Day 93 - Trusses delivered

Trusses were delivered today (28-01)
Builder called me with an update. Trusses will go up next week, although he was not able to use a crane due to trees and overhead power line OH&S issues.
Finally I got around to taking some pics of the rear of the house since upstairs was framed.

Trusses delivered

 

Trusses

Trusses

1st Floor Framing from rear

 1st Floor Framing from rear

Day 92 - First Floor Framing cont....

Upstairs framing continued today. Expecting the trusses and windows tomorrow (29/1) or early next week.
We have asked for a few minor changes, even at this stage! My wife wants a door between the Master (Bed 1 on plans) and the WIR. see image below
I have also decided to keep the ducted vacuum system downstairs only and have added a Vacusweep in the Kitchen and another outlet. see image below
My wife has asked for another window in the Meals to be quoted! Bear in mind the windows are to be delivered next week! I would imagine, this would come at a cost, assuming it can be done. I worked out if it can be done, that is would be a 610mmx1800mm Armadale Awning window, the same as the ones in the Living, except narrower.
The builder was fine about these items and has suggested an 870mm wide single door for the Master to WIR door. We will go with what he has suggested, assuming it's not too expensive.

 Red indicates 870mm wide door
(not double door as shown)

 

Vacusweep for Kitchen now added

 

 Red indicates 610mm x 1800mm additional window?
(If possible and affordable!)

Day 90 - First Floor Frame

Flooring of first floor was completed and framing has started. Started to look like a 2 Storey house now and have some idea now how it will look from the street.
Windows of Master Bedroom were re-aligned on the LHS due to the Brick Expansion joint location. They will now line up with the double garage door on the LHS & RHS. Makes sense to me. Don't know why the person drawing the plans would not have picked this up.
Down tools tomorrow due to Australia Day Holiday.

Day 87 - Plinth time

My Dad came over to help complete retaining wall 'works'.

We just had to secure plinths between each fence section where the retaining wall parallels it to protect the fence against further rot, as I will be filling up retaining wall to fence (all 300mm of it!) with topsoil soon.
We also spread & levelled out soil down the side which was created when we excavated in preparation for the retaining wall.
My Wife, Kids, myself and my Dad cleaned up site including me using a blower to 'sweep' the inside clean of all the Lemon Scented gum tree bark, which sheds everywhere this time of year.

Plinths added & secured under bottom fence rail

Spreading & levelling of excavated soil done

Day 86 - Framing alterations & site visit

Drove past with some Gatorades for the boys and the Builder was there also, so I dropped in and he walked me through progress to date. Upstairs Yellow Tongue flooring was being installed as we walked around. He showed me where they had altered the fridge cavity as per my original instructions on the NBG Q&A document. (NBG drafting dept. let this one slip through - I didn't pick it up either!)
Builder said that all framing will up by next Thursday, weather permitting. The windows and trusses will be delivered by next weekend also.
Build moving along very well so far......

Fridge cavity altered to 1310mm width
(to allow for plaster & skirting boards)

4x4 supports posts on saddles for Alfresco
now installed where brick piers will be added later

Brickwork at Entry which was
re-done at my request

Day 85 - Floor joists done

All LVLs & most of the I-Beam Floor joists were installed today, ready for the Yellow Tongue flooring for upstairs to be started tomorrow.

Inside Garage

Kitchen Roof

Alfresco from rear propped up
with temporary 4x4 posts

Day 84 - Bricking up garage lintels

Lintels on garage were bricked up today. Looking good! I guess it will continue tomorrow also. Framing & flooring upstairs should start later in week or early next week.....weather permitting!

Steel Lintels bricked up

Looking good!

Day 83 - Structural Steel in position

A lot was achieved today. The steel structural beams and lintels were placed in position. The site was cleared of most of the rubbish. The framing timber, yellow tongue flooring and LVL floor joists were delivered also.
The builder called me @0830 to discuss site access whilst beams are being installed and gave me a general update on progress.
I did a 'dummy' run this morning, parking in the street and walking to the station. It took exactly 11 minutes from doorstep to the front carriage. It really cemented in one of the deciding factors in our decision to buy in this area in the first place.
When I got home, an email was waiting from the builder with a detailed progess update. I must say I'm very impressed with the level of contact we have enjoyed with him to date. A very open line of communication exists, which is great.

