Palm Tree
Cape Town
Posts: 1450
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:40 pm Post subject: House Progress and Garden Regress |
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I am starting this thread with the hope of keeping all the stewbies up to date with the progress on my house renovations.
The whole process started in 2008 already when I had plans drawn up for extensive renovations to my house.
The plan is to take the whole roof off and add a new storey to the house instead of taking up valuable gardening space to extend the house.
Needless to say - the start was extremely slow in that I had to submit the plans to the local council for approval. At long last the approval was granted and we could start inMarch 2010.
First up was the Garage - I needed a place to stay while they take the roof off.
No glitches and the garage was done and I moved in.
House ready for the builders to start 'plundering'
This is what the house looks like now:
Rooftiles on the cobbles ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
This is LP watching from a distance wondering where is she going to swim when the hot weather hits us.
Little Pan (LP) watching from a distance ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
The lawn already looks terrible - I shudder to think what else must still be sacrificed.
Snoopy and LP fishing for a game ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
However, there is always something to make me smile. My pets probably sensed that I was feeling agitated and quickly got me out of a bad mood. Moree photos next time - there is such a lot, but I have to help hubby quickly.
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Netty
 Regular Plants Contributor
Southern Ontario zone 5a
Posts: 10307
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like a HUGE job! I can't wait to see the end result!
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Palm Tree
Cape Town
Posts: 1450
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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Oh Netty
I was almost asking myself why did I take on this venture?
We will probably have to wait till May-June 2011 to see the end result.
But I will try and post some piccies on a daiy basis.
The stewbies will then be part of the process in this way. It will definitely help me cope if I can share the feelings that I will experience. 
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Palm Tree
Cape Town
Posts: 1450
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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This is what is left of the front lawn.
Front 'lawn' ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
The gutters are gone:
Gutters removed. ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
And so is the roof:
Roofless ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
As you can see the French doors are newly fitted and new window frames too.
The old corner window was taken out.
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eileen
Forum Moderator
Scotland
Posts: 18528
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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I love topics like this where we get to see the progress being made. All the inconvenience is going to be well worth it once the job is completed.
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marlingardener
Central Texas, zone 8
Posts: 2379
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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In a few years the inconvenience and the mess will be distant memories, and you'll be living in your gorgeous renovated/renewed/remodeled home with a fantastic garden.
We have renovated three older homes and I haven't killed a contractor, roofer, or plumber yet. The temptation was there, though! I can laugh at most of the incidents now (most) so hang in there, and you'll be very happy soon!
Thank you for keeping us posted on your progress.
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Sjoerd
West - Friesland
Posts: 7021
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| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 1:02 am Post subject: |
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I am going to like this thread, Palmpje. I like to follow progress. I do worry about your plants and lawn.
But--what an undertaking. I take my hat off to you for going through with the plan.
It was smart to go upwards instead of outwards, loosing more garden space as you said. Good planning. I hope that the guys will work competently and quickly.
Keep the pics coming.
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Palm Tree
Cape Town
Posts: 1450
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| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:44 am Post subject: |
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Hi there MarlinGardener
THank you so much for those encouraging words.
I will hang on to this thought. Incidently - in last year we had a house built and I actually posted a blog entry on it complaining about the 'finished product'
Only in hindsight I can laugh at it. In the mean time we have tennants living there else I could have moved in there for the duration of the renovations.
| Quote: | In a few years the inconvenience and the mess will be distant memories, and you'll be living in your gorgeous renovated/renewed/remodeled home with a fantastic garden.
We have renovated three older homes and I haven't killed a contractor, roofer, or plumber yet. The temptation was there, though! I can laugh at most of the incidents now (most) so hang in there, and you'll be very happy soon!
Thank you for keeping us posted on your progress. |
I actually want to keep an eye on exactly what is happening hence the decision to stay 'on site'in the garage. THough stressful it will be.
But I will hold on to your words of encouragement.
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Palm Tree
Cape Town
Posts: 1450
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| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:59 am Post subject: |
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Oh Sjoerd
"Wat het my besiel?"
| Quote: | I am going to like this thread, Palmpje. I like to follow progress. I do worry about your plants and lawn.
But--what an undertaking. I take my hat off to you for going through with the plan.
It was smart to go upwards instead of outwards, loosing more garden space as you said. Good planning. I hope that the guys will work competently and quickly. |
I have no choice now but to go through with the plan.
It is sort of a compromise - make ample space in town for the whole family to live comfortable together in one house or save for a long time to get a farm..
THe plan is rather ambitious and maybe a bit over the top for the area where I live.
The house will have:
downstairs: 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms (one en-suite)
the kitchen, lounge, dining room and famliy room leading out onto the patio at the back overlooking the pool.
upstairs will be 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms (one en-suite)
a small home gymnasium, a study / office room and a family room that leads onto the balcony.
I too hope that the works will continue as planned without delays from the local authorities like we had earlier on - would you believe it - a six week delay due to their lack of efficiency.
But enough said for now I will post some piccies later in the day to show what has been achieved.
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Palm Tree
Cape Town
Posts: 1450
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| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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The pool has been covered and just in time too. THey are taking the ceilings out. (Ooh just dust and debris everywhere.
My children looking at the pool being covered ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
Hi Sjoerd it is rather disconcerting to see that little speck of grass especially since last season when I so diligently followed TOni's advice of a while back on how to scarrify grass.
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KK Ng
Malacca, Malaysia.
Posts: 1291
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| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Palm Tree, I took more than two years to renovate my house when I bought 21 years ago. It took me that long because I had time during the weekends and public holidays to do it. About 70% of it was done by myself alone to save cost 
Don't worry about the garden everything will fall into place when it is done. It is a good choice to build up to save garden space. Have fun!!!
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Sjoerd
West - Friesland
Posts: 7021
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| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:40 am Post subject: |
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Oh yes--of course after taking Toni's advice, it makes it all the more disconcerting. Tch!
Well, with the roof finally coming off, I suppose that they will begin with creating the walls of your next level right away, Right?
This is pretty exciting to follow, I must say.
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Palm Tree
Cape Town
Posts: 1450
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| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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Well they say it is progress even though it may look look like progress. The whole roof is off now and (Note to the self -I must take a piccie and post next time around) the solar panels are on the floor
Two solar heating panels and six more to go. ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
and amongst all the commotion some thing that made me smile!
A blooming Strelitzia reginae and some strawberries.
Strelitzia reginae ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
Strawberry flowers ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
and now my broadest smile for the day:
Cycas revoluta with new growth ( photo / image / picture from Palm Tree's Garden )
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marlingardener
Central Texas, zone 8
Posts: 2379
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| Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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Isn't it wonderful how our gardens cheer us when we need it? Your pictures are great! Is the Strelitzia reginae what I know as "Bird of Paradise?" Whatever it is, it is beautiful!
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