Porter Davis homes

mirz · Feb 15, 2014 12:50 pm

Ally007

Yay! we finally started so I also started a blog... will try and put it in my signature... until then...

http://mattandalexbuild.blogspot.com.au/

Congrats Ally007, following your blog.

suzybuzy · Feb 15, 2014 11:19 pm

Woohoo!!
Handover happened on Thursday! Word of warning, don't plan on moving straight in. If your build is anything like ours you will need at least a weekend to clean the house before it ready!!!

Bit annoying, but oh we'll, almost there

mirz · Feb 15, 2014 11:32 pm

Congrats suzybuzy, you guys made it

would you like to share bit more details on builder cleaning, would help us to mentally prepare ourselves what to expect on the bug day, thanks.

tlblhayward · Feb 16, 2014 3:04 pm

Advice please...

The water connection for our block is on the other side of the street and I am wondering if I should get it done or let PD do it? I think that if I do it I would save time and money.

Thoughts???

tlblhayward · Feb 16, 2014 6:30 pm

Can anyone help me to understand the options for downlight wattage? Is there a "standard" wattage? Are there different beam angles or do PD only have a single option?

Help please!!!

bramsy · Feb 16, 2014 7:47 pm

tlblhayward

Can anyone help me to understand the options for downlight wattage? Is there a "standard" wattage? Are there different beam angles or do PD only have a single option?

Help please!!!

I'm interested in this information as well. What I've been able to work out is that PD use Clipsal Downlights. But no information about lumens, wattage, beam angles, etc.

suzybuzy · Feb 16, 2014 7:59 pm

mirz

Congrats suzybuzy, you guys made it

would you like to share bit more details on builder cleaning, would help us to mentally prepare ourselves what to expect on the bug day, thanks.

Hi Mirz
i've spent quite a few hours cleaning up mess. The kitchen cupboards were gross, they were full of dust and what looked like sawdust. This was in all of the cupboard and the pantry. The pantry also still had all the glue on it from the cabinet makers im assuming as well as bits of what looked like grout stuck to it.

All the window are foul, i'm not up to clenaing them yet due to fires around i figured they would get worse soon anyway. But disgustingly the window runner have a good cm of dirt in them at places! its so gross. The garage also had a layer of sawdust on the floor, and the floor boards and tiles needed a vacuum straight away as well a mop (we haven't done the mop yet). The bath was also full of dust and the toilets looked like they had been used by the builders and hadn't been cleaned (pee spots on the seat).

So after a weekend of cleaning it up its looking a bit better. But i've asked the supervisior to clean the window runners as its just taking me too long and i dont think i should have to do it.

But apart from the cleaning aspect we are pretty happy with it

mirz · Feb 16, 2014 9:20 pm

suzybuzy

mirz

Congrats suzybuzy, you guys made it

would you like to share bit more details on builder cleaning, would help us to mentally prepare ourselves what to expect on the bug day, thanks.

Hi Mirz
i've spent quite a few hours cleaning up mess. The kitchen cupboards were gross, they were full of dust and what looked like sawdust. This was in all of the cupboard and the pantry. The pantry also still had all the glue on it from the cabinet makers im assuming as well as bits of what looked like grout stuck to it.

All the window are foul, i'm not up to clenaing them yet due to fires around i figured they would get worse soon anyway. But disgustingly the window runner have a good cm of dirt in them at places! its so gross. The garage also had a layer of sawdust on the floor, and the floor boards and tiles needed a vacuum straight away as well a mop (we haven't done the mop yet). The bath was also full of dust and the toilets looked like they had been used by the builders and hadn't been cleaned (pee spots on the seat).

So after a weekend of cleaning it up its looking a bit better. But i've asked the supervisior to clean the window runners as its just taking me too long and i dont think i should have to do it.

But apart from the cleaning aspect we are pretty happy with it

That's terrible, seems like they didn't hire anyone to do a professional clean before handover.

We couldn't leave any rental property in this condition. No matter how cleaned we left but REA asked to supply professional cleaners receipts as confirmation.

Is there a checkpoint during handover to confirm or agree that property was in satisfactory clean state?

It could be the case with any builder, but there should be a task in their check list before handover.

