Shopping!!

Seeing as the build is flying ahead we thought it was time to make some purchases. Shopping for a new house sounds like great fun but with a just turned 5 year old and 3 year old in tow, it can be rather testing!! First on the agenda was new beds for the girls. They are both currently sleeping in their cots (that convert to toddler beds). They have been great, but our eldest's feet are almost pushing through the bed end! 

Here are some purchases we have made so far. Fun!!

Bed for One Ratbag

One for the Other!

Bar Stools x 4 for the Island Bench in the Kitchen

Kitchen Pendant for the Island

There will be 3 of these (LOVE!!)

Bench Seat (not table) for the entry

Study Desk (minus all the chairs!)

Pendant lights x 2 for Master Bedroom

Absolutely love these - a bit different - made from wood

Close Up

Brick Delivery

Our bricks and sand for mortar were delivered yesterday (Friday) in readiness for brickies to start work Wednesday. I had to run up and have a look at the bricks to make sure they were the right ones at first as they looked a lot lighter on their sides. We chose these bricks as we had seen them on multiple houses (built) that looked good. They are an neutral brick. Not too dark that the light render would look out of place, but with enough variation that they will look and suit the house style. Lets face it, bricks are not the most attractive things! They do look slightly lighter than some versions we have seen, but I think this will work with our render facade and our landscaping. I told my husband that the sand had been delivered and he asked if it was white. I had forgotten it should look it (does it??!!) as we chose off white mortar. How would you know if the sand is off white or natural?! 

Bricks - Boral Mocha (Cat 4)

Mortar - Off White

Boral Mocha Bricks

You can see the lightness at the sides - gives nice variance at the corners

(I stalked a building site, prior to our colour selections and the brickies working on that build gave me a sample - so I'm confident they are the right colour!!) 

Colour Selections - with Bricks

Off White Sand?! 

Excavation

Due to our block having a slope/fall of 1.5m front to back, we knew we would need to get some excavation work done as part of our landscaping. I can't believe we thought we might be able to this ourselves! Our good friends who own Glenvale Homes were able to help out in this job - thanks guys! It took 3 days (part days) to dig, level and clear off the excess dirt (they were estimating about 10 truck loads removed!).  We have decided to level off the area that extends from the alfresco as we will deck this area. The higher area we left (some of) to create some variance to the yard and create a raised platform of grass. Gives us a better indication of the area we have to work with. Included are my husbands sketches and plans for the area! (We will obviously need to do retaining walls too!)

The raised area - approx 50cm high

Now Level from the Alfreco

Down the Side - Great space - bigger than we imagined (4.5m)

Our Landscaping Plan!

Plaster

It's been a big week of plaster work this week. The plasterers started the plaster on Tuesday and in effectively two days they had the majority of all walls and roof areas plastered. Our SS informed us that they would also be there most of the weekend. 

Looking Down the Hall (from the Entry)

Master Bedroom (with bulkhead) 

Not sure what all the plaster squares are on the wall - they appear in most rooms

Ensuite

You can see the difference in plaster to ground floor - finish will be square set

Study

Theatre

Lounge - with bulkhead and hob (vicious evening sun coming in)

Kitchen - rough plaster work under window - wasn't finished

Window not centred which looked a little odd. We looked at the plans and display and it is the same. Funny the things you don't see until it is stripped back!

First Floor

Activity Room - you can see the gap where the cornice will go

Bathroom

Bedroom 3

WIR in bedrooms 

NBN Box in Garage 

One thing I am glad we did before the plaster went up was take a photo of all the walls in each of the rooms and take note of all the electrical wires as well as the measurements for noggins etc. The hope is that when it comes to hanging pictures, shelves etc on the walls we won't make a mess of the plaster-work or cause a house fire!! (we also need it for the speaker wires in the theatre room - should be fun finding those!!)

Destructive Winds Cause Shock, Horror and then a Slight Twist of Fate..

If you were anywhere, well practically in Victoria, this week you will know how wild, woolly and extremely windy it was. The early part of the week had a weather forecast that included damaging gale force winds with squalls..... Why? Why? Why? Just when the house had been wrapped. The first night of winds, I envisaged the entire wrapping ripped to shreds and lifted to the high heavens. Driving past the next day, I was surprised to see it all intact! The wrappers have done an amazing job! Over the entire week, there was one small section that had a tear - on the corner of the house which was quickly secured. However......... we had a call from our SS on Monday to say that during the afternoon, while he was at the house, a mini twister (his words!!!) hit the house. Our 4.5m double glazed stacker doors were ripped from the frame and came smashing down. Two (out of three) doors were smashed and the door frame was twisted as a result. The double whammy was that the plaster had been delivered that morning and placed in front of these doors - they then came smashing down on top of all the cornice and the plaster. The afternoon and evening then included torrential rain, which came pouring in on top of the already damaged plaster/cornice. 

However, in a slight twist of fate, the doors that were damaged were the meal doors that were going to be reversed (hopefully) as we had made an error with the direction of them opening (see previous posts). Unbelievable. I had actually driven past during the windy afternoon and seen all the workers moving the door. I sent a text to my husband in pure excitement to say that they were in fact changing them over (our SS was going to try - but we weren't 100% sure it was even possible). It was only after the phone call later on that I realised they were obviously moving the doors in the aftermath of the damage from the winds. When we saw the doors that evening, we could see there was no way any of them could be salvaged. We thought the frame and one of the doors may be reused but they were really damaged. Such a waste. Our SS informed us that they would have to reorder new doors and the back would be boarded up until then (due to plaster work starting. The cornice was also unusable and the plaster had to be sorted through. Certainly a disaster week for him. We got confirmation on Friday that the new doors would arrive on 4th July and they would be sliding the way we wanted!!!!!!!! We were ecstatic! So lucky that it happened to those doors and not the lounge. Unbelievable stroke of luck really.

