Nope, none - the incorrect door frame is still there and work has continued on around it.
Three weeks, should be long enopugh to have a door frame delivered!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Plumbing Finished
All the gas and water plumbing has been completed today and the external taps work :) Am not rapt with the way the gas pipe and a water pipe run on the outside of the garage. I realise that with a single leaf wall then this is the only way, but am hoping that some sort of cover is installed over the two of them.
AND
There was a site clean today, the back and the al fresco side have been cleaned of broken bricks and the general rubbish that accumulates, and neatly piled at the front of the house! :)
Now it's the sparkies' turn!!
AND
There was a site clean today, the back and the al fresco side have been cleaned of broken bricks and the general rubbish that accumulates, and neatly piled at the front of the house! :)
Now it's the sparkies' turn!!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Weekend Warriors
On Friday after work there was still some of the eave lining to be fitted and the sheeting in the garage to be installed .. I went around after lunch on Saturday and it had all been completed! And then today, dropped in to show off the house to our daughter and the plumber was busy working.
The work rate since plate height was reached has been so different and so much more active than the casual attitude that the bricklayers seemed to have .. or maybe I was a lot more impatient then :)
The work rate since plate height was reached has been so different and so much more active than the casual attitude that the bricklayers seemed to have .. or maybe I was a lot more impatient then :)
Roof - Part 2
It's finished :)
Had a walkthrough on Friday after work and the roof carpenters have finished the job. The plumber had run all the channels for the gas and water pipes through the brickwork and had started fitting gas lines. So it's all go at the new girl!
The view from the road, it's starting to look less like a construction site and more like a home.
The view from the back corner of the block through the al fresco towards the front entry / study area.
Had a walkthrough on Friday after work and the roof carpenters have finished the job. The plumber had run all the channels for the gas and water pipes through the brickwork and had started fitting gas lines. So it's all go at the new girl!
The view from the road, it's starting to look less like a construction site and more like a home.
The view from the back corner of the block through the al fresco towards the front entry / study area.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Roof - Part 1
I have what could be deemed a 'love-hate relationship' with roof carpenters.
I am in awe of the skill that allows them to take 2,560 linear metres of structural pine of various sizes and lengths (I had a look at the cartage note) and create a structure that not only has to conform to the design of the architect, but also has to stand up without additional support, be centred and then support the tiles.
Basically they take this:
And turn it into something that looks like this:
Remember, this is a work in progress and it's only the carpenters' second full day on the job.
So - the hate? Because even with their obvious skills and know-how, they can't help but include what I consider* dodgy aspects; like this;
OR
Just think there must be a more 'approved' method than grabbing a left over brick or two, am thankful they have used solids though!
* Okay, I know absolutely nothing about roof carpentry and am quite certain that the bricks will be able to support the weight and it's something that is done regularly. Will stop being such a queen now :)
I am in awe of the skill that allows them to take 2,560 linear metres of structural pine of various sizes and lengths (I had a look at the cartage note) and create a structure that not only has to conform to the design of the architect, but also has to stand up without additional support, be centred and then support the tiles.
Basically they take this:
And turn it into something that looks like this:
Remember, this is a work in progress and it's only the carpenters' second full day on the job.So - the hate? Because even with their obvious skills and know-how, they can't help but include what I consider* dodgy aspects; like this;
OR
Just think there must be a more 'approved' method than grabbing a left over brick or two, am thankful they have used solids though!* Okay, I know absolutely nothing about roof carpentry and am quite certain that the bricks will be able to support the weight and it's something that is done regularly. Will stop being such a queen now :)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Got Wood?
Ever wondered what goes into keeping the roof above your head?
Here's a few pictures of what it's going to needto keep the roof tiles off the floor.
Here's a few pictures of what it's going to needto keep the roof tiles off the floor.
Plate High
The bricklayers have finished and everything is in readiness for the roofing carpenters to do their thing. The 'new girl' (as she is known at home) lives up to her name and looks rather majestic as she sits on the block, even if she doesn't have a roof!
