Week 13 - Summary

Monday 13/2 - Sunday 19/2:

Solid week of progress, with the brickies kicking off bright and early on Monday.  By the end of the week, they're probably 70% complete, and we're absolutely rapt with how good they look and well they're laid!

The sparkies came through on Tuesday and roughed in all the power and lights, and the insulation went in on Wednesday night.  Pity about the storm on Thursday evening, but it looks like we got away without any damaged batts.  Everything seems to have gone in to plan, aside from the light switch for the ensuite toilet, which was placed outside the room, and directly behind where we intend to place our heated towel rails.  I'm going to walk through the house this evening and check it off to plan.

Our SS met us back on-site on Tuesday to triple-check the placement of the front door handle, which gave us a chance to chat with the sparkies and bribe them with a slab of beers to run some extra power leads for additional things we need done after handover (projector & motorised drape in home theatre, heated towel rails in bathroom & ensuite).  Much easier to have the power cabling there now, as this causes the most pain for the sparkies later.  Also gave one to our SS for being a legend :)

The wall mixers got fitted off on Thursday, and PD's inspectors came through as well, marking a bunch of things that need fixing.

Monday 13/2:

Bricking on the South & East sides of the house.

Day 1 bricking on South side of house

Day 1 bricking on East side of house

Tuesday 14/2:

More bricking and electrical rough in.

South wall bricks completed 

South / East corner

More work on the East wall

Electrical in the Home Theatre 

Electrical in the Kitchen

Wednesday 15/2:

Garage bricked & insulation batts fitted.

Garage wall

Facade started

Insulation batts through Alfresco into Lounge

Thursday 16/2:

Bricking on North side and Wall mixers.

Bricking off WIR

Mixer for Ensuite shower

Friday 17/2:

Plaster delivered, more bricking!

East wall bricking - nearly complete

North WIR wall complete, with some of the HT wall started

Facade slowly coming together

Plan for next week:

Finish Bricking
Lockup (24 Feb)
Plaster
Inspection rectification (BSS & NHI)

Week 12 - Summary

Monday 6/2 - Sunday 12/2:

A fantastic start to the week that set the scene for the rest of it! After nearly a month of little progress, this week made up for it in droves, with our bricks turning up earlier than expected! Received a phone call from our SS at 9am Monday to advise that our bricks were being delivered that day... and that the brickies were getting started a few days later!  That triggers a range of trades to get the house past lockup and to fixing asap.

With the bricks turning up on Monday, the sand came on Tuesday and the pallets were split on Wednesday, ready for a Friday kick off.  In addition to this, the showerbases were fitted & waterproofed, and the sisalation wrap that got wrecked on the south side after our stormy weather last Sunday was fixed.

We had an on-site meeting with our SS on Thursday morning to see how things were tracking and what the next steps were.  We also went through anything that needed attention.  I must say, our SS is very pragmatic, and keen to make sure everything is done properly.  The plan over the next few weeks is for the bricks to be complete by 24/2, with door delivery and a visit by the fixing carpenter on Friday 10/2.  The sparkies are in on Tuesday 14/2 to rough in and the batts go in on Thursday 16/2.

On Friday, our huuuge front door was installed, along with the other external doors and the cavity sliding doors.  The proper foyer window was also fitted, the bath hob was made, and the walls were straightened, which also resulted in some of the wrecked noggins being replaced. The new ducted heating unit went in too.  The brick layers were on-site ready to start, but must have been called off as no bricks actually got laid.  In some other good news, the Ducted Vacuum points all got relocated to the exact spots we specified in our plans!! Good job PD!!

Got a call on Friday afternoon from our BC to give us a construction update. Nothing new aside from the fact that they will be claiming lockup on 24/2, even though the bi-folds won't be installed (due to potential damage and theft), which doesn't really bother us. Fixing about 2 weeks later.  In her experience, she reckons to prepare for a handover in May...

Monday 6/2:

Not quite tired of saying it just yet, but... Bricks!!

Bricks!!

Ensuite showerbase (1500 x 900)

Main bathroom showerbase

Tuesday 7/2:

Sand delivered, wrap fixed.

Wrecked wrap, after storm

Fixed wrap, and sand ready for brickwork 

Friday 10/2:

Doors, Ducted Vacuum, Foyer Window, Ducted Heating unit

Love it!

Foyer window fitted, Door from ensuite to yard

Ready to brick...!

Ducted Heating Unit

Facade - slowly coming together

Plan for next week:

Bricking

Electrical rough in

Insulation

BRICKS!!!

Well... our bricks turned up on Monday!! Great start to the week :)  A couple of iPhone pics to share.  Laying to scheduled to start on Friday!

