Tree Removed

Spent the weekend cutting down a tree from next door, it was hanging over the pool and dropping leaves, the sort that clog the filter after a single cycle. Luckily the neighbour was agreeable to the tree being removed.

We also put up some screening around the pool, looks good so will do the rest as soon as we can get more screening panels.

Pergola Selected

After many quotes and much head scratching we have signed for a pergola, it will be steel construction and larger than originally planned. Hoping it will be ready for Christmas.

Pool Surround concreted

Today after a huge wait the pool surround finally was concreted, looks like a very nice job.

Also installed ceiling speakers for lounge room, wiring was done during build process but only now had time to install the speakers.

Panel for dishwasher also installed after much waiting, however it is wrong size so more waiting.....

Rainwater tank delivered, still a way off before it will be installed.

sewered

Our minor problem of slow drains turned out to be more serious, our house was not connected to the main sewer line! Good news is that water company came out late at night and worked ver the weekend to install an inspection point and builder organised drains to be connected on the next working day. So all happy now with drains that drain very well.

fence is down

Today the front fence camedone, really opens up the front of the house.

Side Gate

We now have a side gate and the front fence is coming down, pictures soon but it is looking like a house not a building site now. Hoping front landscaping can be done very soon before it rains too much.

Garden setting arrived

Today the outdoor setting arrived, using it in the meals area 'till our current dining set gets moved. Kitchen working out well, nice large bench tops and lots of room to move about.

Some good news on the solar panels so hoping for that to be resolved soon.

 Not sure about light fittings yet, but this is one option.

Powder room still needs hand towel rail and light fitting.  Standard power point might need upgrading to match light switch.


North facing windows looking out to pool, already on cool days this area warms up from the sun, very nice on chilly winter mornings.

Surge arrester and double GPO for HWS now installed.

Still moving in

Still moving into the new house and working out how we are going to live there.  Blinds installed on most windows now, small details like magnetic door stops on the interior door that kept slamming.

Electrician due to replace single external power point for HWS with the required double point.  

Bit of a saga with the Solar HW panels, but that should be sorted soon.  

Expensive weekend with purchase of rainwater tank, lounge suite and outside dining set.  

Rained over the weekend which exposed a leak in the storm water system, good news is that the location of the leak is obvious.  Hoping it can be easily fixed.

Gas Heating Working

Today the Gas heating (and cooling) was completed, works very well heating the house up in only a few minutes.  Winter will not be cold in this house!

Haven't tried cooling yet but no reason to think it would be any less effective.

Joys of first night at a new house, found it to be light, and very confortable.  Even without heating it is not cold due to large north facing windows.  Heating and cooling to be finished tomorrow.

Have now road tested the kitchen and bathrooms, kitchen works well and showers divine.

Oven fixed

Today the oven was fixed under warrenty, A/C should be done Next week.

Builder advised that single external power point will be replaced by double- required for solar HWS.

red kitchen

Dropped in this evening, kitchen looking good with timber floors.

Gas now connected and working so there is hot water.

Fault with the oven but that should be fixed under warranty.

handing over

After being away on a short holiday we are now back and lots has happened.

Handover went very well so we have now taken possesion of the keys! Special thanks to person A (you know who you are).

Appliances have been installed albeit with a couple of problems. Power lead for hotplates is too short so power point will have to be moved.



Oven makes a terrible noise when switched on, we supplied this so will have to go back to the supplier.

Gas meter was scheduled for install while we were away but there was a problem with a damaged pipe. So builder is fixing that so we can get a meter fitted.

Solar hot water should be installed but today the panels are not anywhere to be seen on the roof!

Carpets and timber floors all installed so the place is looking better. Pictures to follow soon.

Red splashback

IMG00591-20090409-1726
Originally uploaded by sdabel

Dropped in today to find the splash back being installed. Looking good!

Finished

On Friday we were told that the house was ready for walk through.  We had an independant inspector look over it today, only minor points of issue.  Hopefully nothing that will delay us moving in.  Still going to be a very close thing to make our dealing of handover by April 17.   

Clean House

Today the house got a good cleaning, lots of microfibre rags in the skip and dust from a vacuum cleaner.




Inside looking nice and clean.

Clean Windows

Today the windows were cleaned so looks like the final clean up has been completed.  Skip still there but for how much longer?

Gassed up

Looks like the gass connection has been made. Front door in timber is now installed and stained- looks great.

Interior door furniture was fitted Friday.

So little to do now.

powered up

Checked today and the electrician had been, switches, lights all in and looking good.  Not sure what else there is to do now.  

pictures to follow

another coat on downpipes

Looks like another coat on downpipes and a bit more ouching up inside today.  Nothing further on the pool.

Dunny go home

Dunny go home

Nothing done today but on Friday the Builder's loo was taken away.

Painting of exterior now complete including downpipes. Inside looks spectacular, very happy with colour choices.

No further work on pool surrounds.

Gutters and roller doors

Lost more progress now, gutters and fascias have been painted, downpipes and under eves to go. Really happy with our choice of dark gutters- this was a bit of a gamble. More paint on inside with ceilings, walls, and cornices getting more paint. Roller doors have also been installed today.  Very hopeful that painting will be completed this week.  So the handover is getting close.

