The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Apologies for the overdue update, but as you can see even within this post, it has been an ongoing struggle for us with changes being made every five minutes! We're also planning our wedding, which has ramped up with the date being less than a year away now and our combined Engagement/Housewarming party currently planned for early March. But we'll continue to fight the good fight and keep you updated. 

The Good:

• -       Scaffolding has come down and the exterior is (mostly) looking good:

• -       Giprock arrived on site last week and is due to start soon

• -       First rough-in of most trades done
• -       Data-cabling done
• -       Our air-con exchange unit can move next to the HWS, which frees up vital room down the side passage

• -       Drain box was installed in the laundry

• -       Powder room plumbing corrected

• -   Balcony has a floor and (mostly) a roof

• -       Waste water pipe moved from Study (Yippee!)

The Bad:

• -       Air-conditioning: vents have not been installed as per the plans and can’t be due to direction of floor joists and raked ceiling /  ducting taking up valuable space in already tiny closets, or just badly positioned within the closets / no say was given to us before install of vents, ducts and controls (this debacle deserves its own post…stay tuned)
• -       Positioning of some items are either incorrect or were installed without asking our input first. One such example (pictured below), is the alarm keypad (white cable) and video intercom (blue cable) which have been installed next to each other but on different walls. The video intercom location is where we specified, and allows for a consol table in the hallway. The alarm keypad was never mentioned to us, and is now inconveniently located (and must be moved):

• -       Have I mentioned the struggle to get landscapers to quote the job? Even our landscape architect is finding it near impossible. We finally met with one on Saturday. They’ve promised to have a quote to us this week, but I’m not holding my breath. I’m also preparing for the worst, cost-wise.

The Ugly

• -       Front windows as drawn in the plans don’t meed code (apparently double-hung windows on the second floor are a falling hazard for young children…makes sense, but would have been nice to know earlier, say, before replacements were installed). It wasn’t until the scaffolding came down that I noticed them, but now that I see them, I hate them. None of the sashes match in thickness and I hate the line that runs through the middle pane (the main reason we chose the other windows was to have one single, uninterrupted pane of glass).

It's hard to see in the pics, but none of the bars are the same thickness (because the lower part of the frame is a different window to the top section), and it doesn't look very good.

This is what we got

This is what we (now) want (originally there were only two sections either side of the centre panel)

Update: It's not looking possible to get the windows we're after (we may be playing a game of "imaginary window"). I'll keep you posted.

• -       We can’t have our skylights *pauses to cry*. The reason, from what I can understand, is that the roofers and/or Fairmont didn’t take the skylights into account when designing the plans/roof. So, there is no flashing that exists (or can be made) that can be installed around the skylights in the position on the plans, due to the hips and valleys of the roof i.e. we could have the skylights…but they wouldn’t be water-tight. Our option is to have one smallish skylight, which I’m really unhappy with (pictured below). Plan B (which Fairmont is currently working on *fingers crossed*) is to install the largest skylight that can possibly fit. I’m trying to see the positives and be thankful that we can have a skylight at all, but this was THE favourite part of the house for me, the part I clung to when all else would go wrong. The space just suits two skylights in the size and location indicated on the plans *sigh* Let’s move on…

U Update: A skylight (not sure which one) was installed today. Stay tuned...

Fairmont's suggestion. We've asked for larger.

• -       We’ve realised that the wall between the stairs and Bed 4 blocks light and the view. So, we’ve asked for it to be removed and balustrading installed there instead.

The wall with the red thing in front of it (currently covering the stair hole), is the one we want to remove.

• -       Had I the time over again, I would have made the doors taller (especially downstairs).
• -    The wardrobe in Bed 3 is very tiny, and now even tinier due to A/C ducting running through it (no choice there I'm afraid). It's 1.1m wide internally. To overcome this, we've asked for the triangular framing between the door and wardrobe to be removed so that we may install a built-in bookshelf after hand-over. This will at least add some interest and as well as storage.

• - The views out of our fixed Media Room window and Formal Living area aren't ideal. I had thought that worst-case-scenario, they would look onto fence, and I could grow some manner of plant against them. However, because our house towers over the finished level of the soil, we will look over the fence at a rather ugly side of our neighbour's house i.e. pipes, fans and the like. In the Formal Living Room I'm content to install sheer drapes (as well as blockouts), but the fixed window in the Media Room really was a feature I was looking forward to, as you look straight at it from the Kitchen. There's not enough room or light to grow a plant to the required height as I first planned. So, my mind is currently thinking on options such as installing a very tall, thin feature of some description outside, or perhaps using a vinyl decal for the window...

I think it's too easy for tradesmen to forget that the buildings they're working on usually come with more than a financial commitment from the owner. They are people's homes, which makes the disappointment that much greater when expectations aren't met.

