It has been a hectic couple of weeks.

And continuous days of beautiful sunshine means the builders are on a roll – powering ahead with construction of the roof over a new bedroom, living and dining areas.

Existing view from the kitchen

By 6.30am each morning, the builders are having their coffee at the front of my house. Being an early riser, I am usually up and about by 6am.

By 7am, the beautiful sound of tablesaws, nailguns and hammering is the natural alarm clock for Mysaucepan to get out of bed.

Area beneath the eventual elevated deck

Ant caps made from galvanized sheet metal are placed on top of the brick piers that support each wooden joist.

As termites dislike natural light, these ant caps form a physical barrier designed to force foraging termites out into the open for detection during a building inspection. They do not prevent termites entering the house but any sign of termite activity in the future is easily visible by mud tunnels that form over these shields.

These shields can also act as a barrier against rising damp from the ground.

Timber joists being installed for the elevated deck

The total area of the new deck is approximately 85 sqm that include two walkways from a new, forth bedroom and the existing third bedroom.

The appeal of this outdoor floorplan is in its square and rectangular shapes. It is easy and cost effective to work with a floorplan that does not have irregular shapes, angles and different levels. Out of the total area of 85 sqm, 40 sqm is for outdoor entertaining, 22 sqm for an in-ground jet spa pool that seats 5 people. Walkways and viewing balconies onto the backyard is 23 sqm.

In addition to this 85sqm, there is a 15 sqm area for outdoor BBQ / roasting spit and pizza oven with integrated handwash basin, hotwater and gas utilities.

Timber joists for new elevated walkway from third bedroom

My building designer advised against constructing these two walkways from the bedrooms citing costs and privacy reasons.

I disagreed with him for the following reasons:

1. Privacy to the bedrooms can be easily maintained (with low gates) and is only an issue during outdoor entertaining and that’s even if guests decide to venture to the bedrooms;

2. The new bedroom 4 (with its own ensuite) has views of the bushland and reserve. By allowing access onto the rear deck, this new bedroom can be a very elegant alternative for a master bedroom / parents or teenage retreat. For our purpose, this will be the guest room for visitors;

3. The third bedroom is currently the smallest room in the house and this room will become my home office cum study cum reading room. Because it is next to the existing master bedroom (as any good study should be), allowing access to the rear deck will invariably increase its perceived size and attractiveness. This bedroom can also be used as a nursery for families with young children. I can imagine a mother’s joy of being able to walk directly into a private deck overlooking bushland with her baby;

4. I do not see these walkways as “wasted space” because I see them as viewing balconies since they both front the reserve and eventual spa pool. With a width of 1.5m and privacy screens to shield adjoining neighbours, these viewing balconies can be further enhanced with coffee tables for two people.

Backyard being used partly for storage

Cement pavers from the previous outdoor area have been stacked up on one corner of the backyard and our BBQ has been sitting on the lawn for the last 8 weeks.

Metal railings from an old staircase has been dismantled and are lying on the lawn waiting to be disposed. The two large rainwater tanks will be installed under the rear deck.

Rainwater tanks being installed beneath elevated deck

Two 3.9-kilolitre rainwater tanks are delivered to the property on Wednesday, 31 August 2016.

New dwellings in New South Wales are required to comply with the sustainability provisions of BASIX {Building Sustainability Index).

This index aims to deliver equitable, effective water and greenhouse gas reductions across the state. BASIX is one of the strongest sustainable planning measures to be undertaken in Australia.

Rainwater tanks being installed beneath elevated deck

Accordingly, materials used to build new dwellings are required to take into consideration environmental and sustainability issues. For example, glass windows need to comply with heat retention indices to ensure efficiency in usage of heating and cooling resources.

Water sustainability calculation

Water catchment in litres is calculated by multiplying roof area in square metres with annual rainfall in millimetres.

Our new roof in the rear has an area of 88 square metres and the suburb we live in receives an annual average of 1,135mm of precipitation or 94mm per month.

Therefore, our average water catchment = 88 sqm x 94 mm = 8,272 litres of rainwater per month. This amount of rainfall should enable our rainwater tanks (total capacity 3,900 litres x 2 = 7,800 litres) to be filled to capacity on average each month. Although this is not potable water, this source is sufficient to be used for toilet flushing, gardening and car washing.

