I’ve lived here for 16 years and the house is now around 40 years old and in need of some maintenance. The house has been built on “Black soil” which is quite unstable and so if it’s raining or dry for too long the house will move slightly, especially on the front left hand corner which has always been a problem.

The front door will often not close properly and this was the case when I returned a few months ago. The screen door would catch but the glass sliding door did not. I got a new lock fitted and this fixed the problem. The screen door was also adjusted but just two weeks ago it began to play up once more.

The renovations are being done mostly to give me a space downstairs where I can hide form the summer sun. The summers in Ipswich are becoming hotter and often reach over 40c. Even although I have air conditioning it is still not comfortable to be sat inside and so I am hoping that this year will be better once I have finished the downstairs area. It will be more sheltered from the western sun because of my next door neighbour’s house and of course because it’s on the ground floor it will just be cooler.

A new slab was laid and a large footing was constructed to once and for all secure the left front of the house. The house was raised up 50 mm on that corner to get it level and it’s good to finally see the floor and the skirting board once more coming together.

I was going to do the bulk of the work myself but then I decided to get the outside done by the professionals and I will complete the interior. I can line all the walls with gyprock and do the painting etc., the only thing that I’m not allowed to do is the electrical work. Once I have figured out what I need I’ll get someone in.

I’m looking forward to getting started on the interior once the outside is complete which will hopefully be around the middle of next week.