Welcome to the next update on the Cushnie Function Centre Caretaker’s Residence Renovation Project.

The Team has begun some construction at last. Renovations are interesting in that you have to remove everything that’s not needed in a de-construction phase, before the constructive creativity that feels like you’re getting somewhere can really begin. It’s kind of like having to go backwards in order to move forwards.

Sounds like a familiar analogy in reference to fixing up one’s own personal emotional life, where there is a need to de-construct sin within the soul in relation to a given subject, before the soul can be developed in the direction of God’s Love & Truth on that subject.

Free as a Breeze

As mentioned in previous posts, the structural changes to the house aim to provide more light and airflow. To achieve this, two doorways needed to be moved. One doorway simply had to be shifted sideways 600mm (2ft) to allow for a new storage cupboard in the living room, and another was enlarged to take advantage of the direction of the cooling summertime breezes. The two doors, which are on opposite sides of the main living area of the house, will work together to help pull the breeze through the house.

God has created the natural breeze for our comfort, so it seems wise to say “yes, thank-you” and take advantage of it in the renovation design.

Changing it Up

The structural changes required for this work were quite simple.

This house is constructed of lightweight steel frames. The roof is made up from trusses that span from one outside wall to the other.

Because the new door openings were to be made in the outside walls that hold up the roof, making this modification required propping up (taking the weight of) the roof structure while the necessary structural supportive changes were made, and then removing the temporary props.

You may have noticed in the photos that the existing house is made of light gauge steel frames, but the new work is all of timber. Timber was chosen over steel, as a structural engineer would need to be brought in to design the steel work required to support the roof load over the wall opening. Whereas timber has the advantage of readily availability span tables that can be looked up to determine what beam (horizontal member) and studs (vertical members) are required for the job. Span table calculations are based on the type of construction, known loads from the roof per square metre (or square feet), and the size of the opening in the wall.

The economical option was taken, given the availability of the right information and materials to carry out the work.

Stage Two Complete

In the photo below, some of the other minor wall changes can be seen. This photo also shows the direction from which the prevailing breeze will travel in via the door opening, through the space and out the door opening on the other side of the house.

All of the electrical work has also been installed during this phase, along with plumbing and other cabling such as data.

The new doors and windows have arrived and are ready for installation.

The Next Stage

In the next stage of works, it will be time to go to work on the outside of the house and install the new external wall cladding. The cladding that’s been chosen is quick and easy to install, easy to remove if you want to add any cabling, electrical or plumbing upgrades in the future, and the only maintenance required is the occasional hosing down to keep it looking brand new.

This meets the aims of God’s Way Ltd’s building projects, to use resources economically, achieve little-to-no-maintenance constructions and have flexibility for any future additions or changes.

Creations that constantly require maintenance use up valuable resources including time. There is more joy in creating new things than spending time and effort maintaining previous creations.

God created a completely self-maintaining universe. Pretty impressive, huh! This allows God the freedom to keep creating awesome new things!