Overview of PCI

Sorry for the delayed post from our PCI, we move out of our rental house this week and we've been busy moving and packing - fun times!!

We had our PCI - New Home Inspection- on Friday. I was so nervous about it to be honest. We are just hoping that we picked up all the important things and haven't missed something non-cosmetic. Noting and marking up paint touch ups was one of the biggest aspects. I think our SS almost used a whole roll of tape! There were blue marks covering effectively all walls. 'We really don't need that footprint on the roof cornice, or that spray of mud on that wall!'. Our SS was great at marking out these - they are obviously easy to fix up as well. He was a little more reserved on others and we could definitely feel his tension at times - some things that may have an impact or reflection on his work and possibly his 'bonus' if there is such a thing.

Our next walk through and handover/settlement is booked (tentatively) for October 30th - 2 weeks from now!!!! He thinks this date should be enough time to get everything done. 

There was some unfinished work (due to weather - outside tiles - and other things yet to be finished) so we will need to check over those as-well, but here is our list of the Completion of Works Certificate (the 1001 internal paint work is not included in this!)

• seal spa bath
• adjust centre draw in ensuite (stiff and tight)
• adjust WIR drawers (all stiff - one didn't close)
• scuff marks to ensuite tile (praying these come out of the porcelain)
• re-coat to front of stairs (going to be very particualar with these as the paint is very scrappy)
• dint in laminate in laundry (they replaced the side panel - not the top...)
• paint the chipboard under the island bench white (this is red and when the sun comes in makes the back look pinkish)
• handle to overhead cupboard in kitchen
• refit beading to kitchen window
• check colour and shelf height to pantry in butlers
• chip to balcony tile
• caulk to balcony edge
• light switch in power room
• door handle to WIR bed 4
• trim and seal to bathroom shower/bath
• Hog Bristle Half render to side of porch (wrong colour)
• rubber to ensuite window
• infill to side of bathroom window
• dent to theatre window
• compression flashing to roof x3
• woodland grey to bathroom window infill
• re-coat alfresco beam
• re-coat garage door
• flashing to alfresco pier
• seal to garage door
• infill to bedroom 3
• infill to bedroom 4 highlight
• steam clean carpets
• seals to front door
• add door jam to linen
• paint and add privacy lock to upstairs powder
• caulking underside of island bench
• There are way too many scratches to the window frames and glass to list. This has always been a big thing for us and the way the doors were initially treated. There are scratches to almost all frames and panels. This is where our site supervisors attitude seemed to become more subdued. He couldn't believe how damaged they were, even though we have made this clear from the get go. The scratches on the glass were also a really big one. They are everywhere and the more we looked, the more we all found. He basically said that all windows will be thoroughly checked over and either repaired, buffed out or replaced. This has to affect his budget. For example 4 (out of 6) panels of the large double glazed were seriously scratched. It's been heartbreaking for us now I thinks it's heartbreaking for him too. They will all be fixed though

We were really happy with how everything went! The majority of things picked up were things our SS told us about or have always been on the list to do. The countdown is now well and truly on now!!! Another exciting thing is that handover will happen at the house and we won't have to drive over 2 hours to collect the keys from Carlisle's Head office in Mulgrave!! 

A  Few Pictures

Powder Room Light Needs Tightening 

Incorrect Render Colour - The part setback next to the garage should be Hog Bristle Half - not BedBox

A Few Paint Touch-ups!

A Few More!!

Our SS wasn't overly happy with this one. There are two issues here for us

1) the bottom shelf that was recently added (had been left off the first time but is on drawings) is clearly a different colour. He told us black and blue that he thought it was the same colour as the other shelves....

2) It has been built way too high and has made the bottom shelf really small

I know it's not a huge issue but to me it just all looks wrong. He said he will have to check on this one..

Keep you updated!

Quad has been added to roof line (still to be painted)

A little gutted to see scratch marks to the newly installed fire place trim (the photo doesn't really show it). Our SS told us there was a note left on the fire from the installers to say that they have ordered a new one as it was delivered with these scratches. Phew!

Missing Handle for Overhead Kitchen Cupboard

 Trim to Shower

Ticking off the List

It was really kind of the workers to leave the windows and doors open last night....... One positive was that we got to see what had been happening over the past few days! Unfortunately I only had my phone on me which is clearly in desperate need of an update due to the poor photo quality! 

My Legs Feel Feeble Looking at this Bad Boy!

It's a GREAT standard feature of Carlisle (Affinity) Homes

Glass of Wine, Trashy Magazine and a Spa - what more could a woman want!! 

Plastering Around the Window Fixed (from when the window was dropped)

More Electrical Work Finished

Double fluorescence to garage and more lights completed (still more to be done)

Door Handles On - Internal Doors = Elena Lever (Cat 1) - Bright Chrome

Elena Lever with Privacy Adaptor (upgrade)

Angular Trilock - Bright Chrome (upgrade)

Water Proofing Around Basins and Bottom Ledge of Tiles (still more to go - some tiles to still grout)

Some Down-Pipes Added 

(not connected to drainage and facade not done due to rendering) 

Internal Painting with Dulux Lexicon Quarter

While we had an inspection we were able to take a few pics. We've been able to get into the house up until this point, at nights and on weekends, but our front doors have been put on, yay!!! But, we can no longer sneak in!! (we even left the laundry unlocked hoping to come back and have a better look but the painters were too vigilant and locked them all!!!)

Walls, roof, skirting and doors = Dulux Lexicon Quarter

The painters have these marks to sand any imperfections. There were absolutely everywhere! There were literally hundreds (couldn't get a better photo as they were busy working!)

So happy with our bedroom doors! These were an upgrade (also for powder-rooms and bathrooms.

We debated to go with keeping them timber and painting white (Lexicon Quarter) over and over again - well I did! Especially when they were delivered and the timber looked so beautiful. We are having hardwood spotted gum floors installed after handover and felt that it might be a bit of a mish-mash of timber with the stairs and front doors if we kept these timber too. Really happy with the result!! We have gone with white for nearly everything so really looking forward to adding some splashes of colour in our furiture!

Loving the white and black windows too!

First Coat in the Theatre (we are painting this grey/charcoal after handover)

First Coat in the Dining

Really happy with the quality of paintwork so far. This was the first coat and looked great! The work they were doing with sanding etc. was meticulous - more than you would do if you were doing it yourself!

Almost Need Your Sunnies in the Lounge!

A Splash of Colour for our Entry (Art Work)!

Internal Doors Looking Good

Good to see they are using quality paint too! 

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

Finished Deluxe Staircase

We could not be more happy with the finished result of the staircase. They look just how we envisaged (Walnut stain still to come) and also feel relieved that they have been protected the way they have. Each step has been covered with ply and the stainless steel still has the protective wrapping. It's the small things sometimes!!

This staircase, as I've mentioned before, was a major upgrade. Due to our roof height our staircase includes 2 extra risers (compared to standard). 
Part of Carlisle Homes 10 Year Celebration Inclusions was; 'Provide round stainless steel balusters to common staircase in lieu of standard'. As the deluxe staircase included these we were able to get money back on this - small bonus!

Here they are in all their glory!! Can you tell I'm in love?!!

Finished! (with protective covers on treads)

Timber from Underneath the Second Level

Handrail - This is not on the display at Mernda - but needed of OHS

Double Handrail

Stainless Steel Balusters

From the First Floor

Different Angle!