Porter Davis homes

Mikey_Harrison · Sep 19, 2012 12:51 am

Marto54

I've just spoken to a sales person from Porter Davis in length and they told me that they don't offer external decking or solid timber flooring on their builds??

The decking I can deal with and obviously have completed after handover. Solid timber floor needs to go down before kitchen etc, so you get the perfect finish (which you can't get with pre-finished timber / bamboo - don't get me started on the timber edging they use around kitchen fixtures!). They won't even let me bring my own guys in to do it during the build either.

Can anyone who's built with PD confirm or deny whether this information is correct?

Cheers..

Hey Marto
No help to you al all but I wasn't impressed with the wood floor options on offer. My advice would be to get them to cancel your flooring if you can get a credit and do it post handover to get exactly what you want. Not a pretty on PCI / key day but probably a lot less hassle if you can get it measure and ordered for installation within the first few days (remembering to allow for appliance install for a day).

Thanks
Mikey

Mikey_Harrison · Sep 19, 2012 12:53 am

cinderella_375

Yay! We've been slabbed. Updates on the blog

Hi Cinders
Enjoy your slabness ! I envy you actually. The first half of the build is very exciting once started as you literally see it all happening before you get locked out.
Good luck with everything

Hooroo
Mikey

mimi23 · Sep 19, 2012 1:58 am

Marto54

I've just spoken to a sales person from Porter Davis in length and they told me that they don't offer external decking or solid timber flooring on their builds??

The decking I can deal with and obviously have completed after handover. Solid timber floor needs to go down before kitchen etc, so you get the perfect finish (which you can't get with pre-finished timber / bamboo - don't get me started on the timber edging they use around kitchen fixtures!). They won't even let me bring my own guys in to do it during the build either.

Can anyone who's built with PD confirm or deny whether this information is correct?

Cheers..

Hi Marto,

We also wanted to have solid timber floors and were told the same due to safety and because when you build you actually turn the site over to the builder, therefore they are responsible if anything is damaged or stolen.
We had PD tack the skirtings on then after handover the flooring company removed them, layed the boards, then reattached the skirting after the final coat. They were very precise around the kitchen and island benches leaving around a 5mm gap which was then filled with a type of wood coloured putty/silicone.
We still need to give the skirting a final coat of paint, but we are very happy with the floor boards and feel it's worth the inconvenience.

KimBrunoPD · Sep 19, 2012 10:50 am

mimi23

Marto54

I've just spoken to a sales person from Porter Davis in length and they told me that they don't offer external decking or solid timber flooring on their builds??

The decking I can deal with and obviously have completed after handover. Solid timber floor needs to go down before kitchen etc, so you get the perfect finish (which you can't get with pre-finished timber / bamboo - don't get me started on the timber edging they use around kitchen fixtures!). They won't even let me bring my own guys in to do it during the build either.

Can anyone who's built with PD confirm or deny whether this information is correct?

Cheers..

Hi Marto,

We also wanted to have solid timber floors and were told the same due to safety and because when you build you actually turn the site over to the builder, therefore they are responsible if anything is damaged or stolen.
We had PD tack the skirtings on then after handover the flooring company removed them, layed the boards, then reattached the skirting after the final coat. They were very precise around the kitchen and island benches leaving around a 5mm gap which was then filled with a type of wood coloured putty/silicone.
We still need to give the skirting a final coat of paint, but we are very happy with the floor boards and feel it's worth the inconvenience.

I have heard that PD would never tack skirting, but have now seen a few people mention this is now possible, so that's great. Looks like we'll be doing the same. Do you know if they painted the skirting at all before tacking them?

Rups · Sep 19, 2012 12:30 pm

KimBrunoPD

I have heard that PD would never tack skirting, but have now seen a few people mention this is now possible, so that's great. Looks like we'll be doing the same. Do you know if they painted the skirting at all before tacking them?

The whole skirting board thing is a bit of a mess with PD.

Their general rule is either:

1. skirting boards on properly (nailed / glued & painted) or,
2. not on at all (they'll leave you the lengths, uncut & unpainted).

We were dead against beading / quad / scotia on our floorboards, so told them to leave it off completely, and we'd get it done privately after the flooring went in after handover. Our SS didn't realise this was written into our contract and we ended up with them all cut and 60% of them nailed in properly. It was at this point he realised they weren't meant to go on (didn't know if that was a must, or our best choice of 2 bad options), but after talking to us, agreed to get the rest tacked in, but he would be unable to have them painted as the painter's fee was already agreed and would not have included paint for the skirtings (per the contract).

This ended up being okay, as we ripped off the skirting boards on the day of handover, painted them ourselves and put them back on after the floors went in. A bit of work, but a much better result.

