Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Scaffolding has been put up
30/09/09: Our scaffolding has been put up today, they were still working on it when my fiancé arrived after work. I guess this means that the top storey bricks will be starting soon.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Cornices installed & more plaster work has been done
29/09/09: When my fiancé arrived at the house today she found that the cornices had been installed and more work had been done to the upstairs plaster, it has all been smoothed over and looks as though it has been finished.
I really expected to see some scaffolding done so they could continue the bricking, I wonder when they are going to put it up?
My fiance also noticed that the cracked bit of wood has been fixed, they have bolted anther bit of wood on top of the crack to strengthen the joist.
I really expected to see some scaffolding done so they could continue the bricking, I wonder when they are going to put it up?
My fiance also noticed that the cracked bit of wood has been fixed, they have bolted anther bit of wood on top of the crack to strengthen the joist.
Monday, September 28, 2009
What a busy few days we've had
26/09/09: Today we went up to the house to put some network and speaker cable in. I wanted to run network cable to all of the TV's in the house. I got the electrician to wire two points for me last week because I didn't know if I would have a chance to do it this weekend or not. It turns out that it was lucky that I did as the plaster went up on Friday.
I only had to run the cable from the family room to the study, when I was running the cable through the roof cavity I came across a bit of the upstairs floor bracing that had been cracked (photo below), It didn't look too major but I still wanted to talk to my site supervisor about it.
After doing the network cable I still had to run speaker cable in the theatre room. It wasn't too hard but would have been much better if I had a sharper drill bit. I really wanted to run speaker cable through the TV room upstairs but there was no possible way due to the plastering that was done on Friday, oh well.
27/09/09: Today we went to Beacon lighting to get some inspiration for what lights we wanted around the house, this was so hard. We walked around the shop for just over an hour and had only picked one light that was a definite and about four others that were a maybe, we still have a lot to do on the lighting side of things.
On the way to the lighting store we stopped by the house to check if the electrician had wired up the gas hot water control points, we forgot to look yesterday. We couldn't check the one upstairs because of the plaster, so we checked the one downstairs. It appeared to be in the pantry instead of on the kitchen side of the wall like I had asked, looks like I need to make another phone call on Monday.
28/09/09: Today I rang my site supervisor's phone number, because he is away on holidays it got transferred through to the site manager's phone. I tried to explain where the crack was, he told me he was coming down this way tomorrow and that he would check it out.
I then had to make a call to the electrician, he assured me that the point upstairs had been done and that the one in the pantry was only just sitting there as he didn't have an extra bracket on him, but he will be back to fix it up and put it in the right spot soon.
When I went to lunch and noticed a missed call on my mobile with a message left on message bank. I checked the message and it was the site manager asking me to give him a call. I rang him back, he told me he had gone down to check it out today but couldn't see what I was talking about, he had left the site now but would check it out tomorrow after I gave him better instructions as to where it was.
At about 3:30 I had a phone call on my mobile, I couldn't answer it as I was still at work. At about 2 mins later it started ringing again, I didn't recognise the phone number but figured it must have been important for them to ring twice in a row, so I wrote the number down and called back at around 3:45. He said that he was the guy that built my house and that he was onsite to check out the crack, I directed him to the spot where it was, once he found it he said that it was no problem and that he would fix it.
You have got to love that for service, I don't think you could get any better than that.
As my fiancé was off work sick today, I have no update on any progress of the house, I'm sure that something would have been done but we will all have to wait until tomorrow afternoon/night to find out.
I only had to run the cable from the family room to the study, when I was running the cable through the roof cavity I came across a bit of the upstairs floor bracing that had been cracked (photo below), It didn't look too major but I still wanted to talk to my site supervisor about it.
After doing the network cable I still had to run speaker cable in the theatre room. It wasn't too hard but would have been much better if I had a sharper drill bit. I really wanted to run speaker cable through the TV room upstairs but there was no possible way due to the plastering that was done on Friday, oh well.
27/09/09: Today we went to Beacon lighting to get some inspiration for what lights we wanted around the house, this was so hard. We walked around the shop for just over an hour and had only picked one light that was a definite and about four others that were a maybe, we still have a lot to do on the lighting side of things.
On the way to the lighting store we stopped by the house to check if the electrician had wired up the gas hot water control points, we forgot to look yesterday. We couldn't check the one upstairs because of the plaster, so we checked the one downstairs. It appeared to be in the pantry instead of on the kitchen side of the wall like I had asked, looks like I need to make another phone call on Monday.
28/09/09: Today I rang my site supervisor's phone number, because he is away on holidays it got transferred through to the site manager's phone. I tried to explain where the crack was, he told me he was coming down this way tomorrow and that he would check it out.
