October 24, 2009

The guys have been going hard getting things done. As you can see the whole front wall is up and a big section of the bathroom wall is up. This is saturday and I was lucky enough to hang out up there to see how it is done. It is amazing how little time it actually takes to do the ramming, and how long it takes to setup.

Jason and Chops (sorry mate, I never caught your real name) bucketing in the earth and compacting it down.


Aaron doing the mix of concrete and earth. He really loved driving the bobcat and was good at it too.

By 7:30pm it was all done. Just have to pull the shutters off on monday and finished.

Sunset from Ella's bedroom.

The earth has a nice warm glow from the sun. This is the outside / inside area.

Looking down the stairwell.

A big thanks to Aaron, Jason and Chops (sorry again) who worked at a crazy pace to get this done. Not only were they hard workers but great blokes also. Also thanks to Digby who made it happen so quick. Cheers guys. Enjoy the skids Aaron.

October 23, 2009

The wall behind the fishpond and interior for downstairs toilet and ella's bedroom.

Second block of the front room. This is next to the front door.

The first block drying out. We have had sunshine with 26 degrees for a few days now.

Starting to take shape.

October 22, 2009

Our first block. Weird seeing it suspended up high. As far as we know this hasn't been done in SA before.

On the inside of the lounge room, and yes this is how we are leaving it.


The earth in the shutters of the first 900 behind the fishpond.

October 21, 2009

Very excited today, all the equipment was dropped off for the rammed earth to start. The pile of dirt is the colour. In the front corners are the shutters going up for the first block.


Preparing for the shutters to go up on the back of the pond.

October 19, 2009

Looking down at the driveway from lounge, soon it will be blocked out with the rammed earth.

Nice afternoon light.

October 16, 2009

Finished front floor underneath

Just a bit more to do on the top. Has been raining again.

Wet and muddy again. At least the state water supplies are back to 100%

While it has been raining I have been painting all the underneath of the house black.

October 15, 2009

The front section of the house finally going in.

Painting all the black was a pain but looks great.

October 2, 2009

The floor is on! Good to see the space finally. Looks bigger but I know that from drawing it is still not massive which is good. Just the height gives it that impression.



The floor, looking from back bedroom across bathroom, laundry and main bedroom with Ella's bedroom to left.
Wet areas.

Distant views from main bedroom. It turned out to be a lot higher off the ground than expected.
Not that we are complaining.

October 1, 2009

The builders are here finally. They have been working solid on another house and haven't been up since the steel work. Getting way behind in schedule because of the other house and rain.
Still looking for xmas move in but not looking promising.

Floor framing, looking forward to getting up there and walking around.

September 29, 2009

Started painting the beams in enamel but rain once again put an end to that. At least we got to all the areas that the joist are being layed.

We are going to wait for the builder to finish before we paint the bottom sections because of scratching.

September 12, 2009

Concrete sleepers and poles in, these will be painted in the meantime but hidden by the walls eventually. It is set back so the poles can be exposed when we do the walls, They are too nice to cover up.

August 20, 2009

2nd of 3 retaining walls being built. This will eventually enclose the bottom section.


Area dug out under the house ready for the poles to go in.