Best thing would be to talk about this with your SS, but if you dont want to cut and paint them yourself, get PD to put them on, as it is MUCH easier to remove them (regardless of paint / nails), than have to cut and paint them yourself.

mimi23 · Sep 20, 2012 12:43 am

We actually asked to have the skirting boards left off, but were told this was not possible as it wouldn't pass for the occupancy certificate. I did argue that I had seen very modern homes that had no skirting boards at all so how is this possible if they are a requirement for the OC, but they wouldn't budge.
Ours were fully painted and tacked on.

monkeypantz · Sep 20, 2012 11:25 am

Electricians have been in this week! Hubby went out to the site yesterday and we have lights and an alarm, as well as heating and cooling ducts and controls. Hopefully I can get out there myself this weekend, it's a wee bit exciting

michaelrezk · Sep 21, 2012 2:32 pm

monkeypantz

Electricians have been in this week! Hubby went out to the site yesterday and we have lights and an alarm, as well as heating and cooling ducts and controls. Hopefully I can get out there myself this weekend, it's a wee bit exciting

Good luck it is very exciting times .. I had a look yesterday and the guys were rendering my house and inside the house everything is finished except 1 power point and paint touch ups !!! :z:

I am so excited about the PCI.

humble · Sep 21, 2012 2:43 pm

michaelrezk

monkeypantz

Electricians have been in this week! Hubby went out to the site yesterday and we have lights and an alarm, as well as heating and cooling ducts and controls. Hopefully I can get out there myself this weekend, it's a wee bit exciting

Good luck it is very exciting times .. I had a look yesterday and the guys were rendering my house and inside the house everything is finished except 1 power point and paint touch ups !!! :z:

I am so excited about the PCI.

Wow thats a super quick build time.

Mikey_Harrison · Sep 21, 2012 11:05 pm

humble

michaelrezk

monkeypantz

Electricians have been in this week! Hubby went out to the site yesterday and we have lights and an alarm, as well as heating and cooling ducts and controls. Hopefully I can get out there myself this weekend, it's a wee bit exciting

Good luck it is very exciting times .. I had a look yesterday and the guys were rendering my house and inside the house everything is finished except 1 power point and paint touch ups !!! :z:

I am so excited about the PCI.

Wow thats a super quick build time.

Woo hoo, good luck Humble... it's an exiciting time !!
regards
Mikey

michaelrezk · Sep 22, 2012 1:28 am

humble

michaelrezk

monkeypantz

Electricians have been in this week! Hubby went out to the site yesterday and we have lights and an alarm, as well as heating and cooling ducts and controls. Hopefully I can get out there myself this weekend, it's a wee bit exciting

Good luck it is very exciting times .. I had a look yesterday and the guys were rendering my house and inside the house everything is finished except 1 power point and paint touch ups !!! :z:

I am so excited about the PCI.

Wow thats a super quick build time.

SS is good and the tradies have done a good job. ( except for the render guys they can't read the plans but it will get fixed)
Building time still hasn't ticked 4 months although we waited for our land to settle almost 12 months watching the grass grow before starting.

seashoremontague21 · Sep 23, 2012 11:34 am

Have started a blog for anyone interested. Not much going on there at the moment but will update over the next week with more specific details like our colours, time line etc.

Cheers!

Mikey_Harrison · Sep 23, 2012 9:00 pm

seashoremontague21

Have started a blog for anyone interested. Not much going on there at the moment but will update over the next week with more specific details like our colours, time line etc.

Cheers!

Guys
Nice house and very nice alfrecso...
Enjoy the process
Mikey

monkeypantz · Sep 23, 2012 10:27 pm

seashoremontague21

Have started a blog for anyone interested. Not much going on there at the moment but will update over the next week with more specific details like our colours, time line etc.

Cheers!

Looking forward to seeing your build progress

monkeypantz · Sep 23, 2012 10:28 pm

I have updated the blog for those playing at home

ma2531 · Sep 23, 2012 10:34 pm

KimBrunoPD

Hi Guys,

We have spent the last 12 mths reading these forums as we wait to take the next step and do a knock down and re-build in Ascot Vale with PD. Time has come for us to join and provide info for the people looking to take the next step :-)

The process has been tough, stressful and disappointing with Portr Davis to date but I am a believer that things may turn around. ::lol::

Can someone let me know about the 6 star energy rating? Does this add much to your base price?

Apparently as we have upgraded some things we may be charged extra, originally they mentioned that the orientation could mean we incur costs but I presume that the inclusion of 6 star ratings in the base price will cover this?

hi kimbruno, the 6 star rating is all included in the price of the house. we did not pay any extra for the rating 6. we got R6 batts to celings, r2.5 batts to all extrior walls and double glazed windows to the south side of the house included. so pls double check ur tender.

Thanks guys

ma2531 · Sep 23, 2012 10:42 pm

monkeypantz

I have updated the blog for those playing at home

its looking great. we are at the same stage now, ill have to update the blog, we havn't got long now to go now.

Team PD · Sep 24, 2012 10:41 am

seashoremontague21

Have started a blog for anyone interested. Not much going on there at the moment but will update over the next week with more specific details like our colours, time line etc.

Cheers!

Hi seashoremontague21,
Congratulations on your purchase of the Montague 21, it’s a great first home and the alfresco option makes it even more appealing. I look forward to watching your build progress and hope all runs smoothly for you. Please remember that your BC and SS will be your primary contacts and that they are there to help - keeping the lines of communication open with them is really important. If I can be of any assistance, you can also contact me via private message on this forum. Good luck with it all.
Cheers, Helen

J & C · Sep 24, 2012 8:36 pm

Can someone please let me know if the pre-wired cables are left inside the wall or is to be pulled out.

Rups · Sep 24, 2012 10:05 pm

J & C

Can someone please let me know if the pre-wired cables are left inside the wall or is to be pulled out.

They'll be pulled through and terminated appropriately. The guys that do that are different to the ones that do power and lights.