The Frame

The action started early today. As I headed off to work there were cars aplenty at the block and returning after 5pm it was no different! Turning the corner and seeing the timber standing tall is something to remember. I cannot believe how much has been completed in one day. Unbelievable! It was great to watch about 7 builders working like ants to construct our home. Thank you to those unknown individuals for building our dream home. A small wave and a nod as we drive by doesn't really sum up our gratitude for what is being constructed. Loving the build process!!

Busy Little Builders!

 From the Front - Master Windows to the Left and Front Doors

From the Backyard - Looking at Lounge 

Back view of Lounge and Meals 

Side View! - Left to Right - Lounge, Theatre, Ensuite and Master 

Front View Looking through the Front Door

Garage yet to be constructed on Right 

The next phase of photos are shocking photography as we hung around till dark when the builders slipped away and then snuck in for a closer look, apologies.

Kitchen Splashback Window (excited!!!) 

Kitchen and Butlers (cheeky ratbag!) 

Master Bedroom 

Lounge Doors with Handsome! 

Theatre Windows (capturing the sunset) 

In the Hallway! 

The Slab!!!!!

Today was the day; SLAB DAY! Although I could probably almost down a slab in celebration it was the concrete variety that occurred!! My husband passed the trucks at about 6.20am this morning and they were still there working away at 5.30pm. Big day! Therefore my photos are limited till tomorrow. I took the girls back at 7ish to have a snoop with our touches but it was too dark for my camera to cope. 

Watching all the preparation work and the concrete going down has been extremely exciting but it also makes you wonder, "Is that supposed to look like that?" We are really confident in choosing Carlisle Homes, if we weren't we never would have chosen them. However, I think it's really hard not to think critically about aspects when you see them. I think it's a fairly natural feeling when you have invested your ideas, heart and money into a project that you have no true building knowledge about. How do we know if the slab has been laid correctly or if all the materials that should have been used, have been? I think that this is going to be the hardest part of the build. Trusting our SS (site supervisor) is a huge part of this and trusting in the build process. We've got a few builder friends, outside of Carlisle Homes, who will (hopefully) check in on our build process etc. as the journey goes along; if for no other reason than to ease my mind!!! By the way, the slab looks amazing!

In all this thinking I thought I would try and educate myself on slabs! Here is some information I found that I thought was helpful. 

Due to our soil testing, we had to upgrade our slab to a H1 class. That's great, but what does that actually mean, besides more money??! I found this table that I found really helpful - I cannot confirm it's accuracy though. 

Different classes of soil

• Class A - This denotes very 'stable' ground - mostly sand and rock, not affected                     by moisture
• Class S - Slightly reactive soil, slight movement due to moisture
• Class M - Moderately reactive soil, moderate movement due to moisture
• Class H - Highly reactive soil, a high amount of movement due to moisture
• Class E - Extremely reactive soil, extreme movement due to moisture
• Class P - 'Problem' soil, which experiences land slip, mine subsidence and so forth.                  If you are building on Class P site you will typically need to consult an                      engineer.

I also found this information on a waffle slab. We have all heard of them but other than been cost effective what are they!!

Waffle raft slab (also known as a waffle pod slab) - These slabs are constructed entirely above the ground by pouring concrete over a grid of polystyrene blocks known as 'void forms'. Waffle raft slabs are generally suitable for sites with less reactive soil, use about 30% less concrete and 20% less steel than a stiffened raft slab, and are generally cheaper and easier to install than other types (even in bad weather). These types of slab are only suitable for very flat ground. On sloping ground or with more complex designs, a stiffened raft slab is normally the better option. Waffle raft slabs are well suited to reactive clay sites in particular, because they're not embedded in the ground like stiffened raft slabs. Waffle raft slabs are best suited for Class A, Class S, Class M, Class H and Class E soils (although you may wish to consult an engineer about the suitability of the slab for very reactive soils).

The part I enjoyed most about this was the fact that they are, 'well suited to reactive clay sites,' which sums up our block perfectly. You only have to dig down 20cm to hit hard clay which is going to make landscaping a joy.........!!!

