WEEK 5 OF AUGUST

 This week the guys tackled the second bathroom.  These are before and after shots.  Before included no water or electric connections.  After included completed toilet connections, bathtub water but no drainage connection as yet and basin stuff still not connected.  Some tiling still needing completing but at least we have another working loo :)

While Mmalae tackled most of the tiling, Mark worked on connecting water piles etc in bathroom and finished overhead light connections in the walls in this bathroom, the spare room, school room and TV room.  He still needs to connect the outlet points.  But, enough was done that we could move into all the rooms and start unpacking.  We'll just make do without celings in passage, second bathroom, second lounge area, school room, spare room and TV area until Mark can get go them.  Mark also hung some kitchen cupboards on the walls in the kitchen, which aided more unpacking.  

Mmalae is now taking a 2 or so week break.  He will come back for short periods as Mark needs him and his other work allows.  Tho Mark too is wanting to take a break from the pressure of 12 hour days and keeping Mmalae going.  Will keep you updated as things start again.

WEEK 3 and 4 OF AUGUST

Last week was about getting the roof on the first section of the enclosed veranda area.  It was good to be closed in after 3 days of rain the previous week with no roof!  

 Here Mmalae is enjoying the feeling of wide open space as the last portion of the roof of the enclosed veranda was removed.  Both windows in this room needed replacing.  The one also needed bricking above to adjust the profile of the roof.  No problem for the fearless duo of M and M.

 In this pic (sorry about the glare, sun was in the wrong place), you can see the whole enclosed veranda's new roof.  Mark also got some of the flashing done.  

Taken from the side of the house, just before the last 2 roof sheets got put on.  You can see nicely the new profiled area.  One of the last pics I'll get of Mark on the roof.  Our one neighbor recently said to him, that he must love his roof, cos he spends a lot of time on it :)

WEEK 2 AUGUST

This was a bit of a different week.  Intense storms over 2 almost 3 of the days at the start of the week (including hail, buckets of rain and high winds, not to mention freezing cold), a public holiday...  Mark let Mmalae stay home this week.  They both needed a rest after pushing so hard for so long.
In the meantime, Mark has worked on bits a pieces... finished connecting water in the kitchen, built the sink area and we are no longer washing outside with cold water.  He's also hung some pictures and hung the kids bookshelves after they each gave theirs a new coat of paint.
Mark also had to get rid of tons of water in the area they are busy roofing.  Ja, we had no roof on that section of the house thru the storm.  But, all is well.  Thankfully he didn't have to drill holes in the walls to let the water out.  He managed with buckets.

WEEK ONE OF AUGUST

This is how the enclosed veranda section looked at the end of monday.  The part closest to you where Mmalae is sleeping.  So we'll need to finish the other section, move him and then complete the front section.

This is how it looked by friday afternoon.  Windows and new roofing sheets are ordered.  We hadn't expected this roof area to be so rotted but it is, as are the window frames.  We decided to brick up the windows on this side of the house to increase security.  We don't think light in the rooms will be decreased due to the way the house is facing.  It will also mean, we don't just look straight at the buildings behind us.  Just up at the beautiful sky:)

WEEK 4 OF JULY

This week saw the the main part of the roof done.  The raised part you can see is actually clear roofing so that natural light can get into the roof space (Mark hopes to make his study up there).  They also finished the ceilings and cornices to our and Kara's room.

Which means..... ja, we moved into our rooms this weekend.  We actually also moved everything off the enclosed veranda section in preparation for the work to start there next week.  You can see from this picture , that we're still washing dishes our our outside 'camping' sink area.

WEEK 3 OF JULY camping in our house

 Last weekend we moved our camping kitchen from the other side of the house to the actual kitchen area.  Tho we'r still camping and have no sink, tiles or permanent kitchen anything inside yet.  We're still using the makeshift sink on the side of the house.  We had to free up the arean, as the roof was going to be done this week.

