Porter Davis homes

Laura Ireland · Mar 09, 2018 11:17 am

Brucefil how long did your house take from start to finish?

brucefil2011 · Mar 09, 2018 1:06 pm

Laura Ireland

Brucefil how long did your house take from start to finish?

They started in August 2017 and we had handover start of March 2018.

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hoffmangoldwithporterdavis.wordpress.com

dc_1985 · Mar 09, 2018 4:34 pm

Hi all,

Opinions needed, we just had our oak engineered flooring installed post our PD build and not happy with the knots filled in with this grey colour.

What are your thoughts? any one have some advice. We are meeting with the supplier tomorrow and i'm sure will be up for a battle.

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lilbza · Mar 09, 2018 5:08 pm

Are they throughout the entire flooring, or just a couple here and there? If there’s only a couple, I can’t see why they shouldn’t replace them. If it’s throighout, I’d imagine they will see that’s part of the look/finish with natural oak flooring.

brucefil2011 · Mar 09, 2018 5:09 pm

dc_1985

Hi all,

Opinions needed, we just had our oak engineered flooring installed post our PD build and not happy with the knots filled in with this grey colour.

What are your thoughts? any one have some advice. We are meeting with the supplier tomorrow and i'm sure will be up for a battle.

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They should be able to get a better matched putty, its available in a lot of colours. Pre arm yourself by going to bunnings and take a photo of the right colour putty.

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hoffmangoldwithporterdavis.wordpress.com

inphaze · Mar 09, 2018 7:48 pm

MikW

Laura Ireland

Hey everyone,

Just a quick question. Frame stage complete now, invoice on it's way. What's the normal timeframe for lockup stage? 40sq double storey. I know delays happen, just curious on the norm.

Edit: Frame stage took 3.5 weeks.

Hey Laura, was it 3.5 weeks from site scrape to frame up, or 3.5 to complete the frame stage? Did that include roof trusses too? I am due to have my slab poured on Tuesday and apparently have the framing start in about 2 weeks.

Hi Mik

Sounds like your build is going to rocket along.
We had our slab poured last Friday and nothing has happened since, expect the termite barrier has been installed.
Got our first call from our Site Supervisor, no introduction, just told us straight out that our frame has been delayed and they won't deliver the timber today as planned, it will now be another 2 weeks before it's delivered and they start our framing.
Sounds like you will get your frame started before us.

MikW · Mar 09, 2018 8:01 pm

Hi inphaze it seems like a lottery in many respects. We were meant to have our slab pour today, now it is pushed back to Tuesday. So, let’s see if the promises become reality. Our base supervisor has been awesome, haven’t spoken to my site supervisor yet. Let’s see how it goes, race on 😂

brucefil2011 · Mar 09, 2018 8:05 pm

inphaze

MikW

Laura Ireland

Hey everyone,

Just a quick question. Frame stage complete now, invoice on it's way. What's the normal timeframe for lockup stage? 40sq double storey. I know delays happen, just curious on the norm.

Edit: Frame stage took 3.5 weeks.

Hey Laura, was it 3.5 weeks from site scrape to frame up, or 3.5 to complete the frame stage? Did that include roof trusses too? I am due to have my slab poured on Tuesday and apparently have the framing start in about 2 weeks.

Hi Mik

Sounds like your build is going to rocket along.
We had our slab poured last Friday and nothing has happened since, expect the termite barrier has been installed.
Got our first call from our Site Supervisor, no introduction, just told us straight out that our frame has been delayed and they won't deliver the timber today as planned, it will now be another 2 weeks before it's delivered and they start our framing.
Sounds like you will get your frame started before us.

For us all the stages that cost the most were quick. Slab, frame, lock up and finishing happened in about 12 weeks. By this time you have paid for 90% of your home. Then the remaining stages took about 20 weeks. We had christmas shutdown between, we did however have a number of trades (waterproofing, tiling and rendering ) working through christmas.

Were doing our own flooring curtains and landscaping post handover so with these items in the build it takes longer.

Our SS gave each trade a window so during some weeks and weekends we had alot on with others very little happening.

One way to find the progress of your build is to ask when the kitchen cabinets are due.

see more at
hoffmangoldwithporterdavis.wordpress.com

inphaze · Mar 09, 2018 8:12 pm

MikW

Hi inphaze it seems like a lottery in many respects. We were meant to have our slab pour today, now it is pushed back to Tuesday. So, let’s see if the promises become reality. Our base supervisor has been awesome, haven’t spoken to my site supervisor yet. Let’s see how it goes, race on 😂

I have a conspiracy theory about why we have been delayed.

