Week 10, Day 67 - Almost at Lock-Up

The first of the hebel panels were installed on Friday, with today (Tuesday) seeing the last of them put up.  The guys sealed the gaps and tidied them up a bit, so I wonder if this means it will be rendered soon or if it's one of the last things that will be done.  We're trying to determine if the colour of the hebel is very similar to the actual render colour that we've chosen, which is Dulux "Pipe Clay".  It looks like it to us when we compare it to the render sample at Houpeton Interiors, but doesn't look like the colour chip we have.

Pipe Clay
digital swatch from Dulux website

The external doors have also been installed, along with their locks.  It's so nice to have doors that close smoothly!!  We've been chatting a bit with the lock-up carpenter, who is a lovely man. He's been so particular with getting everything straight and has given us a few pointers for the polishing of the floors, such as making sure the fixing carpenter (if he doesn't come back) doesn't trim the bottom of the doors, archs and skirting boards and leave the standard 5mm gap.  This is what's generally done to allow for floor coverings, but given we aren't adding any to the living areas, we don't want a gap between the skirting and the floor.

The bathhob, internal cavity sliders, heater, along with electrical wiring has also been installed, and the insulation has been put in place around the external walls of the house.  Scott also added some of the wrap and batts to the garage as it will be used as a studio instead of a garage.  I think my nagging got the better of him, so it was quickly put up by him and my dad one night.  We did get our SS's permission to do so!!!

Here are the photos from last weeks happenings, and also today.

Front Door

Bath-hob in the main bathroom

The kids checking out the front door - read: busting to get home! 

Looking into the portico from the front of the garage/studio

Looking at the rear access door of the garage/studio,
the dining area double slider is on the left 

Rear rumpus room double slider and the back of the house 

Retaining wall has finally been started

The ensuite and master bedroom windows at the front of the house

Arty-view of the portico :)

Week 7, Day 45 - House Wrapped

Yesterday (Monday), a bobcat arrived to smooth out the site a little.  It has made such a difference to the side of the house as it looked an enormous amount of work was needed to be done in order to retain the driveway access to the rear garage at the rear of the house.  Still stacks of work to do with the block after the house is finished, but that's the way it is with building!!

The doors and windows also arrived yesterday, and we are happy to say that choosing 'surfmist' instead of bright white was a good thing.  It's still very white, but not stark!

Today, the house was wrapped with sisilation/enviroshield, and all going to plan, the scaffolding will arrive tomorrow so the gutters and rood can be started.