Ceilings, Electrical & Gas

The pic below shows the higher ceiling - I have gone blank on what the higher "cut out" is called. This is done over the kitchen area. Think it is called "coffered".

Sorry, the same pic again... but can't delete it for some reason!!!

Lovely bricks..... I love the colour... isn't it a beautiful day?

This framework is from the master ensuite. On the left is the cut out where the inbuilt mirrored cupboard will go. On the right is where there is a cut out will be in the shower. It is a larger framless glass shower, 1200 mm long and 900 mm long.

We met the electrician tonight and went through where we wanted all the power points and light switches.

We were told the plasterer would start putting the plaster up next week - he's put the battons up that the plaster will be nailed to. The "gas man" is there doing his thing....

We're making progress!!

The bricklayer is half completed. Did I tell you? He's a one may show and the builder uses him full time because he likes the quality of his work.

The ducted heating man was there today and put the ducts in the ceiling. He had however, done something that we didn't like. He put the return air in one of the walk in robes in the master bedroom. Which meant the air vent would of been on the wall in the master bedroom or in the hallway as you walk in the front door. Both hideous! We rang the builder and he said "oh, no that shouldn't be there... don't worry, I'll fix it".

We decided to have a gas outlet on the back wall so we don't need gas bottles.. that will cost an extra A$150!! Everything comes down to money!

We visited the tile place to confirm the tiles we wanted. We let the builder know these today. We didn't yet decide on the tiles for the portico. We won't decide that until we know the colours of the front render.

We also went to Reece and put on order taps, towel rails, etc.

We are seeing the electrician tomorrow to go over what we want.

Pools & Our Back Garden

We visited the block (again!). We wanted to look at the backyard space where the pool will go. We looked at how much decking we should have near the alfresco area, how much room should the bbq area have at the back of the garage and side wall of the house.

Here are some designs that we are looking at for pools. We like one side of the pool flush or nearly flush up against the side wall, like the pic below. We like the garden bed idea but worry about dirt getting into the pool.

Here's another design of it... with more plants by the side of the pool

And a variation of the "2 sided pool"

As we are walking across the yard - trying to guess how big our footsteps were to measure the length of the pool the builder turned up. He said he thought it might rain and wanted to put some temporary gutters in as he didn't want water from the guttering just run down the hole where the down pipes are to go. He said he didn't want to get any water in the footings!

The bricklayer is a "one man team". The builder said he takes 2 weeks to lay all the bricks instead of a week. He said he employs the brickie and he works for him full time. He said he likes the consistency using one man give him when laying the bricks. He said the bricks and mortar are exactly the same ALL around the house. I love the colour of the bricks! They have bricked in 3/4 of the garage and are just about to do the front. The front will be done in ugly, cheaper bricks... why use the expensive bricks when they will be rendered! Wonder what the neighbours will think of our horrid bricks!!! Can't wait until it is rendered!!!

Plumbing is started

Chris, our builder asked to see us at the house to "go over and check a few things". Ahhhh, a dedicated builder!!

We discussed on what side of the shower the taps should be on in the bathroom and ensuite, the positioning of the bath and the width of the "hob" - that is, the edge of the bath. I wanted an edge around the bath, I didn't want it to jut into the wall. I also didn't want silver capping on the edge of the bath hob. We discussed the height and length of the cut out feature in the ensuite shower, along with the exact position of the wall mounted 1500 mm ensuite (it looks beautiful in the showroom - worth the $2000 we paid for it!!! - I am trying to get you a picture of it but I am having trouble as you can't copy many of the pictures from brochures). I thought placing the bathroom vanity slightly off the wall, in the centre between the left side wall and the bath. The bath is a large 1700 mm long bath - so much better than the small one we have now!

Chris suggested a change in door heights in the entry walkway to the kitchen. He suggested having it all the one height. I hadn't noticed or thought about the difference, but I am sure I would of commented when the plastering was done.

He also wanted to confirm the doors we wanted in the bathroom were the larger height doors so it was floor to ceiling cupboards. This is the only place I allowed sliding doors!!

The roofer was finishing off. The capping had been put on and he was just putting the last few rivets in.

The only hiccup we have had was the laundry design we had decided upon and drawn up can't be done that way!! The builder said he didn't notice that the way he had drawn the plans up were different than what the laundry designer had come up with. The only difference is that instead of having the laundry tub butting up against the external wall, then the underbench washer & dryer, we'd have it the other way around. We had wanted one long bench, but the builder said although he could change it, it really isn't wise as he has to put an "s bend" in the pipe and didnt want to have a join in it, "just in case it leaked". I figured that the builder had been great to us in giving us extras at no cost, we were happy to allow this "concession". We both thought that having bench space to the left of the sink and right, may not be such a bad thing.

We have an appointment this week to go and see the kitchen people to finalise the kitchen.

The plumber has started installing his pipes and bits and pieces. We may see the electrician this week to go over where we want all the power points. We have given him a plan of where we wanted power points, tv points, computer points, and light switches, and the builder commented that he wasn't used to dealing with someone so organised! He suggested come in and go over the plans with the electrician "just in case". We are going back to the modern slimline fixtures we first saw, then decided we didn't want because they had "weird" power points, but we've decided that we do like the slimline look of the powerpoints so we'll concede on just liking, rather than loving the power points. And, they are mostly down low so they will grow on us.

