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Browse Forums Building A New House Re: They've started!!!!! 62May 20, 2008 11:21 pm Hey guys
Inspection went well. Kevin found a few issues but he says that they're pretty minor and should only take DFH about 1 day to fix. He said that overall they're doing a pretty good job, which is always good to hear 
Apart from the obvious ones that I spotted over the weekend where there were gaps in the roof tiles that allowed rainwater entry, other minor issues were interior frame issues. One was where the plumbers had cut into the beam to put connections in to the laundry but they'd cut too much and the frame was a little shaky. As Kev put it " if you're having a raging party and someone fell against the wall they'd end up in the laundry"
Overall, very glad I had the inspection as most of these issues they would have just plastered over. I should be getting the report by Thu/Fri and will send it to DFH then. He said if they try to talk their way around it, he'll be happy to talk to them or better yet to mention that I'll pass it on to the Building Commission and get them to mediate. He said they'd probably *&^% themselves and fall over themselves to fix it
I also took the opportunity to take the pics that my camera stuffed up on Saturday. Below are pics of the updated bricking - very happy with the overall bricking and Kevin was also happy with it
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Dana -------------------------- Building with DFH - carpet installed! Re: They've started!!!!! 63May 21, 2008 12:32 am I really like your bricks Dana 
I am actually going to call Boral to ask for some more addresses where they have been used as the ones they gave me looked really orange, whereas yours to me look a light creamy colour - is that what you would say about them in the flesh or is my computer screen playing tricks on me?
Good to hear about Kev and your inspection - hopefully it will all be fixed quickly My karma ran over your dogma Re: They've started!!!!! 64May 21, 2008 2:30 pm Hi Bel
The bricks are a light creamy colour. Seems strange that there would be such a colour difference as the sample I looked at didn't look orange at all and the bricks are very muched as I imagined them. If you like I'll PM you my block address if you want a closer look at the colour. It's about a half hour drive straight up the freeway from our office which is in Williamstown North. Dana -------------------------- Building with DFH - carpet installed! Re: They've started!!!!! 66May 25, 2008 1:08 pm Hey guys!!
Time for weekly update. Builders are still moving along - just hoping that I get Kev's report before they start plastering as they have to fix some frame issues. I got lock up invoice on Friday (not paying it yet as I walked straight into the house yesterday through the non-existant entrance door through the garage and had to lock both sliding doors  )
The insulation is being installed - and what a lovely shade of green it is Looks brownish in the pic but that's due more to my camera.
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The nice little hole in the ceiling of the master bedroom has been covered over by some flashing - at least that's one thing they picked up on
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Plumbing pipework is also being fitted - this pic is the main bathroom: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ House is relatively clean of rubbish (but not as clean as P's  ) Backyard looks like a bomb has hit though
Hopefully Kev should email me the pre-plaster report tomorrow and I'll fax it off to my SS to get the issues attended to. Dana -------------------------- Building with DFH - carpet installed! Re: They've started!!!!! 67May 26, 2008 10:46 pm Dana, wow it's looking GREAT!!!!!!
The brickwork is very nice and glad to hear that Kev's been and done his thing! They'll fix up everything they need to, they'd be silly if they didn't listen to him. Keep up with the pics, it's looking sooo nice!!!!!! Re: They've started!!!!! 69May 27, 2008 2:46 pm Kryten,
It's getting more exciting now... Let's hope you receive Kev's report before the plastering... Can't wait to see our house with those green insulation too! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: They've started!!!!! 70May 27, 2008 8:47 pm I received my report from Big Kev today and promptly faxed it off to my SS - be interesting to hear what they come back with. Only 1 page and a bit of defects Seriously though, they're fairly minor stuff and Kevin did say that it should only take them about a day to fix them so I can't see it as being a drama - DFH may see it differently though
I'll be doing my normal driveby over the weekend so will be interesting to see if they have done anything on the report. If they try to get away with starting to plaster and not fixing the frame issues, my foot will be planted up someone's behind  Geez, if they did that and I made them take the plaster all off and start again, I imagine their faces will look something like this  Dana -------------------------- Building with DFH - carpet installed! Re: They've started!!!!! 71May 28, 2008 8:58 pm GAHHHHHHHHHH 
Had a call from Construction Manager, D, today. As you know, I sent Kevin's pre-plaster report yesterday afternoon after I received it. D informed me that they plastered yesterday morning. My first response was "oh f&^%^$ hell" He was trying to say that they're within tolerances and Kevin's report was sticking to the letter of the law. I responded to this by saying "hmm, letter of the law - do you always break the law?" He seemed a bit dumbfounded at that. Am now trying to tee up a meeting with D, Kev and myself to sort out what can be done - I'm leaning toward the "tear down the plaster and fix it buddy" scenario. I've got some times from Kev and let D know, just waiting for a call back now. I was already stressing a bit today due to a personal issue, and now I'm one giant ball of stress Dana -------------------------- Building with DFH - carpet installed! Re: They've started!!!!! 72May 28, 2008 9:00 pm Oh Dana I am so sorry hun!!! 
