BlandDesignsNZ

Bonjour Blandies, We felt the earth move recently, when they came to dig out the area for the driveways; Pictured, driveway space 1 of 2 Driveway space 2 of 2  My wife was lucky enough to catch the digger driver while he was there and asked him to put the excess dirt over the backyard to flatten it out a bit. We’d forgotten to ask for that on the original house cut so we were glad we could.  Also, one of the neighbours was stunned we’d got permission to have two driveways. As in most of life, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. The back house having its own driveway will be super helpful.  We also, as part of the house painting journey, got a whole pile of sealed doors; It’s like a “Doors Anonymous” meeting. “Hi, I’m Woody, and I’m a Door” I’m hoping the painters pull finger over the coming short week and get us all painted before Easter. Well, not “us”, obviously. The house. We should also get our fancy pants insulated garage door this coming week too.  Then ...

Greetings, my loyal followers. I adore you all (except you. You I don’t care for at all).  Lots of little jobs since my last update. (I know, you’ve all been waiting with bated breath for my nuggets of wisdom and hilarity. Kind of a two in one nugget) The stopping was finished and sanded.  I think this photo is after sanding. It’s hard to tell, tbh.  Doors and trims were fitted; Pictured; door. Not pictured, trim.  These ones were just stacked in the garage. Probably Cos they moved the bath to the bathroom so the garage was feeling empty.  Then they cut holes in these ones. I assume for the handles, but I’m not sure. I’ll be bloody pissed if it’s for no particular reason.  But wait, that’s not all!! The sealer/primer went on the walls; They seem to be randomly fitting some doors and not others. I have no idea how they choose. Tea leaves, perhaps.  And today, my loyal Blandies, they did the first coat on the ceilings!! With a shitload of paint. That app...

Greetings, Blandies! (I’m thinking we could sell t-shirts for Bland Designs. You know, a big “I *heart* Bland Designs” sort of thing. I’d price them very reasonably for you. Frankly, given the hours of hilarity I’ve given you, it’s the least you could do).  Anyway, back to bidness, as they say.  You may not have realised from the super subtle post title, but stopping has, err, started; You must start stopping without stopping stopping, then you can stop stopping. Once the stopping is stopped, it’s done  Presumably (as we haven’t heard), Jedward from the council is back at work (huzzah) and signed off the postline inspection.  Also, some of the bathroom bits have been put in; Call me unconventional, but I think I prefer the bath in the bathroom to the bath in the garage. I know, crazy right?  And in another shocking revelation, the sparky came and did this; Shocking! Geddit? Cos it’s electrical stuff.  Plus the sinks and powerpack rangehoods have gone to the...

Greetings, Blandies (I’ve taken the liberty of giving you a nickname - I care not a jot for your feelings on the matter).  So, following the gib being installed last week, we’ve come to a screeching halt. (Fun aside; I’d always thought “gib” was a bastardized version of “gypsum”, but it’s not. According to gib.co.nz, the truth is much more boring and lame; Yawn. Should stick with the “gypsum” story, tbh I mean. The steadfast rock. Give me strength. Still, entertainment and education. His blog has it all,)  Where was I? Oh, yes, screeching halt.  So Jedward the council inspector has been off sick this week, and as he’s been such a PITA about all the firewalls, nobody else wanted to do any of the inspections so the whole damn street has had to halt any major work until he’s back.  Which is wonderful.  For us, walls can’t be stopped until they’ve been inspected and signed off.  Minor stuff has been able to proceed, and our PM is aiming to get some of the bathr...

But do it soon Cos it needs to be done.  Alright, my bitter sworn frenemies, brace yourselves for another exciting adventure; Current update; Gib is compete; Remember the bloody great hole they appeared to have gnawed in the ceiling? You can see where it's been patched. Also pictured, a broom. It's unclear if I get to keep the broom or not.  The hole is for the attic stairs into the storage area The sparkies were in to cut some holes; Including, making holes in the gib where the gibbers had covered the boxes. Sheesh. This one is in the ceiling. For a light, I assume.  Also, the kitchen guys have come in for their final measure for the stone benches; Kitchen. Not pictured, kitchen company measuring. I wasn't there. You'll have to take my word for it, I'm afraid. You could also appreciate how bad this photo is. You're welcome.  And I broke the habit of a lifetime to borrow a selfie stick (I know) to get a photo of the fancy pants heatpump unit in the attic.  Like ...

When there's gib up on the ceiling.  (I remain defiant in the face of that 1980's song title pun. Deal with it. *finger snaps*) So yes, gib on the ceiling;  And some of the walls. But that didn't fit my joke, so whatevs.  It's also on this wall, and it's not meant to be. That will be addressed in due course.  We also had the heat pump guys back, who then quacked that they should have been in before the gib went in. Well, yes, Slappy. I agree. And you were told when gib was going in. I can't really help you further.  You can see the Lossnay heat recovery unit here in the back house.  They also cut a bloody great hole in the ceiling. Well, I assume they subbed it to Stevie Wonder with a bloody chainsaw. You probably could have made a cleaner hole by driving a car through it.  Also, this episode, we've had a lot of backwards and forwards with Jethro from the council about the penetrations through the firewall.  (Not pictured. Cos I didn't take a pict...

(You see, that's funny because the insulation are "batts". I have no idea why I didn't put a paywall on this gold. You're welcome, humanity).  Anyway, Chez Bland Designs was this week insulated.  We eschewed the traditional Pink for yellow. No idea why, but I'd wager a guess that yellow was likely cheaper.  Also, some of the insulation had to be strapped. No idea why, as I'd assumed the gib would hold it in. Suggestions as to why on a postcard, please.  We've also insulated around all the bedrooms, so when we lock the children in their rooms, we won't be able to hear them screening. Top decision, that one.  Plumber was on site and fixed this; Before and after. He did pretty well to drill an 85mm hole in a 90mm bit of wood, I suppose.  We also had preline inspection, and as far as I can tell from the inspector's chicken scratch writing, we can proceed "with photos".  Or possibly "with pistols". Difficult to say.  We'd hop...