Balmoral 34 MKI Majestic Facade (Syd) - Handover 16.11.15

Everyone who's built or currently building a Balmoral with Rawson Homes is more than welcome to join in this topic.

First, our timeline below for Balmoral 34 MKI (Majestic Facade Front Entry)
Timeline
16/06/2013 Tender Fee
31/08/2013 Tender Acceptance Fee
17/07/2014 Initial Plan Approval / Contract Sign Fee
23/08/2014 Rental Lease Signed
20/09/2014 Moved in Rental Unit. Gas meter abolishment and serviceline removal.
23/09/2014 Fence and Democorp Signage Up
24/09/2014 Netting Up
27/09/2014 Construction Loan Approved
28/09/2014 External Walls Gone
30/09/2014 Old house gone
01/10/2014 Additional asbestos uncovered
02/10/2014 Demolition completed
09/10/2014 Rawson Fence up
14/10/2014 Received email introducing SS
16/10/2014 Redefinition Survey
20/10/2014 Rawson Signage up - Peg out complete
23/10/2014 Porta toilet on-site
27/10/2014 Gravel on the driveway Site leveling started
29/10/2014 Timber piles delivered
30/10/2014 Timber piles in the ground
04/11/2014 Redefinition Survey Plan registered with LPI.Form Timber Piles
06/11/2014 Timber frames for slab pour started
07/11/2014 Steel mesh and styro foam delivery
08/11/2014 Slab pour preparation started
09/11/2014 Slab pour preparation completed
10/11/2014 Slab pour complete
17/11/2014 Meet SS on-site - Stormwater drains and pipes installation begin, Ground floor drains installation begin, Sewer connection
18/11/2014 First Progress Claim - Slab. Installation of stormwater, sewer and ground floor drains completed"
24/11/2014 Ground floor timber frames, alumninum windows and steel beams and columns delivered
26/11/2014 Paid First progress claim
01/12/2014 Ground floor carpentry works Frames up, partial walls covered
03/12/2014 Dropped by site, no works done
18/12/2014 Dropped by site, no works done
19/12/2014 Construction Shutdown
04/01/2015 Construction Shutdown
05/01/2015 Dropped by site, no works done
19/01/2015 Dropped by site, no works done
21/01/2015 First sign of work on site
22/01/2015 Crane on site raising first floor support
23/01/2015 First floor frames delivered
31/01/2015 started scaffolds for first floor
07/02/2015 first floor frames almost complete
12/02/2015 Second Progress Claim - Frame. Windows installed
17/02/2015 Bricks delivered
21/02/2015 Site undisturbed
02/03/2015 New Site Supervisor assigned.
05/03/2015 More bricks delivered. Tip bin moved.
06/03/2015 Site undisturbed
13/04/2015 Roof frames started, Tiles delivered
15/04/2015 Third Progress Claim - Brickwork. Top roof completed, Stacker doors frame getting installed.
16/04/2015 Meet SS on site for inspection
22/04/2015 Brickworks progress claim cleared
02/06/2015 Independent Inspection Specialist provided report
27/06/2015 Gyprocks delivered
30/06/2015 Gyprock started. Called Telstra to enquire moving phone and cable broadband back to original premises, get quote.
01/07/2015 Gyprock completed - feature castellated cedar still unfinished, brick repairs after balcony installation
06/07/2015 Fourth Progress Claim - Internal Linings. Carpentry fix out due to start this week. Went back to Tiles Direct as original feature tile is out of stock - chose 2
options to ensure no further delay in the build.
07/07/2015 Kitchen and Laundry Cabinets, vanities in all 3 Bathrooms all in. Stairs are in, Kit for Victorian Ash to be installed next. Enquired with AGL for Solar Smart Plan.
10/07/2015 Lock up stage!!! Yey!!! Met with SS to check gyprocking inside the house before processing internal linings progress claim payment. Handover ETA end of August (hoping and praying).
14/07/2015 Rainwater tank delivered. Scaffolds(left side of the house) taken down with only the front right side remaining
15/07/2015 Fifth Progress Claim - Fix Out.
17/07/2015 Ceasarstone benchtops installed. Tiles delivered. Update from SS re schedule next week.
20/07/2015 The eaves carpenter to be back Monday to finish external work
21/07/2015 Wall and floor tile installation. Painter to be in later in the week.
24/07/2015 Meet SS onsite to check rectifications.
28/07/2015 Tile grouting completed
03/08/2015 Double garage door installed. 3x painters started undercoat of internal walls and ceiling
04/08/2015 3x painters continue to do undercoat, Staining of Cedar panel started and trench digging for gas line installation
06/08/2015 A/C vents and grates installed.
13/08/2015 Kitchen glass panel installed, 1st coat of feature wall colour "Woodbine" applied to stairbox, stair wall to dining and Master's Bedroom
17/08/2015 Front scaffold for cedar panel taken down
18/08/2015 Plumbing Fit off started.
19/08/2015 Balcony handrails and Privacy screen installed
20/08/2015 Electrical Fit off started. Cedar panel under eave installed, porch steps installed.
21/08/2015 Electrical Fit off completed.
24/08/2015 Ground floor tiling started
25/08/2015 Ground floor tiling completed
31/08/2015 Correct sidelight delivered. Alfresco brick edging rectified. Electrical fit off inspection with SS.
02/09/2015 Sliding doors, windows, ground floors and wet area tiles cleaned. Stairbox rectified, patch up of ceiling and wall.
03/09/2015 Floor boards Topdeck Mountain Oak installed
05/09/2015 Bathroom and water closet mirrors installed. Bathroom corners and bathtub sealed with silicone completed.
07/09/2015 Front door Sidelight, missing doors, door and cabinet handles, tower rails, towel rings and tissue holder installed.
14/09/2015 Outstanding electrical issues fixed
15/09/2015 Site cleaned - front, sides and back of the house
18/09/2015 Fence taken down
01/10/2015 Walk through
07/10/2015 PCI progress claim payment received
14/10/2015 Sixth Progress Claim and Final Payment - PCI(Take 1).
26/10/2015 Driveway, glass splashback taken down
27/10/2015 Aircon delivered
28/10/2015 Cooktop, dishwasher delivered
30/10/2015 Handover Date Scheduled
31/10/2015 Owner Basswood Shutters installed
03/11/2015 Owner AGL Solar Panels installed
10/11/2015 Sixth Progress Claim and Final Payment - PCI Handover Date (Take2). Owner thermo shutters and double roller blinds installed.
12/11/2015 Glass Splashback and return installed Take 2. Owner Electrical fit off. Silicone wet areas Take 3.
16/11/2015 Sixth Progress Claim and Final Payment - PCI Handover Date (Take3).

