I Pick the Worst Days !!

The start of the week was quit "balmy" in the mid 20's and with the air conditioner on it was quite pleasant in the "house".
The other side from the kitchen needed some squaring up and finishing off.
So the first piece of laminate was then "soudal"-ed in position with the appropriate cutout for the switch panel.





















The panel next to it was also fitted and cut out. The lower opening will have the "return air" grille for the air conditioner and the opening above will be a cupboard (use at this time not determined - but you can never have too much storage).





















That's it for the laminate except for the kitchen splash back which will be fitted over the sink/stove bench after that is installed.

So I decided to start on the "contra" for Sich while he organises the cupboards.

I'm doing some "wrought iron" work which is more in my line of metalwork but does require a lot of welding - so what happens - a string of 37deg. days with thunderstorms meaning 99% humidity. Just the thing while you're welding!!

So nothing much will happen for a week or so now while the cupboards are built elsewhere - but then (hopefully) dramatic advances!!

Dirty Diesel Done My Week . . .

"What a stupid place to breakdown!"

How many times have you heard that said about some poor individual stuck out in the middle of the road at rush hour?

Well that was me stuck in that stupid place .... (but it wasn't my choice!!).

A gradual loss of power meant that I could actually manoeuvre to the side of the road so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. But of course I wasn't carrying the usual breakdown tools - drills, glue and screws don't help that much. The essential ones however I did have - the mobile phone and a friend willing to bring me the correct ones.
I have never seen such a clogged fuel filter. An on the spot clean only managed to get me a further 500m down the road before it stopped again. So off to the truck dealer for a new one (and a couple of spares). The new one got me home again and didn't seem to collect any more "gunk" but I wasn't prepared to risk it again so both of the long range tanks were drained and inspected but not a drop more contamination was found.
"Ain't that always the way?"
So a couple of days wasted, a workshop covered in diesel fuel and a lesson learned.
Back to something more agreeable.

The bathroom handbasin mounting being prepared for laminating
















and all laminated - held on with contact, Soudal and masking tape.
















While waiting for all that to set and some ordered drawer slides to arrive I took the opportunity to make one of the under floor storage areas a little more accessible by adding some "handles" to get the lid up.
Details, details, details .....

































Still no draw slides so start in the kitchen area.
Add a few strengthening batons into the wall and secure the plumbing with a few extra brackets etc.





















Fit the wall panel and make some cutouts in case the plumbing needs attention at a later date - these will have panels covering them later.





















Test fit the melamine and make the corresponding cutouts





















and "glue" and fix it all in place.





















Sich and I are doing a number of swaps including I am doing some metalwork for him and he is making cupboards for me.
Hopefully some major progress in the near future !!

So What Happened to Last Week ???

I remember now.

Buying and selling real estate took up most of the week.

Not that I actually managed to accomplish it - most of the week was spent trying to prevent the Government criminals taking all they can lay their hands on!

I'm not getting into it here but I distinctly remember Stamp Duty as one of the taxes that was supposed to be reduced with the introduction of GST. The bureaucratic robbery that is taking place now because of poorly worded legislation is almost beyond belief. What I can't understand is how the politicians convince the public servants to become quite so predatory in their approach to assessment.

OK. OK. I know I said I wouldn't . . . .

So what did get done . . .

A little bit of preparatory work in the electrical department.
This motley collection of switches and dials is adjacent to the bathroom/toilet area - it seemed an appropriate place and was convenient to most of the things controlled or monitored. The problem lies in that each manufacturer supplies a completely different type of dial or switch.
Top Left - air conditioning
Top Right - light/fan in bathroom
Bottom Left - Water Tanks
Bottom Right - Hot Water System
(the toilet tank monitor is on the other side of the wall next to the toilet - I'm not sure what you are supposed to do if you forget to look at the monitor before you go - but it's going to be quite a dilemma sitting there looking at the red light that says the toilet tank is full and the system wont flush :) )
















On the other side of the wall however is integrated luxury.
Supposed to be the best that money can buy.
If there is one thing you need when deprived of all other luxuries is good toilet and bathing facilities.





















The camera is having a hard time focusing on all he white and chrome but hopefully you can make out the "el swisho" hardware. . .

From the other side it looks like this . . .





















The flexible plumbing pipe and push in fittings makes installation fairly easy without having to solder in all sorts of elbows etc..
This wall gets covered in when the kitchen is built (with the appropriate access holes cut in the back of the cupboards in case anything ever springs a leak).

