Window Infills

I was a little snowed under last week so this is an update that actually occurred last Thursday, the day before our PCI. I was really happy to drive past and see two A & L Window trucks there working away at the windows and doors. They put all (3 missing) infills in, which have been a fairly big part of our journey and I'm so happy to say that I love them!! Of course, I would prefer they weren't there but they actually suit the boutique windows and really finish it all off. We were able to insulate these so we hope this maximises the double glazing. There were also other parts of the windows and doors that were cleaned and replaced, including foot plates, brushes to doors and cleaning out (most) of the mud and dirt from the tracks. 

Here they are;

Window Infills 

Above Dining Room Doors

Above Laundry Door - this is probably the largest

Study Window

Fixed Lounge Window

Blind Date Glass Splashback

I was lucky enough to go past yesterday when the men were installing the glass splashbacks. This has been another big(ish) item that we have been waiting to have done. I had a friend with me too so it was great to be able to show her around! The men installed the splashback in the butlers and then left. Our SS phoned later in the afternoon with his weekly update and said that it had been installed in the butlers but the kitchen splashback (in part) had been the wrong size....... Should go in next week...
Really happy with the colour - in my mind I kept thinking it had a brownish tinge, because this is what the display has (it's hard to not think of this when visualising ours!). So far the colour looks great! We chose not to do starfire glass and we are glad we didn't spend the extra money on it - this would have been an extra $1500. Unless it's white and you don't want a greenish tinge (that's the only difference) it would be hard to justify the price. 

Glass Splashback - (colour)Blind Date Clear 

Blind Date Sample at Colour Selection

Another 'interesting' thing that has happened with our kitchen that has actually been an error but has worked in our favour has been the layout of the caesarstone and the window. In our drawing the kitchen window seemed to be positioned higher (our windows originally were placed higher). Our SS was always had a clear picture in his mind that the caearstone sat directly under the window sill. This may have been the complication with our bricks (all sorted now though). As it turns out we love the bench layout. Any splash from the cooktop will now not get in all the grooves of the window. The only difference is, is that the glass splashback has a small section under the cupboards. Happy days!

As Displayed at Mernda (our drawing also look like this - we think!!)

Our Benchtop - Sitting Directly Under the Window

 

Balcony Tiles, Deluxe Staircase Staining and More Jobs Off the List!

It was great to get into the house yesterday and see that not only was the balcony tiled, but it had also been grouted! 

Tile - Lifestyle Charcoal Textured 400 x 400 (standard)

Grout - Charred Ash (should be darker looking than it appears but it hasn't been cleaned yet)

Paining works continued yesterday (and again today). The painters were adding silicone along the weatherboards and doing some other exterior paint touch ups. The front doors had their second coat of stain and we are so excited to know that the stain on the stairs has started!!!!!

Front Doors - Cabots Rich Walnut

Stairs Cleaned and Ready For Staining Today

Staining Began on the Staircase Handrail Yesterday

More Tiling Works

Now that the spa bath has been installed, the tiles on the wall (back left) and the front (centre) tile have been completed - they haven't been grouted yet 

With the window in the shower finally in, the tiles were able to be finished 

An extra row of tiles has also been added to the bathroom shower - we think this is due to the height of the showerhead

Theatre Room Reveals Replaced

One was replaced last week and the remaining ones have since been done - yay!

The ensuite bath tap has the incorrect tap so when we go in yesterday and went upstairs it was interesting to see that the bath tap is different, but also wrong!!

Incorrect Tap!

The painters have been using one of the back taps and it is now constantly dripping - note to self! 

Need to check the height of our timber flooring as this part of the wall looks like it might need fixing as it will still be exposed

Portable Scaffold Delivery

We assume this is in readiness for rendering the facade and the tiles 

Facade Tiles

Eco Alabaster Grigio Lappato  

Curtain Choices

We have 22 windows and doors in total and 18 of these will be furnished (no furnishing to ensuite highlight window, kitchen and butlers splashback windows or front doors).