The view from where the fridge will stand through to the al fresco area;
And now through the family room towards the home theatre;
And now looking back into the house from the al fresco to be:
The portico, I am guessing that the bricks in the foreground are to be returned to Austral or taken to another build. Shame, I could use them for my barbecue! :)
So, that's the progress so far. Hopefully roof carpentry will begin next week - if the weather is fine.
PS The door to the Powder Room has not been changed yet.
The view from where the fridge will stand through to the al fresco area;
And now through the family room towards the home theatre;
And now looking back into the house from the al fresco to be:
The portico, I am guessing that the bricks in the foreground are to be returned to Austral or taken to another build. Shame, I could use them for my barbecue! :)
So, that's the progress so far. Hopefully roof carpentry will begin next week - if the weather is fine.
PS The door to the Powder Room has not been changed yet.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Telstra
There may be light at the end of the tunnel ...
Taken from 'IT News' is this snippet from a report posted on the 11th of August, 2009:
Telstra has confirmed that opening wholesale access to its Velocity fibre network in new housing estates was "an option going forward".
Taken from 'IT News' is this snippet from a report posted on the 11th of August, 2009:
Telstra has confirmed that opening wholesale access to its Velocity fibre network in new housing estates was "an option going forward".
But the carrier said it would only happen if the rest of the industry committed to the same open access arrangements, Telstra's executive director of network and technology Michael Lawrey suggested to a gathering in Sydney today.
I have to admit that I bought into a Telstra Velocity Estate without realising that I would be locked into Telstra only products. Although, both Rayleen and i are so happy with the block that we bought, I think I would have still gone ahead and purchased.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Customer Service 1 - The Reply
" A***** is aware of this and will be contacting National Steel to swap this around. The wrong frames were delivered (twice) ,this (SPH must mean bricking in a door frame even though it's wrong) is a standard building practice to keep things moving (But the bricklayers have a heap of work to do elsewhere), He will let you know when things are rectified .
So SPH can talk the talk, hopefully they can walk the walk!
(These are my comments)
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Kitchen
I read a post on the H1 forum asking members what they had purchased in preparation for the move into the new home. It got me thinking about what Rayleen and I have bought for the kitchen - almost everything!
- Crockery set.
- A cutlery set, plus a set of steak knives and a set of Splades (yes, we are tragic)
- A set of pots and pans, plus an extra griddle pan, baking tray, rack and two casserole dishes.
- Kitchen knives, small cleaver, a ceramic knife and two cutting boards.
- Oven mitts, coasters and place mats.
- Ladles, tongs, soup spoons etc
- Toaster, kettle and stick mixer.
- Even getting a 'Solardom', which is an uber-microwave.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Taking Shape
The house is really starting to take shape right now, there is a little more work to do with the exterior but most of the internal walls are finished. At the front of the house the bricklayers have yet to finish (or even start) the portico, so things look a little 'flat' there.
There used to be external bricks where that pole is, was about 12 courses high. A couple of the bricks were a little wonky, nothing that anybody else would notice, but it would just bug me because I knew the brickwork wasn't right. I was not going to bother calling SPH and ask for it to fixed, it was only minor and besides, two wonky bricks out of around seventeen thousand is not a bad effort. Well, the bricklayers forgot to put this pole in and the existing work had to be removed. So, in a way I had the problem fixed without even having to ask. :)
The view across what will become the al fresco area into the Dining Room / Kitchen. Or, the other side of the pole :)
Looking into the powder room. Yes, that is the door in question. As you can see from the picture, the door will open into the middle of the room. Not something that would make getting to the toilet easy.
The view from my 'computer room'. The gap on the left is the passage leading to the entry, the door fram is for the linen cupboard, which is where I will be keeping a lot of my IT and network gear. The door right in front leads into Bedroom 4. On the right are the doorways for the Bathroom and Bedroom 3.
