Gate quote.

I arranged to get a quote for the front and side gate. I seemed to get nowhere fast, there were issues with finding space for the side gate and I couldn't see anything in the photos of the work done that was what I was looking for. So I guess we have to look for other gate fitters.

Final touch ups

I met with an interior designer today regarding our choice of fabric for the drapes, I was not convinced with our original colour choice it seemed to clash with the shade of paint. I drove out to the site with the new fabrics and I am much happier with the new selection.

The painters are back patching and repainting walls. The front door has been varnish and the colour of the stain is perfect.

What a weekend.

Today we went back to continue the work we began yesterday. Martin leveled the land on the blind side of the house and we then leveled the front together. We cleared the front building rubble spilling over from next door and put the site fence back up. We laid gravel between our house and next doors garage but we did not continue down the length of the house. We will wait until the fence up and then finish the job.

Martin then began moving the whole pallet of bricks out the front in our driveway to the back of the house. I helped as much as I could but I was limited in how much I could do with the boys now completely over it. I don't blame them poor kids have been bored out of their minds all weekend, sometimes I feel it's not fair on them but what can we do. We had been at the site all day and it was now 6pm. We were all tired, starving and grumpy so we did a "maccas" run on the way home before collapsing into our beds.

What a weekend!

What a big job.

The truck driver from Midway arrived with our mountain of gravel. He was very careful not to drive over the pegs marked for the slab on next doors block. He was kind enough to dump the crushed rock in two places to make it easy for us to distribute.

Martin leveled the dirt and luckily it wasn't muddy or the job would have been a nightmare. Oscar was a pest and kept getting in Daddy's way while Daniel was a great help with is bucket and little spade. I had the wonderful job of raking the gravel out and leveling it.

We worked until dark and by the end of the day we were exhausted. We managed to to level and lay the gravel out from the back of the garage all the way to the end of the house.

Practical Completion Inspection

We had our P.C.I today and when we turned up at the sight we were horrified to see a site fence up on the house next door to our left. We were planning to get almost 5 cubic meters of crushed rock delivered and did not fancy having to cart over 50 wheelbarrows up a steep drive way. Our SS said he thinks it is a Henley home and suggested we ring them find out who the supervisor is and get access to the site this weekend before they get the plumbing and form work in. It is good of him to allow us to do this before handover.

The inspection went quite well most of the major stuff is done and there is just the finishing touches to be done. We went through the house with him putting spots on the walls where we want the painting patched due to damage by other trades. The house looked like it had measles when we finished.

The scratches in the bath have disappeared, all the kitchen cabinets are now correct. The alfresco beams look so much better now very impressed. The brick piers look much better and all the quads are now level.

We are looking at the 10 of July for hand over if everything has been complete ted.

When we finished our P.C.I. we had a concreter meet us for a quote he seemed helpful and reasonably priced so we are more than likely going to use him.

When we got home we managed to get in contact with the Site super for next door and he allowed us access to his site so that the truck can dump the crushed rock in our back yard. We rang "midway building supplies" as they are cheap and great to deal with. We organised for four and half cubic meters of crushed rock to be delivered on the Saturday.

Unfortunately we found out it is a double story going up next door. Grrrrrrrrrrr at least there is 6meters between us and them.

Painter back again

The painter has been back to paint the patched up walls the plasterer made plumb also the bulkhead and cornice are now completed in the kitchen.

Carpenter back on site.

Quads at the front of the home have all been made level and the master window has been replaced. The alfresco beams have been covered in cement sheeting and the appearance is a vast improvement to the beams and uneven bricks. The pantry and laundry cupboards have been installed and the scratches in bath tub polished out.

Take 3

The master bedroom window has been delivered to site. This is the third window for the master bedroom, the first was too big the second was out of square and now we are hoping for third time lucky.

Bricks relaid

I spoke to SS and he said that the brick piers have been relaid again and that the new master bedroom window is being delivered tomorrow. The kitchen cabinet doors above the fridge have been replaced with a single door.

I mentioned the bath tub has been scratched and that the flood lights are wrong. We are still on track for the PCI (practical completion inspection) on Friday.

Tiling to kitchen completed.

The tile layer returned and completed the tiling up the wall behind the rangehood, it looks fantastic.

We picked up the intercom unit for our home, we are installing the genie system 3 to have a basic intercom system. It is a small and compact unit not those big ugly bulky systems.

Site open

Tiles returned to site for the tile layer coming backing tomorrow.

I had a measure and quote done for the curtains.

The house has been cleaned and I noticed the bath has been scratched.

More progress.

The telephone line has been run to the property so we can now apply for a connection. The spot lights have been installed at the front of the property but they are incorrect. They have installed para flood lights and they should have installed magneto sensor spotlights.

The taps, shower heads, toilets have been fitted. The replacement alfresco door has been delivered to sit. The 4 door kitchen cabinets have also been returned to site to be fitted in the pantry and laundry but the handles are missing.

Arrangements.

Spoke to tile layer he is flat out and will come on Saturday to finish the tiling.

Rang SS let him know we left the tiles in the alfresco but he can not make it to site as his car has packed up. We will go back and pick up tiles before they walk off site and return them on Friday. We discussed the alfresco bricks, tiling, quote for the fence repair and also for the site to be open on Friday for the curtain quote.

Weekend work.

We returned the kitchen feature tiles to site for the tile layer to complete the tiling at the rangehood now that the cabinets have been replaced. We noticed the cornice above the rangehood has been finished, they must be working weekends now.

We noticed a few bricks near the window at the alfresco are leaning, I will contact SS and let him know.

