Building a new Mt Waverley house, without losing the plot - News - Property - Moonee Valley Leader
So I guess we are a little famous!
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Day 118 Inspection report
Things have been going really well and we thought our SS seemed on top of most things so we really were undecided about getting an independent inspection report - I mean why spend more money than we need to right? WRONG!
Can't tell you how happy we are with New Home Inspections and the report they did. It's called a preplaster report and costs around $550. Worth every cent as we found out! He picked up some things that the SS expected but there was also a list of things that suprised our SS. The SS has said he will rectify those things which is great but what would have happened if we didn't get the report?!
The report noticed things like; the exhausts weren't vented to the external wall from toilets, where plaster joins on framework were insufficient and much more - some of which I don't really follow but will be rectified anyhow.
Best money we have spent so far and so if you are deliberating on the getting a report - DON"T!
Lock up will now be next Thursday so that the errors can be fixed. Will be getting another report done too at the next stage just to cover our butts! (Funny enough we also received the invoice from PD for lock up- cheeky buggers!)
PS> There was an "independent" report done as well and it identified issues as well - to be expected - but not to the extent the truely independent report picked up. The New Homes report also had pics to substantiate their report along with the appropriate building codes quoted. Very well done!
PPS> PD Insulation has been delivered!!
Can't tell you how happy we are with New Home Inspections and the report they did. It's called a preplaster report and costs around $550. Worth every cent as we found out! He picked up some things that the SS expected but there was also a list of things that suprised our SS. The SS has said he will rectify those things which is great but what would have happened if we didn't get the report?!
The report noticed things like; the exhausts weren't vented to the external wall from toilets, where plaster joins on framework were insufficient and much more - some of which I don't really follow but will be rectified anyhow.
Best money we have spent so far and so if you are deliberating on the getting a report - DON"T!
Lock up will now be next Thursday so that the errors can be fixed. Will be getting another report done too at the next stage just to cover our butts! (Funny enough we also received the invoice from PD for lock up- cheeky buggers!)
PS> There was an "independent" report done as well and it identified issues as well - to be expected - but not to the extent the truely independent report picked up. The New Homes report also had pics to substantiate their report along with the appropriate building codes quoted. Very well done!
PPS> PD Insulation has been delivered!!
Monday, 13 February 2012
Day 110 Clean and insulate.
PD only insulate the external walls and roof. We paid an upgrade fee for sound insulation in the theatre but there was none being put in else where. Our fab SS allowed us to put in some extra prior to the plaster going up. Hope it makes a difference!
Hubby went to Bunnings the night before and purchased the insulation. We save hundreds by asking them to match an online price too! So we decided to use the styrofoam insulation. Apparently it won't collapse down, insulates against noise and temperature and is way easier to use that wool or fibreglass. (Amen to that!) We decided to do the internal walls around bedrooms and toilets and the roof cavity between level one and two. (Hate having people in the lounge hear the powder room flush!) Cost was approx $700 and was completed in a day. Many thanks to Simon for your help!!!
Bedroom internal wall
Insulation in the internal walls.
And so I spent 7 hours sweeping up nearly every spec....
Dining room (above)
Study (below)
Hubby went to Bunnings the night before and purchased the insulation. We save hundreds by asking them to match an online price too! So we decided to use the styrofoam insulation. Apparently it won't collapse down, insulates against noise and temperature and is way easier to use that wool or fibreglass. (Amen to that!) We decided to do the internal walls around bedrooms and toilets and the roof cavity between level one and two. (Hate having people in the lounge hear the powder room flush!) Cost was approx $700 and was completed in a day. Many thanks to Simon for your help!!!
Bedroom internal wall
The resulting mess was huge .......
Study (below)
Many thanks to Nea who helped out with this too but a HUGE thank you to my family in what will be the first of many to come new home working bees!!
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Day 105
Be careful what you wish for huh?!!
