Organiser: Ian Morris
Following on from the previous working bee in March 2013 when the Flora Hut roof was renovated, this year our objective was to line the woodshed, paint the exterior walls and line the interior.
Work started a fortnight earlier when a small group accompanied Tom Bruce, a roof flashing expert, to replace the rusted gutters on each chimney.
On 14 March the activity commenced with shifting all the firewood out of the woodshed and excavating about half a metre of rotten wood debris that had accumulated underneath. It would have been perfect garden mulch – Kate wished she had brought a trailer. Bob took on the responsibility of designing and installing the woodshed lining which he did very neatly. The walls are now well protected from flying lumps of firewood and even over-vigorous use of the axe!
Brian took charge of preparing the iron walls of the hut and had several assistants removing rust and filling holes, prior to applying the galvanising undercoat. Pat controlled the team preparing the woodwork for painting. Most of the painting was done on Sunday and Michael Kirwan, who is a professional painter, gave us invaluable advice. It was a relief to have warm sunny weather after the frost, ensuring both coats of paint dried quickly. The walls are now Bowman (creamy yellow) and the doors and windows frames are Nelson Red. The colours were chosen to be historically accurate to match an old 1928 black and white photo of the hut, strangely enough!
Kate took the lead clearing the drainage trench across the back of the hut utilising her gardening skills. Marilyn arranged flat rocks beneath the eaves where the water drips without any gutters on the roof. Brian and Mark put polyurethane on the plywood ready for lining inside the hut.
One week later Silvano installed polystyrene insulation and plywood lining on the ceiling of one bunk-room, not an easy job, because nothing was square. This bunk-room should be slightly warmer this winter – it will be better still when we get the walls insulated and lined.
Participants on 28 February: Tom Bruce, Simon Ridgen, Ian Morris, Marilyn Morris, Lawrie Halkett, Kay Halkett, Bill Fergie.
Participants on 14–15 March: Ian Morris, Marilyn Morris, Pat Holland, Chris Louth, Marie Lenting, Mark Grasser, Joe Bretherton, Sharon Bretherton, Kate Krawczyk, John Whibley, Brian Renwick, Tim Tyler, Bob Janssen, Michael Kirwan.
Participants on 21 March: Silvano Lorandi, Ian Morris
View more of Marilyn's great photos of the Flora Hut reno
