Alkira Homes "The Sienna" KDR Ryde (NSW) - complete

deluded · May 14, 2015 11:52 pm

clintdb

deluded

There's 2 locations for downpipes from gutter but the ground location does not have the pipe for collection. I won't be saying anything just yet and wait and see what will be done.

It's hard to know when to pipe up isn't it?
On the one hand, you don't want to be calling them all the time with things that they already know about and/or have well and truly in hand. On the other, it's in both your and their interests for any mistakes to be identified earlier rather than later.
Do you have a photo of the specific "possible issue"?

I kinda do, you'll see a cut out for pipe on the gutter above the laundry (where the step is) but the collection in ground is around the corner under the tap. Original drawings did not have steps and the architects added the steps but failed to relocate the downpipe.

I failed to pick that up until the build commenced and silly me i assumed that common sense will prevail and the person installing gutters will check. Didnt happen, not a huge issue as i expect that they either do a return or stop at thw alfresco roof and have the rain water lead in there.

I know its pretty descriptive and i know my house more than everyone reading. I expect it will be sorted.. not a huge issue tbh... but I am starting to pick up a trend.. quadruple check the plans and do not proceed until plans are 110% because trades don't look at the site and apply common sense .. they look at plans and do the work as the assume it is 100% correct

Sheilzy · May 14, 2015 11:52 pm

Wow finally you have a hat! Roof looks fantastic! The bricks have cleaned up well. The interiors will get you excited no doubt.

I can empathise with the nomad living. I never in a million years expect it to be so challenging. I can't wait to have some semblance of normality back!

deluded · May 14, 2015 11:56 pm

Sheilzy

Wow finally you have a hat! Roof looks fantastic! The bricks have cleaned up well. The interiors will get you excited no doubt.

I can empathise with the nomad living. I never in a million years expect it to be so challenging. I can't wait to have some semblance of normality back!

And you're not far off!! Wish my build was further along. but having said that, the timing has been perfect in many ways. otherwise fireplace would not have happened.. i may not have had really top blokes doing the bricks.

clintdb · May 15, 2015 12:31 am

Re the downpipes - I understand what you mean Deluded. Agree too, it shouldn't be much of an issue to find a fix of some sort.

TomCat · May 15, 2015 12:39 am

Two years?? :shock:

Eeeek!

Building4my3tots · May 15, 2015 12:40 am

Hear hear! We've been out of our home for a solid year living with the in laws! And still no sight of a house! Everything moves so slow!
But I believe things happen for a reason, like you said if you haven't had the delays then you wouldn't of had your time to do your research on your fire place, and meet those cool brickies!

Structural question... Can you find out if their was a steel beam over your corner stackers? Supporting all that weight of your upstairs to allow you to have a corner stacker? (My builder is confusing me saying it might be too heavy for my corner stack to work and I might need a brick corner which I don't want).

deluded · May 15, 2015 1:21 am

Building4my3tots

Hear hear! We've been out of our home for a solid year living with the in laws! And still no sight of a house! Everything moves so slow!
But I believe things happen for a reason, like you said if you haven't had the delays then you wouldn't of had your time to do your research on your fire place, and meet those cool brickies!

Structural question... Can you find out if their was a steel beam over your corner stackers? Supporting all that weight of your upstairs to allow you to have a corner stacker? (My builder is confusing me saying it might be too heavy for my corner stack to work and I might need a brick corner which I don't want).

Check my prior photos with just frames looking at the alfresco.. there's a steel beam running across along both faces of the stackers. The bricks sit above the beam and so there's no weight above on the cornerless stackers which means it is possible. Just need engineering to finalise the plans

Building4my3tots · May 15, 2015 1:29 am

Yes! Found it thanks!

FINALLY lodge my plans to COUNCIL! yippy! now the wait! poops...

TheBigHouse · May 15, 2015 10:49 am

Building4my3tots

Yes! Found it thanks!

FINALLY lodge my plans to COUNCIL! yippy! now the wait! poops...

