Eric and Jackie are beginning to realize that they
have a long road ahead.
I guess probably the biggest feeling today is relief,
because now it's actually happening.
A good build takes time, and as owners, a lot of their time
is spent not knowing what to expect.
All go here
Yeah, we're-- no stopping us now.
The Murray site is primed to start work.
Footings are dug, ready for the foundation pour,
and breaking ground means Eric and Jackie
are officially underway.
[THEME MUSIC]
Let's trim that edge up a bit.
Let's make sure it's 75.
So it's been a couple of days since the excavators
came in, took out all the soil, threw down some sand.
And there's been a roller rolling the sand
for a couple of days to get the foundation and the base sorted.
And so now we can really start to see the shape that the house
is going to take.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
So we've got the structure steel in.
It's being passed by the inspector.
So we're going to form the concrete footing for the blocks
to sit on.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
The Murrays' prep work has paid off,
and they're on track to lay down their foundation slab,
and get the framing up.
With fast-moving progress, it's important for owners
to stay across all elements of their build.
Good communication, and establishing best practice
is key.
It's good to see things happening, physically
coming out on the ground.
So from this point, what do we really
have to be concerned about, or worried about?
Yeah, well, it's from now on, things
are going to move very, very quickly.
The frames are going to be up in no time whatsoever.
So you need to be on site when those frames are going up.
And if there's anything that you want to change around,
now's the time to do it, before the roof goes on,
or before everything really gets locked in.
And if you do decide to make any changes,
you want to get a quote from the guys, whoever it is--
a plumber or the builder-- and say,
right, if we move that wall over there, how
much is that going to cost us?
And you want to get that in writing.
So Marcus, we've got the slab down.
As far as builders go, this is a pretty big day for us, aye?
Yeah, that's right.
So we've done all the hard work, making sure
we've got the size of the house, and the shape
and that all correct.
Make sure we have got plumbing fittings sorted
so that the correct pipe work and all that goes in.
So everything's ready to go for the timberwork.
So this is the main bathroom here.
Yeah.
I don't know where the door is.
I think the door is here, to go in.
The ground level's there.
But once the framing and everything start going up,
I think that's where the creation really happens.
And that's where we'll start to see a lot more of the house
taking shape.
Your toilet's over there.
My one?
Why can't I use this one?
You're not using that one.
Oh.
[LAUGHTER]
Decisions from day one are now literally set in stone.
The concrete foundation is down, and any changes
in design from this point will be costly ones.
So today we've had our wall frames delivered.
We'll start standing them up, fit them all together.
It comes with a plan, numbered.
And we know where they all go by that plan.
Fix the bottoms down, straighten them.
Do all that.
So then we'll start bracing them.
So really, it's just a little bit like a jigsaw puzzle.
And we just work through, and slowly stand them all up,
and make them secure.
Pine framing is made from sustainably grown timber,
affordable, and perfect for most builds.
Yep.
That'll do.
Made to measure at the local Mitre 10 frame and truss plant,
it's the trade rep's job to make sure Marcus isn't kept waiting.
My name's Nick Timms.
I'm the trade rep here in Cambridge.
Marcus and myself, we will generally catch
up maybe twice a week.
It makes it easy for him.
He's got one person that he calls and can rely on,
rather than going through all the different channels to try
and find bits and pieces for the job.
And then as well, if something does go wrong,
he's got one person to blame-- which is me.
So are you happy with everything?
Because now is the time.
If you want to make any changes, this
is the ultimate time to do it.
Yeah, we're pretty happy with everything.
The layout's all good.
We've just got one window that we're going to change.
It's looking right onto the neighbor's place,
and it's in our master bedroom.
So we thought we don't need a full-length window there.
So were going to just cut it in half,
and just have the top part.
Well, mate, you wanted to get your hands
dirty at the beginning of this project.
So I reckon we'll get you tooled up, and you can give me a hand.
Yeah, that'd be awesome.
Sweet.
So we're at 24 62.
So that's 6 68.
6 68.
So we'll go six times 6 68.
And also a couple of flat whites,
and a couple of muffins, sausage rolls, and a couple
of pints for the boys.
I'll see you in five.
There's your twice cut width here.
Got my safety switch on.
[BUZZ SAW]
Try that.
It's good.
Very, very good.
Thank you, rightio now you can cut
the rest of those jig studs.
Oh, he's got it.
[BUZZ SAW]
[HAMMERING]
Boom, window , sweet.
You picked that up, actually, surprisingly fast.
Oh, handy man, you know.
At this stage, the project's going pretty well.
Everything is coming together nicely.
When we get to that roof stage, then
the project changes for us, we get subbies in,
and we start doing exterior cleaning.
It's very exciting seeing the frame go up.
Now we really get a sense of the house, the open spaces,
the doors, the windows.
And it's amazing to see how fast it goes.