That is terrible of them They knew there were issues to be fixed and they should have waited!!!
Good on you for sticking to your guns - I'm sure Kev will sort them out
Good Luck Bel My karma ran over your dogma Re: They've started!!!!! 73May 28, 2008 9:05 pm Quote: Had a call from Construction Manager, D, today. As you know, I sent Kevin's pre-plaster report yesterday afternoon after I received it. D informed me that they plastered yesterday morning. My first response was "oh f&^%^$ hell" He was trying to say that they're within tolerances and Kevin's report was sticking to the letter of the law. I responded to this by saying "hmm, letter of the law - do you always break the law?" What ?????????
I can just imagine how  you were upon hearing from your CM that they've started with the plastering!
It's not good.... that is our worry too... because we keep on asking when is the pre-plaster inspection but they keep on saying not in the near future... worried that one day we would see the house all plastered up! grrr.. Stick to your guns.. if they have to rip it off then they have to do it... anyway, Kev will let you know of the implication of they don't fix it prior to plastering.. let us know what happens... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: They've started!!!!! 74May 28, 2008 9:10 pm Yeah, I'm still pretty p'd about it - just lucky that I had some bourbon at home 
D tried to tell me that A, my SS didn't know about the pre-plaster inspection. He didn't know what to say when I told him "I invited him - he said he didn't have to be there." Only thing D said was "oh". I hope that we can sort out the issues amicably - but I can see me getting fired up. Added incentive might be that I have their latest invoice at home and I'm not paying it until they fix the frame issues. They were only minor ones but got a tad more difficult to fix now Dana -------------------------- Building with DFH - carpet installed! Re: They've started!!!!! 76May 28, 2008 10:55 pm Kryten,
Quote: Added incentive might be that I have their latest invoice at home and I'm not paying it until they fix the frame issues. They were only minor ones but got a tad more difficult to fix now Yes, don't pay it until they fix all the issues. That's what we did with our frame invoice.. we rang the A/R person to complain and we were forwarded to her manager. DH said we won't pay until they fix all issues... at first he didn't agree.. but we were firm about it. Then when he agreed to defer the payment until all issues were fixed, we asked him to document it via email and he did. I suggest that you ring their AR dept and let the manager know that you won't pay until all issues are rectified. Quote: D tried to tell me that A, my SS didn't know about the pre-plaster inspection. That's our worry.. we've been telling our CSR several times about our pre-plaster inspection but she keeps on saying it's not yet time.. just getting worried that one day we would see our house all plastered up!
let us know what happens... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: They've started!!!!! 77May 29, 2008 1:22 pm OK, feeling slightly calmer today
I have set up a meeting at 11am tomorrow with D the CM. I've advised him that as most of the frame issues are very minor I can live with them, but I advised him I was concerned with about 5 of the issues and wanted them rectified. He was actually pretty good and seems like he wants to fix everything amicably. He advised that if they had to take some of the plaster off they would do it, which was music to my little ears. I'll get him to confirm in writing what they are going to do before I pay the invoice. He also advised that my SS had a bit of a ticking off for for not advising CM an inspection was happening and for then proceeding with the plaster without checking with me first. Hopefully I'll sort out my other personal drama tonight and then I can be a happy little camper again Dana -------------------------- Building with DFH - carpet installed! Re: They've started!!!!! 78May 30, 2008 6:12 pm  KrytenOK, feeling slightly calmer today Hopefully I'll sort out my other personal drama tonight and then I can be a happy little camper again Good news for you, hope all else sorts itself out for you. Paula Re: They've started!!!!! 79Jun 01, 2008 11:21 am Hey guys
Meeting with both CM and SS went well. I had 4 major issues from Kev's report that I wasn't going to back down on, and they have agreed to fix them all and confirm in writing on Monday. It may have helped that I told them I had their lock up invoice in my bag and I would pay it when they confirmed to me in writing they would fix the issues
Overall, very pleased that they have come to the party and are willing to fix the issues. Only drawback was I forgot to take my camera and had to use my mobile 
Below are the latest pics: Main bedroom The bottom sheet of plaster has to come off as there is mortar from the brickwork behind that has dropped down, folded over the damp proof course and is wedged next to the gas pipe. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Bathroom Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Kitchen Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Laundry Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ They have to fix issues with the roof trusses and advised that they had already spoken to their engineer to design what needed to be done. I'm certainly a lot calmer than what I was earlier in the week Dana -------------------------- Building with DFH - carpet installed! Ask the council if there is a chance of getting build over easement exemption. Sometimes easements are unused and 24cm is not all that much. Good luck. And yes any builder… 2 3025  |
