Week 13-14: Only Slug trails remain. The case of the disappearing bricklayers (20-31 July)
Two weeks into bricklaying we thought things were going slowly... now they just are not going at all. Only slug trails remain as evidence of our bricklayers and from the start of week 11 (20/7) they just didn't show up. One small flicker of excitement was electricians installing a private pole for our telecoms.
Scaffolding was delivered on Friday 24/7 (was due for Wed delivery) and thankfully the scaffolding guys worked through their Saturday to get it erected and make up for lost time.
Delivered...
Erected
To no avail sadly as week 12 the bricklayer only showed up one day... and then only because the site supervisor was meeting him there! That day bricks were distributed around all the scaffolding ready for laying... but no actual laying of bricks. The original plan was to expect 1-2 (week 11-12) weeks to brick downstairs, then they disappear for 1-2 days while the scaffolding goes up, then back or a couple of weeks for bricks upstairs (Week 13-14). Unfortunately, we are still at the stage of being bricked only to under window height (about a third of the job if that?).
At least the bricks were placed on scaffolding?
Bricks to the rear of the house (alfresco at left) still below windows.
Maybe they were just too cold to keep working? Apparently they were cold enough to light a bonfire on our site... with our bricks?! Hope they made a nice damper and billy tea or something so it was worth their while.
More bricks distributed around scaffolds on the low/east side of the house - in a tempt that maybe one day they will actually be laid!
It is hard to describe just how disappointing it is to turn into our street loaded with excitement and see zero progress and no sign of any trades. Our site supervisor is doing his best, he's now got the Construction Manager involved but the tradies just aren't showing up. He says he never gets this problem with his Central coast trades, seems to be a Sydney trades issue. I guess if they find a job closer to home or better paid they give it preference. We've offered to tip in extra cash incentives to get his usual coastal crew to travel to Sydney and get the job done faster.
We've found it especially sad to see no progress because we sold our townhouse at auction last weekend and will be renting elsewhere until the build is complete... and that end date feels further away than ever and we're feeling a bit homeless.
In one happy upside, we got a great price for our sale and we are celebrating by adding a fireplace to our living room in the open plan space to the rear of the house. Its something we have always dreamt of having as the heart of our house but just couldn't find the budget.
SO, to happier news, THE FIREPLACE in my next post.
And hopefully soon more news to report on bricklaying progress.
Scaffolding was delivered on Friday 24/7 (was due for Wed delivery) and thankfully the scaffolding guys worked through their Saturday to get it erected and make up for lost time.
Delivered...
Erected
At least the bricks were placed on scaffolding?
Maybe they were just too cold to keep working? Apparently they were cold enough to light a bonfire on our site... with our bricks?! Hope they made a nice damper and billy tea or something so it was worth their while.
More bricks distributed around scaffolds on the low/east side of the house - in a tempt that maybe one day they will actually be laid!
It is hard to describe just how disappointing it is to turn into our street loaded with excitement and see zero progress and no sign of any trades. Our site supervisor is doing his best, he's now got the Construction Manager involved but the tradies just aren't showing up. He says he never gets this problem with his Central coast trades, seems to be a Sydney trades issue. I guess if they find a job closer to home or better paid they give it preference. We've offered to tip in extra cash incentives to get his usual coastal crew to travel to Sydney and get the job done faster.
We've found it especially sad to see no progress because we sold our townhouse at auction last weekend and will be renting elsewhere until the build is complete... and that end date feels further away than ever and we're feeling a bit homeless.
In one happy upside, we got a great price for our sale and we are celebrating by adding a fireplace to our living room in the open plan space to the rear of the house. Its something we have always dreamt of having as the heart of our house but just couldn't find the budget.
SO, to happier news, THE FIREPLACE in my next post.
And hopefully soon more news to report on bricklaying progress.
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