Project Regent

It’s Day 16. Well Day 15 really. Sorta. No, today is Day 16, but concrete came on Day 15. Just when we were out there it was far too dark to take photos - but we had concrete. Woo!

We met our Site Supervisor today out at the block, so had a chat about the slab, what happens next, when they’re planning on doing things, and so on, so it’s full steam ahead. So full steam in fact that the carpenters were out today and we have our frame laying around the slab. Yes, we have wood of various lengths, sizes, widths and weights scattered on the block which makes up our frame - and we were quite surprised to find out that Porter Davis construct the frame on-site (excluding the truss), rather than pre-built frames like other builders. Personally, we had never seen the frame go up on a Porter Davis home - we seem to discover them when the frame is up and the facade framework clearly shows it’s a Regent. But he said we should see the frame up next week sometime - so that’s making it even more real.

One last piece for the slab - they are going to resurface the top due to, well, I don’t really know what the cause is - I know the problem - there’s some discolouration on the top “coat” of the slab, which extends to the alfresco area, and for quality and aesthetics, they’re just going to re-do the top “coat” to give a better finish, so I assume that’s happening in the next day or so - so, of course, the frame can go up. Weee!

Looking in from the Portico

It's one hiiiigh slab...

Part of our frame

S-Day + 1 is complete, and unfortunately still no concrete. Our giant Lego construction kit of polystyrene, steel and plastic connectors is completed, so just needing the concrete now.

We still have one curiosity - how the heck does the concrete stay in place? Sure, sure, there’s the wooden beams around the outside, but there are holes down at ground level. Something surely keeps it in place while it all dries, so maybe we’ll see exactly how it’s done over the weekend.

Completed Lego Construction

Looking over the garage

Our lamp post

Well… our Slab Day is drawing to an end, with less than 3 hours until Day 12, S-Day+1, it’s unfortunate that our Slab hasn’t actually been laid yet. The Porter Davis 24/7 portal still says our base is complete, but quite clearly, this isn’t the case.

Our base Lego construction of polystyrene blocks and steel work is almost 50% complete, and then the concrete pouring, with the back half of the house almost done. Fingers crossed this will be completed tomorrow and concrete can be poured. Given the setup of polystyrene and metal work is not fixed to the ground at all and the weather has been a tad windy recently, I have the feeling the concrete will get poured soon - i.e. fingers crossed tomorrow. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking, but it would be great to get back on track.

Polystyrene Lego Construction

Halfway there...

Pipes through the metalwork

Bathroom Pipework

A look at the setup

Sunset over 1317

Well it’s the day before the slab is to be laid, and the framing for the foundation has been started.

Our UFOs have come a little closer down to earth, with all our pipes treated with the termite protection system. Which, well, we really don’t know what that means - the pipes have a little pink skirt now, so maybe it’s that, but all pipes have a bright yellow sticker telling us they’ve been termite proofed.

With tomorrow our concrete day (apparently), all that remains is the unpacking of our large polystyrene cubes into the frame, layering with remaining steel frames and then pour the concrete.

So guess where we’re going tomorrow afternoon?

One thing is a little strange though. It appears that Porter Davis 24/7 is stuck in a timewarp, as apparently the slab has already been laid, but is still dated as tomorrow. Whoops.

1317 takes shape...

Frame Supports

Portico and Block

Portico and living area

Across the alfresco to the bathroom

Corner to the Alfresco - frame and clips

Supporting the frame

A look at the rear corner detail

A look at the pipes... with lowered UFOs

It’s day 9. It’s the week of our slab being laid. And we have a sensational construction kit - I had to work so hard to restrain myself from getting out the instruction manual and starting putting it all together. But alas, my Lego skills will be staying small scale for this project.

And by Thursday, we should be seeing some concrete. Weeee!

Benched: From the front

Benched: From the rear

Bedroom: it looks very, very small...

Our Foundation Construction Kit

Polystyrene Blocks

Our foundation Lego kit

Safety from the wind