You should start a build/timeline thread if you haven't already:)

TheBigHouse · May 15, 2015 11:04 am

Dup post

deluded · May 15, 2015 4:30 pm

So ... when it comes to internals and you're not dependent on the weather it "feels" like there's a hive of activity ....

today the air con ducting went in, the wiring for the alarm system is in (same people doing it) and the plumbing rough in. not a lot to show for as it is all inside and I can't take photos from the outside hahaha

also confirmed with Alkira to proceed with the fireplace! yay!! ... it will be as per the first photo on my prior post about fireplaces. I have selected the Landscape 1600 by real flame, at 1860 wide and additional 200mm either side it will span 2260 across my 2980 wall squeezing between the 2 windows and a full wall from floor to ceiling. if you want to know the price pm me, I believe it could be a little cheaper than what has been quote if we had asked at tender as there are additional scheduling of resources to get the job done. Mind you I would not have selected this in the first place as I had my heart set on a heat & glo, however the look of the house the Landscape 1600 is better suited.
Also note that the basix also changes due to heating and cooling adjustments so best to do it early to avoid possible delays.

between those 2 windows
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all in all I think Alkira's response has been super quick and it may be due to scheduling of work. The interior linings I think is starting soon so this may delay me a little as they need to schedule the carpenter to build the frame and the fireplace to be installed etc before they can start walling up.

electrical rough in has been booked next Wednesday so it is moving along.

I'm still super happy with the brick work! ... can't wait to have it all cleaned so I can share some photos and to share it with the brickie as well!

RJMM_H1 · May 15, 2015 4:46 pm

A wide fireplace on that wall will look great as you enter that open living space, good choice.

Can't wait to see the pics.

deluded · May 15, 2015 5:01 pm

RJMM_H1

A wide fireplace on that wall will look great as you enter that open living space, good choice.

Can't wait to see the pics.

I think it is roughly the width of that console so it should be really good. the down side is the window on the left wall.. if you look from the outside all you will see is the side wall of the fireplace. we won't be putting any sort of coverings since it faces the neighbour side and all you will see is a colorbond fence hahahah

I will be extremely disappointed if it doesn't heat the area ... the volume of air is quite a challenge but I'm expecting a pleasant 21degrees inside the house. If it is really that cold I can always huddle in front of the fireplace hahahah

deluded · May 20, 2015 5:12 pm

Time for a quick update...

The eaves for the downstairs roof was completed at the start of this week. Then carpentry to frame up the fireplace was put in. Electrical roughin being done today and so it feels like there was a LOT of activity. To put it into perspective as these tasks are small so a day or so is the expected work effort, since these visually are shorter than frames and bricks etc .. it "feels" like a lot has happened.

All in all great to see work happening and since I have a date for kitchen to go in, everything feels like it is ramping up.

I had the opportunity to see out of the windows upstairs since the are clean. I could see the city! I have a city view! .. unfortunately once the plaster board goes up I won't see a thing hahahah the void windows are great as you can see the city (only if you're 5 metres tall)

I also checked the wideline windows and looks like the ones downstairs open further than the ones upstairs. I think it is in case people fall out of awning windows upstairs, not a huge issue I think and can only really know once I have moved in and have the windows open to allow the breeze to come through (if in fact it can).

I also checked the stacker doors for any potential issues, right now I don't believe there are and the tracks right now have a lot of sand and dirt so no point trying to close it. if it proves to be an issue later on I'll take all the doors out and check the track and whatever it uses on the doors to see if anything grit are causing them to not close well. (WD40 always work too hehehe)

will post photos that people can understand when I get a chance... (took heaps but they don't mean a lot hahaha)

trixee · May 20, 2015 8:40 pm

That sounds great deluded! Eaves make a huge difference, ours just got put in too.
I'm not sure about the awning window issue, wouldn't the same thing apply to all windows is they are afraid of people falling out?
The amount of grit in the stacker doors sounds like it might be an issue, I'd get that checked out quick. Although how you'd avoid getting grit in them I'm not sure!