I then had to make a call to the electrician, he assured me that the point upstairs had been done and that the one in the pantry was only just sitting there as he didn't have an extra bracket on him, but he will be back to fix it up and put it in the right spot soon.
When I went to lunch and noticed a missed call on my mobile with a message left on message bank. I checked the message and it was the site manager asking me to give him a call. I rang him back, he told me he had gone down to check it out today but couldn't see what I was talking about, he had left the site now but would check it out tomorrow after I gave him better instructions as to where it was.
At about 3:30 I had a phone call on my mobile, I couldn't answer it as I was still at work. At about 2 mins later it started ringing again, I didn't recognise the phone number but figured it must have been important for them to ring twice in a row, so I wrote the number down and called back at around 3:45. He said that he was the guy that built my house and that he was onsite to check out the crack, I directed him to the spot where it was, once he found it he said that it was no problem and that he would fix it.
You have got to love that for service, I don't think you could get any better than that.
As my fiancé was off work sick today, I have no update on any progress of the house, I'm sure that something would have been done but we will all have to wait until tomorrow afternoon/night to find out.
Friday, September 25, 2009
We're half plastered
25/09/09: Well today was a massive surprise, I only expected the bottom storey bricks to be finished, which they were. The surprise being that all upstairs has been completely plastered. I knew that it was going to happen soon, but I thought that it would be happening next week.
It seems like a strange way to do it, upstairs plastering being completed before the bricks and before the downstairs plastering, but my SS told me that this is the way it's done. I'm extremely happy about this, but a little upset as well as I have just picked up some speaker cable to run through the walls in the upstairs TV room. I'm going up there tomorrow to do it, I don't think I'll be able to do it now. Oh well, I guess I'll only have to do the theatre room.
I can't wait to go up there tomorrow and walk around, it will feel like a real house.
I need to throw in another comparison to go with the one I posted two days ago regarding the Plantation blog I'm following. It took them 61 days to progress from the slab until the first bit of plaster, Coral have taken only 25 days. I'm not worried about this being a bad thing. Coral are taking the same amount of time as Plantation to do each individual process. It's just that Coral are doing one or two things at the same time whereas Plantation are taking around three days between each process.
I'm just a little worried that things will stop soon as my SS is away on holidays for one week as of today, I hope this won't hold things up too much.
It seems like a strange way to do it, upstairs plastering being completed before the bricks and before the downstairs plastering, but my SS told me that this is the way it's done. I'm extremely happy about this, but a little upset as well as I have just picked up some speaker cable to run through the walls in the upstairs TV room. I'm going up there tomorrow to do it, I don't think I'll be able to do it now. Oh well, I guess I'll only have to do the theatre room.
I can't wait to go up there tomorrow and walk around, it will feel like a real house.
I need to throw in another comparison to go with the one I posted two days ago regarding the Plantation blog I'm following. It took them 61 days to progress from the slab until the first bit of plaster, Coral have taken only 25 days. I'm not worried about this being a bad thing. Coral are taking the same amount of time as Plantation to do each individual process. It's just that Coral are doing one or two things at the same time whereas Plantation are taking around three days between each process.
I'm just a little worried that things will stop soon as my SS is away on holidays for one week as of today, I hope this won't hold things up too much.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Yet another day of bricking
24/09/09: Last night just before I went to bed I remembered that the electrician never asked me where I wanted to put the controllers for the Rinnai instant gas hot water system, I had a little freak out then thought the only thing I could do was call the electrician and see what he did.
Just before I left for work I called the electrician to ask what he had done, he told me he had only just realised yesterday that he had forgotten about them. He told me that he was doing the wiring for a house just over the road and he would pop over to do our wiring today, he asked me where I wanted them to be placed, I told him the spots to put them, he said it wasn't a problem and he would do it today. My fiancé didn't check if it was done today but she will look tomorrow, it seems like the problem was solved.
As for today’s work it was more bricks, looking at what was done over the past two day I'm guessing that they should finish the bottom storey tomorrow. Things will probably slow down early next week while they put the scaffolding up so they can continue the rest of the bricking. Hopefully the weather holds out, if it does I guess they could be finished the bricking at the end of next week. I hope so, fingers crossed.
Just before I left for work I called the electrician to ask what he had done, he told me he had only just realised yesterday that he had forgotten about them. He told me that he was doing the wiring for a house just over the road and he would pop over to do our wiring today, he asked me where I wanted them to be placed, I told him the spots to put them, he said it wasn't a problem and he would do it today. My fiancé didn't check if it was done today but she will look tomorrow, it seems like the problem was solved.