We have recently had quotes for these and another one tomorrow. We knew it wouldn't come cheap and there have been a few surprises. We are lucky enough to have a friend of my husbands doing the roller blinds which make up the majority of the blinds. This has halved the cost (compared to in store pricing) and we are able to get a higher quality blind for much less. We have decided to do duel roller blinds - which we have never had before so in total there are 30 roller blinds - crazy!

Here are our the blinds we are hoping to get.

  Duel roller blinds - white                          Operating on the same bracket

 

Sheer Curtains for Master Bedroom and Study

White sheer material we have chosen and design - Black rod and black eyelets

Black Padded Pelmet (with white roller blind)

Black pelmet above doors (similar to our black doors)

and in bedroom 

 Black Pelmet Colour Choices

We have chosen Warrick - Saturno Ebony - the darker centre material)

Plantation shutters like this for theatre -in white

White plantation for bathroom and ensuite

More Brickwork Pictures - more than half way!

Starting to see the finish of the bricks with brick capping - this is all going to be rendered though!!

Brick Sill with Carefully Cut Bricks Underneath (slivers!!)

The Window is Dropped to the Correct Height!!!!!

(Lintel to be lowered and wall to be knocked down and rebuilt - bit sad to see the work knocked down in some ways.......

Fire Place Bricked Around - Getting More Water Tight!

Front Doors Being Stained - Rich Walnut

Won't be running around the house in my undies with these ones!!

Front Doors on!

Door architrave and mushroom still to be stained - not yet vanished

You can also see in this photo that the bricks are coursed to the top of the door. Hooray! If the window, to the left, was dropped by a few mm it also would have been, that's where the frustration is!

Western Side is Really Taking Shape

Looking a Little Larger than Anticipated!!

Discrepancy Update

During the week we had a few discrepancies that we found were mounting. On Wednesday we met with our SS to discuss them. He was reassuring, accommodating and has assured us that all these problems will be resolved (except the infills!! grrrr). My husband was talking to someone who works at Simmons during the week and he said that if you complain hard enough when building you can change anything. Good to know! We are not that type of people but we are certainly willing to question things. He explained the position of the windows in regards to the infills (we still feel like the drafts-person and framers could have stopped this). We accept this. We have asked to put insulation in these to maximise heat loss and noise. We have hunted the streets and have found some houses with them and no-one will really even notice. I can't even look at a house now without analysing the windows!! He has strongly reassured us of the quality of the bricklayer and his reputation and you can see his work is very neat, square and symmetrical. We are really really happy with the brickwork otherwise. They also seem to be the most caring of trades so far. They cover their work if there is a chance of rain with tarps etc. and have been incredibly clean. The error of the kitchen windows will be fixed (has been already!), the brick wall be knocked down, the lintel and window put into the correct position and rebuilt!!! We didn't even have to say anything about this - it was what the SS explained- so we were very happy. Everything else on our list will be done and he explained that even though the painters were already there, other trades would come back on and off and the painters would be back (often) at least 3 or 4 times again. Happy days!

1. bricks not coursed to top of windows  - Black aluminium to match the windows - cannot change this - apparently they're on every build....
2. overhang of bricks (not regulation) to front piers - steel angle support to be placed here
3. gaps at one side of the butlers pantry - aluminium infill to sides (where needed)
4. butlers and kitchen windows at different levels - has been changed the past few days!!!! Lintel to be moved down and brick wall to be pulled down and rebuilt
5. butlers window not level in its own right - will be fixed
6. theatre window reveals to be replaced due to water damage - reveals will be replaced
7. theatre window now brick damaged (bent framework) - will be looked at and fixed if irreparable after all brickwork is finished
8. 10 or so plaster faults - by inspector - yet to be rectified - though painting has started - all to be fixed in the coming weeks
9. bulge in plaster-work on stairwell - from scaffold brackets - will be fixed with above - will be given a skim coat
10. plaster bulkhead in living/kitchen not straight (either side) - to be fixed and plastered
11. kitchen and butlers overhead cupboards too high - due to dropped window - SS is disappointed this wasn't already done (may have delayed the window change)
12. wrong placement of overhead shelf in cupboard - to be done with cabinetry 
13. graze/scratch on one kitchen drawer - will be replaced
14. chip on laundry laminate bench - to be fixed/replaced if needed
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 - all to be cleaned and fixed at door service and any parts removed and replaced if we are not happy with quality of finish
17. master bedroom window winder broken - to be fixed at window service
18. insulation needs replacing in two parts due to wrap wind damage  - will be done when brickwork is high enough
19. electrical wire in brick pier missed (brickie checked with me today and he will fix tomorrow - grateful he saw it before they continued) - hole through brickwork has been drilled and wire will be put through

