Hi nicoleThanks for ideas on the fence. The stain on the BBQ fence is actually a homemade brew, so reasonably cheap. I will probly use it on front fence as well. I just mixed 50/50 linseed oil and turps, then added some brown oxide powder, usually used to color concrete. I can get 8 litres of this mix for about $36. The cheapest ready made stain I…[Read more]

Hi Else and pinknic20Thanks for opinion on fence.Does everyone think it would look better painted cream like the BBQ (remember the front wall of house will be rendered cream) or stained brown like the fence behind the BBQ?We started working on Mon July 16. So 3 weeks.

Sat 4th AugGreat Day! Had lots of helpers today. About 32 man hours (and woman) went into the house in one day! Got heaps done.-sanded all eaves, fascia & gutters, pergola rafters, posts and handrails-sanded all inside walls (still need a bit more after we fill holes etc)-removed all carpet and lino-removed timber panelling from living room (it…[Read more]

Fri 3rd Aug-got a metre of topsoil and put it in vegie garde.-Spread lawn seed in grassed areas of backyard.-picked up and signed plans for carport, so now they are sent to get a permit-looked at another house (What a dump! Just the way I like it!!)-removed door handles, window coverings, power points, light switches, nails in walls etc. to start…[Read more]

CrashyThanks for tip. Will look into that.

Thurs 2nd Aug-finished paving under clothesline-removed all rubbish from backyard-dug up area for veggie garden-leveled out soil ready for grass seed.Backyard is almost complete now. Just a bit more topsoil, some grass seed, and another coat of paint to some rendered areas.Also had 2 agents come look at the house. Both said that after all the work…[Read more]

Wed 1st Aug-Settlement happened! At last. Got keys, we can start inside and get on with it.-Also picked up a "For Sale" sign from printers and installed it front yard. Took down agents sign.-ordered floating floor boards and paid depositTook a couple more photos of the backyard progress. They are up on the web now…[Read more]

Teus 31st July-got a bank check and gave it to soliciotors for stamp duty etc. Settlement tomorrow. Excitement.-bought some sand and topsoil for the backyard-mixed up some homemade fence stain and stained the fence behind the BBQ-started some paving under the clothesline-bought a bunch of flowers for the vendor to say thanks for letting us start…[Read more]

Mon 30th July-put some new Merbau on the sides of the BBQ-painted the steel frame of the BBQ with black spray paintHopefully I will get some more photos tomorrow. I have just been waiting till I get a section completed. BBQ end of the backyard should be nearly complete by tomorrow, and maybe the other end of yard as well. See how the weather goes.

Sat 28th July-painted all the rendered bits around the BBQ-stained the seats and picnic table top-re-oiled the cubby-moved some hedge plants in the backyard to be next to the deck-painted the wall the clothesline is mounted on-inspected 3 houses in the area. All of them increased our confidence that our end sale price is quite acheivable.

Fri 27th July-spent most of the day shopping for prices and materials. Found a security screen door for $20!! Bargain. Needs a handle still, but cheap as. Only one tiny scratch on it. And just the right colour and size as well.-The major acheivement of the day was – wait for it – we received and signed the loan documents!!!!! At last. The lender…[Read more]

Thur 26th July-finished rendering BBQ-put seats and table top onto picnic tableHi mum2fiveI thought of selling the plants – after I had taken them all to the tip.I probly would not have done it this time though as the house is still not ours. Settlement is next Wed 1st Aug. The owner is still living there also, and although she is ok with me…[Read more]

Wed 25th July-more rendering of BBQ-re-located clothesline-sanded back timber off picnic table ready for re-sealing-met with a draftsman to draw plans for carport (I know this has happened earlier, but the first couple of guys were to much $)So far I have had some good feedback from the current owner and the neibours. The owner said it is looking…[Read more]

Teus 24th July-completed front garden – numbers on mailbox, stepping stones in. More photos uploaded tonight.-sprayed weeds in back yard-started rendering BBQ out back.

Mon 23rd July-removed the rest of the green waste from backyard-got some pebbles and put them in a few places in front garden (get a photo tomorrow)Believe it or not, those couple of things took all day.Hi a free man, thanks for ideas.I have not read Michael Yardney's book, but I do know that in my/our current situation it would be difficult to…[Read more]

Some stats that may be of interest.After 1 week of reno activity:Total man hours= 70Expenses to date:Tip fees – $90Letter box & numbers- $108.28Chainsaw oil -$20Plants – $245.75Sleepers – $293.70Mulch – $388Total Expenses =$1145.73Budgeted Expenses = $1100.00Other Expenses that I can't calculate accurately: petrol, nails & screws that I already…[Read more]

Sun 22nd JulyToday I did nothing except take some photos.But business parter got all the mulch spread, and loaded more rubbish on trailer.Check out the photos at the link in previous post.

Fri 20th July-Dug out and separated heaps of flax plants from our PPOR and existing IP. We divided the plants into about 3rds, put 1 section back in the ground, and took the rest for the new garden. You can hardly tell where we took the plants out of.-Put the "free" plants in at the Reno garden.-Went shopping for a few extra plants as well. Got…[Read more]

Thurs 19th July-trimmed hedge beside driveway-leveled out soil in front garden-dug out lemon tree and put in a pot for the owner to take (a gift from her grandma)-cut off stump of the cypress beside the drivewayWill try to get a photo tomorrow.

Wed 18th JulyGot scared off by the rain today.Spent most of the day working on a business plan.Also:-went to a nursery and priced some plants.-finalised (in my head at least) the plan for front garden-got a quote from a renderer to do the front of the house for just over $600. I had estimated $910, so bargain!!