Well, on Thursday (19Jan) the master builder told us that part of the house needed underpinning. We were not permitted onsite unless he was present as it would void all manner of insurance and OH&S policies. No way I was headed in there!
So, this morning we met with him to walk through the first week of work, discuss any issues and review plans for the week ahead.
I’m amazed at how much the two guys got done in those first five days. The photos speak for themselves. Major items since last check-in:
- old timber decking has disappeared – yay!
- kitchen fireplace gonnnnne
- doorway into kitchen re-cut and concrete lintel in place
- large steel support poles everywhere keeping upstairs…. upstairs
- two holes in the kitchen floor.
Yes, those two holes. Exploratory works by the builder to confirm integrity of the concrete slab/subfloor below. Being a ye olde house, we knew some dodginess would be uncovered. Tiles glued to floorboards which were nailed to joists just sitting on dirt (read: termite risk!) was the first $urpri$e – a $4970 $urpri$e (to lay a new concrete slab and do it properly). 
First major hit to contingency funds.
(Oh… I ordered the dishwasher and microwave from Appliances Online on Friday. They’ll be delivered on Tuesday)
