Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 27, 2012 9:31 am So this is the beginning of my new thread!
My husband and I are building our new home in the Grand Lakes Estate, Lara, Victoria. I love following other people's builds and using this site for inspiration and ideas! Along the way I will be posting photos and surely complaining about minor issues I'll also show photos of our colour selections to assist anyone else in the decision making process (I found this really helped us!) Hope you enjoy it. November 2011 Became a wife 19/11/11 Put a deposit on our block December 2011 Land contract signed and complete 8/12/11 January 2012 Found our favourite home design at the Porter Davis display homes, Leopold Put a deposit on build March 2012 Colour and electrical appointments Building contract signed and complete 21/3/12 Secured the FHOG May 2012 Finance approved September 2012 Titles received Settlement complete 10/9/12 October 2012 Council approved plans Administration complete 26/10/12 November 2012 Construction commenced 8/11/12 08/11 - House marked out on site 16/11 - Slab prep ready 19/11 - Slab poured (on our wedding annniversary!) 26/11 - Frame started 04/12 - Frame complete 07/12 - Roofing/piping/plumbing complete 19/12 - Bricks & insulation started 24/12 - Plastering started 25/12 - 09/01 - Christmas break ...2013... 15/01 - Bricks complete, cornices, architraves, internal doors installed 21/01 - Portico ceiling done 25/01 - Kitchen and bathroom cupboards installed 08/02 - Painting half complete, basins and sinks installed, tiles delivered 22/02 - Floor & shower tiles complete, portico columns rendered, electrical complete 28/02 - Carpet, kitchen splashback 14/03 - PCI 25/03 - Bank valuation 28/03 - Final payment made 02/04 - Settlement ...and in the new year... 02/09/14 - Our baby boy was born! Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 2Nov 27, 2012 9:57 am Location - Grand Lakes Estate, Lara
Builder - Porter Davis Home - Livingstone Facade - Ormond Lot size - 551sqm Home size - 224sqm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 3Nov 27, 2012 10:11 am Congrats! How exciting. Looks like our builds are going to be going along at roughly the same pace - our slab was poured 21/11! I have no idea if our frame has started as I haven't been there yet haha. That's a nice design, very unusual, I like it. Is it just you and your husband? Any pets or kiddies? Can't wait to see pics of your colour selections! 1st build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376 *New*-2nd build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70324&p=1154282#p1154282 Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 4Nov 27, 2012 11:38 am Issues so far
1. After slab completion we noticed they had put a water tap/meter at the front of the block... problem is that it's directly in line ith our portico. It looks stupid and I had plans to put timber decking as a pathway from the front door to the kerb. Looks like that's not going to happen! PD said they can't do anything about it as it's Barwon Water that said it "strictly" has to be there. However our site supervisor said to get in touch with them and under special consideration they may be able to move it (I'm guessing it will cost a bit) and he said it may only be a very short distance. So for now we're going to leave it and worry about it later, unless anyone has any suggestions?! I'm starting to rethink our landscaping plans. 2. This issue is mainly our fault, because we didn't notice it in the contract, but when we first starting planning the build we asked the sales lady to make the windows in bedrooms 2, 3 and 4 and the lounge the same size (longer and wider). However she extended the length of the bedroom windows and not the width of the lounge window. Therefore, our lounge window looks too small. Not much I can do about it now but it's ok. Lounge window which is too small: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ One of the bedroom windows, which is the size we wanted in the lounge: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 5Nov 27, 2012 11:43 am stellabella Congrats! How exciting. Looks like our builds are going to be going along at roughly the same pace - our slab was poured 21/11! I have no idea if our frame has started as I haven't been there yet haha. That's a nice design, very unusual, I like it. Is it just you and your husband? Any pets or kiddies? Can't wait to see pics of your colour selections! Thanks stellabella! It's nice to know someone is at the same stage! I haven't seen our frame yet but our site supervisor said they were starting this week. Pity is was pouring rain when I woke up this morning I think what drew us to our design was the kitchen/pantry/study etc. Yours looks great too! We have a dog but no kids yet... I'd say once we're settled in our new home, and I finish my postgraduate degree next year, then I'll be getting very clucky! Can't wait to start a family. Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 6Nov 27, 2012 12:18 pm Oh no! Weather is ok here...Dad said there was no timber on our block end of last week when he drove past, I won't be going there til this afternoon so will see what has happened. Have you been given an estimated completion date? We have a cat and no kids haha. DH is keen to have kids NOW but I am not just yet lol, want to get a bigger house (already...lol), a newer car and a few more holidays...I'm too selfish at this stage to have kids! Yes, your pantry is big hey! I've never had a walk in pantry before, I've been spending a fortune on Tupperware's Modular Mates to try and fill it so it looks neat haha 1st build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376 *New*-2nd build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70324&p=1154282#p1154282 Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 7Nov 27, 2012 12:40 pm No we haven't been given a