Disappointed to Report the Lows..

It's hard to write this, as our journey with Carlisle Homes so far has been great, amazing to be honest. Maybe there isn't much to this and we'll look back soon and realised that we jumped the gun and maybe over analysed or over reacted. But at the moment there is a bit of distaste in the mouth. Disappointed is the word. Confused and disappointed. Not even sure where the blame falls, it doesn't really matter. We just want the home we loved, to be built with as much hard work as we put into everyday life. For everyone to do the best job they possible can. I know, my expectations are too high, aren't they!

Our disappointments mainly revolve around the bricks but are then a culmination of other things (probably stemming from our annoyance). Where do I start without taking pages of writing. 

Our first concerns were about the alignment of the bricks on the pillars of the facade. Like I said earlier, who knows who is to blame for all this. The concreters, the brickies, the framers, the draftsman or our SS? The bricks have an overhang (which we have looked in to and is outside regulation), it will no doubt be fixed but why do we have to bring this up and why has is happened? -  in the frustrating part. It has occurred to two of the three pillars. 

First bricks have been laid and the next course is off to the right and straight from then on up

Was the concrete underneath not large enough to go straight from the first course?

Did the brickies make an error, then rectify it?

Overhung on the portico, again, why has this happened?

The last thing we want, in years to come is cracked bricks and render...

This next complaint has got me really annoyed. Carlisle Affinity Homes (ours) are supposed to have brickwork above all windows and doors (you pay for it). We are going to be left with gaps above lots of windows. So far, I think there is one window that has been coursed correctly. We felt it was the brickies inability to get their gauge right and course at the top of the window - but is it the draftsman or the framers??? - who knows. The fact that the facade windows are like this has annoyed me further. In our contract, it states that windows that do not align will have an aluminium filler. In the scheme of things, no one will probably realise, but how has this happened? We don't like it, we don't want it and we are not happy. We think it will look cheap. We had our building friend inspect, and he agreed that it shouldn't happen. Our SS said that it happens to windows and every build, even displays. It may to the odd window. BUT, there is not one house in our entire neighbourhood or any house I have driven past in the last few days that has them to the facade or where visable. The Carlisle displays in our area (new ones being built too) mostly have none. There were two different homes - with one window in the whole house..... 

You can see the gap between the lintel and the window (these are facade)

Not happy at all with this

Laundry Door - same effect

The Study - may be the worst

So, we sent an email to our SS 2 days ago explaining our disappointment and disgust (hopefully meeting him tomorrow) we also CC'd our CLE in on it. We have had a response from both but it is still being discussed. The worst came yesterday and is now being discussed with our SS and his manager - will keep you posted on the result.

Initially our SS had a quick conversation with my husband explaining that the particular brickie on at our house is extremely particular in his work and comes highly regarded. They set a gauge to a particular point (we are thinking the front door, etc.) then work from there. When windows don't line up you get the aluminium infill. How on earth have ours pretty much all not lined up - crazy. We did increase both our ceiling heights - did this effect it???? Anyway - he explained that was how it was done, etc. BUT and it's a HUGE BUT. The next day after this conversation this happened.... 

Our kitchen and butlers window are the same height. However, 2 things happened. 

1) the wrong window was put in the butlers (we didn't even realise - this was changed last week) 

2) the two windows were put in a bit too high. 

When the new butlers window was put in, it was lowered into the correct position (still not sure it's right though - it has also offset all the kitchen cabinets that will all now need to be changed). The kitchen window was yet to change (still at higher height). BUT the brickies - probably unaware of this - have continued with their work unbeknownst to them. Believe it or not they have the lintels in the correct spot - right on top of the window!!!! BUT the kitchen window needs to drop and therefore it seems we NOW HAVE AN ALUMINIUM INFILL...... So the butlers and kitchen will look totally different. It was raised and didn't need to happen but it has - unbelievable.

Yay the lintel is in the correct place - pity that the window isn't ......

(even though we talked about this yesterday before the brickwork was done)

Like I said, this may seem trivial and I'm sure it will all work out.

