Day 247 - Wrap-up for week just passed......

(Fri 01-07)

 Yet another week passes......almost......5 weeks to go!

1. Rubbish skip full and still lots more rubbish piled up.

2. Painters apparently prepared for painting, which will not be started until stairs go in anyway.

3. Builder called and said stairs would not go in as scheduled next Mon 4th July. He also queried internal paint choices. Stairs won't go in for another fortnight!

4. Builder asked me to drop off our Kitchen sink to the cabinet maker (I am guessing that work has only just started on that side of things?)

5. I will be doing my plaster cut-outs for my TV/DATA/PHONE/SPEAKER points over the weekend. I was going to start them today but I guess I have lost interest with things progressing very little over the past weeks.

6. Builder sent notification for the 2nd last 25% 'Fixing Stage' payment. I am reluctant to pay this as the so-called 'Fixing Stage' is far from completed. Contract states that it is completed when:

'all internal cladding, architrave, skirting, doors, built-in shelves, baths, basins, troughs, sinks, cabinets and cupboards of a home are fitted and fixed in position'

Only the internal cladding (plaster), skirting, doors and 1x bath is in place. So you can see why I am unwilling to make payment yet.

Day 245 - Rubbish removal

(Wed 29/06)

Skip was delivered on Monday. Nothing has happened on site, to my knowledge, until this morning when rubbish on site was being cleared when I drove past.

Apparently, the painters were also there doing their pre-painting preparations on the internals. I find it strange that they would paint before any cabinetry & bulkheads were installed? Maybe that's quite normal? They are using Haymes Premium paints, not the Wattyl ID system as stated in the contract documents. I agreed to this, as long as the standard of product and quality is equal or better than the contracted paint system.

Got the final bill for Variations/Credits from the Builder and in total, we spent just over $4500 on Variations to the original contract price. This figure does not include the many 'extras' I have purchased, of which I have kept and accurate record of and just don't want to look at the spreadsheet totals anymore!

 Skip in foreground delivered Mon 27th June

Rubbish everywhere to be removed today!

Day 242 - My stuff-up

(Sun 26-06)

I raised a Variation to put a door from Master bed to WIR/Ensuite, as it did not have one.
Initially it was decided it would be an 870mm wide single door but somehow it's become 2x 420mm doors.
After much checking and retracing emails etc. I discovered I had agreed to this option. I am now very annoyed with myself, as these doors will be totally impractical in this situation, having tested them out today. As it's my fault, I will have to live with it for now and fit a new door post handover.
BTW - Wife not happy :(

Double door from Master to WIR/Ensuite

Day 240 - Skirts/Architraves/Doors fitted

(Fri 24-06)

Internal doors/skirts/architraves were fitted today.

Weatherboards replaced the cement sheeting above read sliding door and 1 window as per my request. Looks better I think.

I also noticed a Telstra pit has been installed out the front. Not sure when that went in but am pretty happy about that. In order for Telstra to be connected, they have to bore beneath the road, as any new house can only have underground connections apparently, even though it came in overhead on the old house which was here. I have asked Builder to quote for this, as I am not prepared to spend a fortune just to get a Telstra line in. I have also pre-wired for Optus (overhead) and will connect up with them if Telstra want to rip me off to bore under the road and connect with them.

 Guest Bed skirting/doors/arcs done

  Laundry skirting/doors/arcs done

Weatherboards now above sliding door at rear

Weatherboards now above window at rear 

Telstra pit installed

 Large Manhole in Garage

Day 239 - Meeting with Builder

(Thu 23-06)

Took a quick drive by and saw that the Internal doors and handles were delivered today.
As usual, the gates were left wide open and the house was unlocked. I will mention the poor security at the site to the Builder tonight.

Met up with Builder this evening to discuss build progress and sort out all unpaid Variations and Credits.
I got a shock at the bill for all the extra electrical work I requested, although I did get lots of things credited back for the rest of the project, including the Oven & Rangehood, as I am supplying those items (amongst others)

Day 238 - Silt pit moved & more....

(Wed 22-06)

Silt pit which was placed right out front of Portico, where I am putting a path to the house, was moved and all other pits were raised and where appropriate and connected up to my socked agi pipe from the retaining wall.

Plasterers finished off Cove install and 'stop-up ', ready to sand/finish on Thur or Fri.

Silt pit moved/raised and Rubbish everywhere!
(Daddy's little helpers in background)

Silt pits raised down sideway
& conected up to my agi pipes
from Retaining wall

 

Silt pit at rear raised

Day 236 - Cornice & stopping up

(Mon 20-06)
Plasterers installed the 90mm Cove cornice and finished off the plaster 'stopping-up'.

Day 233 - Plaster 'stopping-up' done?

(Fri 17-06)
Plaster 'stopping-up' is complete - I think? Looks great now. Get a real feel for the room sizes now.

Builder called me and he sounded pretty sick. He asked me to visit site to meet up with Plumbers and locate the silt pit in front of Portico which I wanted moved. Plumbers were there to connect up downpipes to storm water and raise the 4x silt pits down the side. I am assuming they also connected up my socked agi-pipe to the silt pits. Will check it out.

The 75mm Cove cornice was delivered today also.