 This is our lounge as we're living right now.  Dump zone.  Since this picture was taken, Mark has put up the cornices in the first bathroom, dinningroom, kitchen,  JJ's room to be and enterance hall.

Livng and doing school is becoming more and more challenging as the level of chaos increases.  I realised that we've been in boxes for almost a year now.  We're hoping to start moving into some of the rooms next weekend (tho no painting or cupboards are done yet), but it depends on how roof, celings, cornices and window go.  

WEEK 3 OF JULY = the roof

 Week 3 of July has been a mammoth week.  High winds delayed them being able to get up there until wednesday.  Mark said the wood they removed from this section was actually the worst in the whole roof (we thought the other side of the roof was the worst to start with as it was there that the roof was sagging).  He said that he could hear the beams cracking behind him as he stepped on them.  He also almost feel off the roof at one point in his haste to get done.  Decided rushing wasn't worth it after that.

You'll notice that Kara's skinny window has been removed.  It needed a lintle in the top as a structural crack had developed.

 They actually do sit down and rest momentarily during their 12 hour days:)  Here they are surveying the pile of timber they removed from the last part on the main roof.

 This is as far as they got by friday.  This picture is taken from the side of the house.  On the left you can see the next section of roof that will need replacing.  We'd hoped it would be ok but is also filled will bora, as are some of the window frames.  We're presently living in that section of the house.  It extends the length of the building.  

Weekend are always our clean up time.  Here Mark and J have loaded the old timber to take to the dump.  

WEEK 2 OF JULY

No pic's this week...  The kitchen, dinning room, enterance, lounge, first bathroom and JJs bedroom all have ceilings but nor cornices yet.  Battons ready in passage, second bathroom and our bedroom.  Ceiling out in Kara's room.  Just one ceiling to go in main part of the house.
This weekend we move the kitchen to the real kitchen area (tho we'll still be 'camping' as the kitchen itself is not yet ready) and we pick up the rest of our stuff from Sunbury.  We hope to move into the main portion of the house in 2 weeks.
Pray for no rain or wind for next week as they will be completing the last portion of the main roof.

WORK CONTINUES IN OUR ABSENCE

In our absence, Mmalae continued working on the house.  He removed ceilings in the passage, second bathroom and 2 bedrooms.  He also removed what wood he could and built 4 trusses for the next section of the roof.  Hard to take pictures of these but... he also gutted the second bathroom (removed tiles, shower and part of wall connecting the bathroom with the laundry area.  

This is the before shot....

 This is the after shot...  

laundry area is behind the photographer.  The basin will go where the shower used to be.  The funny lighting is cos the sunlight is shining in and the interesting decor is the electric pipes hanging down waiting for their new home.  

We got home on wednesday night, and Mark and Mmalae took the next section of roof off, redid the timber work and replaced it again in just 2 days.  Miracle workers.  

 Mark took this pic for those interested in the state of the old roof timber...  Taken from the old section toward the new section.  If you look closely you can see how motheaten the old timber is.  This was a surprise to Mark, who had expected this part of the roof to be better.  It is in fact, just as bad as the first part they did.  He says that the slightest bump causes the timber to crumble.  He says the roof sheets themselves seem to be the only part of the structure keeping the roof up!  You can also see nicely in this picture, the new design of the roof trusses which make it possible to make a room in the roof space.

3RD WEEK OF JUNE....

This week was mission complete first half of roof.  Meaning, putting caps on the openings on the outside, sorting out electrics, putting up battons for attaching ceilings and putting up ceilings....  

Altho we had a beautiful half a roof, we still could see the sunshine where the sheets met at the top and the sides.  This pic was taken from the bathroom they've been working on....

 From same spot a couple of days later in the week.... no more sunshine and lots of battons waiting for a ceiling.