Well we were delighted to think that we were getting a category two brick for the price of cat one and not only that but it was the one we liked originally! (See previous post) Then the bricks were delivered.... they look nothing like the sample we were shown or the "example" homes we had viewed - they were a lot plainer eg: little colour variation; not the charcoal and blues we were expecting. We decided to follow up with the brick company and initially we were given the "colour variations occur from 5% to 30% in brick ranges" standard line but we persevered with our questions. Eventually the brick company did come to the party and have now offered us a treatment applied after the bricklaying and cleaning is complete which adds colour to the bricks. Nawkaw is the company that does this - they also adjust mortar differences etc. Wonder if anyone has had any experience with them???or this process??
Bricking is almost complete now. The scaffolding went up last week and now the brickies have done the side and back with just the front top third to finish. Realised, as the bricking began, that I had chosen a raked mortar profile finish - BIG mistake if you have upgraded to the cost of white mortar as this profile diminishes the ability to see the white mortar effect. DOH! The mortar seems to be getting whiter as it dries and I am told it will also get even whiter when brick cleaning occurs. Initially I was devastated to discover this error in the mortar finish and thought I ruined the look of the whole facade as the white mortar was to complement the off white windows. As the white mortar gets "brighter" I am starting to hope it may not have been such a huge mistake. Fingers crossed - anyhow if you get the choice go for concave finish - not flush or raked!
This weekend we are putting in more insulation. We thought PD would have this covered with such a high energy rating but no - there's no insulation in the walls - let alone I see now that other people have added this upgrade and more to areas such as the garage roof and Portico. (We had only added sound proofing insulation to the theatre) So now it's a frantic weekend to get some insulation in before the plasters begin next week and I also want to sweep out the house of dirt and crap that might get trapped in the walls. I am going to sweep the whole thing actually in hope that a clean working environment will encourage a higher standard of workmanship. Am going by the old saying of dress smart/work smart - anything is worth a try I guess and I'll feel happier seeing it clean - if only for a while.
As the plaster is going up next week the wiring etc is also being done this week - I'll spend this Fri night checking that it looks like it's according going to the plan. I'm also going to take heaps of pics to ensure we have a reference point for future wiring etc.
window is now off centre (see below)
bricking in of fireplace in portico
scaffolding and front brickwork
Lastly - you can never check and recheck enough!! It was only late last week that I discovered there was no door frame for the laundry!!!!! How on earth did we and the PD/SS miss that??? The mind boggles at what else I have missed? A door frame is not easy to miss you would think - lucky we picked it up now as I would hate a patch up job after plastering has been done! Also, we upgraded to add a fireplace to be put in - PD Didn't put it exactly where we wanted but we said it would be ok (verbally) at the framing stage and now we have picked up that from the Portico the window is off centre and now we're not happy. I wonder if it's too late to ask for a rectification as the bricking has already been done?? Bit too scared to ask in case the SS gets cranky with us but think I am going to have to bite the bullet. Site meeting in two days - wish me luck!
Well we were delighted to think that we were getting a category two brick for the price of cat one and not only that but it was the one we liked originally! (See previous post) Then the bricks were delivered.... they look nothing like the sample we were shown or the "example" homes we had viewed - they were a lot plainer eg: little colour variation; not the charcoal and blues we were expecting. We decided to follow up with the brick company and initially we were given the "colour variations occur from 5% to 30% in brick ranges" standard line but we persevered with our questions. Eventually the brick company did come to the party and have now offered us a treatment applied after the bricklaying and cleaning is complete which adds colour to the bricks. Nawkaw is the company that does this - they also adjust mortar differences etc. Wonder if anyone has had any experience with them???or this process??
Bricking is almost complete now. The scaffolding went up last week and now the brickies have done the side and back with just the front top third to finish. Realised, as the bricking began, that I had chosen a raked mortar profile finish - BIG mistake if you have upgraded to the cost of white mortar as this profile diminishes the ability to see the white mortar effect. DOH! The mortar seems to be getting whiter as it dries and I am told it will also get even whiter when brick cleaning occurs. Initially I was devastated to discover this error in the mortar finish and thought I ruined the look of the whole facade as the white mortar was to complement the off white windows. As the white mortar gets "brighter" I am starting to hope it may not have been such a huge mistake. Fingers crossed - anyhow if you get the choice go for concave finish - not flush or raked!
