Garage walls

The walls of the garage have had the plastered and the cornices put up. It looks so much bigger now.

Bricks cleaned.

The bricks have been acid washed and look fantastic. It is a shame that the same can not be said about the bricklaying. Some of the bricks on the front walls either side of the garage look like they are not level and the front pillar is even worse. This is the front of the home and we do not feel it is up to the standard we expect from Porter Davis, most disappointing. We have contacted our inspector to come back and check it. There are a few bricks that have chips and we want them replaced.

We had settlement on our home today so we now have one less mortgage fweeeew. We were lucky to have the opportunity to stay on in our home and don't have to move out until November. We have plenty of time up our sleeves to slowly pack and even when we move we can take our time. The fact that we did not have to move twice was a real blessing.

Clean up

Site clean done again.

We got our own inspector in.

We organised our own independent inspector to come out and inspect the work to date. We particularly wanted him to check how the bedroom window has been installed because it appears it is not sitting on the frame but rather propped up on some packing. It looks like the frame has been cut and fudged. Here take a look for your self.

We are unhappy with our toilet window that is not in the middle of the wall and it is obvious. We are also still concerned with some of the brick laying, our inspector will come back and check it when the bricks have been cleaned.

The plaster for the garage has been delivered so I guess that will get done next.

Plastering continues

Plasterer returned to patch and sand walls marked by inspector to be fixed. He was going to install cornices in the kitchen until I told him that the kitchen cupboards were going to be replaced and that the new cupboards will have bulkheads.

I found the BSS inspectors report and I am not impressed! I not happy with the lack of progress in fixing the things that I have brought to the attention of SS either. We are noticing more suspect quality work every time we come out and now feel it necessary to get our own independent inspector in.

Work on the garage

The temporary timber frame at the front of the garage has been removed, now that the steel lintel is holding the roof up over the wide opening for the rollerdoor.

The roof tiles have been removed for the box gutter to be installed near the parapet wall.

Site inspection.

The BSS independent inspector came out on site we can see the report on the kitchen bench.

Third time lucky

The cables at the pillars in the alfresco have now been pulled out in the correct spot. The holes in the mortar will need to be filled and the bricks that were drilled into will need to replaced.

Kitchen, laundry & Bathrooms take shape.

The Kitchen has been installed and looks fantastic we are thrilled about the layout and the colour. There has been mistakes made though. The top kitchen cabinets either side of the range hood are wrong, there should be three doors either side not four. They were also installed at the wrong height 700mm from the bottom bench and should be should be 600mm. The cupboard above the fridge is also incorrect there should be one door and there are two. I will have to speak to probie.

The laundry cabinet as well as the vanities have also been installed in the Bathroom and ensuite, again we are really happy with the colours we have chosen.
The laundry stainless steel sink which was an upgrade has been installed, all the other sinks have been delivered and are waiting to be installed.

The eves at the front facade have now all been covered in it is a shame that the quads are all not level!

They have moved the electrical cables from the inside of the brick pillars in the alfresco to the outer side which is correct, unfortunately they have now been pulled out at the top instead of the bottom!!! It will have to be third time lucky.

Skirting & Bricks

The correct lintel has been installed and the bricklaying has now been completed at the garage.

The skirting has been laid throughout the house, we really like what we have chosen it is simple and understated. We can't get a photo the house is locked up tonight.

Architraves up

The architraves around the windows are now up, the internal carpenter is really good all the work is spot on. We can thank him for the straight walls too.

We are going to have him come back and do a little work for us after handover. He will build the frame for the spa bath, build a raised floor in the alfresco and a privacy wall at the end of the Alfresco too.

Doors doors and more doors

All the internal doors have been put up including the wardrobe doors. We chose the Corinthian doors and they look really great but we did not put them on the wardrobes and now regret that decision. The architraves around the doors are also up and I guess the window architraves will be next.