Charlotte and I have been very vocal about the Waterproofing issue and have encouraged quite a number of people to pursue this issue with their BC's and ask for their contracts to be changed to reflect PD's upcoming change to Australian Standards.
We approached our BC and got a BV raised to change our contract, since then we have told a heap of people on Facebook groups and through Charly's blog to get theirs changed before their builds start and they are stuck with the "Alternative Solution"

I think PD didn't appreciate our publicising this point and did not appreciate the massive influx of clients asking for this change in their contract. It may have forced their hand a little. They can easily figure out where the information leaked from and so they have decided to delay us.

I could be wrong, but I don't think its beyond them to act in this manner.

I'm still in the race though, won't let that slow us down too much.

brucefil2011 · Mar 09, 2018 8:16 pm

inphaze

MikW

Hi inphaze it seems like a lottery in many respects. We were meant to have our slab pour today, now it is pushed back to Tuesday. So, let’s see if the promises become reality. Our base supervisor has been awesome, haven’t spoken to my site supervisor yet. Let’s see how it goes, race on

I have a conspiracy theory about why we have been delayed.

Charlotte and I have been very vocal about the Waterproofing issue and have encouraged quite a number of people to pursue this issue with their BC's and ask for their contracts to be changed to reflect PD's upcoming change to Australian Standards.
We approached our BC and got a BV raised to change our contract, since then we have told a heap of people on Facebook groups and through Charly's blog to get theirs changed before their builds start and they are stuck with the "Alternative Solution"

I think PD didn't appreciate our publicising this point and did not appreciate the massive influx of clients asking for this change in their contract. It may have forced their hand a little. They can easily figure out where the information leaked from and so they have decided to delay us.

I could be wrong, but I don't think its beyond them to act in this manner.

I'm still in the race though, won't let that slow us down too much.

The one build they would have stopped is mine as im seeing them in court at VCAT Tuesday morning.

Plus I emailed thier website asking if at all thier builds is it normal to leave packages on all the toilets so dont subscribe to the conspiracy theory.

see more at
hoffmangoldwithporterdavis.wordpress.com

inphaze · Mar 09, 2018 8:17 pm

brucefil2011

inphaze

MikW

Hi inphaze it seems like a lottery in many respects. We were meant to have our slab pour today, now it is pushed back to Tuesday. So, let’s see if the promises become reality. Our base supervisor has been awesome, haven’t spoken to my site supervisor yet. Let’s see how it goes, race on

I have a conspiracy theory about why we have been delayed.

Charlotte and I have been very vocal about the Waterproofing issue and have encouraged quite a number of people to pursue this issue with their BC's and ask for their contracts to be changed to reflect PD's upcoming change to Australian Standards.
We approached our BC and got a BV raised to change our contract, since then we have told a heap of people on Facebook groups and through Charly's blog to get theirs changed before their builds start and they are stuck with the "Alternative Solution"

I think PD didn't appreciate our publicising this point and did not appreciate the massive influx of clients asking for this change in their contract. It may have forced their hand a little. They can easily figure out where the information leaked from and so they have decided to delay us.

I could be wrong, but I don't think its beyond them to act in this manner.

I'm still in the race though, won't let that slow us down too much.

The one build they would have stopped is mine as im seeing them in court at VCAT Tuesday morning.

Plus I emailed thier website asking if at all thier builds is it normal to leave packages on all the toilets so dont subscribe to the conspiracy theory.

see more at
hoffmangoldwithporterdavis.wordpress.com

Good point Bruce

You did seem to have a few run ins with PD during your build

Mondeo · Mar 09, 2018 9:14 pm

Did PD take away any excess dirt left over from anyones piering? They had a perfectly clean flat block and have dumped the dirt behind the building footprint, some 3 cubes of it.

inphaze · Mar 09, 2018 9:18 pm

Mondeo

Did PD take away any excess dirt left over from anyones piering? They had a perfectly clean flat block and have dumped the dirt behind the building footprint, some 3 cubes of it.

At stages during the slab build there were piles of excess dirt, but they cleaned up after the slab was poured and the site is clear and level again.