The ensuite begins to look more the way it should. This is where the vanity will go, the bath is opposite this, to the right of the photo.
There used to be external bricks where that pole is, was about 12 courses high. A couple of the bricks were a little wonky, nothing that anybody else would notice, but it would just bug me because I knew the brickwork wasn't right. I was not going to bother calling SPH and ask for it to fixed, it was only minor and besides, two wonky bricks out of around seventeen thousand is not a bad effort. Well, the bricklayers forgot to put this pole in and the existing work had to be removed. So, in a way I had the problem fixed without even having to ask. :)
The view across what will become the al fresco area into the Dining Room / Kitchen. Or, the other side of the pole :)
Looking into the powder room. Yes, that is the door in question. As you can see from the picture, the door will open into the middle of the room. Not something that would make getting to the toilet easy.
The view from my 'computer room'. The gap on the left is the passage leading to the entry, the door fram is for the linen cupboard, which is where I will be keeping a lot of my IT and network gear. The door right in front leads into Bedroom 4. On the right are the doorways for the Bathroom and Bedroom 3.
The ensuite begins to look more the way it should. This is where the vanity will go, the bath is opposite this, to the right of the photo.
Customer Service 1
Rayleen and I are about to find out how SPH deals with rectifying mistakes.
While wandering from room to room this morning , oohing and ahhing over what has been done this week, we noticed the frame for the powder room door has the hinges on the left, not on the right as is on the plans. The door is meant to open against a wall.
Will email SPH later tonight, so I have proof that I alerted them to the issue, then phone early Monday morning. The wall this door is in, isn't completed yet, so getting in early means less fix-it work for the bricklayers.
It needs to be fixed as the way it is now would make getting into and leaving the powder room a pain in the b*tt!
While wandering from room to room this morning , oohing and ahhing over what has been done this week, we noticed the frame for the powder room door has the hinges on the left, not on the right as is on the plans. The door is meant to open against a wall.
Will email SPH later tonight, so I have proof that I alerted them to the issue, then phone early Monday morning. The wall this door is in, isn't completed yet, so getting in early means less fix-it work for the bricklayers.
It needs to be fixed as the way it is now would make getting into and leaving the powder room a pain in the b*tt!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Off Topic
Just a little digression from building.
I received my eagerly awaited book in the mail yesterday. A limited edition First Print of "In the Blood'. It's a coffee table book chronicling the Sydney Swans since their inception as South Melbourne in 1874. Produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of South's first Premiership in 1874 it details each season with a run down of the facts for the season and a brief game by game analysis.
It's going to take pride of place in the study when we move into our home. Although Rayleen can't see what all the fuss is about, her being a Dockers supporter and all.
It may give you a clue to what my H1 nickname is all about.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Colours - The Kitchen
I have just finished trawling the Laminex website and have been able to put together the colours we have chosen for our kitchen.
This is the layout of the kitchen, K1 is the island bench, K2 the main bench and K3 the fridge recess / wine rack.
The main cupboard doors are Laminex Burnished Wood, with the grain running vertically.
Pot drawers, the wine rack and the island bench are in Formica Flaxon.
The benchtops are going to be Avonite and in Artica.
The splashback and behind the rangehood is going to be tiled. 100mm by 400mm (laid horizontally) white tile, 500 mm above the benchtop will run a 50mm wide listello tile (sorry, didn't take a picture of it and can't find it on the 'net) across the length of the bench, and about 400mm (or so) from the left wall we are going to run a 5mm wide 'pencil' from benchtop to under the overhead cupboards.
The overhead cupboard doors are going to be aluminium frames with frosted glass.
This is the layout of the kitchen, K1 is the island bench, K2 the main bench and K3 the fridge recess / wine rack.
The main cupboard doors are Laminex Burnished Wood, with the grain running vertically.
Pot drawers, the wine rack and the island bench are in Formica Flaxon.
