Day 176 - Flashing, Weatherboards & Soffit

(Thurs 21-04)
Drove past to check mail and builder was there with his 'lock-up' team fitting the flashing, weatherboards, infills and soffit.
Discussed various items with builder and was told that house would be 'locked-up' once the roofing & guttering was completed over the Garage and Guest Ensuite downstairs and the painting of the weatherboards done. The scaffolding will then be removed and the levelling up of the framing inside, ready for the plasterboard.
I can the start my elaborate pre-wiring!

Weatherboards & Soffit (above Guest Ensuite)

Weatherboards & Soffit  (rear)

Infill & Soffit (rear)

Nice join up with brickwork (flashing beneath)

Flashing above Garage roof

Day 172 - TV Antenna done

(Sun 17-04)
I decided that while the scaffolding was still up (not sure when it's coming down) that I would take the bull by the horns and do some work on the house, as nothing notable has occurred on site of late. Mind you I finished up in the dark, as I was rostered at work today also.
I installed a Clipsal (Digital only) UHF X-style 23 element Antenna (2ANUX23), mounted on a Clipsal roof mount base & mast for corrugated roofs (2ANTRPM)
It was relatively straight forward, using existing roofing tek screws to mount base, having only to use 1 extra tek screw and drilling hole for RG6 Quadshield Coax and putting silicone around coax in hole, crimping 'F' connector, securing it to Balun with rubber boot cover over the top and securing coax to pole with insulation tape - keeping my balance up top too. Unlike the Solar panel installer, I used a Spirit Level to get the mast straight, not hard at all!
I left 15mt of coax, coiled up in roof space above my sons bedroom for later cable run back to network enclosure.

Unlike the Solar panel installer,
I used a Spirit Level to get the mast straight!

Roof penetration with coiled RG6 coax

Day 168 - Laundry Door & Delivery

(Wed 13/04)
When the Laundry door was bricked around outside, it must have been necessary to remove it. However, when it was replaced, it was put back in out of square with the brickwork. It has now ben rectified, with some bricks knocked out to get it square.

There was also a delivery of some Colorbond flashing for garage and rear/side of house.

I also re-secured some areas of the Sisalation wrap which had come loose as a result of the weather we have been having.

Launrdy door now square but re-bricking required

Colorbond flashing delivery

Day 167 - Solar Panel installed

(Tue 12/04)
Scaffolding was altered so that Solar panel installed could get up on roof and install Panel on the North Facing rear roof, above kids bathroom/toilet area.
I'm glad you can't see it from the ground, as the installer has installed it out of square with the lines of the colorbond roof!
I confirmed that the Hot Water System we are getting is the Rinnai Sunmaster Gas Boosted Solar, with a 215lt Storage tank, S26 Instant Unit and 1x SP200A Solar Panel.
I would have like 2x solar panels, as it is recommended by Rinnai on their website. We will see how we go with one and I will upgrade it if necessary.

SP200A Solar Hot Water Panel installed out of square!

Day 163 - Framer returns

(Fri 08/04)
Drove past and framer was there. They also finished off the Sisalation Wrap of the upstairs, over which the Weatherboards will be fitted.
Framer installed 870mm wide doorway between ensuite and Master (our Variation request)
He also 'fixed' upstairs bulkhead framing issue. I am not sure whether he has finished, as I went to check it out Sat morning before work and it has not been done as per my discussion with the builder. It is about 500mm too narrow. Not happy but I am sure it will be addressed.

 Sisalation up top completed

  Sisalation up top completed

Door from Master to Ensuite (Variation) completed

Bulkhead now only 1650mm wide
(was originally to be 3045mm!)

Framing marked up in red to be altered
to achieve a width of 2110mm approx.

Day 162 - Heating & Cooling installed

Met up with heating and cooling installer on site, early today (Thursday 7th). Builder was running late, so I took over and showed him where the changes were upstairs. After my explanation, there was no need to put any extra voids. My daughter gets here larger WIR after all! I also walked him through the locations of lighting and speakers downstairs, to avoid conflict with ductwork and outlets.

I confirmed Heating & Cooling unit models.
Heating Unit - Bonaire B5-30 (5 Star with 1x Zone Motor)
Evap. Cooling Unit - Bonaire Integra VSL75 (the biggest one)

Cooling Unit & 1x Whirlybird in background

Integra VSL75

Day 161 - Bricks cleaned up top & framing mistake discovered!

(Wed 06/04)
Bricks were cleaned on 2nd Storey and the 2x Whirlybirds installed, one of which was not installed correctly and will have to be fixed. Doesn't spin properly.
Scaffold will be raised in 2 locations tomorrow ready for the Solar Panel, Gas Heater and Evap. cooler installation.
Builder called me a few days ago to discuss adding 2 extra voids for heating/cooling. I was a bit distressed, as we paid extra to include a bulkhead with 2, 600x690mm voids, specifically for this purpose and were told by NBG that these were sufficient. The heating/cooling people thought these were not enough.
I suggested that we meet with them onsite to see if we could avoid these extra voids, as one was in my daughters bedroom WIR!

I went to check upstairs as something didn't seem right. I discovered that not only were the voids we paid extra for the wrong size, but the whole bulkhead was 1600mm short. As a result, the Library door opening was in the wrong location also. Builder just happened to call me when I was looking at this mistake and he raced over to meet with me.
We discovered that when it will be fixed, no extra voids will be required.

 Bricks cleaned upstairs

 Bricks cleaned upstairs

Day 155 - Brickies Completed!

(Friday 31/03/2011)
I am sorry for the lack of updates in the past weeks. I have kept away from site as I got the impression from the brickies that I my presence was not appreciated, so I left them alone. I didn't go on site for over a week, nor drive past. Just left them to their devices.
They have done a great job. Only 2 things noted with builder at our site meeting today.
1. Laundry door sill is out of square with brick sill. They had to remove door for some reason and when they've put it back, damaged the mounts and put it back out of square.
2. Brick pillars for the Portico at the front, Builder forgot that there are wall lights to be mounted on them. There was no electrical wiring done. Now the bricks have been done, he has a problem on his hands. He said he will have to wear this one. Not sure how he intends to get the wire down 700mm to the spot where light is to be mounted!

Scaffolding is still up. Solar panel, Evap cooler, Heating unit will be installed on the 7th April.
Brick cleaning is booked for Tuesday 5th April.
I am going to install the TV antenna after these have been done.

I have also decided to go with Gutter protection on the 2nd storey only. The gutters are already full after only 8 weeks with the roof on! I went with All Clear Leafguard. It was the only one where you don't actually see the product and it is also made of colorbond steel, to match gutters.
Cost me just over $2k but I got quotes for gutter cleaning for over $150 a pop. Would need to be done at least 3 times a year. Was a no brainer.

PHOTOS TO COME!