brick Layers) and that will now cause a 3 week delay before the brick walls can be laid (Bugger!).

Here’s some photos of the progress as at midday today when I drove past.  All this framework has been erected by just 2 workers over 3 working days from Wednesday to today.  We’re really amazed with the overall dimensions of the new home. 

(Click on photos to view enlarged images)

 

   

The steel frame work erected today!!

Wednesday 21 May 2014

When I drove by the construction site on the way to work early this morning there were a couple of workers on site.  I was hoping they were there to start erecting the steel house frames and not just there to survey the site or something else.  Voila!  When I drove by at midday most of the frame work had already been erected within the space of about 4 hours!  It was incredible!  I couldn't get really close enough to take a decent photo while the workers were still working on site, so for now, all I have is the following photo that I took from the car whilst parked on the opposite side of the street.  I've tried to crop and enhance the same photo as well.  The site was in complete darkness when I drove by on the way home from work tonight and it was just too dark to get a decent photo from my Smart Phone.  If I can drag myself out of bed early enough tomorrow morning I'll try and take some more photos before the workers arrive on site and I'll post them tomorrow.

Our new Site Supervisor contacted me this afternoon and introduced himself by SMS Text Message and a follow-up phone call.  He was telling me that, all being well, they hope to finish erecting the house's frame work by next Monday 26 May 2014.  He said there's currently a problem with rostering the Brickies (Brick-layers) because there's so much construction work going on around the place.  McDonald Jones Homes now anticipates there will be a 3 week delay before the Brickies will be available to start laying our brickwork (Bugger!).  We've chosen a great-looking new range of bricks from Austral Bricks, in their "Expressions" range.  The bricks are a new colour called "Gunmetal Blue".  The bricks are a striking dark colour in varying shades of dark blue, grey and a faint touch of purple here and there.  The Site Supervisor said they will wait until the Brickies will be ready before having the bricks delivered to the site.  When the bricks are delivered, the Site Supervisor will contact us and invite us to visit the site and inspect the bricks before the Brickies get to work. Similarly, we will be invited to the site again to inspect our chosen ceramic floor and wall tiles (for the wet areas and laundry) when they're delivered.

The Site Supervisor explained that we will have to wait until the Brickies have finished laying the brick walls before our roof can be laid.  That's because we've chosen to have Monier concrete roof tiles in lieu of the alternative Colorbond Steel Roof.  The roof tiles weigh a lot more than a Steel Roof and, consequently, the brick walls are needed to safely buttress the weight of the roof.  Conversely, if we had chosen to have a Colorbond Steel Roof, then the steel roof could have been laid on top of the steel house frames before the brick work commences.

Pete and I are amazed and gobsmacked at the dimensions of the new home now that the steel frame work's going up.  It's looking much bigger and much, much, taller than we had previously tried to visualise.  The steel wall frames along the garage wall in particular (on the eastern perimeter of the concrete slab), seem to tower-over our adjoining neighbour's property on our eastern side (to the right in these photos).  In addition, our roof is going to be raised to an increased (steeper) pitch of 26⁰.  Our little 3 bedroom, single-storey, Douglas 10M with Chase façade is starting to look like it’s almost going to be as tall as a 2 storey home!  Whoops… there goes our neighbour’s source of western sunlight… (oh, bovvered?).

I’m hoping to get some more and better photos in the morning (fingers crossed).

(Click on photos to view enlarged images)

 




 

Windows & glass door frames delivered to site

Sunday 18 May 2014

We've had perfect weather for the past week.  Blue skies, sunny days of 24⁰C and no rain.  Perfect weather for building but no work has been done on site.  We’re hoping the frame work will start going-up this week while the weather’s so good.

Sometime between Friday and today the frames (including their glass panels) for some of our windows and doors were delivered to the construction site.  We didn’t anticipate they would be delivered to site so early in the build.  The construction site’s starting to look really cluttered and there’s not a lot of room to move around it.

Here’s some photos that I took this evening from outside the front security fencing, which show some of the windows and door frames that have now appeared on site.

(Click on photos to view enlarged images)