Popular Post Unclejake Posted February 18 Popular Post Share Posted February 18 In January 2024 I suddenly needed somewhere to live in a hurry ... so I figured on building something small out of scraps of building materials I already had.. There's no power, water, sewer on the property, but 10 days ago we got most of the driveway in. I'm the kind of guy who thinks a fair bit before I act, so after some further thought most of the scrap timber/plumbing/etc. I had available got pushed to one side as they just weren't going to work. Queue more invoices for better timber (plus freight) I think this project will take until spring 2024 to be weathertight. Shipping delays and huge freight expenses will add to the timeframe and budget. For example I have $500 of under concrete insulation here at the port. The freight bill for that insulation alone was $1,200. The proposed dwelling will be single bedroom and about 60m2 I always start very well but never finish anything. Let's see what happens this time. 32 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locost_bryan Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 Looking forward to seeing this on Grand Designs Chatham Islands. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VitesseEFI Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 That’s a helluva drive. But what a spot! Have you thought about buying a “double wide”, some pontoons and couple of big outboards and just sailing across? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomble Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 What an intro! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corbie Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 How many millions is it going to cost to get a smooth quiet asphalt driveway up there for the Lexus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Unclejake Posted February 19 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 19 Hot-mix would cost all of the millions Corbie. I could probably do it cheaper in concrete TBH... but I'm happy enough with the crushed schist we've been laying over the last couple of weeks We were very fortunate to buy the property as land here is very, very hard to get. It's a little over 24ha with half a kilometre of sandy beach to the north and another half kilometre of semi-tidal lagoon edge to the south. It's an 'oldschool' title from the late 1800s so I own down to the high tide mark on both bodies of water. TBH I've never walked to the lagoon side of the property. It's a low lying wetland which will just need to stay like that for now. Today we collected timber, rebar and underfloor insulation from the port. Tomorrow I need to go to work to pay for some of it. Ha 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post EpochNZ Posted February 19 Popular Post Share Posted February 19 Oldschool Nats Chathams 2026. Entry Fee: Building materials carried on as hand luggage. 9 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Unclejake Posted March 3 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 3 I spent most of the weekend carting schist and extending the driveway. The JCB is finally operational but oh lord it's slow and noisy. Still much better than a spade and a wheelbarrow 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Grumble Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Is that KFC in front of the JCB? 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Does weka taste like chicken? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 2 hours ago, Vintage Grumble said: Is that KFC in front of the JCB? Sure is. They taste like a cross between turkey and duck 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick_m Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 May have missed this somewhere but are you building on the chathams? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessemk2 Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Yeah that's a awesome spot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thphantum Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 That looks like a 4in 1 bucket on the job. I'd recommend whipping up one of these. Leveling bar you just grab with the bucket. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Danger Posted yesterday at 05:02 Share Posted yesterday at 05:02 MAY UncleJake update his cabin build thread? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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