Concrete Plans Update

[pandora]

You may recall this industrious scene of my neighbour's concrete slab being poured, posted in the lounge two weeks ago.
S8+

Well today my neighbour began erecting the steel frames and I was there to chronicle the building of his house.
E3

Unfortunately my back would not allow me to assist but with ingenuity and gut gripping strength he managed to raise the gable section on his own.
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I could not believe how he managed it working from a 6ft ladder but finally both ends of the truss were in position and ready to be locked on to the frame.
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All that remained to secure the section was to drill three holes at each end and insert the bolts
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At the close of another 30C day the house across the road takes shape in silhouette against the sky.
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I've watched Robyn erect the frames single handed. As said, he's 72, one of the most remarkable men I've met.
He's sociable yet focused, fast and methodical. His ingenuity in raising the frames beggars belief - In previous incarnations
I suspect he had something to do with the Callanish Stones, Easter Island Moai and Stone Henge - not necessarily in that order!



With cooler Autumn weather Rob's house has taken shape over the past few days.
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The thinker ....
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Look closely, the top of the frame is secured by a cord and pulley as the bottom is manoeuvred into place
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A long shot with the SWD 50-200mm
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Shooting from the rooftop risking life and limb - visions of Charlie Chaplin, tiles sticking to his feet with every step.
At six years old it was one of the first movies I saw and for years later I really believed that's what happened if you walked on red brick roof tiles.E3

Hip shot portrait with the phone
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The following XZ2 keyline images were shot this morning. The steel framework is almost done. I rather like the hard edge effect, don't you?

[MJ224]

Must warm there not to need walls or roof...............

[Greytop]

Wow that looks hot work.

[pandora]

Mark, Huw, very hot work indeed, he's been at it all summer working in temps up to high 30's. An architect and builder, certainly among the most able and intelligent people I've ever met.

[MJ224]

As an ex land surveyor, I always found architects to be PITA. And they never wanted to pay the bill...........

But I am sure your man is the exception to the rule.............

[pandora]

PITA?

[Ross the fiddler]

It looks like he got help with the concrete but not the framing. Does he like to work alone or others prefer it that way? Either way, lifting framing up into position is not ideal without help.

[Greytop]

Originally Posted by pandora

PITA?

Pain in the....

[MJ224]

BUT.................

[pandora]

Originally Posted by Ross the fiddler

It looks like he got help with the concrete but not the framing. Does he like to work alone or others prefer it that way? Either way, lifting framing up into position is not ideal without help.

Hi Ross, yes, contractors laid the slab but apart from that he cleared the block, dug the entire foundation trenches with a pick and shovel, and now finally is erecting the steel framework, entirely unassisted. I think he does prefer it that way, not just because he doesn't have to hire labour but simply because that's just the guy he is.

[OM USer]

Is this an open plan house?

[DerekW]

What will the walls be made of - I guess the use of steel as opposed to timber is that the termites have not evolved to eat the steel. ------ Yet ----

[Ross the fiddler]

Originally Posted by DerekW

What will the walls be made of - I guess the use of steel as opposed to timber is that the termites have not evolved to eat the steel. ------ Yet ----

Typically steel frame houses has cement sheeting, or cladding & maybe with a timber look moulded texture. That's OK if the walls are filled with 'insulwool' fibreglass batts etc. That was how a house was built for my mother in later years, but then another in the family decided it would look nice with this other cladding over the top, that plastic finish with styrofoam backing. You know what happens to that near flames though? Thankfully someone else owns it now.

Of course, the steel frame house could be brick veneered though.

[pandora]

Originally Posted by OM USer

Is this an open plan house?

No, it is not open plan.

Originally Posted by DerekW

What will the walls be made of - I guess the use of steel as opposed to timber is that the termites have not evolved to eat the steel. ------ Yet ----

Termites in Wangaratta is a factor that influences the choice of building materials.
Weatherboards would provide them with a banquet.
In this case the owner / builder has chosen steel for cladding his house,
the same as a large number of houses here are.
Here's an example of the material used on a house next door.

Originally Posted by Ross the fiddler

Typically steel frame houses has cement sheeting, or cladding & maybe with a timber look moulded texture. That's OK if the walls are filled with 'insulwool' fibreglass batts etc. That was how a house was built for my mother in later years, but then another in the family decided it would look nice with this other cladding over the top, that plastic finish with styrofoam backing. You what happens to that near flames though? Thankfully someone else owns it now.
Of course, the steel frame house could be brick veneered though.

Thanks for that info, Ross.

[DerekW]

Please keep updating us of the build of this new house - regardless of the make of the device used to take the picture.