Week 17, Day 120

We haven't really seen all that many changes this week.  They are still waiting on a delivery of extra wall tiles so it can be completed.

The main things that we've noticed this week are the installation of the shelves and rails in the wardrobes and the pantry.

We had the "final clean" done yesterday, which is funny really because handover isn't due for another 3 or so weeks and there's still a fair bit to do, which will no doubt amount to more rubbish to clear.

While the guy was there with his bobcat, we asked him if he would do a little extra for us, which he did.  It's amazing what a difference cutting away some dirt can make!  We now have full access down the side of the house to Scott's garage/toy box, and also into the back yard.  He's cut the land so it's ready for the retaining walls that will form our outdoor area at the side and back of the house.  It looks fantastic, and is now something that we can visualise, and the best bit is that we have a yard again, instead of the run off from the site fill.  Guess what Scott will be doing on his holidays :D

Sorry for the repetitive photos in all of my posts, it's really only a few little things here and there that are being done.

A member of the Kookaburra family that lives in our block! 

Wardrobe shelving is in - how will THIS hold all of Scott's clothes???

Ensuite tiling complete, minus the shower screen and mirror

Laundry bench, love all that space -
especially for Dad, when he comes to do our washing and folding ;D

Some "tradie humour" labelling the door

The smallest room in the house

The main bathroom, minus some tiles as there were not enough ordered

Hoping that there will be more tiles behind the bath

Pantry shelving being installed

Loving the undermount sink!  So worth the extra dollars!
Can't wait to see the tap when it's installed

Kitchen benches with the MDF templates removed, loving it!

Week 16, Day 113 - the end is nigh

We had a call today from our CSR, giving us..... wait for it...... A SETTLEMENT DATE!!!!

We have a PCI (Practical Completion Inspection) scheduled for April 12th, and all going well, handover will be on April 19th.  A whole 5 weeks earlier than first expected!  It goes to show that having the trades work over the Christmas break and through January made the difference after all (this was initially thought to add 4 weeks to the build time, giving us an original handover of end of May).

Well, now that that's out of the way, there are still quite a few things that need to be done prior to handover....

The tiler won't be finished until next week now, as there weren't enough tiles ordered.  Fingers crossed the batches are the same so that the whites match - my pet hate :)

The plumber was in today, fitting off the toilets, hand basins, sinks, shower roses and taps, along with the laundry trough.  I was dying to get in to see the undermount sink in the infamous island bench, but no luck.  The Teknobili kitchen tap is not in yet though.

The plumber was also digging away either to recover the silt pits that are miles too low for the finished ground level, or to put in some more drains as what is there currently, doesn't seem to be working quite as well as it should.

As we were leaving, the guy that did the frame of the house arrived.  It seems that some studs were missed out in the garage where the roller door will go.  This was something that we discussed with our first CSR as a panel lift door that was part of the simplicity promotion was going to take up a great deal of ceiling space and given it's going to be my studio, this wasn't going to work.  Obviously, as with a number of other items, this information wasn't passed on and has only come up now.  At least things are getting done about it though.

The main thing that is still an issue for us is the window in the main bedroom that sags in the middle.  We've raised the issue with our SS, but he said this will be looked at at the PCI.  He has measured it and it's sagging in the middle by around 10mm.  Not good enough!  We're interested to see how they think it can be fixed, because the aluminium frame of the window is bowed.  Looks like a new window to us.

Here are a few of today's new findings....

Powder Room in 'Studio'

Just so you can see the sink and taps we chose

Ensuite

Bath tap and mixer

Shower in bathroom, minus grout

Laundry with 'vegie sprayer'

Week 15, Day 106 - Tiling started

Things are certainly taking shape now, with the house looking like a house both inside and out.

I met with the tiler this morning to confirm how the tiles will be laid.  He was really lovely, and offered some advice on how the way it's laid can change the look of a room.   Most importantly, he was on the same wave length as Scott and I with not having off-centred tiles - we seem to see quite a bit in houses we visit.  We made a visit to National Tiles on the weekend, and managed to grab a couple of boxes of our floor and wall tiles as a just-in-case, which also just happened to be on sale!  Nice one :)  Still makes me sick though when I think of the 'upgrade' charge that is passed on to us PD customers.  Our tiles were a $90mt2 upgrade, which is about three times the cost of the tiles at full price!!!

I did a quick race around the house while I was there this morning, taking a few shots of new things that I'd noticed.  There are about a thousand photos of the kitchen, which I am loving more and more, especially that island bench!!!

The heater vents and electrical has been done now, hence the funny china-man's hats scattered across the ceiling!

Laundry - floor tiles down

Rangehood is in 

Looking towards front door

LOVE my island bench <3 

Dining area

Looking from activity room towards bathroom and bedroom

Week 13, Day 94 - Onsite meeting with SS, Render finished

Scott and I met with Andrew our SS on Thursday morning to go through a few things that we had noticed or wanted clarification on.

Andrew is very much on the ball and had already acted on some issues that we were going to tell him about, which is reassuring!  Everyone I know who has built recently says that if you have a good SS, then things will run smoothly.  I must say, we've been very lucky!

The painter is booked for the coming week, and should be all done within the week.  The tiler is booked for the week after that.  I asked the inevitable question of handover, and he said that the house should be completed around 4 weeks after the tiler has been.  That means that they are ahead of time, and would have been even more ahead, had there not been a few issues that had to be corrected.

The renderers returned on Friday to finish the exterior.  Although the colour is not a great deal different to the base layer, it has certainly finished off the look of the house.  We love it!  It's still very pale and fresh, and isn't too modern, which is what we were trying to avoid :)  Still a far-cry from our old cottage home, but still very "us" we think.

Here are some shots of the house now the render has been finished.  The colour again, is Pipe Clay.  The decorative caps around the windows at the front will be painted the same colour as the windows which is Surfmist.