Not sure if it's site supervisor's responsibility or BC or some other department, as we are in very early stages.

mirz · Feb 16, 2014 9:22 pm

tlblhayward

Can anyone help me to understand the options for downlight wattage? Is there a "standard" wattage? Are there different beam angles or do PD only have a single option?

Help please!!!

Not sure about PD, but Henley documents tell me only 9 watts warm white, no angle and no brand name description.

But two rooms have dimmers, so assuming those LED lights are dim able.

MummaDJ · Feb 16, 2014 9:50 pm

suzybuzy

mirz

Congrats suzybuzy, you guys made it

would you like to share bit more details on builder cleaning, would help us to mentally prepare ourselves what to expect on the bug day, thanks.

Hi Mirz
i've spent quite a few hours cleaning up mess. The kitchen cupboards were gross, they were full of dust and what looked like sawdust. This was in all of the cupboard and the pantry. The pantry also still had all the glue on it from the cabinet makers im assuming as well as bits of what looked like grout stuck to it.

All the window are foul, i'm not up to clenaing them yet due to fires around i figured they would get worse soon anyway. But disgustingly the window runner have a good cm of dirt in them at places! its so gross. The garage also had a layer of sawdust on the floor, and the floor boards and tiles needed a vacuum straight away as well a mop (we haven't done the mop yet). The bath was also full of dust and the toilets looked like they had been used by the builders and hadn't been cleaned (pee spots on the seat).

So after a weekend of cleaning it up its looking a bit better. But i've asked the supervisior to clean the window runners as its just taking me too long and i dont think i should have to do it.

But apart from the cleaning aspect we are pretty happy with it

Suzy, that isn't good enough. It should be cleaned by PD cleaners. Our house was fully cleaned. I did clean out all cupboards for my own piece of mind and a fine layer of dust and also some window tracks were dirty. PD did clean all windows, found them cleaning them the day before handover. Floors were all vacuumed and mopped.

Lurgen · Feb 16, 2014 11:31 pm

That's funny, it sounds like the cleaning crews are quite different from house to house. Our place was filthy after handover, so we spent two days cleaning. Our move was booked for two days after handover so it was one tiring race!

A few cleaning challenges for us included...
- filthy toilets (at a glance during inspection they looked OK but they'd clearly seen some use as ashtrays as well as the usual when we looked more closely)
- huge amounts of plaster dust (especially in the cupboards and carpet)
- filthy baths and basins (especially the spa - we are still getting dust and grime out of the pump at times)
- windows were covered in dirt, but in a new estate this is to be expected
- stickers hiding on things (sinks, baths, toilets, alfresco support pillars, you name it)
- paint splatters (small ones are almost impossible to see during handover but we are still finding them three months after handover)
- stray silicon sealant splattered around the place (invisible until it gets dirty)
- rubbish and debris around the yard
- more plaster dust

One thing we did do though is insist on the cleaners returning to sort out things that were just too much trouble for us. Things like stickers and labels left on things, which left sticky residue. We have also had the maintenance guys out to remove paint from window frames and the like.

Strangely enough the maintenance people have been pretty good about this sort of thing. Much more helpful than my BC or SS.

I'd definitely suggest putting two full days aside to clean though. Maybe more for a two storey.

HD

suzybuzy · Feb 17, 2014 9:59 am

hmmm
cleaning does sound like it varies.

I was fine cleaning things, mostly. But the window runner are just too difficult for me to clean. And they are seriously disgusting.

i'm just glad we weren't moving in straight away, its given me some time to get things sorted

Ally007 · Feb 17, 2014 3:12 pm

mirz

Ally007

Yay! we finally started so I also started a blog... will try and put it in my signature... until then...

http://mattandalexbuild.blogspot.com.au/

Congrats Ally007, following your blog.

Thanks Mirz! Maybe I should write which house we are building lol

Serenity_Now · Feb 17, 2014 3:26 pm

bramsy

tlblhayward

Can anyone help me to understand the options for downlight wattage? Is there a "standard" wattage? Are there different beam angles or do PD only have a single option?

Help please!!!

I'm interested in this information as well. What I've been able to work out is that PD use Clipsal Downlights. But no information about lumens, wattage, beam angles, etc.

