Building a Waldorf or Marriot by Porter Davis

Team PD · Nov 28, 2012 9:55 pm

madhouse1

Thats so good to hear!!! I've always wondered if the Helen's/Ebony's etc really follow through with their promised help....

Thanks for sharing ma2531.

Hi madhouse1,
I just wanted you to assure you that we do follow through and actually get things resolved but it's not often that we get public feedback, such as from ma2531; as these issues are usually dealt with via a private message and are not visible on the public forum. Porter Davis is active on the Home 1, not because we want to interfere or pry, in fact we try to stay as low key as possible; we are essentially here in case anyone feels in need of additional assistance. I wish you all the best with your build.

Cheers, Helen

madhouse1 · Nov 28, 2012 10:00 pm

Great to hear

Thanks Helen, hopefully I won't have a need for any additional assistance - so far so good... Thanks for your message

jnkbids · Nov 29, 2012 9:25 pm

Well... my slab got poured yesterday... the whole excitement of a slab pour and site start got flushed away the minute I saw this...

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Is this normal for a slab edge to be curved? I suppose it wouldn't be unexpected since the frame was as follows

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Sigh... this is supposed to be the boundary wall of my garage.....

Now the anxious wait .. not sure if it will affect the wall when bricks are laid.. why didn't they fix it when I told them about the error at the pre-slab I can never understand..

Anyone else had a problem like this? Did it affect the later stages?

tstr1a · Nov 29, 2012 11:03 pm

jnkbids

Well... my slab got poured yesterday... the whole excitement of a slab pour and site start got flushed away the minute I saw this...

http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u673/jnkbids/IMG_1790-Version2.jpg

Is this normal for a slab edge to be curved? I suppose it wouldn't be unexpected since the frame was as follows

http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u673/jnkbids/CurvedFrame.jpg

Sigh... this is supposed to be the boundary wall of my garage.....

Now the anxious wait .. not sure if it will affect the wall when bricks are laid.. why didn't they fix it when I told them about the error at the pre-slab I can never understand..

the boundry wall in the garage is all brick and the will brick right up to the edge of the slab. You can measure it to see if the brick will overhang.

Anyone else had a problem like this? Did it affect the later stages?

tstr1a · Nov 29, 2012 11:05 pm

the boundry wall in the garage is all brick and they will brick right up to the edge of the slab. You can measure it to see if the brick will overhang.

Anyone else had a problem like this? Did it affect the later stages?

madhouse1 · Nov 30, 2012 7:34 am

Hi Everyone,
Just a question for all those lucky enough to be living in their Waldorfs!!
(very topical given last nights heat)
What did you choose for cooling, and how did it cope with yesterday and last nights temperatures?
Did anyone go for evaporative cooling and/or a split system in the living area? Any other recommendations, specifically those who have made post-handover additions....
Thanks in advance

natasha8850 · Nov 30, 2012 6:35 pm

had my colour and elec appointment yesterday... hurt abit... battans are $65!! wow i think we got 68 just down stairs ready to swap over to leds... it hurt my husband the most seeing the price in the botton of the screen rise every click the girl made! lol
must say the girls were great!! i feel so lucky to have them help us!! must send them a email of thanks!
even national tiles were great! they have made this trip so much easier with them!!

still having issues with our b/c.. sigh.. dont know what to do!

natasha8850 · Nov 30, 2012 7:04 pm

madhouse1

Hi Everyone,
Just a question for all those lucky enough to be living in their Waldorfs!!
(very topical given last nights heat)
What did you choose for cooling, and how did it cope with yesterday and last nights temperatures?
Did anyone go for evaporative cooling and/or a split system in the living area? Any other recommendations, specifically those who have made post-handover additions....
Thanks in advance

were after the same info madhouse1!!
so worried.. i talked my hubby into the evaporative.. and getting a spilt system.. now im not sure! going to check out a air cond place tomorrow to have a chat to someone!

ma2531 · Nov 30, 2012 8:07 pm

madhouse1

Hi Everyone,
Just a question for all those lucky enough to be living in their Waldorfs!!
(very topical given last nights heat)
What did you choose for cooling, and how did it cope with yesterday and last nights temperatures?
Did anyone go for evaporative cooling and/or a split system in the living area? Any other recommendations, specifically those who have made post-handover additions....
Thanks in advance :-)

hi madhouse, well after yesterdays heat i can say we have hebel walls and did not put on the evaporative cooling until 5pm, and it was fantastic....... worth every cent and it works a gem! i would recommend it 100%.

jnkbids · Nov 30, 2012 8:33 pm

madhouse1

What did you choose for cooling, and how did it cope with yesterday and last nights temperatures?
Did anyone go for evaporative cooling and/or a split system in the living area?