As for today’s work it was more bricks, looking at what was done over the past two day I'm guessing that they should finish the bottom storey tomorrow. Things will probably slow down early next week while they put the scaffolding up so they can continue the rest of the bricking. Hopefully the weather holds out, if it does I guess they could be finished the bricking at the end of next week. I hope so, fingers crossed.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Bricks have started & we have a spa bath
23/09/09: We weren't expecting much to be done today, with the dust storm and all. So we were over the moon to find out that they have started the brick work. When my fiancé went upstairs to have a look around she saw that we have a brand new spa bath, how exciting.
Things are going ahead so quickly, I've been following another two storey blog, the house is not being built by Coral but by Plantation Homes, it took them 52 days to get from the slab being poured until the bricking had started, it has taken Coral only 23 days to get to the same point.
Things are going ahead so quickly, I've been following another two storey blog, the house is not being built by Coral but by Plantation Homes, it took them 52 days to get from the slab being poured until the bricking had started, it has taken Coral only 23 days to get to the same point.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Plumbing and gas pipes started
22/09/09: I rang the supervisor this morning about the placement of the gas point for our heater, he told me he would get the gas fitter to ring me when he was on site to arrange it. At around 11:00am I received the phone call, I told him we wanted it in the corner above or below the power point, he then told me that by law it needs to be 1m away from a walkway so no one can trip over the pipe, he said "I know it sounds stupid but that's the way it is." I told him that we are going to put my fiancé’s piano on that wall so it will need to be as close to the power point as possible, this is where he put it.
I know this was the best he could do but I think we will be about 20cm-30cm short to fit the piano in as it will cover the gas point, there is no moving a piano once it's in place.
The other things that were done today were the top storey windows which were put in place and the plumbing was done. It was a bit of a whirlwind visit for my fiancé as she had a meeting after work and could only stop by very quickly to check a few important things to make sure they were done, like the change of placement of the hosecock which I was very pleased to see was in the right place.
Enjoy today's pics, I can't wait to see what happens tomorrow.
The other things that were done today were the top storey windows which were put in place and the plumbing was done. It was a bit of a whirlwind visit for my fiancé as she had a meeting after work and could only stop by very quickly to check a few important things to make sure they were done, like the change of placement of the hosecock which I was very pleased to see was in the right place.
Enjoy today's pics, I can't wait to see what happens tomorrow.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Electrical wiring has been installed
21/09/09: I met the electrician on site this morning to run through the placement of power points, lights and light switches. Most of what I had done on the electrical plan was right, I only needed to move three power points and the placement of the TV point in the theatre room. I think we did pretty well with the layout, I hope so anyway.
There was only one question that I was stumped on for a while that I had to come back to. He asked me whether I wanted the light in the stair case on the wall or ceiling, I tried to ring my fiancé but I couldn't get hold of her, so I sent her an SMS. We moved on to the rest of the house then came back to the light, I hadn't heard back from my fiancé so I made the decision, I told the electrician to put it on the ceiling. Later that day I received the reply SMS from my fiancé telling me to put it on the ceiling. Thank God for that.
One other thing I spoke to the electrician about was networking the house, running the network cable from the study to the theatre room and also to the upstairs TV room. I almost fell over when he told me how much he charged, $100 per point. I can get the cable and face plates from work, I just don't think I have the time to install the cable myself before the plaster goes up, so I had to get him to do it.
Just before I left to go back to work I saw a guy doing some measuring, I asked him what he was measuring for, he told me it was for the bricks. When my fiancé turned up this afternoon to take photos, she saw that the bricks had been delivered, so I guess it’s not long now before they start. It's all go again for another busy week.
There was only one question that I was stumped on for a while that I had to come back to. He asked me whether I wanted the light in the stair case on the wall or ceiling, I tried to ring my fiancé but I couldn't get hold of her, so I sent her an SMS. We moved on to the rest of the house then came back to the light, I hadn't heard back from my fiancé so I made the decision, I told the electrician to put it on the ceiling. Later that day I received the reply SMS from my fiancé telling me to put it on the ceiling. Thank God for that.
One other thing I spoke to the electrician about was networking the house, running the network cable from the study to the theatre room and also to the upstairs TV room. I almost fell over when he told me how much he charged, $100 per point. I can get the cable and face plates from work, I just don't think I have the time to install the cable myself before the plaster goes up, so I had to get him to do it.
Just before I left to go back to work I saw a guy doing some measuring, I asked him what he was measuring for, he told me it was for the bricks. When my fiancé turned up this afternoon to take photos, she saw that the bricks had been delivered, so I guess it’s not long now before they start. It's all go again for another busy week.
Friday, September 18, 2009
We now have windows on the bottom storey
18/09/09: I spoke to our site supervisor this morning to find out what was planned for today and next week. He told me that nothing was planned for today as he had allowed three days for the roof. He then told me that the electrician was going to meet me on site on Monday morning, this was the first I had heard of this.