Garage lintels/and beams

LVLs and Yellow Tongue flooring in foreground

Single car garage lintel

Day 80 & 81 - Onsite meeting with Bricky

I turned up at 0810am and the builder was there, returned from his weekend away as he was so concerned about the issue I had raised, he wanted to be there to deal with it too. Needless to say I was impressed but also felt a bit like one of those clients builders hate.
He was also unhappy with the job and was already knocking down the wall. Bricky turned up and also saw reason for concern and was happy to re-brick that section.
I went up and bought some coffees and jam doughnuts for us to give them a chance to talk without my presence.
Bricky worked Sat & Sun to finish his job so steel support beams and further framework can be started on Mon 17/01 (Day 82)
Just got back from a sticky beak at job so far and am happy with the wall he has re-bricked. See photos.

 Re-bricked section (mortar still wet)

 Re-bricked section (mortar still wet)

Garage pillar

Rear of garage started

Day 78 & 79 - Rain, Rain and more rain!

Poor brickies had a particularly stop/start couple of days where not much was achieved.
The rain was ridiculous to say the least. They only got about half a days work done in three days. On Day 79 (Friday 14/01) I inspected (in the rain) the work to date. No photos were taken unfortunately. I was unhappy with the job on the pillar to the RHS of the entry so I contacted builder to discuss my concerns. Basically, the bricks did not look straight in quite a number of spots and the mortar thickness was not consistent. Being right at the front door, I was a little concerned. The builder called me back after out initial conversation and explained that one reason for the uneven bricks was due to the fact that the bricks were wire cut bricks and can be as much as 4mm out of square! We must have got a dud batch. I was still a little concerned, as the mortar thickness in some spots was really noticeable.
Builder organised for me to meet up with bricky onsite tomorrow (Sat 15/01) to discuss concerns as he was away for weekend.
Sorry no photos

Day 76 - Brickies start work

Brickies started laying garage wall today (Tue 11/1).
I dropped in to introduce myself to them at lunchtime, dropping in some doughnuts, bikkies and cool drinks. I do this from time to time with each of the trades on site.
Now we are extremely happy with our choice of brick and mortar colour/style, having seen it 'in the flesh' All that effort driving to and from brick displays and addresses was totally worth it.
In the end we decided against the use of oxide to darken the mortar, even though the mortar is still wet, I think it is a choice that we will not regret.
See photos

Garage wall (South side)

 Garage wall (South side)

 Garage wall (South side) 

 

A start on the LHS Garage Concrete pier

Day 65 - Retaining wall complete

40deg it was! Got up early and ordered 1.5m3 of 20mm Drainage Scoria to be delivered. It came within the hour. Before Dad arrived I had moved all the remaining sleepers in position and generally got things ready, also cleared some rubbish and moved some rocks from rear of property to make way for my 3x3mt shed (eventually)
Dad got there just after the delivery and we went to Bunnings to get the agi-pipe and fittings required - coffees and sausage & egg McMuffins on way home!
We decided to go for 65mm socked agi-pipe as just 600mm underneath retaining wall there is a 100mm slotted PVC pipe for drainage also, so we felt that even 65mm agi-pipe in this wall was total overkill.
We placed sleepers and rammed scoria with a crowbar to level sleepers to string line. Once this was done we filled behind the wall with scoria to about 150mm, varying height for drainage, then lay out pipe and made up required connector pieces and fitted them off with duct tape. We then covered pipe with approx. 250mm of scoria to finish off our drainage requirements. We started to fill in excavations for wall and got about half way there as were so exhausted by heat, we finished up for the day. I will complete the 'cleaning up' on a cooler day!

20mm Drainage Scoria


 

65mm Socked Agi-pipe

All on the level

Stage 1 - 150mm bed of scoria

Stage 2 - Agi-pipe in place

Stage 2 - Agi-pipe connected to rear silt pit

Stage 3 - ALL DONE! 250mm Scoria
on top, then fill in excavated area