Well I am not in my house yet, just started construction but I chose the Brivis HX35i ducted heater and the ICE add-on 21kW refrigerated cooling (model 38CDA21B9 / 28IDA21 3.5 star rated). It is zoned to 2 seperate levels. It is an upgrade that I read about on another Waldorf 44 blog, where the owner (Ynot) seems to REALLY know his stuff and the blog was a HUGE help (thanks Ynot..it has been awesome having a chance to learn from you). Didn't like evaporative cooling since that is what I have at my present home and it is HORRIBLE on humid days...

I know the owner of the blog has moved into his home and is a regular on the forum so maybe he can offer an opinion on the cooling system.

tstr1a · Nov 30, 2012 9:33 pm

Brivis HX35i ducted heater and the ICE add-on 21kW refrigerated cooling is BRILIANT. Cools the house in minute.

must say that downstairs is quite cool on hot day. the orientation is the biggest help

madhouse1 · Nov 30, 2012 10:11 pm

Hey everyone, thanks for your responses (keep them coming)
We had the option to get the add on refrigerated cooling, but I was too scared off by the running costs of it, with electricity rising at the rate it seems to be - I was a bit put off it... It was only about $8 or $9k with the site start bonus on offer at the time... I'm not sure if weve made the right call, but it was great to hear that ma2531 seems to be happy with the evap!! Yesterday was a great test.
We have upgraded the heating to the HX model too, that was a must for me!!
Natasha8850 where are you planning on putting the split system? We did go to the aircon place and had a good chat with them about what would work best, evap and a split was their suggestion, they readily admitted that the evap is not so good on humid days, but the split will cool an area of the house really well on those days (which thankfully are few and far between) and neither will cost the earth to run!! Let me know how you go?? I love a second opinion!! :-)

we're thinking to put the split in the living room pointing towards the front door, how about you??

natasha8850 · Dec 01, 2012 6:27 pm

Hey madhouse! Well we have contract this week and we will be changing, we will get porter David put the ducs in and we'll get the unit put in after! We have a great air cond guy and considering we are extending our Waldorf to almost 60sq!! 21kw isn't going to cut it! We are getting a daikin 25kw! 3 phase, 8 zones! Sigh... So many choices to make!! Hopefully with our hebal we'll be ok!!

madhouse1 · Dec 01, 2012 7:20 pm

Natasha that sounds fantastic!! Best of luck with your contract appointment!! It's a huge day :-)

I can't remember how much the upgrade to 3 phase and for porter davis to put the provisions In cost... We had a quote from them for that, have you got a price or would it help if I see if I can find ours?

natasha8850 · Dec 01, 2012 7:29 pm

we did ask, it wasnt much i think around the 500 mark..

tstr1a · Dec 03, 2012 7:48 am

evap won't hold up on days over 40 degrees, especially if it's 40 degrees for over 3 days.

Hebel is the best option to save on energy cost but hot air will still penetrate the house.

natasha8850 · Dec 04, 2012 3:49 pm

Here's a question, our b/c can't tell us what upgrade Hester we get till contract? True or not I'm less then impressed I'd like to know what's on offer so I can recreach it if I feel needed, rather then being push to make a choice on the day not understanding it!

madhouse1 · Dec 04, 2012 5:07 pm

If you're asking about the heater, the upgraded model is the HX35i - that's the ducted heating unit. (upgraded from the MX35i) it's a much more economical option regarding running costs. And I thinks it's 5 star rather than about 2 1/2 - 3 star. Our heating and cooling place definitely recommended this upgrade.
Hope that helped...
Our BC gave us this information well before contract.
Good luck :-)

madhouse1 · Dec 04, 2012 5:08 pm

Oh both models are Brivis.... Ooops!! ;-)

natasha8850 · Dec 04, 2012 5:36 pm

Tjanks madhouse, maybe you should work for porter Davis

Do you know what kw that is ?