The benchtops are going to be Avonite and in Artica.
The splashback and behind the rangehood is going to be tiled. 100mm by 400mm (laid horizontally) white tile, 500 mm above the benchtop will run a 50mm wide listello tile (sorry, didn't take a picture of it and can't find it on the 'net) across the length of the bench, and about 400mm (or so) from the left wall we are going to run a 5mm wide 'pencil' from benchtop to under the overhead cupboards.
The overhead cupboard doors are going to be aluminium frames with frosted glass.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Views
Just a couple of shots showing the outlook from one of the windows in Bedroom 4.
Looking to the north:
The view south:
Standing on the bridge, which you can barely make out in the previous two pics, looking up and down the 'feature waterway'.
Looking to the north:
The view south:
Standing on the bridge, which you can barely make out in the previous two pics, looking up and down the 'feature waterway'.
Bricklaying - Part I
The bricklaying started early July, although it has been hampered by the rains we have had this Winter. These shots were taken on the 5th of July.
Standing at the front of where the garage will be looking throught the house to the main bedroom.
At the front door (that's it laying on the concrete in the foreground) looking towards the rear of the house.
Details of how we have decorated the Master Bedroom - we are trying to get the 'under construction' look, and I think it's worked.
The south wall, the frames are (from the front) window for the bathroom, sliding door for the laundry, window for Bedroom 2, dresser window, window for the wc (not installed in this pic), window over the bath and then around the corner to the frame for the sliding doors in the Main Bedroom.
Standing at the front of where the garage will be looking throught the house to the main bedroom.
At the front door (that's it laying on the concrete in the foreground) looking towards the rear of the house.
Details of how we have decorated the Master Bedroom - we are trying to get the 'under construction' look, and I think it's worked.
The south wall, the frames are (from the front) window for the bathroom, sliding door for the laundry, window for Bedroom 2, dresser window, window for the wc (not installed in this pic), window over the bath and then around the corner to the frame for the sliding doors in the Main Bedroom.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Weather Obsession
Is it just me or does anyone else building in Winter have the BOM website as a Favorite?
Bricks
A week after the slab was poured the bricks were delivered, unlike our initial impressions about the slab where both Rayleen and I thought it was smaller than we expected, both of us thought that we had enough bricks for two homes delivered to our site.
Since then I have spoken to the brickie who estimated that there were about 17,000 bricks to be laid.
From here it looks rather bare, but then if you will turn left you will see the 'Great Wall of Harrisdale';
I am not so sure our neighbours to be appreciated the new 'attraction' at their front door.
The obligatory portaloo shot;
A word from our sponsor. Apparently these are called partition bricks and are used to give the wall the 'stepped' look - noticable at the top of the wall, the same effect is achieved at the bottom by using 25mm moulding - or so it says on the plan.
One last look over the top of the car towards the slab.
Since then I have spoken to the brickie who estimated that there were about 17,000 bricks to be laid.
From here it looks rather bare, but then if you will turn left you will see the 'Great Wall of Harrisdale';
I am not so sure our neighbours to be appreciated the new 'attraction' at their front door.
The obligatory portaloo shot;
A word from our sponsor. Apparently these are called partition bricks and are used to give the wall the 'stepped' look - noticable at the top of the wall, the same effect is achieved at the bottom by using 25mm moulding - or so it says on the plan.
One last look over the top of the car towards the slab.
Slab Down
On the 6th of June the slab was poured and the whole process became 'real'.
Rayleen's first impression was that the grano workers had left a couple of rooms off as she was sure the house was never going to fit!
Rayleen's first impression was that the grano workers had left a couple of rooms off as she was sure the house was never going to fit!
It was exciting to finally see something other than another form to sign, I think I must have just wandered over the slab half a dozen times, smiling inanely.
Tech Specs
Further to a post below, here are a couple of pdf files about my newest toys.
