Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Dec 15, 2008 12:00 pm Hi Everyone, I discovered this forum only last month and found it very resourceful and people here are very helpful. I have made a few posts here and there since. I thought, it is rude of me not introducing myself. So, I will formally do just that. And like others, I hope to share my experience with others, be it good or bad. I will also take this thread as a place to rant and vent. I hope I won't need to do much of these. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a good sign... I am building Clarendon Brighton in Sydney's eastern suburbs. We had been looking for an established home in my area for quite some time over the last year without much luck. We realised that it would be very difficult to find a newish and modern home that we want in such an established area. Even if we do, we won't be able to afford it. After some number crunching and advices from a friend who just finished a build, we decided to buy an old crappy house to knock down and rebuild. From purely financial perspective, it is probably not a good investment. But from the perspective of living in your dream home with your family for the next 10+ yrs, that is definitely be the motivation behind all these. After a couple of failed bids in auctions, we succeeded in securing a deceased estate which we made offer prior to the auction. The block is just over 550sqm with north-facing backyard. After we found this block, we turned our full attention to find a home design and builder. We had numerous visits to HomeWorld. Because our block is relatively narrow, 14m wide, not a lot of designs are suitable. We also didn't want to alter the design too much. Because of our lack of imagination , we are uncomfortable to visualise the results if we change things too much. We wanted to get what we actually see from a display home. Finally, we found the Clarendon Brighton design. As we walked into the display home in rope crossing, My wife and I were pretty happy with everything, with the exception of lack of natural lights in the kitchen area. Because of where the kitchen is located, a kitchen window is not possible. After some struggling during the thought process, we shifted the laundry and made some room for a window right next to the kitchen. In the end, we solved the problem and got a design we are happy with. The rationale behind choosing Clarendon was that they are big builder, we are concerned about the risk of small and family owned builders being doggy and going broke (Beechwood!!). We hope that going with a volume builder, they tend to do the same build over and over again, mistakes will be less likely. We kind of prepared that they will be slow because of big company with processes and bureaucracy. But I was hoping that when bad things happen, they would tend to do the right thing. I am not sure if my rationale is really valid. It was when I made that call Maybe this can be a separate discussion of its own. I wish we discovered this forum sooner back then So.... Early Feb 08, we paid the rest of $4000 deposit for Clarendon to proceed to prepare for council submission. Meanwhile, because Clarendon doesn't do demolition, I had to organise to get the existing house demolished. That involved getting demolition DA and finding a demolition contractor to do the job. Plans were submitted to Council early April and approved in late June - Two and a half month:!: The council officer who worked on my application went on leave so the process got delayed for at least 2 weeks It took Clarendon another 2 months to get all plans and drawings finalised. At one point my CSO told me that they were waiting for the drawinigs to be finalised, but that was after the final drawings was completed! (Once its final, what else needs to be finalised?? Sigh...) We "finally" got the site pegged out done by the end of August. It was another month before I saw some real actions. By end of September, site fencing went up. Slab got poured in mid-October, Frame substantially done mid-November. Well, frame is still not 100% complete as of this moment, still got a window to put up. But since it is substantially done, apparently, Clarendon can issue progress payment invoice. I had no choice but pay. Now, we are in the middle of brickwork. Unfortunately, we got hit with a bizarre issue and I started this thread - http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=11836 I would like to share with everyone some pics of my build so far.... Neighbour's fence got knocked over during the demolition. Luckily, my neighbour was not hurt as he was right there!! Now that Christmas is coming near, I wish everyone Merry Christmas. And more importantly, wish everyone's builders firing up their last minutes backburner and complete as much as they possibly can before their long break . My only wish for myself is to at least have the bricks issue sorted before then.... Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 2Dec 16, 2008 10:43 am Can you see the difference in the shade of the colour of the bricks?? I don't think anyone should settle on this, right?
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 3Dec 16, 2008 11:07 am oooh - that doesn't look good. any chance of bringing this up with your SS? After 4 years - we're in! Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 4Dec 16, 2008 11:08 am Hi eho--
Certainly looks like the bricks are different colours. In fact, it looks like they're even different enough to be completely different brick types. Amazing the difference you can see across different batches. I certainly wouldn't accept them looking like that--and when you suggest the site supervisor "won't cop the costs", I think that yes, it's quite possible that you are getting a little ahead of yourself. You paid for a house to be built according to the specifications in the contract and other associated documentation (e.g. plans, colour schedules etc). You did not pay for a house to be built with two different colours of bricks. If you want to get right down to it, go check the warning that appears in most materials about brick choices. It usually says something along the lines of "please be aware that clay bricks are a natural product and some variation between batches is possible. You are unlikely to get precisely the same colour of brick as you've seen at a display or on other houses." Unless it says "please be aware we might use two different colours of bricks from two different batches on your house", your builder, SS and Boral don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to trying to get you to pay for anything. And the guy from Boral is right--their client is your builder, not you--and therefore this dispute should be entirely between them. If you're nervous, go sit on your SS until he tells you what you need to know. Ring him every morning at 7am to check on his progress resolving the issue. That's your best path to actually getting it resolved. --Mike Everything I know, I learned from SBS. LATEST: Frame Complete http://metricon-mercer.livejournal.com Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 6Dec 16, 2008 11:17 am Yea. My SS knows about this and should be talking to Boral about this today.
