PEX & GLASS

The 'Jigger'. When you finally get one, it's hard to let go.

The hydronic, (aka 'PEX' or 'Rehau'), heating pipe is amazingly robust and bendable. Many doomsayers have insisted that i would end up with a big knot. I can see how that may happen, but it didn't happen to me. The same jigger and wire ties hold down the pipe to the steel. Time for glass and a lesson it it from Merinda & Graham at Tudor Rose Glass. Going to Kingston is a scary business, but not this time. We come away with knowledge and a cuppla hundred dollars of beautiful mixed glass to ponder and smash.

Channelling Paul Boam from 2D design class, we "PUSH IT 'ROUND, PUSH IT 'ROUND".

There is a lot to the glass business. We have learned that any old glass won't necessarily hold up to a grind and polish. Thanks for the marbles offer Wendy, but don't lose them yet!

steel

A switch to foil tape is a winner.

Nubco is a weird world.

Steel down! Pex next.

Cladding arrives. It stinks.

more BULLSHIT

Just when we thought we were getting there.....
Our wonderful engineer insists on a strengthening trench. So up comes the styro & plastic and in goes another $%#%*ing trench. This adds 3 days and no one dares look us in the eye.
We are at our lowest ebb.

Slab prep

The formwork has held up against the wet weather. All service pipes are disappearing under 7mm and a bit of FCR. I have decided on a straight edge for my turn down.
The lousy slab plan I commissioned totally ignored my specific requests, - 30mm insulation and a 19mm hydronic pipe laid over the reinforcing mesh. We compensated by making everything 30mm deeper and wider. this accommodated the styro under, but not around the perimeter. I will have to install that after the formwork comes down! GRRR!
I have also increased the 110mm slab depth by 20mm by laying a pine strip around the formwork perimeter. This will allow cover for the hydronic pipe.

I have been thoroughly bullshitted by certain individuals through this project. I think it is something to do with me wanting more than their skill set can deal with. To make things worse, they won't ever admit they have fucked up, leaving problems to compound and get worse.

I suspect the slab design is also 'over specced'. I reckon the logic goes...... 'he's a bloody owner builder and bound to muck it up, so to stay on the safe side, lets make his footings TWICE the depth a regular builder would require'. 

straight edge

patented boot technique

All plastic down with 'hospital corners'

FAT SAND

Andrew Dalby is a rare fellow. He actually turned up and helped!

There are simply NO water penetration points.

'it looks like a big eski'

electric boogaloo

Allocca Electrical have laid three conduits under the path and into the slab.
The first is for electricity, the second is for 'phone & ethernet. The third is a speaking tube, - you know, like they have in submarines.

these cutters resemble birds

a work of art

new moon on the pour date

right tool for the right job

Libatore Allocca & Domenic Allocca

after the w a i t . . .

Neil & Tom - plumbers to the stars

2 months of excrutiating delays that i just don't want to talk about.

today we have progress!
plumbers Neil & Tom are on the plot and laying sewer, storm and more!

because some plumbing and cabling run under the slab, we can't move ahead until the first services are laid.

having a slab means making plumbing and other decisions now rather than later.
precisely locating all services is necessary.
toilet, and shower drain have had to be chosen and bought uncomfortably early.

shower drains are an expensive rip off. $500 + for a 1200mm long shower drain at a local plumbing supplier!


Vincent Buda to the rescue! $233 delivered.

shower drain

http://stores.ebay.com.au/Vincent-Buda-and-Company/1200mm-Shower-Drain-/_i.html?_fsub=1518097017&_sid=438754157&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Materials round up

Steel frame construction constructed by 'Rainbow

'

Insulation
Foam
The 60 ISOLITE Rmax Styro sheets 2500 x 1200 x 30mm have arrived.
My sloppy maths reckon about 113m2 of building area - windows;
plus 30m2 slab and maybe 30 for trench & perimeter;
= 180m2 ?
any extra will go to the stables project, so I dont mind being a bit over.
Can you tell me with accuracy the total surface wall + roof area?

I settled for EXP - (expanded foam), rather than XPS - (extruded).
About $10 pm2 vs $20m2. It wasn't just the cost.
Extruded is a nasty process that keeps on leaking fumes and the added 'R' value doesn't justify the added price.
It is however brilliant with direct and prolonged water contact.
With this in mind I will use a sheet or 2 of the Extruded stuff, (URSA), for a couple of key areas, namely the PSI, (perimeter slab insulation),
particularly at the south and west sides of the slab, and a couple of under slab spots that will need to go before the plastic.
The PSI will be covered by concrete sheet, (unless you have a better suggestion).

Unlike URSA, the Isolite will tolerate some moisture but doesn't really like it.
It does not like getting soaked during the build.
I want to add a foil wrap barrier over the foam and under the cladding.
I am still researching which one. Air vs vapour etc etc.

Slab
I know you ain't ordering this next stuff, but just fyi.....
Today I go to REECE to get a roll of REHAU 19mm x 200m hydronic heating pipe.
Nubco & Tooltrends for the REO, Trench Mesh, Bar Stools, Plastic, Reinforcing bars, & Ties.

Concrete polishing of the slab has sadly been dropped to maintain schedule.

Site prep contractors Earthworm are champing at the bit.
They can't get going until the plumber, Phil Shepperd of Shepperd Bros., drops in his sub slab pipes.

Electrician Liberatore Allocca of Allocca Electrical Contractors will have a look this afternoon 3:30 to advise of his under slab requirements.

Windows

The Polar website has a handy layout 

& instant quote maker

Polarview
The windows order kept getting passed about from lame staff member to even lamer staff member at Bunnings Moonah.
So I switched the order to the Rosny store instead.
It's a way smaller store and they lodged the order and took a deposit in the one afternoon.
They should arrive in 2 weeks.
They are double glazed, meet the WERS ratings and are black. (not the glass bit).

Cladding and flashings
I keep being advised to not use the cheaper stuff and go for the Evolution clad.
Master carpenter friend Lars, says the painted on primer applied for cuts is not enough.
He also adds that some well used flashing materials chemically react with the blah blah chromium arsenate? (or whatever the preservatives are).
He says use stainless steel flashings where possible to avoid this.

Preprimed & grooved, yes.

So,
how much extra to substitute Evolution clad?
how much extra to substitute SS flashings?

Roof & gutters
colour? charcoal?

Down pipes
are they white plastic?
is there an alternative?

Window trims & Corners
I expect this timber will be the same for each task and I don't know much else about these.

Contractors
Missing Link Cabins


hard researched resources

Radiant floor heating nicely explained by the Oregonese.
Over and over, the best sources of information for our project is written out of Canberra, here or Oregon, USA

slab insulation
forum on slab insulation using Expanded styro vs Exstruded Styro