Friday, November 9, 2012

Our Home : The Roof, The Roof...

So I still have been a little slack on the blogging scene but... I'll get there!

I've been meaning to take some photos of the home as it progresses, but I haven't been very good with that either. I'll try to take some shots on a lovely sunny day, so you can see the way that the light streams through the back windows in the morning and the front of the house in the afternoon!

One thing that we have been working on lately is our outdoor area.  We don't have a huge yard, but we do have a lovely little deck which we are determined to make into a lovely area to entertain guests, or just sit and relax on a sunny day.

The picture below is a photo of the deck from the realestate listing, before we moved in. 


As you can see, it was a little bit grubby and the garden was way overgrown!

A few days after we moved in, my parents came to visit and dad took this snap of the back deck.


We had cleaned it up a little, but there was still something missing out there!

Given the Melbourne weather, and the fact that I love being outdoors at any time of the day, we decided that a roof would be essential.  We wanted to be protected from the elements, as well as being able to make full use of our deck all year round!  So with that in mind, we got to work...


When I say "we", I mean Liam and our Chippy friend.  I did have the ever-important role of making pancakes with berries and ice cream to fuel the job though!

Did you know that beer is also an essential tool for building a deck roof?


 With all the essentials taken care of, and lots of beer and pancakes filling their bellies, the boys worked hard and pretty soon our new roof started to take shape!


My dedicated little workers bees did a fantastic job, and by lunch time the roof was complete!

Let me tell you, I could not be happier with the result...


We've still got a bit of work to do with it, but I'm pretty pleased with it for the moment! We've bought some snazzy new outdoor furniture to complement it and I'm looking forward to a summer full of BBQ and drinkies out on the back deck!

Next step is to pull up and replace all the existing timbers, and extend it our slightly.  We're also in talks to create and install a water wall which I've got all sorts of ideas for!  We have gotten a quote for some shade blinds but it's come back at a rather high price.  Does anybody have any ideas for alternatives to keep the rain out and the heat in on colder evenings?

I'm looking forward to doing somemore cosmetic work over the summer, to pretty it up a bit.

Watch this space! xx

16 comments:

  1. Looks great! I love the photo of the beers haha

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  2. It looks brilliant! Rocket is such a great poser too!

    Spotlight sell ready made outdoor blinds, they have sales all the time too :-)

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  3. What a difference a roof makes! It really transforms the deck area :)

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  4. Great DIY job! Looks good! When is summer getting here? Soon i Hope!

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  5. Wow, the roof looks fantastic! Your ideas sound so exciting - I hope you update us when you're happy with the result :) x

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  6. Oh wow! Looks so good. Love the 'Essentials' pic ;)

    - KK

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  7. Yay for handy friends who own and know how to use tools! The roof looks brilliant.

    My in laws have a type of thick plastic which rolls down (like blinds) to keep out rain and keep in heat. Works well in Adelaide, you might need something a bit tougher in Melbourne.

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  8. I would love a roof too. But erm.. we were told we cannot have a roof due to council fire safety requirements and lots more approvals would be required.
    Anyway, i left it as that and have an umbrella, it also saves the having to clean it.

    PS can you email me? Blog has my email addy in contact me page. :)

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  9. Looks great, send them over to my place I have heaps of work that needs doing!

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  10. There's this little cavewoman part of my brain that finds men who can build things very sexy.. haha Love the beer shot :)

    I am very jealous of your deck and garden. I want a little patch of paradise like that very much.

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  11. That part of your house is nice! It's a great idea you installed a roof. Ain't that perfect for barbecues and hanging out with friends. What material did you use for the roof?


    Cody Charlebois

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  12. Your roof is taking shape nicely. I'm sure it'll be done in no time, as it's looking good already. Your deck looks great. Good choice with the furniture! Hmmm... beer and pancakes sound like a good consolation for all the hard work. Heh. :D

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  13. Well, the pictures proved that it ended up fantastically! :D I like it! With the roof that you have installed, the place now has the perfect shade. What a nice place to relax! Have you had a beer party with your friends yet?

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    1. Why, Lino? You wanna come and join them? LOL Invite me too, Cat! :P Your place looks really cute, by the way. The newly installed deck roof looks beautiful. Judging by the picture, the construction of the structure was very neatly done.

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  14. This reminds me of my grandparent’s house. Even if it’s old, I still love hanging out there. They have a little deck in their backyard and the roof is just as great as what you have there. You can spend time there during the hot summer and even during the rainy season! :D

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