Final revision

This is exciting! We've revised the plans to eliminate the problem of the box gutter and the man to thank is our wonderful builder Charlie. He's managed to come up with quite a few suggestions that improve things enormously. So in getting rid of the box gutter, we can create an enormous attic space and not worry about flooding the house in a 1  in 1000 year storm.

I'm sure you might not even notice the internal changes so I'll explain them to you. We've simplified the bathrooms to create extra space and reduce the spend. Now we have a bathroom door directly off the loung which isn't ideal, but will save us on work and dollars. The other change is the laundry/pantry/skullery which I'm calling the room with glass doors. Although it could end up without any glass doors. We'll just call it that for now.

This elevation shows the new roof line with Dutch gable. I wasn't thinking we'd have it on the rear but perhaps it's needed. Does anyone else know?

Changing the roofline

We're considering increasing the roofline to eliminate a box gutter we have behind the existing facade. The box gutter has been the only thing that's difficult with this house. A couple of builders have expressed disapproval and one told us he wouldn't touch our plans.

We need to keep the pitch as is, but lifting up the roofline will give us an enormous attic space in place of the existing box gutter.

via melbourne blogger

A dormer window could be an option, and would allow for cross ventilation of the attic space. What we decide on will be based on the budget. It always comes down to the money.

via federation details

I just found a few pictures of federation homes to try and imagine the roofline on our place. Our roof is steel so would not look like these when finished, but the pitch and area is similar.

via 1902 victorian

This is an American house of the same vintage. It lacks the distinct colourings of the Australian counterpart, with grey slate as the preferred roofing option. I've seen new slate roofs in our area and they do look a bit special.

via wikispaces

Our house has lost the detailing with the 40s makeover but we have a similar rising sun pattern in our front gate.

via wikispaces

That's quite a high chimney but we may have to raise ours to be above the new roofline. Not a big task but important to remember.

Room with a view

I've been contemplating going up onto the roof for most of the day.

Thing is that we've had patchy cloud and rain looked ominous so I procrastinated whilst watching this view from my seat. How gorgeous is the tree at our back gate? It's just coming into bloom this week. Last year when we moved in it was in full bloom.

So after a day of watching patches of sprinkly rain not soak anything and more sun than not, I ventured outside to climb the ladder and saw this cloud....

It's almost black.

Oh well, I decided to risk it and went up anyway with tools in hand, ready to begin the demolition of the bedroom chimney. So climbed half way up and had a change of heart. The pitch is too steep and slippery and my heart didn't cope well with the fear.

So now I have a glass of wine in hand and am considering options. I think this is a fairly fabulous view for our country village.

Look at what flew past my head but didn't swoop at me! We have a lot of magpies in our garden but those enormous conifers are across the road in the school grounds and are a nesting ground for all manner of winged fancy.

The tree to the left is a birch and the Rosella love it.

From the top

The most fabulous feature of our roofline are the two chimneys visible from the street.

One will be removed and the remaining fixed above the roof line. Unsurprisingly the best one is confirmed as being pulled down as soon as we can get to it. The builder has advised that he won't be volunteering for the job as it's messy and difficult work.

They're in a fairly sad state of disrepair, and clearly need repointing. I'm not sure what that gawdy concrete stuff is about. Perhaps a failed attempt at rendering?

That's a picture of the chimney interior. Two of the current chimneys are doubles with entirely separate chimneys on each side of a divider.

I've got a brand new pair of Dunlop Volleys so I can climb up there with less fear. I'll be repointing that chimney at first opportunity.

So 2005!