In 2016 we moved to Launceston to build another experimental home in an older established suburb on a steep, rocky and narrow block, sloping towards the south with very limited access from the road to the north. An interesting design challenge which involves providing adequate access to sunlight, while maintaining maximum privacy. This home is now under construction.This is week two of the construction
The design is now finished, the documents have been approved and the clearing of the building footprint, including removal of weeds and dead vegetation has been completed a few weeks ago. The lower part of the land will be replanted with native vegetation to supplement the existing native trees on the land and the adjacent lots, once some paths have been established and the wet weather has somewhat improved.
Footings have been dug, rock ledges exposed and boulders moved to safer locations in the first week. All the footings have been poured last week and we are now waiting for the steelwork supporting the floors before framing can be started.
May 20 -2016
After a period of waiting for the steelwork and sustained rain, which transformed the site into the equivalent of a clay bath, the weather cleared and the top surface dried out enough to level the building area. This allowed time to spread enough gravel to provide a stable base of rock and gravel for the large water tank, which will collect all roof water. Rolling down a large empty tank on such a steep site took four people and a great deal of care to not damage the galvanised corrugated surface.
At the same time a new water main was installed under the road surface and this allowed us to fill the tank enough to prevent it from blowing away and rolling down the hill during some rough weather the next day: It is a very different experience building in winter or summer.
Most of the steel posts are now bolted down to the footings and it is easier to visualise where the floors will be, looking at the tops of the posts. Next week some of the steel beams will be installed and framing of the lower floor can be started, weather permitting.... again.
cutting the road surface to position the new water supply line
downhill...
7 june 2016. After some more wet weather and other unavoidable delays the steel beams have been welded to the posts , since then the floor framing for the lower floor and seperate storage /workshop floor have been positioned ready to receive the flooring. Just before a very large weather system tried to wash out Eastern Australia and finally Tasmania, the plywood flooring was glued to the lower floors and sealed a day before the rain and flooding started. We are very glad that we are on a hill side and not near river flats, seeing the destruction lower down. We now hope that once the rain eases off, the wall framing can be started for the lower floors, when the home will actually start to take shape.
