Hey Steemers & my recent followers.
In December 2016 my wife and I started a massive life change, which was moving houses. We Chose to buy a house with character. Yeah that's right, a house built more than likely before you were born. Its a bungalow that has been in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide since 1919 - That generally means, its old and needs a hell of a lot of work.
As you know I've got two young twin boys and and a German shepherd, so our family outdoor area is pretty important to us. When we bought the home the previous owner had a fetish for fish. He had made a Beautiful fishpond about 2 metres in diameter. Lovely to look at... until it needs cleaning once a week. Then there is the risk of your two kids playing outside and falling in. So with a large dog, two twin boys to worry about and a new baby girl on the way... It was a no brainer - the pond had to go.
Overall it was pretty successful, but it had its surprises and unfortunate ending.
This is the before shot - two curious todlers just waiting to fall in when mum isn't watching.
First thing was first, I posted a picture of the pond online and sold the fish! There were some big goldfish in there and about 20-30 of them - I sold them for a profit of $200. Plus the guy that came had a special water vacuum and cleared the sludgy water out for me.
so far project 1 is in the black - +$200 & some free labour. Those who know me personally know the free labour will please me more than the money.
Step two, ponder if i want to make this into an awesome firepit... nope back on track. Knock out the pond walls. Hammer & some hard yakka
Hard Yakka: Free
Hammer: already owned
Sale of Fish: +$200
Project Cost so far = +$200
Step 3, Breaking up the 6 inch deep steel reinforced concrete slab. I tried to break it up with a sledge hammer...Not even hard yakka was getting that one up. Off to kennards hire to hire a jackhammer. Cost to the project $70 for 4 hours.
Hard Yakka: Free
Hammer: already owned
Sale of Fish: +$200
Jackhammer: -$70
Late fee: -$30
Rubbish removal: -$95
Project Cost so far: +$5
Now i thought using the Jackhammer was going to be relatively easy... It's not! It hurts your hands, its heavy, its loud. Note to self, next time pay someone else to do it. Now there is more of a reason to for paying someone to do it. Whilst breaking up the slab, even though i was so careful, i broke a storm water pipe.
Now in any usual house it might not be a problem. But my house is sloping away from the road, this means i have a wet system. Basically, my rainwater just sits in the pipes and eventually gets replaced with new water when it rains. The result?
Step 4, The only way to get rid of the water was waiting a few days until it soaked into the ground and i could start the repair process. New skill achieved - Dad Plumber.
Hard Yakka: Free
Hammer: already owned
Sale of Fish: +$200
Jackhammer: -$70
Late fee: -$30
Rubbish removal: -$95
storm water pipe: -$20
Fast dry PVC glue: -$15
Project Cost so far: -$30
Step 5, now that the plumbing problems were taken care of, it was time to replace the muddy clay soil with nice new sandy loam as a base for my lawn. That got delivered and I had it all nice and ready for the lawn to go down.
Step 6, Go and collect the lawn from the other side of town to save $100 dollar delivery fee. Lay the Lawn down 1 square metre at a time.
Hard Yakka: Free
Hammer: already owned
Sale of Fish: +$200
Jackhammer: -$70
Late fee: -$30
Rubbish removal: -$95
storm water pipe: -$20
Fast dry PVC glue: -$15
Saving on Delivery: +$100
Instant Lawn: $-70
Total Project Cost: $0
Fast forward a few months later to Grandfinal Day - (Australian rules Football) and i decided to mow the lawn before the big game. The idiot that i am... mowed over the storm water pipe and flooded my new grass area. I had to dig it all up and I killed the grass.
Stay tuned for my next Renovation which involves fixing my grass and the garden beds in the background of the photos above.