Ghost Gum Carpentry

Last 5 weeks have seen me back in my old stomping ground - Toowoomba!!

This has been quite a job - small extension which will become walk-through robe to master ensuite.

Brand new deck with flyover roof (those rafters are bloody heavy and no, getting them 4.2m up in the air was not fun!

Existing deck will be framed in and become entry and rumpus to allow part of the existing lounge to become the 4th bedroom.

Some long days on the tools; I tried to find photos that weren't taken in the dark.

Shout out to my amazing wifey Emilie for holding down the fort while I've been gone

New verandah all finished at Tivoli.
The old decking had been nailed and screwed that many times that the old joists had to be replaced too.

Tried a new Hyne LGL joist on this one and screwed the boards down.
Fitted a new bearer to support the external wall on one end that is a tiled shower wall on the other side, which allowed me to re-run those joists so that they run the right way now.

All done for the year!!
What a massive few weeks... months...have lost count actually.

In the last 3 weeks alone, all the walls straightened and insulated; ~150 VJ sheets fitted; downstairs fit out done except doors and ready for paint; upstairs almost fully sheeted.

We're well and truly ready for a little break and the knock off bell has rung.

Thank you to all our amazing clients, trades and suppliers and all those people who consistently throw us a like and a share for all your support throughout the year. You make small businesses viable.

Merry Christmas all and see you in the new year

Cladding is officially finished! I can finally stop dreaming about cutting boards!

I finished last week but I wanted to wait until the scaffolding came down before I shared the photos.

Really starting to come along now. Downstairs wall linings are nearly done and then it's on to fitout and finish.

Well after 5 months, we've finally finished frame stage! What a monumental task this old girl has laid on for us.
Everything downstairs is obviously new. It's been almost completely reframed upstairs.

We've started cladding and have given it a pretty good nudge the last few days and it's starting to show what it'll look like when it's done.

We estimate 2 skip bins worth of old material has either been reused in various ways or sold on to it's next step in life. We're going to use that to take our wonderful clients out to lunch tomorrow! Can't thank them enough for the trusting us to transform their new home from plans on paper into reality!

Big progress happening at Newtown!
Old cladding all but gone and external reframing nearly finished, which has fixed some bad level and plumb issues. Big dent in the internal demo done too.
Bressumer beams arrive Monday to open up some of those internals.
We also removed the old verandah ceiling joists to give some nice high raked ceilings in these areas.

Really starting to take shape now!

Lots of progress happening at Newtown, with Superior Design and Construction.

Downstairs framing is almost done.

Not bad for a short week.
Some pretty 'high' level (get it? get it?) framing.
Those walls are over 4m at the peak.

We're enclosing a deck that gets absolutely baked by the sun. Extra thick wall framing to allow for extra insulation. New kitchen will go in here.

Little secret mezzanine storage area going in first thing next week.

Stay tuned - have a surprise in store for next week!

All but done!

This massive deck has been an amazing build and has almost doubled the living space of this family home.

And I still looooove that mixed Aussie hardwood decking 😍

Will update when the it's all painted and the outdoor kitchen goes in.

Week one down on this big deck. Pour concrete Monday.

This old girl has been lifted to her new lofty heights - air a little thinner up there! Slab goes down next week.
And then it's action stations! Build in under, completely remodel upstairs.
Will keep us busy for most of the year!

Quick little recoat of a deck I did last year.

Regular maintenance keeps your deck looking great for years to come - 3 🍺 job for those of you following along at home 😉

Second to last job for the year all done and dusted.

First time using factory dressed timber and i don't miss all the sanding!

At the end of time these stairs, that concrete path (was over 200mm thick!) and the cockroaches will still be here, just hangin' out.

Started a new job on a lovely old girl (circa 1890!) at North Ipswich this week.
Verandah to become an ensuite, increase the size of the bedroom, and walk in robe.

Going well so far in spite of the weather.

Site doggo got to come and found himself a playmate.
No. They didn't do ANY work

Been a busy, and varied few weeks!