The Aftermath (frame looks better than it is)

Shattered Glass

Surveying the Damage (that night - mind the flash)

Boarded Up to Keep the Weather Out 

Disappointment

We have had a great journey so far and there really isn't too much to complain about. Our disappointments or small annoyances so far are probably part and parcel with all builds. In my imagination, the people working on our home are building it like they are building with the most delicate of materials. Everyone is careful and thoughtful and building the best home they have ever built. They wear their slippers, just to make sure the floor stays clean and pick up every scrap they drop. Yes, that's my imagination! Don't get me wrong, they haven't been disrespectful or overly  messy. However, one thing has been a big annoyance/disappointment - the treatment and condition of the doors and windows. We have spent a lot, and I repeat, I lot of money on our windows and doors. We upgraded and double glazed them all and we enlarged, added and changed almost all the windows (a lot to boutique). They were delivered to the block and placed in the mud, where they sat for a couple of days in the rain (only one or two - but they were there). The reveals got quite wet - some of which we questioned  - parts will be fixed up. When they were finally put on the amount of dirt in the tracks (doors) and on the glass was quite remarkable. We have also found scratches (cosmetic) on most of the end panels of the doors, arhhhhhhh. The upstairs stackers were laying in the garage for about a week (thankfully out of the weather - in pristine condition). Late last week the doors went in. You would think the best way to get the doors upstairs would be to lift them with multiple people, gently and carefully. Well no, it seems they thought the best way would be to drag them up the ladder and scaffolding on their sides. They may have even slid down the ladder on them, just for fun. Who knows. Unbelievable. We have expressed our concern and if they don't clean up, they will be replaced. Unnecessary though. It's hard to see something brand spanking new, look like it has literally been dragged through the mud. It's obviously fairly normal (doesn't make it easier). We were watching Grand Designs the other night and the same thing was happening there!! Our SS explained that the doors have a full door service before hand over  and anything we are not happy with will be rectified or replaced, so that helps a little.  Grrrrrr... Vent over!

Filthy Doors

Dirt in the Tracks

Scratches on the Door Ends

All Wrapped Up

Friday last week the house got it's coat on! All wrapped up in weatherproof foil. The whole backwards building process isn't really sitting that well so the wrapping better hold up. We've been past other builds where the wrapping is ripped and hanging of the house, so we are hoping that doesn't happen to us.  Inside, it is starting to feel like real rooms. Thought it might make it feel small, but it doesn't at all. Moving on quickly still!

Wrapping at Front

 Makes the windows on this side look a little small!

Wrapping on the side of the garage.

This has got us a little bewildered as we were told the side of the garage would be bricked internally. This obviously can't be done with wrapping. I guess the brickies may full it down. There is almost enough room down the side, so they may change technique and do it externally (like the remainder of the house). More to come. Bricks should start on Friday, weather permitting.

Whats Next.

My husband met with our SS during the week who gave us a run down of what is next to come. Crazy stuff. We have a confirmed build finish of 1st December 2014 (told this at contact). However, he is confident it is more likely to be the end of August. MAD.....!!!! We're not really ready by then! Ha! Shopping is high on the agenda the next few weeks = fun!

Our SS has been awesome and has allowed us to do quite a few extra things. I will blog about it after the build,  in fairness to him - check back after handover!

'Other' things occurring in the coming weeks:

• Electrical work - (today - Friday)
• Argus installing 5.1 speaker system -  (today - Friday)
• House Wrapping -  (today - Friday - photos to come)
• Plaster - (next week) - this scares me greatly as the bricks are not up. Luke asked our SS about this and they call this 'Reverse Building.' The wrap basically water proofs the house and the process is faster as the brickie's are one of the longest tradie's onsite (still secretly praying for lots of dry weather!!!).
• Bricking (next Friday)
• Tiles and kitchen (mid July)

Update

A lot has happened this week, although it's not as visible as in previous weeks. 

• Walls straightened and leveled (where needed)
• Extra wall brackets added
• Noggins added and straightened
• Upstairs door put in
• Walls made flush - ready for plaster
• Hot and cold water connected with piping
• Gas connected through the house
• Ducted heating installed
• Spa and bath framework in
• Solar panel up - for hot water service
• Front doors installed (temporary)
• Meeting with SS - more to come on the next post

Temporary Front Door 

Closer Look at Woodland Grey Roof and Whirlybird

The Garage Roof Valley - we were really unsure how this would look in real life. It is at this angle to drain water off the garage effectively. In the drawings it looked like it came up the wall and looked rather strange. It does come up the wall higher but fits in well and you wouldn't realise it looked any different to the rest of the roof. 

Solar Panel for Hot Water Service

Water Tap at the Front of House

A Bit of Pipework 

Ensuite Hot/Cold Water Pipes

Ensuite Spa Framework

Extra Wall Bracing 

Ensuite Shower Pipe

Upstairs Bath Framework

Gas Work Ready for the Fire

Bulters Pantry Hot/Cold Taps

Just a Few Extra Noggins for the Rangehood!!!!

Taps in the Floor for the Island Bench

Noggins for Ceiling Fans in Bedrooms

Ducted Heating

More Ducted Heating and Upstairs Doors (in pristine condition......)

More Ducted Heating

Just a Bit in the Rafters!! 

Honestly, This Stuff is Everywhere! 

 Just a Small One - It's Ridiculous!

More to go in Tomorrow! 

We upgrade our ducted heating to a larger system and to zoning. Not sure if there is normally this many cylinders and whether they are normally this large or if this is due to the larger system.