Build thread - Creating a multi-family home
Discussion
Thanks. I think it will work out well. At the moment the house is sort of the ugly duckling of the street, both in looks and value. We're hoping to drag it up to the proper standards.
I know what you mean about the story. It's funny, for years we considered moving back, but it was always 'too difficult' or 'too expensive'. Then that call happened, and it became a complete no brainer (yes, that's now a family joke, he thought it was hilarious). It was a terrible and wonderful time.
5 years on, I keep waiting for these damn Chinese 'interesting times' to subside a bit, but am gradually coming to the conclusion that they won't. So be it.
I know what you mean about the story. It's funny, for years we considered moving back, but it was always 'too difficult' or 'too expensive'. Then that call happened, and it became a complete no brainer (yes, that's now a family joke, he thought it was hilarious). It was a terrible and wonderful time.
5 years on, I keep waiting for these damn Chinese 'interesting times' to subside a bit, but am gradually coming to the conclusion that they won't. So be it.
Can I just say, and I previously to my own family experiences I would have said this was absolute b
ks too, that what you are doing now was exactly what you are supposed to do.
Your dad would be so proud of you.
I had a bit of a "lull" in my career which coincidentally matched the time when my parents needed my help and input the most. With nothing else to take my time I could devote myself and my talents ( of being a complete pain in the bum) to sorting out their problems.
I was discussing this happy coincidence with a family friend who suggested it wasn't just a "happy" accident that at just the time my parents needed help I was suddenly available to take all the crap and sort it all out.
When its all done, raise glass to your old dad. He's still there.
Cheers,
Tony
ks too, that what you are doing now was exactly what you are supposed to do. Your dad would be so proud of you.
I had a bit of a "lull" in my career which coincidentally matched the time when my parents needed my help and input the most. With nothing else to take my time I could devote myself and my talents ( of being a complete pain in the bum) to sorting out their problems.
I was discussing this happy coincidence with a family friend who suggested it wasn't just a "happy" accident that at just the time my parents needed help I was suddenly available to take all the crap and sort it all out.
When its all done, raise glass to your old dad. He's still there.
Cheers,
Tony
Thanks. That's good to hear. More than once, in the lead up to this, I've found myself at his grave at the end of the street, wondering what the hell I'm playing at. Like you say, it's no accident. It's thanks to him I'm able to carry it off.
Foundation trenches are mostly complete. Concrete trucks start arriving on Tuesday. Should be interesting to see how they pump it around to the main kitchen area.
Foundation trenches are mostly complete. Concrete trucks start arriving on Tuesday. Should be interesting to see how they pump it around to the main kitchen area.
Couple days away during daylight hours, so they've made some progress. Walls coming out of the ground for the annex as well now. Scaffolding arrives tomorrow.
Steels and concrete beams in on the main house kitchen side.
Several tons of aggregate was being delivered while I was there, to backfill the outside of the walls.
Steels and concrete beams in on the main house kitchen side.
Several tons of aggregate was being delivered while I was there, to backfill the outside of the walls.
Went to the US for 10 days on business. Lots of progress in the meantime. Here's where we are as of yesterday.
Entrance to the main house kitchen, looking back. Feels small now, although I know it isn't.
Walls for the main kitchen, and 1st lift of scaffold. Steels for the ceiling arrive tomorrow.
Lintels for the big door openings ready to go in tomorrow.
The front wall of the 'cottage'. Of all the things to cause contention, my mother is miffed that 'our' walls are higher than 'hers' at the moment. You can clearly see the T-section of the floor beams. Also our big container for storing furniture in the driveway. I'll be spending a lot of time loading that up this weekend.
Looking across the back from the corner of the cottage.
This resulted in a fun conversation between the builder and the scaffold crew this morning. Only entrance to the house, and they blocked it up. Nice work geniuses.
Entrance to the main house kitchen, looking back. Feels small now, although I know it isn't.
Walls for the main kitchen, and 1st lift of scaffold. Steels for the ceiling arrive tomorrow.
Lintels for the big door openings ready to go in tomorrow.
The front wall of the 'cottage'. Of all the things to cause contention, my mother is miffed that 'our' walls are higher than 'hers' at the moment. You can clearly see the T-section of the floor beams. Also our big container for storing furniture in the driveway. I'll be spending a lot of time loading that up this weekend.
Looking across the back from the corner of the cottage.
This resulted in a fun conversation between the builder and the scaffold crew this morning. Only entrance to the house, and they blocked it up. Nice work geniuses.
Plenty!
Which was part of the reason he got his foreman there toot sweet to fix it. It was the scaffolders crew that were the knuckleheads. All fixed up now.
Went looking at woodstoves this afternoon. We're thinking of putting an inset one in the current living room, and then a free-standing one in the cottage living room. They both need to be approved for smoke control zones. Time to do some more research, because I wasn't that impressed with what I saw in the showroom.
Which was part of the reason he got his foreman there toot sweet to fix it. It was the scaffolders crew that were the knuckleheads. All fixed up now.
Went looking at woodstoves this afternoon. We're thinking of putting an inset one in the current living room, and then a free-standing one in the cottage living room. They both need to be approved for smoke control zones. Time to do some more research, because I wasn't that impressed with what I saw in the showroom.
Minemapper said:
Plenty!
Which was part of the reason he got his foreman there toot sweet to fix it. It was the scaffolders crew that were the knuckleheads. All fixed up now.
Went looking at woodstoves this afternoon. We're thinking of putting an inset one in the current living room, and then a free-standing one in the cottage living room. They both need to be approved for smoke control zones. Time to do some more research, because I wasn't that impressed with what I saw in the showroom.
There are some useful threads on here for wood burners.Which was part of the reason he got his foreman there toot sweet to fix it. It was the scaffolders crew that were the knuckleheads. All fixed up now.
Went looking at woodstoves this afternoon. We're thinking of putting an inset one in the current living room, and then a free-standing one in the cottage living room. They both need to be approved for smoke control zones. Time to do some more research, because I wasn't that impressed with what I saw in the showroom.
Living Fire Centre in Northallerton was where we started, mainly to educate the wimminfolk about stoves and the requirements (because nothing I say matters, but a bloke in a boiler suit in a shop obviously knows all). Didn't really like any of the ones they had in the shop, and the missus got sticker shock when she found out what the double skin flue system up the outside of the house was going to cost. Hence why we're now looking at inset stoves to go in the existing fireplace and chimney.
It rained a lot this week, which slowed things. Builder pissed me off a bit by sending guys round to do interior work that we weren't ready for yet, and not following our agreed procedure for things like that (coordinate with the architect, who is project managing for me). Still, yesterday and today have been good, so they have made some progress with the roof.
Hopefully it stays nice and I can get some better pics tomorrow when I'm there.
Hopefully it stays nice and I can get some better pics tomorrow when I'm there.
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