KushD · Mar 09, 2018 10:05 pm

inphaze

Mondeo

Did PD take away any excess dirt left over from anyones piering? They had a perfectly clean flat block and have dumped the dirt behind the building footprint, some 3 cubes of it.

At stages during the slab build there were piles of excess dirt, but they cleaned up after the slab was poured and the site is clear and level again.

If it is good top soil, you may use it to level the backyard and fill the garden beds IMO.
I still regret that I didnt arrange PD to leave the site scrape back of the lot.

Laura Ireland · Mar 09, 2018 10:15 pm

We were surprised today to see our roof and guttering is all on. I can't believe how quick they are moving! Windows are all there waiting to go in. They don't waste anytime! Had my SS ring this week plus someone else from PD updating us. So far it's been great communication from them. Every Monday they ring like clock work.

Mondeo · Mar 09, 2018 10:38 pm

KushD

inphaze

Mondeo

Did PD take away any excess dirt left over from anyones piering? They had a perfectly clean flat block and have dumped the dirt behind the building footprint, some 3 cubes of it.

At stages during the slab build there were piles of excess dirt, but they cleaned up after the slab was poured and the site is clear and level again.

If it is good top soil, you may use it to level the backyard and fill the garden beds IMO.
I still regret that I didnt arrange PD to leave the site scrape back of the lot.

Unfortunately all clay, so they can take it away.

sinbox · Mar 10, 2018 10:49 am

Hi @Brucefil, how much did the Odyssey system end up costing you to install?

We have Colorbond roofing, sarking & Refrigerated cooling via PD. Planning to install ceiling fans throughout the house including all the rooms & living areas post handover. Trying to understand if it is still worthwhile going in for an air circulation system like Odyssey, or if the single whirlybird on the roof is good enough. I have seen solar powered whirlybirds for ~300$.

I have spent a few hours late evenings on site over the past few weeks, and noticed that it does get quite warm in the void and rumpus areas of my house(west facing), but these are the only areas of the house where double glazing is not installed. I was hoping curtains/blinds and a fan in the rumpus area will be enough to cool it down, but wondering if I need add an air circulation system as well. Also, Would be keen to know how much of an impact it makes to air quality on the ground floor of your house (if it does any at all)?

World_Of_Waldorf · Mar 10, 2018 1:57 pm

Just a quick update on our progress, oflate our file has moved to construction, so we may see some actions happening in coming days/weeks... for those doing KDR, is it advisable to get the asset protection money back from the Council at this point or do it after the end of the build ... i was advised by PD that they apply their own asset protection permit as well... since we already have asset protection permit, not sure council would provide another permit to another party for the same property. I will call the council next week. Appreciate any suggestions.

brucefil2011 · Mar 10, 2018 2:05 pm

sinbox

Hi @Brucefil, how much did the Odyssey system end up costing you to install?

We have Colorbond roofing, sarking & Refrigerated cooling via PD. Planning to install ceiling fans throughout the house including all the rooms & living areas post handover. Trying to understand if it is still worthwhile going in for an air circulation system like Odyssey, or if the single whirlybird on the roof is good enough. I have seen solar powered whirlybirds for ~300$.

I have spent a few hours late evenings on site over the past few weeks, and noticed that it does get quite warm in the void and rumpus areas of my house(west facing), but these are the only areas of the house where double glazing is not installed. I was hoping curtains/blinds and a fan in the rumpus area will be enough to cool it down, but wondering if I need add an air circulation system as well. Also, Would be keen to know how much of an impact it makes to air quality on the ground floor of your house (if it does any at all)?

The oddysey was about $3k. I feel we will recoup that money as we wont use air conditioning and heating as much.

The main reason for us doing it are the enviromental benefits. Not having a dry upstairs due to air conditioning.

We did nor get one to downstairs as there is a natural draft up the stairwell. It acts like a chimeney raising the hot air. We also for the same reason did not get between floor insulation.

Our heater has 1 zone downstairs and 2 zones upstairs to control heating.

One of our main purchases for heating and cooling efficiency is blockout honeycombe blinds on most windows. They act like controlble double glazing.

see more at
hoffmangoldwithporterdavis.wordpress.com

nikil · Mar 11, 2018 8:41 am

Does anyone happen to know how many bricks are in each pallet of bricks? We have some left over and I'm trying to work out how many there is and decide if it's worth keeping them or not. Our SS has asked if we want to keep them.