Onkyo Receiver - HERE
Wharfedale speakers - HERE
The internet being what it is, these links may become 'dead' after a while. Will check and try to keep them current.
Onkyo Receiver - HERE
Wharfedale speakers - HERE
The internet being what it is, these links may become 'dead' after a while. Will check and try to keep them current.
A Look at the Display Home
I have been organising my pictures today, trying to get some sort of system going, and have been amazed at;
The Front Elevation.
Our home is going to look like this, except that we have chosen different colours for the render, and we have changed the number and style of outside lights. We thought that five lights on the front of the house is a little overkill, so have reduced the number to two, one either side of the garage entry.
- Some of the odd things I have taken photographs of. A close up of the silliest things. They must have meant something to me at the time, but what was I thinking when I took a close-up of the water meter?
- The number of times I have photographed the same thing on different occasions. I am sure there must be six different photographs of the same wall on my hard drive.
The Front Elevation.
Our home is going to look like this, except that we have chosen different colours for the render, and we have changed the number and style of outside lights. We thought that five lights on the front of the house is a little overkill, so have reduced the number to two, one either side of the garage entry.
The Kitchen
We have removed the 'feature' from the end of the island bench, but that aside, the kitchen layout isd exactly the same. The rangehood has been upgraded since the photo was taken and the model included with the house has a nice curved glass canopy and looks rather swish actually. The pendants are similar to the ones we have purchased for over the bench.
We have removed the 'feature' from the end of the island bench, but that aside, the kitchen layout isd exactly the same. The rangehood has been upgraded since the photo was taken and the model included with the house has a nice curved glass canopy and looks rather swish actually. The pendants are similar to the ones we have purchased for over the bench.
The Ensuite
This is (one of) my extravagances. For some reason I just 'had' to have this bath included in the ensuite. It's almost big enough to be used as a lap pool. It's adds a little 'wow' to the ensuite, and that's always good!
Change the square basins to round and you have an idea of what the vanity in the ensuite will look like.
So, that's a small sample of what the house will look like, obviously the colours will be different. I am afraid that will have to wait until tiles and cupboards/drawers/ benches are installed so I can take pictures for you all. (It's a boy thing!)
This is (one of) my extravagances. For some reason I just 'had' to have this bath included in the ensuite. It's almost big enough to be used as a lap pool. It's adds a little 'wow' to the ensuite, and that's always good!
Change the square basins to round and you have an idea of what the vanity in the ensuite will look like.
So, that's a small sample of what the house will look like, obviously the colours will be different. I am afraid that will have to wait until tiles and cupboards/drawers/ benches are installed so I can take pictures for you all. (It's a boy thing!)
(I Am) Spoilt!
We went shopping yesterday, nothing we really wanted to buy, just to get out of the house mainly.
Didn't stop us, okay me actually, from bringing home one of these:
It's an Onkyo TX-SR876 7.1 AV Receiver for the Home Theatre (I was about to type 'my Home Theatre' but I think Rayleen has plans for the man-cave)
And also a set of these:
Wharfedale 5.1 speaker system. They look really stylish and from the audition (they were hooked up to another Onkyo 876 at the showroom) they sound just as good as they look.
On the downside - I'm not allowed to set it all up until we move into the new home, so for now they are all sitting in their respective boxes on the lounge room floor.
I will look around and see if I can find the specs for the more technical minded.
Didn't stop us, okay me actually, from bringing home one of these:
It's an Onkyo TX-SR876 7.1 AV Receiver for the Home Theatre (I was about to type 'my Home Theatre' but I think Rayleen has plans for the man-cave)And also a set of these:
Wharfedale 5.1 speaker system. They look really stylish and from the audition (they were hooked up to another Onkyo 876 at the showroom) they sound just as good as they look.On the downside - I'm not allowed to set it all up until we move into the new home, so for now they are all sitting in their respective boxes on the lounge room floor.
I will look around and see if I can find the specs for the more technical minded.
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