A start has also been made on the handbasin which will be mounted in a drawer at the back of the toilet so it won't get in the way while sitting but can then be pulled out and used to wash one's hands. A bit esoteric I know but it makes best use of the room available.
In order to go back into place and not get in the way while being used the spigot can be raised and lowered for use and storage.
So UP
















and DOWN . . .
















I wasn't going to mount them until required but the solar panels started to get in the way while being stored (read "tucked in a corner") so I decided to mount them to get them out of the way.
















The mounting system seems a little bit primitive but I am assured that this is the way to do it.
An aluminium angle is riveted all along each side.
Apparently the panels need air circulation underneath so they have to be raised a bit.
It seems a little strange as the panel itself is maybe 15mm thick mounted in a special frame which is about 70mm high with mounting holes punched into the bottom edge???
If these mounting holes are meant to be used why not cut slots into the frame to allow air to circulate freely and also to allow access to the mounting holes which currently are on the "inside" of the frame and not accessible when the frame is mounted on a solid surface.
To obvious? I don't know! It's all beyond me . . .
































The whole thing is then lifted onto the roof and "Soudaled" in place and screwed down about every 100m. Unfortunately there were only about 3 or 4 places each side where the screws actually went into the steel frame but better than none at all.
I'm told that this will be plenty strong enough - but nobody is giving written guarantees . . .
















The suppliers of the electrical system will make the actual connections through the junction box previously mounted.

I couldn't resist putting meter across the connections while the panel was sitting on the bench about 10m from the open door.
27.9 Vdc quite impressive.
I'm not sure I understand it but by my calculations my fridges use about 1500watt.hr/day and the panels are rated 175watts. If they are out in reasonable sun for about 8hr/day that should be about 2800watt.hr max. from the two panels. But the experts tell me they won't keep the batteries fully charged - I know there are losses etc. and the Engels may be a bit "hungrier" than I expect but that 's quite a difference.
I guess I can only wait and see . . .

Slow Sat. / Sun. . .

Seems like both Sich and I were feeling a little worn down over the weekend so progress was slow but steady.
Access panel behind toilet was made and fitted prior to putting in toilet pedestal as there really isn't much room once everything is installed.
It only requires water to be connected (the little cutout in the access panel is for the hose to come through) and a last little bit of waste pipe to be obtained and fitted and it will be functional!!
It is a shame but you can only buy it in 1000mm lengths - and all I need is the 100mm from the end with the O-ring seal - I'll have to get that Monday.
A trim seal can then be fitted around the pipe as it goes through the floor to neaten that up and it'll be done.























The shower base still needs the last of the fibreglass release agent cleaned off but that is also ready to go - almost.
The kitchen sink waste will end up joining up with the shower waste so I am going to wait to see just where that ends up before I connect it as I ended up installing the toilet and water pump twice as getting pipes where you need them in the restricted space is not all that much fun!


















Lastly the fan and light electrical connections were installed and tried out.
The light is actually more yellow than pink but the camera white balance hasn't been adjusted for this photo - but you can see the temporary battery connections for the test.























Monday will see the shower head and tap unit installed and then I need to solve the hand basin situation - but it's getting closer . . .

Silver (well White really) Linings . . . .

Well with the ceiling in it's time to start on the walls.
The rear shower wall is started first with a template cut to size and fitted with plastic edge trimmings to make sure it will all fit when the time comes.























And tried again with the proper sheet just to be sure, to be sure, to be sure.
At $100 / sheet it's best to be sure !!























Liberal adhesive applied again and then the sheet fitted and propped in place with the bottom well secured as the only thing it can do is slide down.























24 hours for that to set and start on the side wall.

A template is not quite so important here as the sheet can be cut slightly oversize and marked while fitting then reduced in side for an "exact" fit.
As there will be silicone involved a gap of 1-2mm will be acceptable.
The trick here is making sure the edge of the sheet is adequately chamfered so that it will slip easily into the plastic corner moulding without drama !!























Another 24 hours and the other side can be fitted























and fixed























In the mean time the wall behind the toilet with access panel and basin cutout can be laminated and fixed while staying away from the side walls.























All the props are then stripped out and all the joints without plastic fittings are siliconed to help prevent moisture problems.























Next is wiring for fan and lights (all 12Vdc) and shower fittings (which are a bit overboard but I couldn't resist) . . .

Cappng It Off . . .