Hi Bramsy,

I had downlights installed for my build and I managed to find the boxes for the downlight housing and the globe inside. Details are as follows:

- LED housing kit is called "301 LED GU 10 Downligh" and the brand is 'Telbix'
- The height of the heat can with the transformer mounted is 155mm and the hole cutout diameter is 70mm
- The housing kit is made of aluminium
- The globes provided branded as 'PHL' and are 9w GU10 globes
- The lumens of the globe are 520lm for the 3000k or 550lm for the 5500k
- The globes have a GU10 base, have a 60 degree beam angle and the dimensions are 50mm diameter and 85mm length

tlblhayward · Feb 17, 2014 5:36 pm

Here is exactly what I got from PD's electrical department via email...

LED CLASSIC - First entry level LED
Colour: White & Brushed Chrome (additional charge)
Globe: 9 watts LED with anti glare lens
Lumens: 520lm
Size: 72mm D
Lifespan: approx 30,000h
Beam angle: 60%
Other: GU10 B-9 240 volts
Non-dimmable

LED ADVANCED DIMMABLE - Second entry level LED
Colour: White & Brushed Chrome (additional charge)
Globe: 6 watts LED
Lumens: 540lm
Size: 72mm D
Lifespan: approx 40,000h
Beam angle: 60%
Other: Trailing edge LED driver
Dimmable: Range 10-100%

tlblhayward · Feb 17, 2014 7:49 pm

Hey folks... has anyone had PD put a fireplace in? Just after an estimate of cost.

Scott2233 · Feb 17, 2014 8:49 pm

tlblhayward

Hey folks... has anyone had PD put a fireplace in? Just after an estimate of cost.

Hi T

I been quote for 12k for the same one as Waldorf display

Sweet-home100 · Feb 17, 2014 9:21 pm

Scott2233

tlblhayward

Hey folks... has anyone had PD put a fireplace in? Just after an estimate of cost.

Hi T

I been quote for 12k for the same one as Waldorf display

We received the same information. We decided to include the fireplace provision (around 2ks) and do a fireplace post handover.

bramsy · Feb 17, 2014 11:13 pm

Serenity_Now

bramsy

tlblhayward

Can anyone help me to understand the options for downlight wattage? Is there a "standard" wattage? Are there different beam angles or do PD only have a single option?

Help please!!!

I'm interested in this information as well. What I've been able to work out is that PD use Clipsal Downlights. But no information about lumens, wattage, beam angles, etc.

Hi Bramsy,

I had downlights installed for my build and I managed to find the boxes for the downlight housing and the globe inside. Details are as follows:

- LED housing kit is called "301 LED GU 10 Downligh" and the brand is 'Telbix'
- The height of the heat can with the transformer mounted is 155mm and the hole cutout diameter is 70mm
- The housing kit is made of aluminium
- The globes provided branded as 'PHL' and are 9w GU10 globes
- The lumens of the globe are 520lm for the 3000k or 550lm for the 5500k
- The globes have a GU10 base, have a 60 degree beam angle and the dimensions are 50mm diameter and 85mm length

Thanks. Just checked online. The LEDs are like $45 each. The 50w downlights are around 900 lumens. We might have to replace it afterwards with something like the brightgreen or even the ledified globes.

Serenity_Now · Feb 18, 2014 1:47 pm

bramsy

Thanks. Just checked online. The LEDs are like $45 each. The 50w downlights are around 900 lumens. We might have to replace it afterwards with something like the brightgreen or even the ledified globes.

Just a couple of quick points as well about the downlights:

- 550 lumens is really not very bright and the beam angle is very narrow, it is disappointing that PD can't offer better LED downlights given the price point that they are charging.
- The downlights PD provide are 70mm so its quite annoying if you're looking to do a quick swap over to newer/brighter downlights down the track as most are usually 90mm
- When PD installs the downlights, they unfortunately hardwire the downlights. These days you can buy replacement downlights that come with a normal plug and all you need to do is plug it into a socket and that's it! This means that you wouldn't need to have an electrician perform the work.

I'm actually in the process of changing over some of the downlights and also installing downlights upstairs - I've received quotes for $75 an hour (+ GST) from electricians and they reckon they can do 8-10 downlights per hour. Might be something to keep in mind as an alternative.