Here is a list of other things we have raised that are yet to be done (it doesn't mean they won't be, but it just adds to the annoyance). 

1. bricks not coursed to top of windows
2. overhang of bricks (not regulation) to front piers
3. gaps at one side of the butlers pantry
4. butlers and kitchen windows at different levels
5. butlers window not level in its own right
6. theatre window reveals to be replaced due to water damage
7. theatre window now brick damaged (bent framework)
8. 10 or so plaster faults - by inspector - yet to be rectified - though painting has started
9. bulge in plaster-work on stairwell - from scaffold brackets
10. plaster bulkhead in living/kitchen not straight (either side)
11. kitchen and butlers overhead cupboards too high - due to dropped window
12. wrong placement of overhead shelf in cupboard
13. graze/scratch on one kitchen drawer
14. chip on laundry laminate bench
15. bulkhead in lounge short in length (we will NOT bring this up as we prefer it!)
16. scratches to framework on most doors and some windows
17. master bedroom window winder broken
18. insulation needs replacing in two parts due to wrap wind damage 
19. electrical wire in brick pier missed (brickie checked with me today and he will fix tomorrow - grateful he saw it before they continued

All these things have been discussed with our SS. All (except the above window drama) we have been told will be fixed. It just all starts to compile and you start to feel like you might be losing control. Third world problems I know...........

The last I heard, a few hours ago, our SS (who has his office day today) was in discussions with his manager. Our CLE is disappointed to hear we aren't happy and hopefully we get some clarification in the next few days. Our SS has been really, really good so far. We do get the impression from his workers that he has a million things going on, which may explain some things. 

Backwards building at its worst. 

  

Brickwork - The Highs!

We've had a busy week, in more ways than one. There have been highs and lows this week. I'm going to start with the positives then get into the negatives.

The brickwork has powered on during the week. The weather has been very kind and our swamp of a yard has almost completely dried out, to the delight of the brickies. The rest of the week isn't looking as optimistic though. 

Our concerns of the off white mortar continued. We were still questioning whether or not it was off white. We were usually seeing the mortar a few hours dry and as the week progressed we have seen how the colour changes and the whiteness comes through (some of these photos are taken of still wet mortar). It's nice to see the clean colour with each day it dries. The western side of the house is showing more of the authentic colour now.  We are really happy with the colour of the bricks and the work brickies have done a really neat job (there is more to this though). It's great that some walls are almost complete and we can see how our colour choices are coming together. I'm writing this with a heavy heart this week, from our disappointments, so it's hard to be too excited. Lots of positives though and we know the final result will look great. 

Back of the garage (extra wide door - to fit a wheelbarrow)

Can see the Woodland Grey Roof against Boral Mocha Bricks = HAPPY!

The Front Coming Together

Dining Room

Lounge

Mortar Yet to Dry

The Garage

This wall did have to be built internally. Therefore the plaster, cornice etc needed to be ripped down.

We thought this would be the case.

Up She Goes!

More Bricks Delivered (there were at least another 10 pallets)

The Rubble

Boral Mocha with Off White Mortar - Week 2

The bricklayers have been hard at it this week. Not too much else to report on. Work continued to the front of the house on Friday, the eastern side on Monday and Tuesday and the alfresco pillars today. When we visited on Monday, I was a bit disappointed in the colour of the off white mortar. When we went around the house to the part that had been bricked the previous week it was obvious that the mortar takes some time to dry and for the true colour to be revealed! Very happy!! The windows and cabinetry have also all be wrapped inside ready for initial paintwork to begin. I went through some displays over the weekend to have another look at blind options (and lets face it, get another fix - it's been a long time!). Even though our house is getting so much closer, when you go through a display it feels quite some way off!

Day 3)

Day 4)

Thinking that this has something to do with the off white mortar, but will need to do some investigation on this!

 Not really looking like off white mortar........ More drying time, should show the result (hopefully)

Day 5)

Alfresco Area Brickwork

Probably the Neatest Trade Onsite Yet! 