Advantages Extremely durable and hardy base for a floor Typically well insulated, because the underside of the floor is not exposed No maintenance once the concrete has cured

Disadvantages Impossible to access piping once the slab has cured Cracks can cause major structural damage, and may be irreparable Can increase unwanted noise

The Action From Afar

The Concrete Being Poured

Still Working - But Looking Close to Finished

The Portio is Lower and the Front and the Garage to the Right

Closer Look (best I could get from the car while they were still working!)

Information on slab and soil obtained from:
http://www.build.com.au/ground-level-concrete-slab-subfloor

Breaking Ground!!

Monumental day today! Our house has started!! It is such a surreal feeling. I knew we would be excited but I'm like a kid in a lolly shop! I got an email from our CLE this morning to say that the site scrape had been booked for this morning. It had been booked for the previous Thursday but the weather has held things up. She said the slab date will remain and this is the reason they leave the dates so far apart (in case of inclement weather). It was pure excitement watching it unfold! The girls and I wondered around this morning watching the trucks, then had a picnic over the road at lunch (the truck driver must have wondered who the weirdos were!!) and then tonight it was done! 

Not sure what happens next. I actually expected there was some kind of screening as its obviously just the trucks work today. You can see the indents for the portico and the alfresco. Not sure how I feel about the cut in terms of the slope. Actually, to be honest it looks a little frightening. I think we are going to have some serious earth moving to do. I know there is more to be done before the building goes up but it's a decent gradient. Calling all earth movers!

The beginning

All done for the day 

Rubbish bin, been added. Expecting fencing to go up in the next few days.

Here she is!

Portico indent - I think! 

Alfresco area with the 'Great Wall' behind!

From the side 

Party in Our House!

Ready to go! So excited!!! 

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day......

Today was the big day. The beginning of the action! The girls and I were really excited to get through breakfast and head down and see what was happening. We had thought that maybe the temporary fencing may have been installed the last few days or something may have happened before the scrape date but there was nothing, we knew no different. So the excitement levels were high as we turned the corner and plummeted dramatically as we saw absolutely nothing. Obviously the weather has postponed things. We came back just before lunch (optimistic!), and there was some action.......

As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day....... (But maybe the facilities were!!!)

Next Step - Fences Down

Photo Reel; photo number 2. Fences Down. This week we had to remove approx 8m of side fencing ready for the build. During our Tender appointment we were firstly informed that the construction of the garage would be built from the inside on the fence line of an existing neighbour. At Contract, we were then told that the fence would need to be removed for the length of our garage, plus an extra metre either side. We have met our neighbours on a few occasions and they are really lovely people. We popped over on the weekend to let them know of what we needed to do. They were really accommodating, but we could see that they were slightly nervous about it as well. I guess that's the thing when you have a house next to an empty block. You never know what will happen on it and it's ultimately out of your control. Their garage takes up most of this space so it was no big issue. It was nice to have another chance to chat to them and get to know them a little better. We had fantastic neighbours at our previous home and if they are anything to go by, we are looking forward to living next to them. 

The First Change

An interesting fact that we found out from chatting to the neighbours was that we had thought that our plans had been approved by them (we thought this was the process) due to our setback issues (that became non-issues!). We thought maybe they had agreed and that was one reason it bypassed council. In fact, they hadn't been contacted and had heard nothing. We had given them the heads up a month or so ago but they never heard from anyone officially. Who knows! Maybe our plans were approved because they were inline with our developer guidelines, regardless of the neighbours setback. We're happy anyway. They have been stamped with approval so there is no turning back!

First Official Photo

I mentioned in an earlier post that I want to follow this journey with taking a photo of every stage of the build. This may be daily or weekly - as the major changes occur. I have marked my tripod location across the road and set the camera, to hopefully take the photos in the same frame location. This is the first photo of the block for my Photo Reel.

The beginning

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Yesterday driving home from work I saw the most amazing rainbow. There is something about a rainbow that makes you shine on the inside! Something magical. Our kids love rainbows and to tell you the truth, in real life, I love them too! I was driving home from work and pulled over to take a photo. It was a complete form (although broken to the camera's eye). I was about 5 min from the block and thought what an amazing photo it would make before the build action begins. It was shining in the perfect direction, in the distance, arcing over our future home. As I drove onward hoping that it would last by the time I got there, it slowly began to fade from sight. Maybe it was a sign that; 

Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true..............