In Australia, the average person consumes approximately 200 litres of water per day or 6,000 litres per month.

Existing view from kitchen

The builders construct wooden joists over the brick piers once the rainwater tanks have been installed underneath.

Builders sawing off fibre cement sheet

Fibre cement sheets are laid over the deck area.

Check out our builder slicing off fibre cement sheet in the above video.

Due to ‘flame zone’ restrictions, exposed timber of any kind are not permitted. As we intially planned to have an elevated wooden deck, this idea has since been abandoned.

Builder slicing off a PC sheet at the edge

The choice of modern floor coverings these days has enabled me to decide on a porcelain tile with wood grain look and texture that is maintenance-free compared to the need to resurface and stain a wooden deck every few years.

Existing colorbond roof next to be demolised

We have come to the stage where the old extention roof at the rear of the house can be demolished.

Check out the demolition of this old roof in the video above.

New frames being erected

The northwest corner of house was previously a garden bed that was a “dead corner” as it was at the side of the house and not usable at all. This area has been “squared off” to form part of the new fourth bedroom.

By far the biggest gain floor space is to turn unusable space into highly usable areas.

Area for new bedroom 4

As mentioned above, the new fourth bedroom with its own ensuite will have sliding doors opening into the elevated deck. I foresee this to be a highly desirable alternative master bedroom, parents or teenage retreat.

We will be using this as a guest bedroom.

New 7.4 metre beam being installed by a crane

The ceiling in the old living areas were only 2.45m high. As the old roof is demolished, this area will have 2.7m ceilings to be flushed with the other areas of the house.

There will be a seamless transition between the existing area of the house with the new extension without visible ceiling beams. This is achieved by installing a 7.4 metre beam that sits on load bearing walls between our new kitchen area.

Check out the crane used to lift and install the heavy 7.4 metre beam over the roof of the house.

Old roof tiles in the skip bin

Old roof tiles and all other building and demolition rubble are placed in skip bins for disposal. These bins are not cheap and my builder is conscious to ensure maximum usage by managing the timing and quantity of demolition and rubble disposal. This practice minimizes the cost of rubbish disposal.

Check out how a fully loaded skip bin is lifted and taken off site for disposal of its building rubble.

Roof rafters for the new extension – southeast view

A new roof with 2.7 metre ceilings is being constructed in replacement of the old roof.

Roof rafters for the new extension – eastern view

2.4 metre high sliding doors will be installed for the areas opening onto the elevated deck to create a seamless transition between the indoor and outdoor areas.

Roof rafters for the new extension – western view

Wall frames

Wall frames between new bedroom 4 and living area

New walls will be sarked to improve heat retention in winter and minimize heat gain in summer. It will also minimize noise penetration between the living areas and the bedroom.

Roof rafters over the new dining area

There is approximately 12 metres of space opening into the outdoor deck. This is to create the feel of open spaces when these 2.4 metre high sliding doors are opened.

Plywood for the roof and eaves delivered

Due to bushfire ratings, outdoor eaves and ceilings will be cladded with plywood, gyprock and fibre cement sheets.

New roof rafters being bolted down

We have been having some glorious weather and it is a beautiful spring day when these plywood sheets are being nailed onto the roof rafters.

Installing plywood over roof rafters

Our builder is directing proceedings on the roof.

New roof rafters and plywood cover

Glorious sunshine is beaming from the eastern side of the house this spring morning.

New 6 degree roof rafters over the rear of the property

The front of the house has a north eastern aspect that enjoys all day sun.

View over the neighbour’s backyard

Our neighbours have a neatly maintained bush that borders the rear of their backyard with the bushland reserve.

Standing on the new roof and a view of the backyard

I take a photo of the backyard from the new roof.

The newly replanted palm on the top of the image above has some dead branches. I hope this palm will survive in its new location.

Majestic gum tree in the reserve adjoining the backyard

I fell in love with this gum tree when I first sat foot in our backyard more than a year ago.

I plan to illuminate this beautiful tree with spot lights from the ground to provide a serene backdrop for the elevated deck.