From same spot again, this time with ceiling in place.  The guys have managed to do ceilings in the bathroom and half the lounge this week.  Mark has worked through the weekend on bits and pieces to prepare the area for Mmalae to continue working while we're away for the next 10 days at SIM spiritual life conference and then also helping Barbs mom clear her house out.

WEEK 14 FRIDAY

The first half of the roof is on (the green on the right).  The 'hats' aren't in place yet on the top and down the sides where the zinc meets.  Its looks so pretty !!!!

The guys also finished off inside - filling in near the ceiling and also remaining spots that needed plastering.  No ceilings yet tho...  on the cards for next week.

This shot is taken in the roof space.  From the new space toward the old space.  You can see how Mark has redesigned the trusses to open space in the middle area.  He'll take the design thru to the other side of the roof space too... the idea being, making at extra roof upstairs... in the future anyhow :)

WEEK 14 THURSDAY

They almost finished the new roofing on the front.  The new one is the green on the right.

WEEK 14 WEDNESDAY

Wednesday was a stressful day because altho they got the back side of the new roof sheets on, they were doing so while watching rain clouds come closer and closer and the wind rising.  Mark also took Kara to gym which meant lost time.  So we didn't get the front part of the roofing on.  Mark and Mmalae got tarps up in the dark, but in the rush of everything dropped a drill battery and 2 other things, breaking floor tiles...  we also were chasing drops from above while it rained.  Tho the Lord was gracious to us as the rain was gentle and there was no wind.  Mark also had the added stress of the hot water pipe exploding in the bathroom we're using.  Tho he fixed it.  After many 12 hour days, Mark and Mmalae are tired.

WEEK 14 TUESDAY

Tuesday saw them replacing beams with new treated wood, building a new perch for the geyser and moving it back into its spot.  Jay... we could shower again.  Up until the roof action, dust from the construction going on around us hadn't really effected us... now its pretty gritty but we're coping... after all we're getting a beautiful new roof :)

WEEK 14 MONDAY

We got thru the weekend with part of our roof exposed.  Tho no rain we had a couple of hairy moments with wind on sunday.  No damages tho PTL.

Monday saw the guys removing old roof sheeting up till half way of the roof.  They also removed all the old wood which all needed replacing and moved the geyser (some know it as hot water heater :) so that the beams under it could be replaced... yes we were without hot water for 24 hours :)

WEEK 11 AND 12

 The petunia's Kara planted are very happy and awaiting their completed ramp... tho it'll be one of the last things.

 Mark and Mmalae took one third of the roof off.  They thought that they might save the ceiling in the bathroom they've beenworking on, but no ways.  All the wood in this section of the roof had to be replaced.  Mark said it is very crumbly.  He is very relieved that they decided to access the roof from underneath as there is no ways it would have held their weight.

They were however plagued with rain and wind and had to rarp what they could had we prayed the electric box would not get water on it.  The Lord was gracious and no more rain fell over the weekend (just this section in the picture was covered up).

Just so that you can see the section we're talking about.  Excuse the washing... but life has to go on amidst the renovations

Prior to heading up to the roof, Mmalae tilled the floors of the enterance, kitchen and dinning area.  Mark put in the basin and loo in the bathroom... all done except for a leak in the loo cistern (to be dealt with later).  The water pipes are in place and we no longer have the shuddering of pipes in the celingwhen we use the hot water.  The electric rewiering is also done as far as it can be done without the new celings in place.  

Mark also decided on the roofing and ordered that.

 These past 5 weeks seem to have gone rather slowly...  Mark was away for a well needed 'away' time on the Transkei coast with friends for a week (tho Mmalae continued working), Mmalae's sister suddenly passed away and he needed to be with family for just over a week.  Mark has also been working on sorting out the hot and cold water lines and redoing the wiring.  Here he is on the outside of the house doing something water related.  Our dog Jamie particuarly liked the water work cos she went crawling under the house with Mark.

