The excavators have appeared on site to cut the block! We're finally underway.

It's been 5 months since the old house was demolished on site, we've just been waiting for plans to clear Coucil and for the builder to actually schedule the work.

The slab pour is scheduled for next week.

Anticipated completion date is mid-November.

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Site cut 1

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Site cut 2

Whoo hoo. Bet that 5 months felt like an eternity!

The retaining walls, slab and posts are all in. We have a slab only for the garage - the rest of the house will be suspended built on posts. The retaining wall will be under the house at the back of the garage.

We've done this to get a little more elevation to our upper level for the views.

There has been some rain, just enough to make the site muddy but not to actually delay work yet. We're expecting framework to start next week.

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Slab, retaining wall & posts from rear

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Retaining wall at rear of garage & posts for lower floor

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Garage slab from front

Lower level floor now installed, framing to start soon.

Even this 'ground' level gets reasonable views!

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Lower level floor

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Lower floor from front

Yay, so pleased you have progress! It's a long process this building caper, isn't it? Even just to get to this stage.

Yes, it is heartening to see progress. They are moving along quite nicely!

Here are the plans and views we will hopefully get from the upper level.

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Final plan - elevations north & east

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Final plan - elevations west & south

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Final plan - upper floor plan

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Final plan - lower floor plan

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View south

Nice house! It's not unlike what we think we will build (Met. Hudson, Ascent facade). Reverse living was on the table for us at one point too - great way to make the most of your view. [ img ]

Framing has started for the lower level.




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Frame stage

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Frame downstairs & garage

Fantastic progress! So happy for you that things are finally underway. Hopefully the rest of winter remains dry so you can be in your new home by Xmas

We've had a few delays with materials and wet weather but they've been back on the job this week. The upper level frame and roof trusses are now in place. I took the opportunity to go upstairs to check out the views.

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Upper level frame with scaffolding

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View to city from upper level

The roof of the house is quite prominent from the next suburb!

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View of site from next suburb

The roof is finally going on! We've had more delays with wet weather but the fascia, guttering and roof should be going on today. Rough-in planned for next week. We also got in for the solar power rebate before the 9 July cut-off (Queensland), but only just. Our roof pitch is quite shallow so I need to arrange cabling to be installed with the rough-in - won't be much room in the ceiling once the house is built.

Anyone else getting solar power? Which installer or system size did you choose?

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Fascia, gutter & roofing - front

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Fascia, gutter & roofing - rear

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Fascia, gutter & roofing - front

The roof is now on and the electrical & air-con rough-in has been done. I had completely forgotten what colour I had chosen for the roof (Colourbond "Woodland Grey") so it was something of a surprise when I saw it installed. A nice surprise though - I like it!

The Actron air-con unit is installed in the ceiling. We initially choose the Actron SRD175C 18kW unit but it has now been superceded by the SRD191C. Both are single phase power however the new unit has a slightly higher output rating and is a little more efficient on the EER/COP.

I need to get the electrical meter box moved up higher on the wall. It is the perfect height at the moment when standing outside, however when we have the outside concrete path laid it will be at around waist level! You have to watch the little things (without p***ing-off the site supervisor)!

If all goes well we should see some windows and doors in the next few days.

It is proving to be a cold winter where we are living in our rental house (at least for Queensland). It is an old-style timber Queenslander house with drafty windows and doors, high ceilings and no insulation. They are great in hot weather but no fun in winter. Can't wait to get into the new house in spring.

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Air con ducting rough-in

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Electrical rough-in

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Electrical rough-in

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Actron air-con unit - Ultima SRM 191E

Oh dear, bad news.

I've just been informed this afternoon that my builder has gone into liquidation. This is not the answer I was looking for!

I am now in the hands of the liquidator and BSA to see what happens next. I think BSA must tender-out the job to complete (at whatever cost) and we are obliged to pay them only the balance of the contract - this is their insurance cover. In theory I should not lose any money nor cost me any more to complete than the original contract. Whatever the outcome however we will definitely be delayed.

Anyone else been in this position? I'd love to hear if anyone has had to deal with Qld BSA with a building problem.

No, no, no, no, NOOOOOOOOO!

I should make it clear that it is only one particular Adenbrook franchise that is in trouble. As far as I know the rest of the company is OK. Don't panic if you are building with Adenbrook, you'd know by now if you are affected.

Our builder has filed documents to wind up his company so we are now in the hands of the liquidator and the BSA.

This is what our house looks like:

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Timelapse camera

I am really hoping the franchisor will be able to step in and finish the contract to the contracted standard and in a reasonable timeframe. As my lawyer said, these situations never end well and always take a long time to resolve if BSA have to get other builders involved.

I am just so over the whole building thing - never again!

PS - This photo was taken using my timelapse camera. I intend to make a film of the house going up (if it ever does) by joining up all the photos. I suppose I might as well turn it all off now...

Good news for a change!

Adenbrook have arranged for one of their other building companies to take over our construction (assign the contract) and have agreed to complete the build for the original contract price and within the original contract period.

This is the best possible outcome in the circumstances and speaks very highly of the management of Adenbrook. They want the build to continue seemlessly with no extra cost or delay to me! All credit to them.

We're not out of the woods yet though, not until they actually come on site. I am a little concerned about the quality or completeness of work done to date by the old builder who was running out of cash and feeling under pressure. Even if there is a problem with defective work to be rectified we are in a much better position now with Adenbrook taking over.

The whole BSA tender process under their insurance policy sounds like a complete nightmare. If all proceeds according to plan now, we've had a mere two week delay which is nothing in comparison.

Fingers crossed.

Well here's hoping things proceed smoothly from here on in (as much as possible), that's a preety good outcome given the situation. You hear about these things happening but you never expect it to be you.

Am I missing something with the timelapse camera? Is it just a static photo? Cos that's all I see. :/

Hi Hillcrest!

Just wondering how things are going. Have Adenbrook managed to get contractors back on your site yet?