The builder seems really proud of his workmanship so far. It sure is a nice change! We've been reading some other building blogs and some folks are having so much trouble.

So, for now.. it's been 10/10 to the builder. Yeah!

Roof is nearly finished

After we'd been out we popped up to the house and the builder was there. He said he'd got a big crew together today to get the roof finished so that the timber wasn't affected by any future rain!



Below, the view from one of the back bedrooms.

The view from the side of the house where the pool and bbq area will be.

My cat, Donut, cheering the Aussies on at the Olympics!

Roofing & Bricks

The roof has been fully completed ready for the colourbond roofing. The blue sarking is all in place over the roof. The roofing was to be delivered today. The builder rang me yesterday to check the colour of the roof - its good to be organised. We chose Woodland Grey colourbond which goes well well the "Jasperish" coloured smooth faced bricks and dune windows. I have to say, I like my colour selection WAY better than anything else in the street. Am I biased? No, I can admit when something else is nicer. Actually, the builder's house is MAGNIFICENT. It is in a similar style to mine. So, see, I can say when something else is better!!! lol

Termite proofing was done and then the brickie could start. He's done part of the side of the house so it now looks like a house!

The house it nearly at lockup. Must remember to ask the builder to give us a key - he has promised we can come and go whenever we want.

It's all go!!

All the windows are in, except for the cedar wall of windows. Below is the view from the back of the 3 car carage. The window is the formal lounge.



Below you can see the bricks started. Unfortuantely these shots don't show you the exact colouor of the bricks. It an olive green colour - similar to colourbond Jasper. The far right window is the Rumpus room, the other two windows are the bedrooms.

This is the front of the house and the master bedroom. We have 4 awning windows of equal width at the front with an alcove in the middle.

This is the front door. It's going to be really big. The 3 m ceiling in this room looks huge!

This is the colour of the bricks. It is more of an accurate pic than the ones showing the bricks on the house. As I said, the colour is similar to Colourbond's Jasper.

The front of the house is So nice. 4 awning windows on the right which is the master bedroom, the tall portico which will be rendered and have a stone insert at the top.
More master bedroom windows and the front door.

The alfresco area where the beautiful cedar doors will go. The window on the right is the eating area opposite the kitchen. The window on the left is the rumpus room. We are also having a formal dining room however that is fully internal so there are no outside windows.

We have windows and bricks!!!!

All the windows have been installed, except for the large cedar bifold doors to the alfresco area. The builder didn't want to install these until the last moment to stop them from being marked. We have chosen the colour Dune for the windows and had them specially coloured as Colourbond Dune is not a standard colour.

The brickies have started. They have worked down the side of the house along the alfresco area and around the front. The front is being done in a cheaper (& uglier!!) brick as they are cheaper and will just be covered up with render. I LOVE the bricks we have chosen. An Austral smooth face brick, called Symmetry and the colour is Asphalt. It is an olivey green colour, very similar to the colour Jasper (in colourbond). The footings of the portico out the front have been started too.

We've been looking at window furnishings. We plan to have white timber shutters on the front bedrooms, some kind of blinds in the dining and family room, but we are not sure what kind. In the bedrooms there will be curtains.

Brickies are nearly ready to start

The brickies have put up the plastic over the frame in readiness for them to lay the bricks. Not sure of the technical name of this.... but I think you all get the picture.

The roof will begin any second as they had their tools and extra wood leaning up against the house in readiness.

Still happily watching the Olympics here... Go Aussies Go!!

Guttering is done!

The guttering and fascia is completed. The builders are a little behind schedule this week because of rain... and one day where it snowed!!! The safety rails are up on the roof in preparation for the colourbond roof to go on soon!

Today is the 08/08/08..... and am waiting for 8.08 Bejing time... so the games can begin! I love the games.... go Aussies!!!

Guttering & Fascia have started!

You guessed it.. the guttering and fascia have started. 3/4 of the house has been completed. We went down to the builder's own house - which is 5 minutes from his - and chose the colour of the mortar. Actually, it wasn't really chose, we agreed with what he had chosen and he showed us a sample. He is building a retaining wall in his own garden and used about 8 of our bricks with the colour mortar he thinks looks best. He's going to render his retaining wall so the odd 8 bricks in it won't make a difference. I told him he owes me 8 bricks! We also chose the shape of the mortar.

The fascia & guttering has been delivered!!

The roof trusses have been finished and extra bracing put in. The fascia and guttering - in colorbond's Dune have been delivered and are waiting to be installed. The builder said this should start tomorrow. The windows are supposed to be delivered tomorrow and should be installed this week. The brickies, we are told, will commence this week and the roof should go on next week!

The builder just called me - which caused a delay in finishing the blog - he just wanted to let me know that he could get the porcelain floor tile at a discounted rate if I could choose it now. What a nice builder, rather than letting me pay the dearer amount - he makes sure we are getting the best deal for our money! He also proudly said, "the portico looks great with eaves doesn't it"! Nice to see someone who is proud of their work!

We met the neighbours 2 doors down tonight. Their house is at the same stage as ours and we were both looking at the progress of our respective houses. We had a 5 minute chat to discuss the size of our house and they commented that they LOVED our builder as he did quality work with quality finishes!

Onward & upwards.....