Porter Davis homes

TempestSkye · Dec 12, 2013 7:18 am

charlene_feng

Unhappy that they replied my email and said introduced one more new color need an extra $198, which means my five future walls with three different color need around $1500. That's expensive right? I don't think $198 for extra color is reasonable. I've decided cancel the feature wall order and do it after handover. I think I could spend the same amount to paint more than 5 feature walls in my ho

Judging from what you're saying, they seem to indicate that the price is based on per new colour not the number of walls. That should mean that the cost would be $594, not $1000-1500.

Now, going by Dulux's website calculator, a large room would take around 8L of paint and going by Bunnings prices, I worked it out to cost $160 for paint alone, no labour involved. Mind you, this is for 4 large walls, not a single wall.

I recommend phoning painters now and getting quotes. That'll soon give you the answer you seek - and likely some peace of mind about your decision.

tlblhayward · Dec 12, 2013 12:46 pm

Do PD install external flood lights or do I have to put in junction boxes?

MummaDJ · Dec 12, 2013 12:52 pm

They do install external flood lights but they have to be on a sensor light - I believe that this is part of the requirement for Certificate of Occupancy. This is why you mainly see people with junction boxes to install their lights afterwards.

tlblhayward · Dec 12, 2013 1:15 pm

MummaDJ

They do install external flood lights but they have to be on a sensor light - I believe that this is part of the requirement for Certificate of Occupancy. This is why you mainly see people with junction boxes to install their lights afterwards.

Can they be turned off at all?

Serenity_Now · Dec 12, 2013 2:45 pm

tlblhayward

MummaDJ

They do install external flood lights but they have to be on a sensor light - I believe that this is part of the requirement for Certificate of Occupancy. This is why you mainly see people with junction boxes to install their lights afterwards.

Can they be turned off at all?

From what I've seen installed before, sensor lights should be able to be turned off. So when you switch it on initially, the light comes on immediately and stays on for ~15 seconds. The light then turns off and goes into 'sensor mode' where it will only turn on again when the sensor is triggered.

If you turn the switch off then the light goes off as power is cut to the light. This means that even if the sensor is triggered, the light will not turn on.

Bear in mind that's what I've seen for most sensor lights, can't comment specifically if the ones PD install will operate in the same fashion.

Lurgen · Dec 12, 2013 2:52 pm

I can confirm that the external sensor lights installed by PD allow us to turn them off. I was told its part of the energy assessment, that to reach 6 stars they need to put sensors on all exterior lights. For some reason that didn't include my alfresco, but I'm not complaining.

We had a pair of junction boxes installed during the build for additional front lighting, mostly because I don't really like the look of the sensor lights. They're fine tucked away in a corner, but I didn't want them on the pillars around the front door.

There does not appear to be any way to lock these lights on either, the sensors are always active. My last house had similar lights however they could be set to ignore the sensor by flicking the switch twice.

HD

Country Lifestyle · Dec 12, 2013 6:41 pm

Just had a phone call from my SS to say they are starting the frame tomorrow.. soooo excited

charlene_feng · Dec 13, 2013 8:11 am

TempestSkye

charlene_feng

Unhappy that they replied my email and said introduced one more new color need an extra $198, which means my five future walls with three different color need around $1500. That's expensive right? I don't think $198 for extra color is reasonable. I've decided cancel the feature wall order and do it after handover. I think I could spend the same amount to paint more than 5 feature walls in my ho

Judging from what you're saying, they seem to indicate that the price is based on per new colour not the number of walls. That should mean that the cost would be $594, not $1000-1500.

Now, going by Dulux's website calculator, a large room would take around 8L of paint and going by Bunnings prices, I worked it out to cost $160 for paint alone, no labour involved. Mind you, this is for 4 large walls, not a single wall.

I recommend phoning painters now and getting quotes. That'll soon give you the answer you seek - and likely some peace of mind about your decision.

SS has replied my email, what she's saying is feature wall charge $198 per wall for labour and every time you introduce a new color, there will be an extra $198. So 5 feature walls(including 1 color) + 2 new color= 7@$198=$1,386.

charlene_feng · Dec 13, 2013 8:13 am

Country Lifestyle

Just had a phone call from my SS to say they are starting the frame tomorrow.. soooo excited

Congratulations ~ ! Your house can get bone before Christmas~

TempestSkye · Dec 13, 2013 8:35 am

charlene_feng

TempestSkye

charlene_feng

SS has replied my email, what she's saying is feature wall charge $198 per wall for labour and every time you introduce a new color, there will be an extra $198. So 5 feature walls(including 1 color) + 2 new color= 7@$198=$1,386.

Without knowing what a professional painter costs, that sounds like a rip off to me!

El_Ko · Dec 13, 2013 11:44 am

charlene_feng

SS has replied my email, what she's saying is feature wall charge $198 per wall for labour and every time you introduce a new color, there will be an extra $198. So 5 feature walls(including 1 color) + 2 new color= 7@$198=$1,386.

Wow. I thought it was $198 per feature wall (new colour + labour), so you could have 5 different colour walls, or in you case would be 5 walls with 3 different colours for 5 x $198. Yet I still think that's expensive and now they are charging you x7.