 The first bathroom is taking shape nicely.  Tiling, grouting water lines, toilet connection, window and mirror edging done.  Tho we experianced a setback when we connected the water... a leak in the newly tiled wall (you can see the darkened tile in the left bottom corner).  This meant chipping out the tiles above the pipes, finding the leak and replastering and tiling those sections.  Mark and Mmalae finished that this week too.  The pic above is looking into the bathroom from the door and the bottom is looking back at the door from the shower end.  The basin will go next to the loo.

 The electric box is looking better and better.  Mark has had to figure out what wires were doing what before he could sort out the box (the house is 100 years old!).  He's now in a place of needing to wait until the new roof and beams are in place so he can finish it off.  They hope to build truces etc next week, Mark has ordered the roofing supplies and Lordwilling the one side of the roof will get done the week after next.  

The retaining blocks of the ramp to the front door are all in now (with plants :)  and will be completed once all the rubble is out of the house.  Rubble still to come from replacing the window in Kara's room (small one on the left) and the remodeling of the second bathroom (the shower is now leaking badly, so just in time).  JJ's room will be the window in the middle (next to Kara's.

WEEKS 5 TO 10 GARDEN...

The side garden is slowly taking shape.  Our back neighbors are the closest to us so we are trying to grow higher shrubs  around the perimieter of the property.  Our back neighbors, however, are really lovely.  Ash and Sherona were actually watching out for us when Mark was away in Transkei.
We are still battling weeds but seems like we're getting a handle on them.

 The front has gorgeous trees.   I couldn't resist putting some succulants around this one.  

This gives an idea of the view tward the front gate.  We cut back a lot of what was already in the garden, added new slips etc.  Things are taking root and the Fosters shrubs we pruned back, are growing wonderfuly again.  Its so wonderful to experiance the joy of His creation.

WEEK 4 - APPROACHING THE ROOF

yes you're right... the bath has nothing to do with the roof :) But wanted to show you the bathtub with the shower space behind it. Its set and Mark is now working on connecting the water pipes.


Apparently the trained eye might see from this picture that the left side of the house had already dropped a full 2 inches. While Mmalae was plastering, Mark put in new beams and a shutter board in the new celing space. Because the roof is so unsecure, they have had to create access to it from inside the house. Mark has put 4 braces inside the roof space and 3 from the floor to the ceiling level, besides the steel beams. He feels it is now secure to start trying to remove the asbestos sheets from the roof. Watch this space....


The last of the bashing down of walls took place this side of the house this week. The wall going from the kitchen to the dinning area had a huge crack. So Mmalae and Mark removed it to match the other side, put a good lintle in and will brick it in above the lintle next week. The front part of the roof (over the dinning area) actually started giving way this week, but is stable with bracing. Thankfully the steel beams were already in place giving much more support to the rest of the roof. ceiling space.

WEEK 4 - FRONT ACCESS TO THE HOUSE

With most of the bashing done on the interior of the house... the rubble needed to go somewhere. We had wanted to have a wheelchair accessible enterance, so it made sense to use the rubble to this end. Mark decided to use retained wall blocks to hold the shape on each side of the ramp.


J helped Mark by lifting the paving bricks to be used later. Mark has moved much of the rubble to make the gradient of the ramp up to the vernada level.


By Friday.... still a ways to go but making good progress. Some even have flowers in already. 2 more rows to go to get to the veranda level.

WEEK 3

Mark and Mmalae found the electric box in rather a precarious situation. The wires were just plastered into the wall. They apparently need to be in pipes inside the wall. So Mark started trying to figure out the wiring. You can see him half in the roof doing just that in the next picture.

The wall between the lounge and kitchen is now completely out and the 2nd steel beam is in (you can see them both in this picture). Wow its amazing how much more light it is in the lounge. The guys also took ou the doorway space in the enterance way. Mark was pleased that the kitchen and dinning area's windowframes do not have wood bora and don't need to be replaced.