Painting continues

The alfresco door has been varnished and looks fantastic, it must have just been done this morning.

One step forward two steps........

The correct 3 door kitchen cabinets have been fitted replacing the incorrect 4 door cabinets to be relocated. The only problem is that they are now missing in action! The incorrect two door cabinet above the fridge is also yet to be replaced.

Another site clean has taken place if it could be called that, with the recent rain we just had it has ended up looking more like a mud pit. The temporary fence and site toilet has been removed. The back fence between our property and the one behind us has been damaged, it looks like the bulldozer slid in the mud. I have contacted SS and reported the damage.

Progress in the kitchen

The new kitchen sink has been installed and the pantry shelving has also been fitted, they left out the top shelf to fit the kitchen cabinets to be replaced. All the wardrobes have been fitted out as well.

The cost of curtains is outrageous.

We have got some quotes back on curtains and they are just outrageous. We are going to do some more shopping around. When I get a chance I will update with photos of the fabrics we like.

We are also getting quotes from carpenters to raise our alfresco floor and construct the frame work around our spa. The estimated quotes here are not fantastic either, I can feel a DIY coming on.

Extra long weekend????

Not much if anything at all happened on Friday, they must have all decided to have an extra long weekend.

We went on site today and moved the bricks that were in the middle of the building rubble. When they do the site clean the bricks would just get turfed. There is still a large pallet of bricks in the driveway which we have to move.

We found some concretors from another near by site in our garage trying to shield themselves from the icy winds while having lunch. I don't think they expected someone to turn up on a public holiday. They were good value because we got the name of a friend of theirs that concretes driveways.

Special thanks to Janine for watching our boys and Viv for helping us move the bricks.

More fit outs.

The internal hangers and shelving in the wardrobes have been fitted. The shelving in the pantry has also been fitted leaving space for the cupboard being installed above the sink.

The new kitchen sink has also been installed as the old one walked off site.

The top four door cabinets in the kitchen have been replaced with three door units. They were supposed to be installed in the laundry and pantry but have been incorrectly removed from site. I have spoken to SS and he said they will be returned next week and installed.

There are a few errors with the electrical, there are para floodlights out the front of the property and there should be small ones with sensors. The master bedroom dimmer switch is in the wrong spot and the kitchen down lights are off centre. We are going to go back with our electrical drawings check the remaining electrical fit out.

Aircon in!

The refrigerated air is being installed today and the installer rang me today to ask where we want the unit. He saw that there is a power point in the rumpus for a projector and said he is moving the air conditioning vent in that room so that it won't interfere with the equipment. He is also putting the thermostat where we want.

The electrician was on site again today installing all the lights.

Site meeting with SS and sparky on site.

We met SS out on site today to go through the list of defects. The major issues have been resolved and we have now agreed to make payment on the fixing invoice.

Fixed:

• The brick sills and front step all relaid without split bricks.
• Pier at portico bricks now straight.
• Cement sheet leveled above meter box.
• Fascia fitted closer to the walls removing gaps.
• Gutter at alfresco fixed.
• Roof tiles over master bedroom fitted properly.
• Bow removed from kitchen wall.
• Master bedroom window above bed has had trimmer installed.
• Flashing to alfresco door and front door installed.
• Front door replaced.
• Entry door quirk now level
• Garage door now level and plumb
• Toilet window now in the center.
  

Outstanding:

• Brick piers at left and right of garage to still be straightened.
• Mortar blow outs to be filled.
• Windows, repair dents (dining, rumpus, toilet), replace vinyls, fit aluminum angle to toilet window and replace front master bedroom window as the right hand small windows are not square.
• Quads still to be made level at front of house, quads will be replaced at alfresco with a wider quad and end beam will get covered in with cement sheet as it is rough.
• Front fascia over garage to be replaced, portico gutter to be replaced and study fascia to be adjusted.
• Fix reinforcement to dishwasher space for stone.
• Bottom of wall at games room still not plumb
• Flashing at laundry door will be removed and caulked instead.
• Sand and repaint bulkhead at entrance.
  
• remove bump from rumpus/alfresco wall, and unusual bump in ceiling in family room.
• Fix ceiling in alfresco where paint damaged by brick acid wash.
• Flashing at alfresco will be cut down.
• Bricks to be replaced at alfresco window (last 2 are raised). Also at alfresco pillar where they incorrectly drilled a hole to pull wire through and at the study pillar where a faulty brick was laid.
  
• Garage door needs to be repaired where someone has tried to break in.
• Study door needs to be repaired the bottom has a chip in it.
• Bed 2 wall damaged.
• Bed 4 wardrobe no handles
• Front door handel to be changed should be antique brass. SS has ordered a brass deadlock and will put it on our garage.
  
• Alfresco door damaged will be replaced.

At final inspection.

• Touch up walls, eves and ceilings.
• Provide 4 extra handles 2 for laundry 2 for pantry.
• Caulk the basins with white not the clear silicone.
  

The electrician was also on site today and we asked if we could make the few little changes and they have agreed. We are getting a low voltage light installed at the poritco and one above each basin in the ensuite. We have lowered at the junction box at the front pillar of the master bedroom to use it for garden lights.

Moving things along........

We are finally seeing things pick up pace on site. The data cable self confessed genius has been back and has installed the alarm although we can't make out if he has put the correct sensors in. All the data cables have been pulled out of the walls.

The Mirrors have been installed, the main bathroom one is slightly off center but we will get over it. The ensuite is a lot brighter with the mirror now installed but we have decided to add two extra low voltage down lights, one over each basin.

The down pipes are all getting connected.