Taken without direct sunlight

Taken in direct sunlight

Sand!

Week 11 - Summary

Monday 30/1 - Sunday 5/2:

Yet another slow week...!  Had a quick chat with our SS on Monday morning to get the latest on our bricks, and to book an on-site meeting.  According to him, the bricks are still scheduled for 9/2, but the office is struggling to book in the order for some reason.  SS reckons Austral are well aware that he wants them, so he's not too worried - if we miss this batch because someone can't do their job, heaven help them. Site meeting also booked in for 9/2 @ 8:30am.

No solid confirmation yet on when the Ducted Vac system will be re-done, and we also got advised that the heating unit we have (the standard Brivis 2PW26) does not support zone control (for which we paid $534 in the contract), and we need to shell out another $644 for the MX30i which does. Not happy, but cannot be bothered arguing the point.

We also got a price for 3-coat paint, which is $1950.  Most evidence seems to point to the fact that it is a much better finish, so we'll probably go ahead with that too...

On a slightly more positive note, we organised some more furniture this week.  A new 3 seater and arm-less 2 seater from King Furniture's Phoenix range (Package reduced from >$7,000 to $3,000) for the Lounge room.  We also bought lounges and tables from their new Outdoor range for the Alfresco. The staff at the Richmond store were very helpful, and we're excited about having their furniture in our house!

We really only have to organise light fittings for the 3 bedrooms (we've already got one for the Master), another coffee table for the Lounge and bedside tables for our room. Everything else has either been bought or selected for purchase a little later.

So what actually got done this week?  The ducted heating and cooling ducts went in to the roof space, and the evaporative unit got fitted too.  Happy to report that the ducts have ended up pretty much bang on where the plans had them, and the cooling unit was fitted neatly and plumb - we have seen plenty that don't look like they're fitted properly.  The incorrectly sized foyer window that was delivered way back in early December was collected and a replacement provided, which now needs to be fitted.

Monday 30/1:

Heating and Cooling ductwork started.

Ducts in Lounge with raked ceiling

Wednesday 1/2:

Ductwork completed, cooling unit fitted and correct foyer window delivered.

Return Air duct, and proper window for fitting

Cooling Unit

Plan for next week:

Brick delivery
Fix the Ducted Vac system?

Week 10 - Summary

Monday 23/1 - Sunday 29/1:

Not a lot to report this week, given it was a short week with Australia Day on Thursday. The roofing was finished off on Monday as expected, and the Ducted Vacuum system went in as well. Unfortunately, all the points are in the wrong locations! Obviously we raised this with our SS who was surprised the DV guys even came through. He was aware of our preferred locations (we gave him a marked up floorplan when we first met him), and says he'll sort it out.  Let our BC know too, just so there's no excuses later. The shower drains were also completed on Wednesday.

Spoke with Austral and the bricks are still scheduled for 9/2, and we popped into the Richmond display centre on Friday to have another look (just in case!)... still happy with them and the latest stock report has them deliverable on 9/2 still. Let's hope it stays that way!!

The houses around us are absolutely flying up (Carlisle, Urban Edge & PD Lifestyle / Access). Some that started after we did are past lockup and nearly ready to paint... Bring on some progress next week!!

Monday 23/1:

Roof complete, ducted vacuum system fitted.

DV point in the hallway in front of the Master BR.

Wednesday 25/1:

Shower drains fitted.

Plan for next week:

Ducted Heating & Cooling
More Electrical

Week 9 - Summary

Monday 16/1 - Sunday 22/1

Our SS was back on deck this week, and it was good to get a grip on where we were at.  Plenty of activity on-site, and our house is starting to take shape -- we love it!!

The roof tiles kicked off on Monday, and they look fantastic... great colour and flat as a pancake! We also noticed that there is sarking up there to protect the roof cavity from moisture damage, as there is no air flow with flat roof tiles.  The water leak also got fixed on Tuesday after a chat with our SS to make sure he got all the information we sent our BC over the Christmas Break (Water leak, door handle placement preference and that we still don't crossover protection).

We got our Independent Inspection done on Wednesday morning, and the general consensus was that the framers had done a really good quality job, and there were no issues with the slab!  The items that needed attending to were minor and to our surprise were all rectified on Friday, along with finalising a few other things such as the portico cover and more framework to the alfresco ceiling.