clintdb · May 20, 2015 8:49 pm

Upper floor windows are either raised above a certain height or the opening is limited.
As Deluded said, it's a "falling out of" issue that has a more significant consequence compared to if it happens from a downstairs window.
It's a relatively recent thing (10 years?) that it's been addressed in the building code. It's targeted primarily at children - sort of like swimming pool fence laws.

deluded · May 20, 2015 9:35 pm

After posting about progress it is only fair to post some photos ... missed out on the end of day shots that shows some of the completed works

So a guided tour to what has been done follows below:

Front of the house and the eaves are complete, notice the pink bits above the roof? That's the cladding section and after they have added the pink wood I really have no idea what cladding will be going on there.
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The front of the garage, oh no! they've sealed the whole thing! ... what about the poor electricians who have to run power to the lights I have on the pillars?
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hmmm the rumpus looks pretty dark

... didn't quite calculate well enough to get good natural light ... oh well...
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the fireplace framing complete!! I think it will look really good once it is installed and the plastering done!!
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As the build includes having the plumbing inside of the house rather than a big ugly pipe on the outside. I wouldn't want it blocked in any way! ... all the waste pipes are all connected upstairs. That's toilets, showers, and vanity waste pipes .... hmmm
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Not a bad view, the buildings in the distance is Chatswood ...
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Main bedroom looking back into the retreat at least I know they've sealed the retreat for insulation purposes. That cavity looks down into the rumpus room so if I ever remodel I could potentially have a high angled ceiling downstairs hahaha
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ensuite plumbing (at least I know it has collars and its not just pipes sticking out.
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I really have no idea what type of cladding is being put up there ... blue bits and pink bits ... hope they don't just paint it like that because it looks really ugly!
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The ducting for the wet area rooms are done! .. the 2 up top on the right of the window is for the bathrooms upstairs on the left (out of shot)! .. Since they didn't have an ultra long ladder to drill the holes closer to the bathrooms they have routed all the way to the back. Not fussed really, if I have to fix it in the future it is better where they have it :lol:

and then the 2 sticking out of the brick wall will be for the bathroom downstairs and laundry.
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deluded · May 20, 2015 9:42 pm

trixee

That sounds great deluded! Eaves make a huge difference, ours just got put in too.
I'm not sure about the awning window issue, wouldn't the same thing apply to all windows is they are afraid of people falling out?
The amount of grit in the stacker doors sounds like it might be an issue, I'd get that checked out quick. Although how you'd avoid getting grit in them I'm not sure!

its really not a huge issue "the grit" ... its still a building site and so it will get dusty. while the trades a working and they clean things up it is bound to get all bogged up there. it is also their responsibility to lock up afterwards so it really isn't like a clean house. the easy fix in future if I run into problems is to pop the doors out of the track clean it up and check the wheels are cleaned and reseated back on .. it should fix the problem. I think if it is internal it may be a big problem but external doors will always pick up dirt from its surroundings regular maintenance and cleaning would prevent issues...

clintdb · May 20, 2015 9:47 pm

deluded

hmmm the rumpus looks pretty dark

... didn't quite calculate well enough to get good natural light ... oh well...

You'll be surprised how much brighter it will be once the walls are sheeted and painted (especially if it is a light'ish colour or white on the walls). The timber/brick internals aren't reflecting much available light at the moment.
You'll be fine :-)

deluded · May 20, 2015 9:51 pm

clintdb

deluded

hmmm the rumpus looks pretty dark

... didn't quite calculate well enough to get good natural light ... oh well...

You'll be surprised how much brighter it will be once the walls are sheeted and painted (especially if it is a light'ish colour or white on the walls). The timber/brick internals aren't reflecting much available light at the moment.
You'll be fine :-)

thanks squire ..

but you'll have to see what happens in the afternoon! hahaha ... I definitely won't be relying on the winter sun to keep the house warm ... the gas fireplace will .. and natural lighting won't work either ... summer will be fantastic! ... :lol: