I took this photo in April on my first visit showing the south-facing corner of the building. You can see the false ceiling cutting across the top of the windows.
My latest trip to Ohakune was to retrieve the tools my sister loaned me and meet with prospective builders. My neighbour across the road had recommended the first one I met. Turns out she’s friends with his daughter. Ohakune’s a bit like that.
I’d wanted to meet him as he has a reputation as a craftsman who does meticulous work. I was looking for someone who would treat the old church with the care, love, and respect it deserved.
It also turned out that he knew the council’s requirements inside out and back to front. That included the requirement to have a minimum 600mm clearance between the floor and the ground. My sloping section gives me 400mm at the front entry and 250mm at the back. You do the maths…………….
One of the joys of applying for a change of use is that my 100 year old building has to comply with new building standards. I’d known that I’d need to lift the floorboards to get the required insulation underneath. Now I was learning that I may have to lift the building.
That’s right. Pick up a 144m2 building, re-pile it, and put it down 350mm higher than it was originally. And the cost of that I hear you ask? Just a lazy $15-20k – that’s all!
The second building team I met were very enthusiastic about what I was trying to achieve and full of ideas of how I could achieve it. They too were a recommendation from the same neighbour whose partner occasionally works for them.
I also met up with the plumber who had quoted on connecting the building to the water supply and sewerage. And yes he was another recommendation from my neighbour. They need to be giving her a commission!
The rest of my visit was spent removing remnants of underlay foam and staples from the floor. I also got to mark out the new walls and where the fixtures and fittings would go.
This is the likely kitchen and shower room layouts. Note the old door at the entrance to the where the bedroom will be. There will be a roof window or two above the kitchen cabinets and the old chair will be replaced with a porcelain ‘throne’.
Back in Wellington for work during the week saw me putting in calls to council planners and planning consultants about what I would and wouldn’t need to do. You can see from this photo taken in April that the back section is a bit too close to the ground.
My discussion with the council planner was promising. I may be able to postpone lifting the building until phase two when I will need to strengthen the sub-floor to bear the weight of the mezzanine. I’ll still need do all I can to improve the insulation and ventilation to the sub-floor – but I was going to do that anyway.
Next time: Finding and choosing great professionals
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