Thread: Southern Tablelands Shipping Container Build

The plumber returned today and installed all the kitchen, bathroom vanity, toilet, shower and laundry tub plumbing. It is all usable now (except the shower which needs the hot water tank electrical work done.) It seems a bit unreal to have a functioning bathroom! I love my unusual shower rose and shower shelf!

The bathroom ceiling needs painting, the shower screen installed, the light and extractor fan installed (when the electrician return on the 18th), and a little bit of detailing and then it is complete!

I plan to move in after the 18th and before the 28th when I have to vacate my rental flat. There is still quite a bit of gyprocking, plastering and painting to do but once I'm living there I should manage to get it done much more quickly. I feel confident that everything will be complete by the end of the year.

Bathroom vanity
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Stainless steel shower shelf
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Rain shower head
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Laundry tub will be enclosed with washing machine in a cupboard
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Kitchen sink installed and functioning
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Kitchen box beam is now painted
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Bathroom ceiling needs sanding and painting
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Learned a handy tip (from Youtube) for painting skirtings without taping: using my 30cm plastering blade I run it along the floor with the paintbrush on top. Very quick and no paint on the floor!
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Last morning of winter and mist on the dam
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"and on the seventh day he rested, for he was - knackered"

Awesome stuff, and the finishing line is getting closer !!

Thanks Bas - unfortunately he works the 7th day too!! But for about the first time I can see the finishing line.

Originally Posted by turnstiles

Learned a handy tip (from Youtube) for painting skirtings without taping.

I'd be careful in doing that. I can imagine paint getting blocked by the edge of the blade as intended, but it might find its way to the underside. The effect of gravity. Then when you go to try again a blob of paint appears on the carpet or floor or whatever. The only way to stop it would be to continually wipe the blade clean. Then if the skirting or floor isn't perfectly straight, as the blade is, then it's an opening for the paint to seep through. Though, it's a nice idea and would be worth keeping in mind.

Love the picture of your lake.

Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

I'd be careful in doing that. I can imagine paint getting blocked by the edge of the blade as intended, but it might find its way to the underside. The effect of gravity. Then when you go to try again a blob of paint appears on the carpet or floor or whatever. The only way to stop it would be to continually wipe the blade clean. Then if the skirting or floor isn't perfectly straight, as the blade is, then it's an opening for the paint to seep through. Though, it's a nice idea and would be worth keeping in mind.

Love the picture of your lake.

Because I painted the skirting before I siliconed it where it meets the tiles, the tiny gap was big enough for the blade to slide a little underneath. Didn't have any issues with leaking paint! It certainly is a lot quicker than taping - and Ive had paint leak under tape!! The trick is to keep the blade moving with the brush. I could do about 2 metres at a time before I had to stand up (can't crouch for long in my advancing years!) and then I'd give the blade a quick wipe.

Yes the dam can be quite scenic at times. When it's still it's like a mirror.

Also I've just now booked a truck to move, so my first night (ever) sleeping in the new house will be the night of Sept. 21st. Really cannot wait Countdown begins!!

The electricians came on Monday and finished all of the electrical work. All of the lights, switches and power-points are operational and so too is the hot water tank. (Electric heat pump)

The bathroom still needs a cupboard built around the laundry tub and washing machine, plus an architrave (ughh...unavoidable because of the cavity door) but it is pretty much complete and usable.

Such a great feeling to be at this stage
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Lights for over the kitchen island
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Main bed ceiling fan
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2nd bedroom fan
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Hallway halo light
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Kitchen still needs the oven, fridge and kickboards to go in
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Bathroom from kitchen
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Bathroom from 2nd bedroom
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There's a pattern forming!! 😆
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Warm early Spring mornings - out on my morning walk before starting work
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A couple of questions about your experience there, if I may. The house seems relatively remote. Off gird, presumably.

1. what have your experiences been with the toilet? When the property was simply a piece of virgin land with hardly a tyre track, what did you do? Dig a hole in the ground or did you go for something better? Did you try many products along the way? The thing is, I’ve just bought a property that has no services and this aspect of life has me very curious.

2. Are you off grid for electricity? What do you have, if it’s easy to relate? Number of panels, power output, battery capacity, etc. Cost.

Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

A couple of questions about your experience there, if I may. The house seems relatively remote. Off gird, presumably.

1. what have your experiences been with the toilet? When the property was simply a piece of virgin land with hardly a tyre track, what did you do? Dig a hole in the ground or did you go for something better? Did you try many products along the way? The thing is, I’ve just bought a property that has no services and this aspect of life has me very curious.

2. Are you off grid for electricity? What do you have, if it’s easy to relate? Number of panels, power output, battery capacity, etc. Cost.

Hey EF - yup totally off grid!

1.

When I first bought the land I had no toilet - so a tree windbreak was a temporary substitute! But within a few weeks I found this chemical camping toilet (online):
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and toilet tent (Aldi):
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And as I had containers I had it inside - too windy at times for the tent outside.

It suited me for years, mind you, as I was renting 30 minutes away I didn't have to use it that often. I think I only needed to empty it once a year.


2.


Yes, off grid for power too (how overjoyed was I last week to pay my final electricity bill ever!!)

I have a 3.2KW solar panel set up with a 5KW inverter plus a 5KW Lithium Ion battery.
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I did a huge amount of research and got around 7 or 8 quotes I think it was. It came down to 3 serious ones (2 came out to the property) but some gave a vague "you'd be looking at somewhere between $30-40,000 mate....)

Two of the three quoted both around the $25-27,000 range and came with a lead acid or gel battery.

The third is a Victorian company called Home | Commodore Australia and they quoted $12,900 WITH a lithium Ion battery! Needless to say I went with them!!

The package came with: 8 X 400W panels, inverter, battery, pre-made circuit board, delivery AND included $2,500 for the installer He came from 5 hours away and stayed overnight in a motel! The company only has a few installers in NSW. If I had found my own it may have been cheaper. I had to build the panel stand - but you can find kits etc online.

I spoke with the owner of the company when obtaining the quote and he went through a solar calculator with me to determine how much I would need.

Hope this is helpful.

Turnstiles

Your house is coming up a treat.

3.2Kw sounds a little bit light on (no pun intended). Time will tell when you are living there full time. As you have a 5KW inverter, I expect you can add panels. Possibly the same amount again as you can imagine it is only under optimal conditions that they will deliver their rated capacity.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Turnstiles

Your house is coming up a treat.

3.2Kw sounds a little bit light on (no pun intended). Time will tell when you are living there full time. As you have a 5KW inverter, I expect you can add panels. Possibly the same amount again as you can imagine it is only under optimal conditions that they will deliver their rated capacity.

Regards
Paul

Thanks Paul - at last I can see the finish in sight! Re: solar - as you would know, it isn't a 'one size fits all' and so far I have now been living here for more than a week, with a mixture of cloudy and sunny days and so far haven't come near 50% use of the battery. It's been a regular week and the only thing I haven't used is the oven. But I rarely bake and if I do it will be during the day most of the time.

But as you said, if I find I am running short I can add more panels and/or buy another battery (they are really coming down in price). I don't have air-con or electric heating and there is only me in the house. So I am hopeful (for the time being at least) that I have sufficient solar for my needs.

CHeers,
Terry