The biggest issue in play at the moment is the brick delay.  We're at the stage where only minor activities can be completed until the brickwork starts.  Our SS spoke with his manager about the impact of the delay, and they are fine to stop the build until the bricks turn up, and if a 'reverse build' was to occur it would be our decision, not PD's.  We're not interested in going down that path, but the internal things that are safe to do with a roof on and wrapped external walls, we will do - ductwork, electrical, vacuum.  Hopefully Austral have the bricks available by 6 Feb as advised to minimise any delays.

By the end of the week, we had a 95% completed roof (some capping and pointing to go), solar panel fitted, smart wiring roughed in, and all framing faults rectified.

One gripe - we are left wondering why tradies can't put their food scraps in the bin... it's just a bit gross, and it's not that hard!

Monday 16/1:

Roof tiles started

Sarking

Day 1 Roof Tiles on North side

Tuesday 17/1:

Roof tiles mostly completed, and the plumber has fixed the punctured pipe in the kitchen.

Roof tiles now complete on South side 

Wednesday 18/1:

Slab /Frame inspection with NHI.

Thursday 19/1:

Phone catch up with SS to organise site walkthrough in a couple of weeks, and decide on approach due to brick delays.  We'll wait for our brick and do what is safe internally.

Friday 20/1:

Got the Building Variation document from our BC, and to upgrade to the Elements Magnesium (cat 9) is a further $2,785 (in addition to the $4,237 already paid to get cat 6).  I confirmed that this figure includes the free upgrade from cat 6 - 7, that there is no variation fee and that we are not being charged the upgrade cost for rendered areas.

The solar panel has been fitted (very happy with the location and 'squareness' to the section of roof, the smart wiring has been roughed-in, and the framers came back to do the portico and also rectify the items from the inspection, along with a few other things our SS says he found.

Awesome roof tiles, and solar panel

Cabling through the Alfresco

Family Room smart wiring. Notice the graffiti scratched into the wrap?

Smart Wiring hub in garage

Plan for next week:

Finish roof tiles (capping and pointing)
More electrical rough in
Ducted heating and cooling
Ducted Vacuum

Week 8 - Summary

Monday 9/1 - Sunday 15/1

It's been a little while since we've had much progress, and we're starting to get keen for something to happen!  Sadly, this wasn't really the week for that, even though the roof tilers were booked in for Friday 13/1.  The sisalation wrap is done, the roof tiles delivered, and the safety barriers fitted ready for the tilers, hopefully on Monday now.

We had more water leak problems too.  It seems like tradies from other builds come to our block to use water (which doesn't bother us), but because of the hole in the kitchen plumbing, when they turn on the mains we get flooded!  So I've cable tied the mains tap shut until the leak is fixed.

Also spoke with Austral, and the Magnesium brick has been delayed until 6/2 from 10/1. And that is no guarantee either.

Thursday 12/1:

Wrap, roof tiles and safety barriers.

Roof Tile - Monier Cambridge in Soho Night

Plan for next week:

Roof tiles fitted
Independent Inspection (booked for 18/1)
More brick discussions
Internal plumbing fixed / finished?

Week 7 - Summary

Monday 2/1 - Sunday 8/1

Nothing this week, as expected, however we did have a little issue with water.  We popped by on Thursday evening to see if anything had happened and found pools of water throughout the house! I turned off the mains water, while Leanne looked for the source of the leak which she found to be a small hole in the black internal plumbing pipe which runs from the kitchen bench to the kitchen island. The hole was near the top of the cable, just under the capping.

We have no idea how it happened, but there are a fair few nails 'floating' around on site, so not sure if it was some rat bag kids...?

Anyway, took a couple of pics and sent them through to PD to get the pipe replaced.

Went back on Friday and it's pretty much all dried out.  Cleaned out some of the wet saw dust which had accumulated around the framework so it can all dry out properly.

Aside from that, our blog clicked over 10,000 page views!! Thank you to all who read our blog... hope you enjoy it!!

Thursday 5/1:

Plan for next week:

First independent inspection (slab / frame) with New Home Inspections
Roof tilers to start on Thursday
Contact Austral on Friday to see if the Elements Magnesium brick is back in supply (should be available from 10 Jan)

Week 6 - Summary

Monday 26/12 - Sunday 1/1

Didn't really expect anything to happen this week, however on Thursday, the internal plumbing was completed, and the electricity Smart Meter was installed as well.

The Main bits

Breather vent

Smart Meter

Plan for next week:

Not sure - not expecting anything really. Could they start the electrical rough-in, before the roof goes on the following week?

My Fantastic Husband

It was my birthday the other day, and Rups surprised me with the most fantastic gift for our new house. It is the light for our dining room that I have been dreaming of. I am so lucky !

I just can't wait to see it up.

Skygarden by Marcel Wanders (900mm)