It was good to meet with our SS and go through our concerns and the fact that he addressed everything was exactly what we needed. There is no build that doesn't have it's ups and downs and as I expected, in the light of a new day our concerns where not that huge. Being informed is the biggest part of building and just knowing what will happen instead of jumping to conclusions when you see it half done it probably our biggest downfall. We currently live just near the build so we drive past a few times a day. Sometimes I feel like we are too close and too aware of everything. Juxtaposition really; too close in one way but wanting to stay on top of it all at the same time. 

Windows!!!!!!

Get ready for a photo overload! Couldn't contain my excitement to see (nearly all) the windows and doors in! Getting a better feel for each room day-by-day.  When I drove past and saw the windows, I was ecstatic. I then noticed something that made my heart sink (very dramatic!). Actually it sent me into a slight mental spin and panic (I then had a reality check!). Our entertaining sliding doors (in the meals) were opening the wrong way....... I raced home as fast as I could and grabbed the plans and yes, we made our first mistake. I knew it would happen at some point but was slightly gutted it was such a large thing for us to muck up. The doors were supposed to open to the right (from the inside) - as displayed - but we hadn't noticed they were going to the left. I quickly rang A & L to see if it was even possible to change them (yet to hear back) and also phoned our SS James. He is a legend. Well if he comes through with the goods he is! He said that he has a few people that owe him a few favours and that he will get them changed!! After I had calmed down, the reality is, that they would be fine as they are but they would be perfect as we envisaged. We wanted both entertaining sliders to slide outwards so the house would open up and this would change that. The doors are incredible but I'm crossing my fingers in all directions they can be switched. Replacing the doors is easier said than done, due to the size and the fact they are double glazed.

The weather has been a bit wet. Nothing over the top; a few showers here and there, yet the house seems to have more water inside than there is out..... Another issue or rather something we noticed is that the window reveals (some) have got wet in the recent showers. Hoping this isn't an issue but will definitely be checking up on this (maybe after the doors get changed!). I also don't understand how builders can get mud everywhere, like everywhere! Mud caked on the underside of the door jamb.....???? More women need to become builders because that would never happen!!! Ha!

Front Door Frame - with metal tread (and protector)

Master Bedroom Windows - boutique (LOVE!)

Inside Master Bedroom

Ensuite Shower Highlight Window - Boutique (added window)

Second Ensuite Window - Standard 

(slightly smaller than standard due to double glazing - awning)

Laundry Door - Standard

Study Window - Boutique (REALLY LOVE!) - bit of water too

Theatre Window - Boutique

Fixed Window in Lounge - Next to Fire - Boutique (LOOOVE!)

Lounge Window From Outside

Kitchen Splashback - Standard (SUPER LOVE!)

Kitchen and Butlers

Meals Door - Boutique (In LOVE with them - even though they are going the wrong way - at the moment...)

Lounge and Meals (crystal clean door glass....)

Door Handles (boutique)

Windows From the Back 

Windows From the Western Side

Eastern Side

Stairs!

Upstairs Activity Room - Boutique

Doors for Activity - yet to go in - Boutique

Upstairs Bedroom 5 - Boutique 

(added highlight window and extended standard)

Bedroom 3 - Boutique (same as above)

Bedroom 3 WIR

Bedroom 2 - Boutique (part of facade)

View From Bedroom 2 - Can Spot the Ocean - Just!

Bedroom 4 - Boutique (& Extended height)

Upstairs Bathroom - Standard - yet to go in

Upstairs Powder Room

Mud, Mud and more Mud - glad we aren't moving in in Winter!

*All windows and doors are double glazed and therefore awning