Builders on the roof

Builders Scott and Adam sharing a light moment on the new roof.

The construction of the new state-of-the-art Northern Beaches Hospital can be seen in the distant horizon.

Plywood going up onto the roof

Apprentice tradie Tom is passing up sheets of plywood to Scott and Adam.

Up with the rafters

The area of this new roof is approximately 88 square metres.

New facade taking shape

I hope this good weather continues as we head towards certification for framing and lock-up stage of construction.

Stay tuned for more updates in due course.

As I took the steps leading down to the backyard for the very first time, I sensed a good feeling.

It is a feeling that comes when all you hear is the gentle rustling of giant gum trees and the choir of cockatoos, kookaburras, minors and crickets. And as I would later discover, the shy feral rabbits nibbling away in the garden would soon become the conduits I was so fervently seeking. For they do a better job than me in bringing a smile to her face every morning, cajouling Mysaucepan into this tranquility she finds so foreign compared to city living.

They say one needs to be “in tune” with oneself to feel alive. I know I am in tune with myself when I am surrounded by the greenery of nature … white creamy magnolias and birds of paradise blooming in the sparkling sunshine. I was born in the year of the wood dragon after all, so I am supposed to like these kind of things, aren’t I?

Perhaps it is the fragrance of white jasmine curling its way up the wall next to the red entrance door last spring. Or the backyard we enjoyed so many BBQs last summer. For the very first time, I feel the rays of the autumn sun bursting through these windows onto my back as I pen this post from my bedroom. I love cold weather anyway so perhaps there is little wonder I look forward to winter every year. But this year, the warmth of the winter sun will be radiating through our northern-eastern lounge room every morning. Perhaps it is all of these things and much more that have drawn me to this house.

Much more because I am about to embark on major renovations and additions. I foresee a stressful time, especially for Mysaucepan. It is challenging enough when we have major, and I mean Really. Major. Dog. Fights. over an issue as small as the shape and size of the bathroom tiles for our new ensuite let alone colours. And by colours, I mean different shades of white, turquoise and magenta. I have heard horror stories about home renovations breaking up marriages and why shouldn’t they when we cannot even agree on whether it’s going to be white polyurathane for her or earthy wood panelling for me, blond spotted gum floorboards for her or giant black slate tiles for me.

My dear sister-in-law once told me … “There can only be one captain on the ship and that captain is your brother. He makes all the key decisions for our family.”

For Mysaucepan and I, we could not even agree on where to live in Sydney let alone “dragging me here to the sticks”, as she would call it. How could it be, I say, when we are merely ten minutes from Chatswood? But over the last eight months, as I observe her from a distance pruning the rose bush, agapanthus and hydrangeas on Sunday mornings, I can sense that perhaps she is, albeit slowly, making the transition from seeing this place merely as a house to being our new home. But for whichever tile, colour or texture that we so violently argue and fight over, I know in my heart that I love her dearly.

This new blog will become a journal for our lives over the next few months and beyond.

But unlike our food blog ChopinandMysaucepan, 11 trigalana place will document and share our home renovation trials and tribulations, choice of building materials, our favourite tradies, interior design, gardening and the family lifestyle around the north shore and northern beaches of Sydney. There will be loads of before-and-after pics of our renovations for DIY and home renovation enthusiasts. I know we will most likely throw in the odd home recipe for good measure because Mysaucepan and I are both avid home cooks. We can hardly wait to share our escapes from our new kitchen with all of you!

However, my mission for the next few months is to ensure I get to toast a glass of champagne with you from our brand new backyard deck by Christmas 2016. It’s a tall order considering I have yet to engage a builder let alone decide on the myriad of building materials … colours, shapes, sizes and all with so many suppliers though I am firmly holding an approved Development Application (DA) in my hand.

Please join us in our home renovation journey because it is my hope that Mysaucepan will soon discover the method in my madness and eventually be fully “in tune” with this serenity I call home. Alas, I cannot consider this home unless she see it as her home too. Until such time, I have my work cut out but I know it will be all worthwhile when we finally wipe the dust off our new kitchen benchtop and call this place our home.

Best,

Chopinand