Hi Calvinhobbes, we have been looking at the balmoral and are really interested, just waiting for some prices. Did you make any changes to the floor plans at all? Whereabouts in Sydney are you building?

Hi Katran, we did a lot of changes. First, we made it a front entry as ours is a narrow block coz a side entry just wouldnt work. Also, we had a sloping block so ours ended up with 2 steps from the garage going in, then 3 steps going to the area where the void to the stairs are. We also made changes to the Master bedroom Ensuite to suit us while everything else would have been as what we saw in the display home at HomeWorld. We're doing a KDR in Merrylands.

Hi Calvin,
Look forward to seeing your build progress.

Tuned in

HiCalvinHobbes
We are currently working with Rawson to finalise plans for a balmoral in sydney also. It's been a bit of a slow process but hopefully things will pick up from here. Seems like your build is really on its way - Do you have any photos?
Will be following!

The most recent picture I took (7/7/15) where a truck is taking away gyprocks onsite for recycling

Hi fizzed,

Great to hear! Which facade did you choose for your Balmoral and where are you building?

Cheers,

CalvinHobbes

Hi Hobbes.

Good to see a pic come through. Would be great to see how the internals are doing as well.

... on a completely unrelated question; Did you end up signing the contract with the envy promo?
I ask, as you mentioned that you spec'd up your kitchen with the display home items shown at kellyville, and they have whats looks to be 80mm caesarstone on the island and 40mm on the kitchen cooktop run. Also it looks like caesarstone is used on the face of the island (coffee colour)
The Butlers pantry is stunning as well in the display home. Did you end up doing something similar with the window splashback and clean cupboard run (no handles).

I'll try and post the kitchen design we chose so we can compare. Rawson were quite reasonable with our upgrades, but waterfall edges on the island were quite hard to swallow.

We LOVE the balmoral too! But ended going custom design with Architect! Would love to follow your build and see all the nice pictures!



viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75739&p=1299716#p1299716

We chose the majestic facade - seems you have too. . Though we have made the front all brick

Keep those pics coming

I'm really struggling with wall colour - I want white but not creamy/yellow - I'd like to chose from taubman range. What is your wall colour?

We're at lock-up stage! Some pix below
Kitchen

Victorian Ash Stairs and void area

Looking great, can't wait to see the finished product

SteveMC, we love the kitchen including the butler's pantry. I upgraded our cooktop, and placement of microwave and oven tower left of the pantry then modified the cupboards to suit.