Better to do it post handover then.

Country Lifestyle

Just had a phone call from my SS to say they are starting the frame tomorrow.. soooo excited

It's really fast, isn't it? Don't be surprised if they manage to get roof tiles done too before Christmas! Have you asked SS what he will be up to?

Country Lifestyle · Dec 13, 2013 2:00 pm

El_Ko

charlene_feng

SS has replied my email, what she's saying is feature wall charge $198 per wall for labour and every time you introduce a new color, there will be an extra $198. So 5 feature walls(including 1 color) + 2 new color= 7@$198=$1,386.

Wow. I thought it was $198 per feature wall (new colour + labour), so you could have 5 different colour walls, or in you case would be 5 walls with 3 different colours for 5 x $198. Yet I still think that's expensive and now they are charging you x7.

Better to do it post handover then.

Country Lifestyle

Just had a phone call from my SS to say they are starting the frame tomorrow.. soooo excited

It's really fast, isn't it? Don't be surprised if they manage to get roof tiles done too before Christmas! Have you asked SS what he will be up to?

My BC mentioned last week they might get a start on the roof prior to Christmas, to be honest I am just happy they have done this much before the break

clairemumto5 · Dec 13, 2013 4:22 pm

Our fix invoice came yesterday 90% paid fro but still so much to do - im guessing at least another 11weeks due to chrissy....

Back Pocket · Dec 13, 2013 4:38 pm

clairemumto5

Our fix invoice came yesterday 90% paid fro but still so much to do - im guessing at least another 11weeks due to chrissy....

Hey Clairemumto5, I was wondering how your house is going, been looking at your blog. We had a meeting with our SS this morning, as we got our fix invoice last week. Just a few things to go and then fix is complete and we will then pay the invoice but I still think we are 10-11 weeks away. Fingers crossed for March for us. Christmas just blows holes in your budget, especially when you have paid 90% and it just sits there for 3 weeks while you pay the interest.

On the bright side, I am so excited by my new kitchen layout

, can't wait for Christmas cooking next year. So much bench space!

Love it!

Sweet-home100 · Dec 13, 2013 5:36 pm

Hi all. I have been reading this forum for sometime now and find it very helpful. We are building a Waldorf 44 with PD (knock down and rebuild) with a site start for January 2014. I am keen to have an independent building inspector providing advice at the major stages of the build. So far have conflict recommendations from other similar forums from Homeone. Some good and bad recommendations for New Home Inspections and Final Inspect. I would be grateful for any recent information on their experiences with building inspections, their reports, follow up and price.

Ashy Redbacks · Dec 13, 2013 6:02 pm

Hi Everyone
Just a friendly tip.
Don't pay your final payment if everything isn't finished.

Don't fall into the trap where commitments are made to fix things - Then Surprise Surprise
Nothing happens - and Phone calls are no longer answered

Very Unhappy with PD

Lurgen · Dec 13, 2013 6:58 pm

Ashy Redbacks

Hi Everyone
Just a friendly tip.
Don't pay your final payment if everything isn't finished.

Don't fall into the trap where commitments are made to fix things - Then Surprise Surprise
Nothing happens - and Phone calls are no longer answered

Very Unhappy with PD

+1 here

Still can't get them to send somebody out to fix my rangehood - it still goes nowhere and I still have no way to exhaust steam or smoke from my main living area when I cook. Almost four months since handover. I'm furious, I have a huge family get together for Xmas and cannot cook for them.

HD

Ashy Redbacks · Dec 13, 2013 10:03 pm

Lurgen

Ashy Redbacks

Hi Everyone
Just a friendly tip.
Don't pay your final payment if everything isn't finished.

Don't fall into the trap where commitments are made to fix things - Then Surprise Surprise
Nothing happens - and Phone calls are no longer answered

Very Unhappy with PD

+1 here

Still can't get them to send somebody out to fix my rangehood - it still goes nowhere and I still have no way to exhaust steam or smoke from my main living area when I cook. Almost four months since handover. I'm furious, I have a huge family get together for Xmas and cannot cook for them.

They messed my vent up as well. (they placed it above the first storey floor) Can you believe it?

I didn't use any of their Blanco appliances.

Installed twin Siemens ovens and massive induction plate. (at least these work)

Numerous other things wrong

Matthew83 · Dec 13, 2013 10:34 pm

Hello Everyone

My Bolero timber flooring is being pulled up and replaced due to water damage from multiple sources (long story). Just wondering if anyone knows what kind of mess this will make, I got told there will be a heap of very fine dust so I'm planning on covering whatever I can but don't want to look over the top if it's not going to make a mess.. It's been so painful getting this all fixed

Team PD · Dec 14, 2013 9:38 am

Ashy Redbacks

Hi Everyone
Just a friendly tip.
Don't pay your final payment if everything isn't finished.

Don't fall into the trap where commitments are made to fix things - Then Surprise Surprise
Nothing happens - and Phone calls are no longer answered

Very Unhappy with PD

Hi Ashy Redbacks,

Could you please PM me, via this forum, with your contact and build details and I will have your concerns looked into.

Cheers, Helen