The bricks came from a different batch. If Boral is not able to find that same batch of bricks, we will have to knock it all down and start all over again. Hope Boral will just accept its their fault and take on the costs I don't want to delay any longer I had a separate thread for this issue before I just started this general building thread. Sorry for the multiple threads confusion https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=11836 Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 7Dec 16, 2008 11:27 am Strangely enough, it is actually the second delivery got the colour closer to what I expected (and the sample bricks I got). The first delivery differs a lot more. At the end of the day, I just want consistent colour bricks throughout the whole house. Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 9Dec 17, 2008 8:33 am This is what I got back from my builder when asked about extension of time due to adverse weather for the last few months...
September 2008..........6 days October 2008..............12 days November 2008...........9 days Do they look right? Is there an official website that the building industry uses? Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 10Dec 17, 2008 8:58 am I think it's when any drop of rain falls in the area. So even if it sprinkles for 5 minutes - they can claim a rain day
You can check rain days I think on the Bureau of Meterology website somewhere. After 4 years - we're in! Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 11Dec 17, 2008 9:04 am Hi when i did my builders course, this issue came up. From memroy there is an offical reading. It also depends on the location. ie suburb by suburb.
Also it can only be upto lookup. If your doing an internet search look for "incliment weather" hope spelling is right. Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 12Dec 17, 2008 12:02 pm eho This is what I got back from my builder when asked about extension of time due to adverse weather for the last few months... September 2008..........6 days October 2008..............12 days November 2008...........9 days Do they look right? Is there an official website that the building industry uses? You can check from http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo. It lookes O.K. For the brick issues, they will knock it down and re-do. That is Boral fault not builder fault. We have the similar issue but with the roof title, Boral will came to fix tomorrow. Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 14Dec 17, 2008 12:22 pm Thanks rldragon2003!
Southies, you can try this link instead http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/mwr/ This site got monthly reports. In each report, towards the end, the rainfall section breaks down by area and by day. This is awesome!! For the brick issue, my SS said the senior managers (his boss and the building manager??) are now talking to Boral. If Boral is not supplying the same bricks, we are definitely pursuing to knock them all down and redo. Boral mentioned about some treatment to the bricks. I don't know exactly what this is about, but it sounds like a patchy fix, rather than a proper fix. Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 15Dec 17, 2008 8:41 pm We have arranged an on-site meeting with Boral next monday. I hope Boral will come to terms so we can move on the build.
Anyone got experience with this sort of meetings? Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 16Dec 18, 2008 4:20 pm eho We have arranged an on-site meeting with Boral next monday. I hope Boral will come to terms so we can move on the build. Anyone got experience with this sort of meetings? eho, congrats on building with c1@rend0n!!! The end result is all that matters, and I'm sure you'll be happy at the end, even if the road to get there is bumpy Hope the meeting with b0ral goes well and that a decision only in your favour comes of it. Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 17Dec 19, 2008 7:56 am Southies Thanks rldragon2003 for that, however the page is not opening It should be http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo Building Clarendon Brighton - Bricks issue resolved, I hope 18Dec 22, 2008 10:18 pm We had our on-site meeting this morning. As it turned out, Boral got the batch number mixed up. Our first delivery was from batch 41. Somehow, their record is showing 21!!! Must be someone's sloppy data entry They have been looking for the wrong batch!!!
They made a few phone calls right there and confirmed stocks from batch 41. We should be getting them delivered on the 5th. The bricklayers will first lay a few courses for me to verify. If all go well, they will finish the brickwork right away. Apparently, the bricklayers are quite eager to finish this job so they can get paid! I am keeping my fingers cross hoping the bricks will be right this time Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 19Dec 23, 2008 6:09 am Great news on the resolution, eho.
Does that mean that you will get liquidated damages for the days lost? Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Clarendon Brighton - Builder done, my turn to finish it off! 20Dec 23, 2008 12:24 pm Southies Great news on the resolution, eho. Does that mean that you will get liquidated damages for the days lost? I think liquidated damages only applies when exceeded the 30 weeks completion. Besides, Clarendon only pays $15 a day, not something I would rather Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Hi, did you get any money from insurance? if you did, does it match what you've already paid the builders? 3 9432 I work with owner, he/she is my man on the ground and I instruct them when to visit the site and take photos and I have other tools in the bag. 4 15020 4 14395 |