No biggy we can always change them later. As the boys grow up they will get covered in posters anyway so we may learn to live with them anyway.

We notice all the hinges and strike plates are incorrect they are all chrome and should all be brass, I will let SS know.

Site inspection,

I have a bit of a catch up to do….......Hmmm where were we?

I met SS out on site today to go through our list of concerns. We also had a manager join us who inspects the projects. At first I wondered if it was going to be a gang up but instead I left feeling they were taking our concerns very seriously and they both took the time to address each item on our list.

We have decided to hold off on getting our own inspector to give them a chance to get the job done to our satisfaction.

To be fixed…..

• The lintel at the garage was not bowed, there were three faulty bricks that made the lintel appear bowed.
• I was still not convinced that the insulation was behind certain walls and SS punched a screw driver through the wall and said “Yep she’s right they need to come back and do it again!” They will now have to cut holes into the plaster and put the insulation in where it was missing.
• The bricklaying at the master bedroom window frame above the bed is still NQR. The expansion joint appears bowed. The window has now been installed and the edge bricks can now be laid.
• Fascia at study above portico not straight the bracket is too short and is pulling the fascia off the gutter.
• Garage brickwork not completed due to incorrect steal beam. Lintel is now on site should be done on Monday.
• Electrical cable pulled out in the wrong spot on alfresco pillars
• The alfresco frame is not square but within tolerance, SS said when the caulk it at the end it will all look straight.
• There is damage to one brick and the mortar at the alfresco to be fixed.

Fixed

• They fix the pipe sticking out of the master bedroom wall at the power box.
• Front facade at portico is now square.
• Toilet window is now only slightly out with the architrave installed.
• Broken roof tiles in family room and alfresco now all replaced.
• Gaps at widow frames mostly fixed with windows now in place.

Gets fixed before hand over:

• Alarm sensor/nightlight in home theatre S/Be in family room.
• Toilet window frame damaged and window does not slide properly.
• Garage door frame bowed
• Garage door hinges do not match.
• Barrel for alfresco door to be replaced
• Front door handles to be changed.
• Windows missing weather shields.

Lock up invoice

We have received our lock up invoice and feel it is a little premature considering they have not completed all the bricklaying and we do not have heating or cooling in as yet.
I have spoken to Credit Chief in charge and have found out that the customer should not follow the "procedure of purchase booklet" because it is misleading. If you refer to the contract the bricklaying does not need to be completed at the garage and neither does the heating and cooling need to be in at this point.

Anyway not paying anything until we meet SS on site and go through our list of concerns.

Expert advice.

We had a friend (brick layer) come out on the weekend to inspect our home and got his opinion on a few things we thought looked a bit NQR. The two main things are the brick laying at the master window and the lintel at the back of the garage being bowed. He agreed that the master wall brick laying is bowed and showed us that the expansion joint is really bowed and some bricks are just too far from the side of the window leaving a big gap. The window is still not installed properly so we can not really tell. The main concern is with the lintel, if it is bowed how can it hold the weight of the bricks? Mortar has been used to fill up the gap between the lintel and the bricks.

We spoke to our SS and he wants to meet us on site on Thursday so that we can express our concerns, we have no doubt that these issues will be resolved and out of courtesy wanted to speak to him first.

We are not experts nor do we pretend to be so we have decided for our own piece of mind to have our own independent inspector come out and give us a report. We do not want to assume things are not being done properly or within regulated guide lines and tolerances, so we will leave it to the experts to sort it out. We felt this was the best coarse of action as we don't want to complain unnecessarily and also want a home built to the standards we expect from Porter Davis.

We will let you know how we go.

Cornices are up.

They have put the cornices up There is only a little bit more to finish in the kitchen, this will be finished when the kitchen cabinets have been installed.. The bulkhead in the entrance is also up.

We are plastered!!!!

The plaster is up on all the walls and all the ceilings in every room. The bulkhead has gone up in the entrance. The plaster Bobs did put up the insulation before the plaster, they used new insulation because the one on the floor had glass through it from the smashed window. The plasterboards have all been joined together and all the nail holes plastered over. I guess they will be putting up the cornices next.

The only area not completed is the garage because we are waiting on the lintel which is holding up the brickwork and the garage door that would stop rain blowing into the garage on the plaster.

Site superman went through all our issues with me and they are all either sorted or he is working on it. So it is all good.

We have had a site clean they have removed all the rubbish from the back yard and the side of the house near the alfresco.

We have stacked up some bricks and roof tiles on a pallet to keep in the back yard.

All sorted

Our issues had been all address and are either sorted out, repaired or a WIP.

Sorted out

• Window frame and bath level at same height? Water proofing? They water proof before tiling.

• Plaster up before insulation at Daniel's room. They put up new insulation the old one was full of glass.

SS will look into

• Master wall at power box bowed with pipe sticking out
• Master window brick laying at frame a bit suspect
• Fascia at study above portico not straight
• Front facade at portico not square
• Toilet window frame damaged and window does not slide properly. Window not in the center.

Getting fixed A.S.A.P.

• Garage brickwork not completed due to incorrect steal beam. Lintel on order
• Water leaking from Alfresco roof at pointing?
• Broken roof tile in family room now raining on plaster

Work in progress will be fixed before hand over:

• Electrical cable pulled out in the wrong spot on alfresco pillars
• Alarm sensor/nightlight in home theartre S/Be in family room.
• Garage door frame bowed
• Garage door hinges do not match.
• Barrel for alfresco door to be replaced
• Front door handles to be changed.

Design flaw?

Dad came with us on Sunday and said the house appears to be really well constructed. The only thing he questioned is how could the bath frame be level with the window? With the kids splashing around in the bath the potential of water getting under the window frame and rotting the timber underneath is there. So we need to bring this up with SS.

Here take a look

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y5jMJ-ajtqj3Oj2myixNUV3XWJ4IHrTmp8i3FzTGSLRUtYqt8SpkJRJmUwpcsUtoITL-Cj2wUPdVoy0Fm1EZr_aiGx4RqQ4xOxO6Ry5xXIeiCwANtnWJJvPXUx3IjbX4HtqMOpSnITE/s1600-h/Bath+frame.JPG

More plaster and no air con duct?

We went to see the progress tonight and found the front door unlocked so we were able to get some photos of where the plaster has gone up. Today they put up plaster around the entrance, study, master WIR and pantry.

We find it bazaar that the heating/cooling unit and air con ducts have not been put in before the plaster.

Our keys are still hanging in the Alfresco door which is open because the plaster is up against the doors so it can not be locked. Martin is going to request that the barrel gets changed as these keys have been sitting on site and anyone could have taken a copy by now.

There is damage to the toilet window frame, a pipe hanging out of the master wall further than the plaster so I am not sure how this will be fixed as the wall is bowed. Also the plaster sheets and cornices are stacked up right under the broken roof tile, if it rains....... well you know the rest! I am hoping they will replace the tile before the ceiling goes up and we end up with a patch job.

I think I might start a list of things pending to be fixed. I have spoken to Probie and she will address these things with SS on Wednesday.

Plaster is on the way up

We did not manage to get out Friday night so we went out today and found the plaster Bob's working which was a bit of a surprise. They have started putting up the plaster boards and so far the finished rooms are....
Home theatre, Oscar and Daniel's rooms, the laundry, games room, spare room, bathroom, toilet, ensuite, the master bedroom and the dining ceiling.

We were a little disappointed to see that the insulation was not replaced in Daniel's room before the plaster went up. I don't blame the Bob's as it was full of glass but they should have called SS and waited for it to be replaced. We are not concerned it was left out in some parts of the master bedroom as that is facing south but Daniel's room is full North and will get hot.

This is the first time we have felt hmmmmm not happy!