Final arrangement of bathroom cupboard, air-con return ducting and water heater maintenance access panel cutout.























On the other side of the bathroom wall the air duct has been continued along the top LHS of the wall so it can be directed further into the "bedroom/dining room".
The return air duct has been cut out for the grille screen opening, bathroom wall has a cut-out panel for fitting water tank gauges and the body of the first cupboard making storage space above the ducting.























At the other end lining with insulation has been begun.


















Insulated underneath and final lining of 12mm lightweight ply completed at the dining end.


















In the bathroom a template is cut to test the fit for the laminate panels as templates are cheap - laminate isn't!


















The final laminate sheet is cleaned and scuffed by sanding for the glue to get a good grip, the ceiling is covered with a very generous pattern of "Soudal" adhesive and the panel lifted into place and propped in place.


















More props are added to try and keep the sheet flat.
This laminate is 3mm thick so a little bit stronger and flatter than the normal 1.2-1.6mm thickness used in most domestic situations.


















More props are added for overnight support while the glue sets.
























A more conventional view from outside the door.

(Air) Con Duct Becoming

Back to the interior . . .
The doorway and an adjacent panel temporarily placed in position to work out just how this would all go together in practice.























and taken out again to start creating the ducting for the air conditioning.
I didn't realise when I arranged the position of the air conditioner that "orientation" was all important!!!
The air intake is at the back of the unit on the right hand side (RHS) (when viewed from the back) and the outlet consists of three 60mm diam. circular ducts in the middle of the RH end.
On the side that I have it mounted the outlets point forward into the corner - you'd end up with a freezing loo but that's about it !
It also appears that this thing is specifically designed to be mounted at floor level to facilitate the return air inlet.
Altogether a not very convenient arrangement where I have it mounted - so here has been a lot of head scratching to make it all work.
The return air is on the wrong side of the bathroom wall so a large section has been cut out to create a duct opening.























This opening is then boxed in and a grill will be set into the front of it provide for the return air.























At the same time the outlet air is boxed in and directed into the space between the shelf above the air conditioner and the air conditioner box itself which forms a duct.


















A slot was then cut up through the shelf into the hollow wall which has been left short on this side. A further duct will be built along the ceiling level to accommodate several directional outlets.























And the remainder of the wall can then be closed in.
This portion of the wall will be used to mount several gauges and switches for monitoring fresh water, grey water and black water tank storage levels and turning on and off hot water and air conditioning units.
The space above the air conditioner will also be turned into a deep narrow cupboard opening to the RHS.























On the other side the inlet ducting is cut off at an angle to provide a little more room for the toilet seat (currently out of the way to make it easier to work).























Then the back wall of the bathroom is paneled in leaving quite a large space for cupboards above the hot water system.























The cut out below that is for quite an ingenious arrangement that I saw somewhere else which is a pull out hand basin. It is out of the way while using the toilet but can then be pulled out to wash your hands.
Below that a doorway has yet to be cut to allow maintenance access to the hot water system.























All the wires for gauges and controls are currently hanging out the wrong side of the wall until all the correct openings can be cut on the opposite side.

Belts and Braces . . .

With the bathroom partially framed up it's time to put in more insulation and work out from the shower corner.























While at that I decided that the floor where the toilet is to go needed extending by about 30 mm to meet the framed wall that will continue right across with a (very narrow) door for entry.
The easiest way to deal with this is to cut a new floor piece and to fill in the front of the step at the same time. You may remember from earlier comments that the toilet pedestal seat needed raising to be at a comfortable height - hence the step.























After this is all done the next sheet of 12mm ply can go in trimmed to match the floor and shelving.























Next day I had to attend to matters dealing with buying and selling buildings but in keeping with my friend Sich's philosophy of "Do something every day - no matter how small" I decided to deal with a little matter which has been put off too long.
The rear torsion mounts had been up to this time been held on only with U-bolts fitted with plain nuts and mild steel washers. Not the intended method.
Bolt holes had been provided for in the mount itself but never drilled through the chassis and bolted.
Time to fix it . . .























So - drill out the holes and fit grade 8 zinc plated hi-tensile bolts and hardened washers on the outside and























hardened washers and zinc plated "nyloc" nuts on the inside.























At the same time replace the mild steel washers and plain nuts with hardened washers and nylocs on the U-bolts as well


















A spray over with rust resistant black paint to match the chassis and "voila".


















Quite satisfying for a small amount of work - and potentially much safer - the way it was intended to be . . .