I then had to get the electricians phone number so I could give him a call to find out what time to meet him so I could go to my boss to try and organise the morning off. Luckily I have the world's best boss and he has given me the morning off to meet the electrician on site.
I sent my fiancé a text message to let her know that nothing was planned for today and not to bother stopping by the house on her way home, luckily she didn't check her mobile before she left work, she went to the house and found that the windows on the bottom storey had been put in place.
We should be in for another busy week next week, we can't wait.
I then had to get the electricians phone number so I could give him a call to find out what time to meet him so I could go to my boss to try and organise the morning off. Luckily I have the world's best boss and he has given me the morning off to meet the electrician on site.
I sent my fiancé a text message to let her know that nothing was planned for today and not to bother stopping by the house on her way home, luckily she didn't check her mobile before she left work, she went to the house and found that the windows on the bottom storey had been put in place.
We should be in for another busy week next week, we can't wait.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Kitchen colours and appliance choices
This is my final colour choices blog, it's our kitchen colours and appliances.
Wall Colour (Same as rest of house)
White Box Quarter (Dulux)
Floor Tiles (same as rest of house)
Il Monza Grigio (Amber Tiles)
Kitchen bench
Caesarstone Ice Snow
Kitchen Doors
Formica Refined Oak
Butlers pantry bench
Laminex Polar White
Splashback
MSR60 Mosaic Sheet
Taps
Caroma Acqua Mixers (used throughout the house)
Oven
Blanco BFS95FFF
Rangehood
Blanco BRCPB90X
Dishwasher
Blanco BFDWC65X
Microwave
Blanco BMO280X
Wall Colour (Same as rest of house)
White Box Quarter (Dulux)
Floor Tiles (same as rest of house)
Il Monza Grigio (Amber Tiles)
Kitchen bench
Caesarstone Ice Snow
Kitchen Doors
Formica Refined Oak
Butlers pantry bench
Laminex Polar White
Splashback
MSR60 Mosaic Sheet
Taps
Caroma Acqua Mixers (used throughout the house)
Oven
Blanco BFS95FFF
Rangehood
Blanco BRCPB90X
Dishwasher
Blanco BFDWC65X
Microwave
Blanco BMO280X
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Our roof tiles have been done
16/09/09: Today I got a chance to be the first one to see something new on the house, our roof tiles. I got to leave work early to go to my fiancé's work thing but stopped by the house on the way there. I was so surprised, the roof tiles had been done, the whole roof was completely tiled.
I can't believe that every day for the past two weeks something major has been done to the house, these guys are working so fast. I wonder what they have in store for the next two days, I can't wait to see.
When I walked in to look at the house I saw a pile of rubbish, it was all our broken tiles. It seems like such a waste, but I guess that means that any tiles that didn't look any good ended up here, so I suppose that's a good thing.
I can't believe that every day for the past two weeks something major has been done to the house, these guys are working so fast. I wonder what they have in store for the next two days, I can't wait to see.
When I walked in to look at the house I saw a pile of rubbish, it was all our broken tiles. It seems like such a waste, but I guess that means that any tiles that didn't look any good ended up here, so I suppose that's a good thing.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Fascia and gutters installed
15/09/09: Our fascia and gutters were installed today, ready for the roof tiles to go on this week.
While looking around and checking out our windows my fiancé noticed a piece of wood attached to the top of the garage going down to the slab on the house, it has some writing on it, I'll show you the picture first, if you click on it you can see a bigger image. Just in case you can't read it I have written it underneath the pic.
I'm not quite sure if this is a good thing that they have written this on there so people wont move it or if it's a bad thing because this is all that is holding up the garage. As long as the garage stays standing, it's all good.
While looking around and checking out our windows my fiancé noticed a piece of wood attached to the top of the garage going down to the slab on the house, it has some writing on it, I'll show you the picture first, if you click on it you can see a bigger image. Just in case you can't read it I have written it underneath the pic.
Do not remove garage will fall over
I'm not quite sure if this is a good thing that they have written this on there so people wont move it or if it's a bad thing because this is all that is holding up the garage. As long as the garage stays standing, it's all good.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Scaffolding is up & windows have been deilvered
14/09/09: Our scaffolding went up today. Things are on the move again, it should be another busy week of building. I have been told that they should be putting the gutter and fascia on upstairs tomorrow, then starting the roof upstairs on Wednesday it should be finished by Friday, we hope.
I also noticed that our windows have been delivered so I guess that they could be installed this week too, it should be a very exciting week again on the house front.
I also noticed that our windows have been delivered so I guess that they could be installed this week too, it should be a very exciting week again on the house front.
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