Trying to picture what it will look like completed with our black windows

The Off White Mortar

The bricks to the left have had 5 days of drying and are also on the western side in the sun (when it appears). We think the mortar shows it's whiteness after it's had drying time????

Looking forward to more bricks on this side of the home to finally protect it from this lovely Winter we are having......

The inside wrapping of the windows and cabinetry - ready for paint!!!!!!!!!

It is all so tightly sealed. Someone is going to go nuts with a spray-gun we think!!

We Have Bricks!!!!!!!! Mocha Cat 4

We are beyond thrilled to have had the brickwork started. The house has been absolutely battered with the weather the last month. Everything has held up so well considering this (the wrap needed a bit of repairing in two small parts and the window reveals in the theatre room will be replaced - due to water damage). The brickwork is the light at the end of weather tunnel!!! Our SS implied yesterday that they chose this particular brickie for our house (may explain the 2 1/2 week delay). They probably tell you those things to make you feel special! However, he built our SS house and his supervisors (who was there for our visit yesterday). His work so far looks amazing! I am such a brick expert after all....... The work that has been completed so far will also be rendered, so we were impressed with the neatness and mortar. We've seen some 'interesting' brickwork and mortar for walls that are to be rendered - our SS said it often looks like they are thrown in from across the street! 

We were a little surprised at the mortar colour. My husband and I stared at it for quite some time and were pretty disappointed with the look of 'off white mortar' which we paid for. The first thing our SS said yesterday (before we even checked) was that it wasn't off white, under the render. Huge, sigh of relief! They say off white can vary from area to area depending on the location of the sand etc. But it's nothing like white!! Our facade is rendered + some wrapping around the edges. The remainder of the house is brickwork with off-white mortar.

The brickwork started on Wednesday. Here is the progress so far! 

Bricks - Boral Mocha - Upgrade Cat 4;
Hardwick Facade - with Full Render

Day 1)

Day 2)

  

We had wondered how the left pillar would be built - a secret concrete slab! We are also slightly bewildered how the horizontal ledge in between the pillars will be built without framework! More to come on that as it progresses.  

Locked Up Ready for Work Tomorrow

Kitchen!!!!!!!!!!! + Bathroom (yes, before bricks.......................)

I'm still playing catch up with the updates from over the weekend and early this week. 

We have (most) of the kitchen cabinetry, bathrooms, powder rooms and laundry. Love it all!! There are however, a few errors (I met with our SS today and all will be sorted - update on that later on).

Kitchen and Butlers:
Vinyl Wrap Gloss - Polar White (all cabinetry)
Handles - Pot Drawers - Hafele Cat2, Chrome Polished (497mm)
Handles - Drawers/Cabinets/Butlers - Hafele Cat1, Chrome Polished (236mm)
Kitchen Overhead Cabinet - Option 4 (with added overhead cupboard in kitchen & butlers)

Caesar Stone still to come - with 40mm waterfall ends to island

Pot Drawer Heaven!!

There is a mistake to our overhead cupboards;

1) the panel above the cupboards should be pushed back to the wall (open shelf)

2) there are holes for handles in the overheads - these are to be flush without handles

Still love it though!!!

This is how the overhead panel should look

(with our added overhead cupboard)

The Kitchen (still more cabinets above fridge, stone and adjustments)

Island Bench (dishwasher and microwave space)

Butlers!

Gas Lift Overhead Cupboards (shouldn't have holes for handles)

Base Cabinets in Butlers

Our Ensuite Vanity:

Laminex Silk - Polar White

Handles - Hafele Cat1, Chrome Polished (141mm)

Vanity Option 5

For anyone considering upgrading to Laminex Silk - the finish is worth it. It's lovely and glossy and has a really nice finish - also a lot, lot less than Vinyl Wrap or Crystal Gloss

Laundry;

Laminex - Polar White

Bench top - Laminex Parchment

Handles - Hafele Cat1, Chrome Polished (236mm)

Preparation for the Powder Rooms

Backing Board for the Mirror

Boarding for the Caesar Stone (to come) - it's not Red!!!!

Ensuite Waterproofing 

Bathroom Waterproofing