Removed an unwanted external door and re-clad both sides
Wardrobe units
Machine work on a long driveway
Cutting split posts
Replaced some rotten roof framing (forgot to get photos though)

We start an interesting one on a lovely old Queenslander next week so stay tuned for some pics!

Well the Narangba deck is all finished!
Just gonna let the pictures speak for themselves, I think.

And yes, there was a helluva lot'a work in that walkway...

Thanks you A&S - you made working away from home very comfortable and enjoyable and are just a terrific pair of humans.

In case you're wondering, the braces have been left on the posts to prevent warping and bowing while we decide what sort of roof we want

Narangba deck extension progressing nicely.

Structure all but done. Time to put some posts up.

Just a little teaser...

1 week to go and then it's all done!!

Been a huge few weeks at the Yamanto renovation.
If I never have to pick up a plaster blade again it'll be too soon!
But finally have no holes in the walls anymore.

All the paint prep is done and painter starts next week; I can't wait to be rid of the horrible yellow walls!

New kitchen has been built and ready to be installed with its beautiful benchtops.
Tiles up and new flooring and carpet ordered.

Robe units for all the bedrooms along with new sliding doors.

Will all look VERY different in 3 weeks!

Well they say "Ya win some, ya lose some."

This was definitely the latter. Just about everything that could go wrong, did.

But a with a bit of perseverance and maximum effort, this came a up a proper treat!!

Rotten deathtrap steps out - beautiful new ones in.

Rotten, unsightly, unsafe balustrade gone - looks much more betterer now.

Thank you K & T - you've been wonderful clients; thank you for the coffees!! ☕☕

Another little piece of decent carpentry today.

How does one hold a whole set of stairs in place whilst you replace one rotten stringer?
🪄🪄

Good to go on the market now!

Simply little job but really helps in dressing up the front of this house for sale.

It's finally stopped raining for more than 3 minutes so I thought I'd pop a pretty piece of positivity up

Tivoli bathroom all finished.

Certainly made the most of every square cm on this one! Double vanity, large shower and washing machine inside 6m2

All the trades came together and did a great job; I was glad to be a part.

Work all week, work all weekend.

This addition will house a tractor and help keep it and all its implements out of the weather.
Will also allow the first bay of the shed to be opened up, allowing access for the tractor load/unload big and weather sensitive items.

Finished photos to follow

That's a wrap for the year! We made it!

What a year too; bigger and better jobs, learning every day.

We've welcomed another tradesman to the team now and he's been invaluable already.

Next year is starting to fill up already; am looking forward to sharing some of those jobs with you.

I can't thank you all enough - all my terrific clients, sub trades and all those who've supported us by liking and sharing my posts - you've all really contributed to the incredible growth my little business has seen this year.

Now for a few weeks R&R, family and 🍻

Just a little one this time.

New fencing at the bottom of a lovely property in Brookwater.
Style and colour matched to existing fencing around the pool and deck etc.

Client is getting the stainless balustrading done this week and that'll keep the new grand kids safe.

Something a bit different for Ghost Gum this week.

Few progress shots -
Moving a dental laboratory to new premises;

Refitting existing cabinetry and 1 piece stainless benchtop into a smaller space with a different layout, accommodating a service cupboard in one corner with core holes into the underground carpark.

Logistics has definitely been a challenge on this one - plenty of things I don't usually need to consider.

Should look pretty different next week with some new flooring, glass doors and panels and office cabinetry in place.


!!

Tidy little reno at Brassall.

New kitchen, updated bathroom and laundry, new paint throughout and new flooring goes in soon.

Has breathed new life into this little place.

"Thanks a lot Bodie. The new decking makes the old step treads look really average. We need you to replace them too now."

Funnily enough - not the first time I've heard this 'complaint'....

Not a bad problem to have I guess :)

This old girl gets a whole new lick of paint, including new colour scheme, at the end of the year. I can't wait to see how it comes up