In addition, we got the 35th birthday special and lux inclusions to get the the thickness upgrade for island benchtop and basically all ceasarstones for the vanities. We dropped the glass splash back underneath the breakfast nook of the island. That bit was way too pricey. I've sauced out i can get that glass splashback for a third of the price at ikea and we can do it ourselves after.

Looking good there.
The kitchen is taking shape and shouldnt be long before they get the benchtops installed.... Cant see your butlers pantry though . make sure you sneak a pic of that when your in next.

What stain were you going for on the stairs?

I'll post some more pix tonight. After going through our Colour Schedule, i now remember the stain for the Victorian Ash stairs is as displayed in the model home (Annie could not provide us the stain colour of the victorian ash stairs so what was ticked on our colour selection schedule is 'As Displayed'). Will verify with Mark what the stain colour is.

More pix...

Laundry

Butler's Pantry



View of Dining and Family from the stairs


View from FF Leisure Room

Our Colour and Upgrade Specs below:

Colour Specs

KITCHEN
-Kitchen benchtops/Butler's Pantry - Walnut Ceasarstone 40mm
-Island Kitchen - Jet Black 70mm
-Cupboard doors & drawers - Polytec Classic White Sheen
-Splashback - Maltese glass splashbash, side return and behind Canopy Rangehood
-Butler pantry's splashback - Fixed glass window
-Microwave and oven mini tower
-Kitchen Tap - Dorf Viridian pull down sink mixer
-Cold water point to the fridge space
-Fridge space - 1800x1070x600mm plasterboard
-Fisher & Paykel gas cooktop with black ceramic glass finish (CG905DNGGB1)
-Westinghouse 600mm pyrolytic oven (POR883S)
-Westinghouse stainless steel and curved glass cube canopy rangehood (WRCG933S)
-Westinghouse dishwasher (WSU660XR)

TOILET AND BATH
-Vanity benchtops - Walnut Ceasarstone 40mm
-Cupboard doors - Classic White sheen, soft close
-Caroma track hand-held rainshower with rail and overhead (Masters Ensuite and Main Bath)

WC
-Fowler regent mini basin

ROOF TILE & BRICKS
-Monier flat profile Sambucca
-Austral Metropolis Topaz
-Austral Metropolis Marcasite (Feature wall)

FASCIA/GUTTER/DOWNPIPES/ALUMINUM WINDOWS & DOORS/RAIN WATER TANK
-Monument

DRIVEWAY
-Charcoal coloured concrete

TILE SELECTION
Bathroom (Ceiling height), WC and Laundry (Standard height)
-Enviro black 400x400 Floor
-Tempo ice 330x500 Wall laid horizontal
-Sydney Brown gloss 330x330 Feature wall
-Concealed floor waste (Bermuda)
-Floor grout (202 Midnight)
-Tile trim (Matt silver L angle)

MAIN FLOOR
-G opal 600x600 polish
-Floor grout (202 Midnight)
-Tile trim (Matt silver L angle)

SILLS (Entry, Laundry, Garage internal door)
PORCH (including 2 steps)
ALFRESCO (including riser)
-Minima Black Grit 450x450
-Tile trim (Matt silver L angle)

FIRST FLOOR
-Topdeck laminate flooring with scotia (Mountain Oak)

DOORS
-Main Entry (Corinthian hinged door with Side light stained Teak)
-External door to laundry (Corinthian IBMB6 Merbau interlined stained clear)
-Recessed aluminum stacker doors
-Corinthian sliding cavity door to Bed1 Ensuite stained clear
-2 Control Garage door (Timbercoat Contemporary - Merbau)

WALLS
Feature Walls
-Woodbine for stairbox including top, stair (full height wall) and Bed1
-Cookie jar for Fridge box
Internal Walls
-Windy beach
Ceiling
-White
Stringer, internal doors, architraves and skirting
-Crisp white

Wow, that butlers pantry is awesome. I truly hope our window splashback is as spectacular as that.
Its actually the little details that ELBA nail. Like the shadow line in the overhead cupboard, and bench joinery.
I really like the flow of this kitchen. fridge and oven tower hiding behind the wall. You can still stick your magnets and notes and not worry about looking at it from the rest of the room.
Look though butlers pantry aided by the window splashback. Brings amazing light into the kitchen and the rest of the dining/family.
The Rawson kitchens really stand out in the project builder crowd, which definitely impressed us. The kitchens in all their display homes are impressive.
The Balmoral is really one of the standout kitchens in the Rawson designs i must say. The only other one that's better (and only just) is the Huntley.

I would be very happy with that design. I hope our galley kitchen in the Edge works just as well.... it just won't be as clever as yours .
(thats me drooling)

Our next challenge is to get the views to look good through a lot of these oversized windows

Yep. i will have the same issue. I was thinking ginger or bamboo.