Close up of gutters showing colours.

Pool with fill ready for concrete over next few days.  Entire shed will be moved and for concrete base.   After all the problems with the pool it looks like finally being completed.  

We had selected a timber grain door, so today asked the builder about the painted door that had been fitted- replacement had already been ordered.  Can't complain about that!

electricity meter

Today the electricity meter was installed and the connection to the pole completed. First time I have ever seen a meter at zero. Not sure how smart this meter is, but will find out.

Ceilings have been painted and walls of some rooms such as the spare bedroom below.  Paint makes the rooms feel more spacious. 

Kitchen is looking great and the rear living area open and bright.

Nothing today

Nothing obvious today, although it looks like the electrician has been.  Hoping for a handover date of end of March, really only waiting on painter now.

Plumbing is in

Didn't get to check on Friday but plumbing is now installed. Again En suite looks great, hoping to get some inside pictures this week.

Can't see them but from the skip it looks like toilets and basins are also installed.

Laundry sink and mixer is in.

External taps are both in and working, looking much better than we expected.

Ensuite with shower

Ensuite with shower

Didn't get to have a look yesterday, but today the Ensuite bathroom has a shower screen and mirror fixed. Couldn't see in to check on the main bathroom but assume they have been done as well.  Have realised that shower will be visible through front windows that face onto the stret, will have to be careful blinds are always closed when ensuite is in use !  

Flooring sorted

So after a bit of running around and research we have signed up for flooring. Tasmanian Oak laminate floor boards in the living spaces and carpet in a mushroom colour in bedrooms and study. It does pay to shop around, we ended up over $2,000 cheaper by looking around. This will be measured up before handover and then installed just after we move in.

Friday we had a builder measure up the pool area for concrete surrounds, hopefully this will be cheaper than pavers.

Now onto our third skip! No sign of painter, this week?

Skip is full

Not a lot today, the skirtings were completed yesterday, and the skip filled up with builder's debris.

Mock up of kitchen with red splash back here

Tiles almost completed

Fair bit of work this week. Tiles almost completed, and looking very nice. The light coloured floor tiles in the wet areas have made the rooms seem larger. The vertical highlight tiles also help to make the rooms seem larger. The white tiles have a slight wave to them creating a nice finish. Tiling should be completed this week and painting can start next week. The large soap dishes look impressive.

Bath is not huge, but sufficent for our needs.  No bath in the ensuite.   

The Ensuite has a slightly different highlight to fit with it's smaller size.  Again the light floor tiles really work well here.

The powder room is nice and light even with just natural light.  There will be a large mirror over the powder area making it seem even larger.  Benchs are dark brown- here still in protective wrapping.

The laundry is looking very nice!  Who would have thought it would look this flash.

The pool needed professional cleaning and more than one visit.  Yesterday the was our second visit and the pool is almost looking like new.

Pool coping finally done

Finally the pool coping is completed. Looks very nice and fits perfectly. Now we can see about getting the surrounding paved, of course that means bringing in fill to bring up the level of the ground in preparation for the pavers. Currently thinking we will get pavers to match the coping.

The surround of the skimmer box is very neat.  Pool is now very dirty, but we are used to that now.

Doors and frames also progressed today.  The front door lever set and deadlocks to all external doors went on.

Most of the internal doors have been hung, and frames installed.  Shower areas have been sealed.

Doors installed on pantry and storage room.  

Door frames started

Today the door frames were started. Call from SS asking that we obtain a contract for our import/export meter- perfectly reasonable request. Apparently most power companies want you to sign a contract that you will install PV cells within a set time before they will install an import/export meter, again quite reasonable. Well for the first time in this blog a company will be named.  Origin Electrical clearly have zero interest in signing up customers. After over an hour on hold I could find no one at Origin who had any interest or even knowledge of how we could connect up a new house, let alone have an import/export meter. How hard can it be to sign up a new customer?  Too hard is the answer.  SS was very understanding when I called back to say we wouldn't be having an import/export meter after all. 

Boards removed from pool beam

End of a week of 40 degree heat so nothing further done on house.  Builder advised that we have to sign a contract with a power company to get an import/export meter.  Boards around concrete beam removed so hoping for coping to be installed next week.

Pool coping and kitchen in

Pool coping pavers

Today the pool coping arrived, this will be installed around the edge of the pool tomorrow. Then we can move on to the actual pool area surface!

Despite the hot weather (45 today) lots of work completed.

Laundry bench is in.

Today the kitchen went in, looks good and hopefull will look great with the red splash back.

Downpipes and Joinery

Today the drainpipes were connected up and the cabinet work delivered.

Roof underhangs started

Today the underneath of the eves was closed in , about half way complete.

Also the concrete beam was poured around the pool.  Finally the pool is taking some usable shape.

Pool Coping

Today the pool coping began with steel being put down for the concrete beam that will act as a collar for the fiberglass shell of the pool. 

 

Very hard to see inside the bathrooms due to the opaque glass but it looks like the bathtub is in place.

Cornices are up

Today the cornices went up.  Square set in the rear living areas looking great too.