competion date yet, but I think they guarantee 18 weeks or something like that. We initially were aiming for March but I think it will be more like May-June as we had some minor delays with our contract around settlement. I guess we aren't really in a big hurry but it would be good to be in mid year over uni holidays. Next year is going to be a pretty stressful year. I'm actually worried we won't have enough kitchen storage even with the WIP and large kitchen, as we got open overhead shelving rather then cupboards. But we'll work it out! I guess that's why we chose to get 4 bedrooms, either we'll have enough room to grow a family there long-term, or we can make more profit if we change our minds and sell in a few years. My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=61233 Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 8Nov 27, 2012 2:00 pm Oh excellent. What are your living arrangements until then? Renting? Yes...I've always lived in four bedroom houses, I don't think I could live in a house with less haha. I just think our rooms are too small to have kids in them (the smallest is like 3x2.7, barely enough for a bed), plus, literally our whole backyard will be taken up by a pool so there's no room to run around. I already have so many plans for the next house haha. Isn't the Christmas shutdown annoying? All this work getting started, only to stop in a couple of weeks! 1st build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376 *New*-2nd build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70324&p=1154282#p1154282 Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 9Nov 27, 2012 2:22 pm Oh I'm going to go nuts over christmas not seeing anything done!! It will be a long wait. Haha. We are renting my father-in-laws house (cheap rent!) which is about 1/2 hr drive from our block, its big but I'm dying to move out, it's quite old and needs a lot of TLC. It's fully furnished so we have it pretty good. I like big houses too But this is the best we can do on a budget! So jealous you're getting a pool although I'm sure it's a lot warmer up there then old cold Geelong! I think we'll invest in a spa when we have money for a decking etc. I can't wait to do landscaping but given we need to buy all new furniture (and I want quality too, have to have the best ) we'll be pretty broke for the first 6 months. My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=61233 Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 10Nov 27, 2012 2:35 pm Haha I bet you are looking forward to building a brand new house then. Lucky to have cheap rent though! We are living with my parents so our rent is cheap, i.e. free and mum cooks and cleans too. It's awesome, don't know how I'll go looking after myself again! Ah yes. When we moved out of our rental, we got rid of all of our flatpack furniture. We've started buying the new stuff and putting it in our storage shed - so far a new dining table, coffee table and buffet, as well as a leather lounge suite. We still need to buy another lounge and another tv. I'm hoping my dining chairs have handled storage but I already know the ones I'm getting if they haven't haha. That's going to be tough buying all new! I can't even imagine! We are lucky that we still have good beds and tv cabinets so they won't need replacing...yet! Haha! Isn't that budget word a b!tch! 1st build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376 *New*-2nd build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70324&p=1154282#p1154282 Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 11Nov 27, 2012 2:53 pm Colour selections
External: Brick - Boral - Mocha Upgrade With natural mortar Render - Dulux acratex - Woodland grey (columns only) Included in promotion Windows - A&L aluminium - Woodland grey Fascia/Downpipes - Colourbond - Woodland grey Roof tiles - Boral - Gun Metal Internal: Carpet - ?brand - Hazelnut (top one in photo, cat 4 underlay) Floor tiles - National tiles - MAXFL8021 (Cheaper style, really would have loved to upgrade but too expensive, it was either upgrade floor tiles or feature wall tiles... not 100% sure about it still) Kitchen splashback - National tiles - Silver Travertine Saltbush (mosaic) Upgrade We initially wanted this to cover the whole kitchen wall like it did in the display home but it was going to cost an extra $4000 from memory Bathroom/ensuite splashback and shower niche - National tiles - Silk olive Kitchen/bathroom/ensuite cupboards - Formica - Fini Chocolate Kitchen benchtop - Caesarstone - Linen Partly included in promotion Wall paint - Wattyl - Whiteweave (We plan to paint our own feature walls as soon as we get the keys, unsure what colours yet) Brick: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Kitchen splashback mosaic: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Floortile: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Bathroom splashback/niche: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Carpet: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Caesarstone: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Samples: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Display home Leopold (These are not our colours but same style kitchen) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 12Nov 27, 2012 3:01 pm Yeah we've been saving like crazy for furniture, haven't bought anything yet (although I did just indulge in a very expensive pair of lamps last week - early christmas present I told hubby). We have a double bed and a queen for the spare rooms. And we have all of our kitchen stuff. So it's mainly couches, bed for master, dining table and main appliances. I doubt we're going to have enough saved for everything though! Blinds are SO expensive! I got quoted $6000 for the cheap version of the romans I want, so I'm probably looking at $10,000 for the ones I want... rather extravagant. Have you looked into blinds/curtains yet?
Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 13Nov 27, 2012 3:12 pm Oh I forgot about appliances haha. We were living out of home for about 6 years so we luckily have pretty much everything. We went to the Myer end of financial year sales in June and bought all new kitchen stuff for DH (he is a chef) so we definitely don't need anything there! Erggh, I haven't really started looking into blinds. DH wants me to start getting quotes but I have no motivation at the moment lol. Mum and Dad's blinds for their house (not fancy ones, just like the panel roller ones) were about $1800 so I based ours on around $4000. I want some curtains too though. Roman blinds sound EXPENSIVE haha! Oh I bought some new lamps a couple of weeks ago, the are from Beacon and match the chandelier I bought their a few months ago. While I do love buying that stuff, I hate putting it straight into storage! Haha! I know what I want as one of my Christmas presents...a Robomaid! I'm still looking into all the brands and stuff though, didn't realise there were so many! 1st build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376 *New*-2nd build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70324&p=1154282#p1154282 Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 14Nov 27, 2012 3:39 pm I was like, what's a robomaid? But after googling it I know what you mean! Haha... we are getting ducted vaccuming, after having it at mum and dads house growing up I couldn't go without. I'm not even sure about the ducted heating... I've never had it before because they had slab heating (so nice for tiled areas!) but I'm sure it'll do the trick. I'll definitely be looking out for sales after christmas and start buying stuff! I was tempted 6 months ago to start shopping but hubby told me no... I have picked out a few things I like anyway. Think we might have to find cheaper blinds, they were luxaflex ones. Oh well, all in good time! Looking forward to not paying rent. Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 15Nov 27, 2012 3:57 pm Haha! I'd never even heard of ducted vacuum cleaners before I came on these forums. I'm still not sure I understand the whole concept? Slab heating sounds interesting! It doesn't get cold enough here for anything like that. We nearly got normal air con but got the pool instead at this stage, probably end up putting the air con in too after the first summer though! 1st build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376 *New*-2nd build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70324&p=1154282#p1154282 Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 16Nov 27, 2012 4:36 pm Oh yeah I forgot you barely need heating up there! Ducted vacuuming is great you just have the vacuum head with a long hose attached and you plug it into the wall, it goes to a bag in the garage which you need to empty (it lasts a while I think). Air con will be easy to install at a later stage, we will probably do the same but putting a ceiling fan in the master to start. Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 17Nov 29, 2012 12:54 pm In regards to the front tap, if you need it moved, shoot me a pm, there is a lara plumber that does it dirt cheap. We moved ours across for only $300! Other plumbers quoted us upward of $600. Good luck on the build, have driven past this property a few times now. Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 18Nov 30, 2012 9:18 am Sounds great CBPH, but I wonder if we could be doing the wrong thing by Barwon Water. Might ask and see what they say... otherwise i'll get those details off you. I assume it can be done after handover? We have a frame! Will post pics tomorrow. My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=61233 Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 19Dec 01, 2012 2:14 pm Frame stage complete, windows and door frames installed. Gutters/facia/downpipes will be done this week and roofing starts Friday. Bricks will probably begin next week. Our site supervisor thinks we should be up to plaster stage before christmas break!
It finally feels like a real home yay! Front entrance: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Master bedrom: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Garage: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Rear of house: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Family room: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Dining/kitchen, study and laundry at the back left: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Rear windows/doors: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Kitchen: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Livingstone Dream - Porter Davis build in Lara, VIC 20Dec 01, 2012 4:34 pm Oh yay! A bit exciting isn't it. Just noticed on your plan that the built in robes have swing doors instead of sliders - what's the reasoning behind that? Not bad necessarily, just haven't really seen it before! 1st build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376 *New*-2nd build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70324&p=1154282#p1154282 This certainly doesn't look good. I would be engaging with an independent inspector to have a look at this. As for the unscheduled site visits, most builders are quite… 1 28290 of course there are legal avenues. You've already mentioned it. Sue them. I find it odd that lawyers wouldnt be willing to take on the case, given CCT evidence and… 1 23758 "Losers" "humanity" "off time" "your" "top notch" "love symbol" Sounds like ponzo is done using other people's toilets 36 23835 |