I also discovered what I think is missing brickwork above lintel out the back of the Laundry. Will query this one (see photo)
 

Bulkhead & plaster - side Alfresco

Garage plaster

Entertainment Bulkhead upstairs
(square finished)

Stairwell area

(note access door not cut-out)

 Laundry Bulkhead plaster

Looking towards Kitchen bench from Living

 

 Looking towards Front Door/Entry
(note square finished plasterwork)

 Missing brickwork above lintel?

75mm Cove Cornice delivered

 

 

 

Downpipe connected & Sewer 'breather'

another Downpipe connected
 

ditto!

still a bit of digging to do down this side

Sewer 'breather'

Day 227 - Perimeter cleanup finished

(Sat 11-06)

While the kids and wife were at a birthday party, I finished off the perimeter clean-up of all the mortar overspill, as well as cleaning up a bit after the plasterers in the Garage.
The plaster hanging is not complete. They just have to do 1 wall upstairs and a few downstairs, including the area around my 'precious' cabling!
Note updated picture of rear of house at bottom of page.

 Perimeter clean-up BEFORE

 Perimeter clean-up AFTER

Rear of house



Day 225 - Panic stations!

(Thu 09-06)

Got a phone call from the builder last night - the plasterers are starting today! I had organised a close mate of mine and the wife to help over the long weekend to do my extra insulation. I now find myself in a bit of a spot. I have already purchased 7x bags of R4.1 for the Alfresco ceiling and Garage (70m2 approx.) and had to go to storage to get it last night and deliver it to site. I arranged some time off work and met up with Builder and labourer after lunch today armed with my 10x bags of Acoustic insulation for upstairs and pipes downstairs (approx. 60m2) Builder was kind enough to see my predicament. He and his labourer insulated the Garage and Alfresco while I did the Acoustic upstairs. Plaster was going up as I layed the insulation, literally!
I ran out of R4.1 & Acoustic so I ducked up to the local insulation place and paid through the nose for 4x bags R4.1& 1x Acoustic!
I'm lucky I mentioned to the Builder about the missing insulation in the Guest WIR & Ensuite and it was just as well I did, as he had forgotten, I paid for the missing insulation and I guess I will get a credit for that later?

Telstra installer came today and replaced the bent conduit (compliments of the gas line crew) and installed the NTD grey box to the wall and connected up my line to the street pit.

Extra R4.1 - Entire Garage ceiling & part Alfresco ceiling
R2.0 Soundsmart Acoustic - Laundry/Living Wall and Guest ceiling (pipework above)

R2.0 Soundsmart Acoustic -Bed3/Toilet, Bed2/Family, Bed2/Library & Ens WC/Stairs

R4.1 in Garage ceiling 

R4.1 in ceiling above Alfresco 

Bed2/Family Acoustic Insulation done!

Soundsmart Insulation ready to go into walls Shower/WC in Ensuite

Telstra NTD & Coax, coiled, ready for Foxtel

Day 223 - Shower flashings & Tastic ductwork

(Tue 07-06)
Builder installed showerbase zinc flashing for the upstairs showers and installed the ductwork for the IXL ducted tastics I have specified.

I noticed that he had marked out the Rangehood exhaust and the exterior vent had been delivered.

MISSING INSULATION was discovered above the Guest Ensuite and Guest WIR. Builder was already aware and will sort it before plaster goes on.

Showerbase flashing Kids Bathroom
(photo out of sync - taken after plaster)

 

 Showerbase flashing Ensuite
(photo out of sync - taken after plaster)

Day 222 - Insulation started

(Mon 06-06)
The Insulation crew started and 'finished' today. I checked that they used the contracted insulation, as per the specs - they did. Bradford Gold R4.1 for the Ceilings & Bradford Gold R2.0 for the walls.

Day 221 - Blowing dust everywhere!

(Sun 05-06)
Although the boys did a sweep up prior to insulation/plaster, I took my blower and did a couple of hours extra cleanup. You could have eaten off the floors by the time i'd finished!

Day 216 - Portico ceiling lined

(Tue 31-05) Portico was lined with cement sheet today. As previously mentioned, there was a design issue regarding the Portico eaves, ceiling and front door height - therefore part of the ceiling had to be recessed. It turned out OK but I assumed they would use plasterboard, not cement sheet and quad everywhere. I would have changed this if I had been astute enough to read the specs - it was something I overlooked.

The last of the 'blocking' of the frame was done and some plaster battens installed too.

Recessed section of ceiling on Portico

Recessed section of ceiling on Portico

Recessed section of ceiling on Portico

Day 213 - Downpipes fitted

(Sat 28-05)
Downpipes were fitted but not connected up to storm water as yet as there is a bit of outside drainage to sort out prior to this being completed.
Most of the downpipe saddles have not been properly fitted as the fixings have been left protruding out of brickwork. Not happy.
Another one for the defect list prior to 10% final payment :(

Fixing left protruding on most of saddles

Day 212 - Ducted Vacuum & Alarm installed

(Fri 27/5)
Ducted Vacuum and Alarm were installed. I met with Builder and Installer at 8am to run through install. Not sure whether the location of the 2x vac points will reach everywhere?

Vacusweep point for Kitchen Bench

Vacuum point for Family Room Upstairs

Day 208 - Lock-up Payment request

(Mon 23/5)
Builder sent through urgent payment request for Lock-Up Stage Payment which I paid without hesitation after I visited the Sparky. I requested 2 small changes to the electrical, both of which they were only to happy to change for me. I altered the location of 2 wall lights and moved a GPO. I shouted coffees all round!