Whirlybirds and Solar Are In

Our usual weekend drive past the block revealed that we have a whirlybird (a last minute addition) and solar panels! There will be a second whirlybird installed in the roof above the alfresco area. They make a significant difference to insulating your home, so we hope to reap the benefits in our power bills.

Our cladding is also all done, most of the balcony has a ceiling and we have downpipes! The first layer of render has also been completed. I am stoked. It is all looking fantastic.

Here are the pics:

Our whirlybird and solar panels! Neither are visible from our street, though you can see them coming up the main street in our estate (where this pic was taken from), but they don't steal the focus.

All clad, balcony ceiling almost complete and first stage of render done.

LOVE the cladding colour. I wanted a nice creamy colour to relate to the cream in the bricks and main internal wall colour. I also think it will help lighten/soften the facade. Have I mentioned that I also love the gable? I don't think I was ever excited about it before, but it's just beautiful.

I love that the sides of our house aren't just big walls of brick. I also think our downpipes and guttering tie-in seamlessly and are a good transition between the dark roof and cream cladding.

Another shot of the back roof. (Mick was so chuffed)

Hopefully everything stays on track for data-cabling and lock-up this weekend...

EDIT 22/10/2012: We've realised that the solar panels are in the wrong place (click here for plan). We had planned on adding to them over the years, so now it's on to our Builder to see if current placement will effect that and why they're in the wrong place. Maybe there's a reason...

Externals Almost Finished

Our drive past the house last weekend unveiled our cladding!

As you can see from the photos below, the external work is nearing completion and we edge ever closer to lock-up stage...

I'm not yet sure about the cladding colour...I hope that with everything completed (especially the render), it blends well.

This weekend Mick, and a select hard-working few, will be data-cabling the house (assuming everything sticks to schedule this week). We also need to get cracking on ordering the tiles and timber...

Busy, busy!

Edit 18/10/12: The roof won't be finished this weekend, so data-cabling has been postponed. More than likely it will be ready next weekend, but Mick is unavailable, so it should be done 03 Nov.

First Inspection

Today we had our first guided inspection of the house with our builder (Fairmont Homes NSW).

Our bricks have been cleaned and look fantastic. They are straight and true, the corners are sharp and the job just looks a million dollars. I should ask who the brickies were because I would recommend them to anyone. But...I didn't get a good photo of the bricks! I shall see if I can get us to the house tomorrow to take some pics to upload. So, watch this space.

Sadly, we really didn't take enough photos in general. We were a bit preoccupied with just looking, plus I have a cold and Mick was busily taking measurements :( I've supplemented with some older pics not previously posted (the bricks aren't shiny in them though).

So, now onto the photos we DID take!

Roof!

Main bathroom (bath plumbing)

Main Bathroom Skylight!!! (How I wish I had seen it in person, however Mick was the only one able to go upstairs with the builder as he has his White Card)

Main Bathroom Skylight! I can't wait to soak in a bath and look at the sky...

Steel beam in the garage. Well worth the expense to not have a center pylon (one less thing to look out for when parking!)

View from the Kitchen/Meals area of another expensive steel beam. Again worth it though, just to not have a pylon blocking the view.

Media Room windows. Apparently they're not quite centered in the room. Hopefully it won't be noticeable when the house is done...

Shiny bricks clad our Media Room!

Side access (non-shiny bricks)

 

View from the formal living room into the study. That horrible waste-water pipe (our nemesis) may be able to be re-located outside (we will cross our fingers and keep you posted)

The Garage, or Mick's "Manland." I can just see the beer fridge, work bench and motorbikes now...

View from the upstairs TV Room (again, super jealous that I didn't get to see in person)

There are still a few issues, but they should be sorted in time, and all-in-all the house is looking great and we can't wait to be in.

Bricks and Roof Almost Complete

With the long weekend and fantastic weather there was no excuse, we drove past the block to check on things.

Our bricks are nearly done (well, to our untrained eyes anyway)! It's great to start to get a sense for the balcony and façade. I can't wait to see the cladding go up.

Our roof is almost finished as well. Just the Alfresco area to tile. (I tried to take a pic from the back, but it didn't turn out very well):

I'm excited to report that we have an inspection booked with the builder this Saturday. So more pics will be available next week.

Also, one weekend soon Mick will be data-cabling the house with his friend who normally cables large commercial fit-outs. We're very grateful for his help and that our builder will let us do this before hand-over.

Mick also purchased a second storage unit, as our first filled-up long ago and we now need a place to stash things like tiles, vanities and the fridge we won. So...let the ordering begin!

Guttering and Roof

Without internal access we’re unable to report on progress inside, however externally we’re pleased to see the guttering has gone on and the roof has begun!