This weekend we are putting in more insulation. We thought PD would have this covered with such a high energy rating but no - there's no insulation in the walls - let alone I see now that other people have added this upgrade and more to areas such as the garage roof and Portico. (We had only added sound proofing insulation to the theatre) So now it's a frantic weekend to get some insulation in before the plasters begin next week and I also want to sweep out the house of dirt and crap that might get trapped in the walls. I am going to sweep the whole thing actually in hope that a clean working environment will encourage a higher standard of workmanship. Am going by the old saying of dress smart/work smart - anything is worth a try I guess and I'll feel happier seeing it clean - if only for a while.
As the plaster is going up next week the wiring etc is also being done this week - I'll spend this Fri night checking that it looks like it's according going to the plan. I'm also going to take heaps of pics to ensure we have a reference point for future wiring etc.
Lastly - you can never check and recheck enough!! It was only late last week that I discovered there was no door frame for the laundry!!!!! How on earth did we and the PD/SS miss that??? The mind boggles at what else I have missed? A door frame is not easy to miss you would think - lucky we picked it up now as I would hate a patch up job after plastering has been done! Also, we upgraded to add a fireplace to be put in - PD Didn't put it exactly where we wanted but we said it would be ok (verbally) at the framing stage and now we have picked up that from the Portico the window is off centre and now we're not happy. I wonder if it's too late to ask for a rectification as the bricking has already been done?? Bit too scared to ask in case the SS gets cranky with us but think I am going to have to bite the bullet. Site meeting in two days - wish me luck!
Thursday, 15 December 2011
DAY 51: Change afoot!
So we get a call Monday this week and are told that the brick we chose has production issues. Now we need to re-choose another brick or face a 4 week delay. :((( Our SS has his preffered brickie ready and so we went off to look at bricks again - god knows what kind of brickie we may get if we delay!
Well alls well that ends well, as we are now getting our first brick choice which went out of production before we went to colour selection at Hopetoun. Nubrik have some of this brick still in stock and so we are thrilled that the replacement brick is our initial choice which we love, love, LOVE!
YAY another silver lining in this so far wonderful adventure!
Well alls well that ends well, as we are now getting our first brick choice which went out of production before we went to colour selection at Hopetoun. Nubrik have some of this brick still in stock and so we are thrilled that the replacement brick is our initial choice which we love, love, LOVE!
YAY another silver lining in this so far wonderful adventure!
Monday, 5 December 2011
SOOOOO much has happened....
Plumbing roughed in
Oct 26th the site start was made official and they began with a site scrape. Then the slab was laid and we got the first bill! Since then the frame has been constructed - and I mean constructed - on site with a very skilled and professional crew. Next the gutters and roof tiles went on and the lower half was wrapped.
Today the plumbing was roughed in and we're only at day 40!!! Mind you we have now paid over half the house price to PD and so porter Davis are certainly benefitting from their quick start. We are told that by Xmas we will have over half the bricking done. PHEW!! Seems to be a whirlwind of action - certainly as we watch this house rise literally from the dust.
Can't tell you how happy we have been with our Porter Davis house build. EVERY person we have dealt with at PD or Hopetoun has been professional, courteous and pleasant to work with. Tiny errors have been made but PD very obliging to fix those. Our builder friends have been impressed with all that they have seen and the tradies that PD use have been very complimentary in their review of working for PD and the quality of materials that PD supply them to use in their work.
The house sits beautifully on the block and PD have kept the site clean. neighbours are also pleased with them which will make returning to the hood a little easier. lol!
Brickie starts on Dec 12th; can't wait to see the bricks up!!!
PS. Looks like we are weeks ahead of the Metricon home behind us that started co-incidentally on the same date. YAY PD!
Friday, 30 September 2011
Our colours: Homestead red, Woodland grey render, CB Monument for garage door, front door, gutters and down pipes, surf mist windows and woodland grey mouldings..
Similar colours and concepts in a nearby unit...
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