Concrete + timber + tin = house

Once the frame, rafters and battens were in place it was almost time for the roof to go on. This was important for a number of reasons - it'd give us shelter to work on the house even when it was raining, it'd brace the frame and it would mean that one the guttering was in place we'd be able to start filling the tank.

First we had to ensure that the facias were all in place and that the roof structure was immovably attached to the frame. To do this we used galvanised metal strapping at every point that the two met. With the frame dynabolted to the slab and the slab firmly footed into the hill the house shouldn't go anywhere - even in the worst weather.

Once all that was done (a week of darkening nights hammering away at straps after closing the cafe...and bloodied thumbs to prove it!) everything was in readiness for the roof. The sheets of iron were single span to avoid joints, so getting them to the hill required a semi trailer. Unfortunately the semi driver was the most aggressive and impatient of all the people who had anything to do with the construction of the house. First of all he went to my parents' address, then he couldn't turn around in their driveway. The torrent of abuse is still ringing in my ears three and a half years later! Finally he made it up to the hill only to find that the only place he could turn around was on the fresh fill that Andy had used to build up the yard to the east of the house. One very angry man. And, as it turned out all that aggression was unnecessary. He got in and unloaded and out again without any problems...

With the roofing iron delivered we were ready to get my favourite plumber and uncle back for the next stage of the build. And all this - from paddock to frame completed and roof ready for iron - had taken just two months.