Can we build it? Yes we can!

3 weeks to go !

2009-01-24T10:35:00.004+11:00

We have our hand over date locked in and our inspection is booked for next Friday. We've been given a few tips for the inspection (use a torch to identify plaster / painting imperfections) and we plan to be very thorough and fussy !

Lots to organise in the next two weeks !

Insurance

Fencing

Driveway

Telephone inc. trench

Flooring

Gas / Electricity connection

and of course..... moving

A few recent photos

Fixing Complete

2008-11-13T19:23:00.005+11:00

Cabinets are in and look great. There was a mistake with our kitchen and instead of only the cupboards being in vinyl wrap gloss white the entire cabinet is ! Luckily we like it and it's a more expensive option vs. the laminate we had chosen, so a mistake in our favour (I like those).

Painting starts Monday and should wrap up on Friday next week, then tiling and final fittings. Fingers crossed we'll be in by X-mas.

Kitchen

Ensuites

Laundry

Front Doors

Looking like a house!

2008-10-02T21:11:00.005+10:00

We met with our SS today on site and went through each of Kevin's issues in his report. Good news is that everything is addressed and our SS seems on top of things.
We still need to re-align the study window, though the Hebel is pretty much done. The plaster will be delivered next week and the work to complete the Garage will start. We are still on schedule to hopefully finish by Christmas.
The plastering will take around 3 weeks, then the stairs will go in and then the cabinets - can't wait.

We have Hebel

2008-08-09T12:40:00.007+10:00

Spoke with the SS yesterday and he ensures me that the issues with the hebel and rebate overhang will be resolved - which is good (fingers crossed). The alignment of the Lounge window will also be corrected and centered. So feeling a little happier now!

Express train to lock-up!

2008-08-07T23:37:00.008+10:00

I've been a bit slack in updating this blog - time flies by and the house is going up at lightning speed. Every time we visit (which is almost daily) and take photos, so much has changed we hold off on updating the blog because yesterdays photos are out of date!

So - i'm forcing myself to put up a few photos to show the progress thus far.

The hebel is currently going up and the first floor is almost done, will take some photos this weekend and post them. The roof tiling is complete and all windows are in - including the bifolds! We have a few problems with the hebel, mainly with it overhanging the slab rebate on the left of the house, whereas it is nice and flush with the rebate on the right. In talks with PD about it and will ensure it is corrected as per engineering design!

The lounge window is also off centre and at odds with how it is illustrated in the front elevation on the plan. Such a shame we have hit problems - it has been pretty smooth sailing up until this point.

Last but not least - a quick plug for Debbie's upcoming exhibition.

"Vigil"
Friday the 15th of August at 6:00.
Brunswick Street Gallery: 322 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (Upstairs) (opposite Bar Open)

You can see her new works at http://www.debbierobinson.com.au/

So.. onto the photos.

The Slab

The frame

The Views

In the garden

And so it begins...

2008-06-21T13:42:00.004+10:00

The site scrape was completed on Friday - great to see some action finally.

From the drive way looking to the far right corner of the block.

From the right looking to the far left corner of the block.

From the far right corner of the block looking to the driveway. (Car is parked in the drive bay)

From the far left corner looking at the driveway.

A hint of what our views will be like (standing on a pile of gravel) :)

And finally... that shiny new tap!

Our very own Tap !

2008-06-16T18:45:00.000+10:00

A minor update (pretty sad how excited we were when we saw it) - We have a shiny new tap. Luckily, it's in the perfect location - I was worried about it being placed in front of the drive-way after reading several wrongly located tap "horror stories".

I spoke with our SS today (first time) and they need to do a site re-establishment survey, which is being done tomorrow morning. Not surprising given there are no pegs anywhere on our block (or surrounding blocks). I gather some kids have de-pegged the new blocks some time ago. Not sure how much we'll be stung for the survey. Site scrape should happen on Friday.

Finally, ready to start (again)

2008-06-01T15:51:00.000+10:00

After what seems like a very long "administration" period - it looks like we may actually go to site next week.

The Block

736 sqm of Land in Sanctuary Lakes, Point Cook. We were very lucky to grab this block late last year as I haven't seen anything anywhere near the size for what we paid. So blocks are getting smaller and more expensive. One of the reasons the block was priced low was due to its odd shape. Its essentially a large trapezium and getting the house sited on the block and negotiating with the authorities to squeeze it on has been the reason we've been delayed for so long.

A note to anyone who has a non standard shaped block and is having trouble getting the siting they want - persist. We had to fight for it - though we've ended up with a great siting and maximum usable space on our block.

This photo is taken from the far right corner of of our block looking back towards the front of the block (our is car parked in the drive bay).

The House

We are building the Windsor 42 with PD. It turned out that one of the homes we liked the best was also the only one that was short enough to actually fit. Most houses are built for long narrow blocks, the Windsor is nice and square.

The other reason we were delayed was due to..... building in hebel! We decided to be clever and build the home in hebel instead of brick, which is quite cost effective when rendering the whole house. Turns out that we are the first hebel home PD have ever built (other than a recent show home). Yes - slightly scary being the guinea pig!

We've been told that the site will be scraped mid next week. Stay tuned, it's going to be fun ;-)