Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - heating, cooling, doors. 61May 12, 2016 8:26 am Hi Charley - no we don't have bricks yet . We were able to help somewhat by putting out SS onto someone my father in law (who is a builder) knows and apparently we are the next house to be done (the brickie is working on another with our builder) as ours apparently wasn't quite ready for bricks. As said we have been away for a few weeks, and came back to the electrical fit out been done (all correct which is good), the insulation is going in, the roof has been finished, etc. As noted we did get a pre-plaster inspection done during the time we were away and that picked up on a few things, which has delayed the plaster, amongst other things - one of which is a frame/slab issue so may affect the bricks. Apparently the surveyor has signed off on it but I am doubtful (as is the independent inspector) so I have asked for this in writing in case of future issues. I think we are fairly close to lock up and plastering (despite the bricks) so I am just waiting and watching at the moment. It is all slowly coming together - I think the idea of actually moving in within the next 3-4 months has only just occurred to me. It has been something of a dream for so long it is hard to imagine the reality! We are having a preliminary meeting this Saturday with a landscape architect to discuss what we want and to get that ball rolling. We have a lot of different 'levels' externally to work with so need some help with the landscape planning stages, to make sure it will all look good and co-hesive. This will likely be costly upfront but I think worth it overall. In relation to the independent inspections: I highly recommend these. I was convinced to do them by reading other people's experiences (when they did or didn't have the inspections) and it was clear to me that they were worth it. My husband wasn't so convinced, until this inspection was done - he now agrees that it is money well spent. The inspections have picked up on a number of issues that are definitely much easier to fix now rather than later, and could be costly, not to mention time consuming, later. We are using New Home Inspections and they have been great to deal with - and no I am not affiliated with them in any way. They were recommended on this forum. Hopefully more updates soon! No recent pics, it is hard to get them now without daylight saving. Hopefully I can get some on the weekend. My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - locked out :( 62May 16, 2016 8:09 am Went to the block on Saturday to meet the landscaper to find that he doors were all locked - boooooo. It was going to happen sometime though. Bricks have all been delivered ready for this week and we still love our choice so that is good, especially as I had to jump up and down to get them. I think plaster is starting this week too and another bath should be delivered (it went missing). Getting there!! My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - bricks and plaster :) 64May 29, 2016 8:22 pm Brick by brick we are slowly getting there.... Plaster done and our brickie is on the job - poor guy is working by himself!! So far he is doing a great job though We love our bricks and we are really happy with how they look, even unclean with wet mortar.... Weather is cold this week but not much rain forecast, which is great news. http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/bricks%20front%202_zps8jjpgbnv.jpg 'Kitchen' shots - the wires coming out of the floor is where the island will be. The first shot is looking though to the back of the house, the second is the main part of the kitchen and walk in pantry http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/plaster%20kitchen%201_zpsmjipa2uk.jpg Living area, looking towards front hallway http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/plaster%20living%201_zpsssczp0fh.jpg Back rumpus room http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/plaster%20rumpus%201_zpsjnsrloyl.jpg http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/plaster%20rumpus%202_zpsdqqcyuuc.jpg Master bedroom (crappy photo) and WIR, ensuite shower http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/plaster%20main%20bed%201_zpswca6fhpo.jpg http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/plaster%20wir_zpsx84vjymu.jpg http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/plaster%20ensuite_zpsdqesnfts.jpg Walk in linen My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - bricks and plaster :) 65May 29, 2016 8:40 pm Build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=81011 Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - bricks and plaster :) 66May 31, 2016 10:57 pm Coming along nicely Tash. Very exciting! Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - bricks and plaster :) 67Jun 03, 2016 12:35 pm I have decided that I like this stage of the build It seems that every time I visit - once during the week, once on the weekend - something new has been done! It is like a nice surprise each time. This week I noticed (in the dark, forgot my torch) that the shower bases have been screeded. Plus the SS called me - not the other way around - to give me an update. Apparently next few weeks is waterproofing, more bricking (obviously), fixing (architraves, skirting etc), potentially the skylight installation..... quite happy with the progress at the moment! I suppose at some point too the electricians will be back to bring the wires through and create the power points, light points etc. The fact that we haven't had any rain in Melbourne this week also has me happy - I hate rain, even more so when I know that it disrupts our brickie! My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - bricks and plaster :) 68Jun 03, 2016 10:27 pm Yes great when you get on site to find something new; so annoying when it's the other way around! Better not to go everyday so there's more of a chance of something being done - more to look forward to. Lots to come in the fit out stage Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - bricks and plaster :) 69Jun 16, 2016 8:49 am Hi everyone! A few more progress pics. Slowly getting there. These pics were from last weekend, I drove past last night and the bricks are nearly done - should be finished this week. We also have a new SS who I spoke with yesterday. He apparently sends a weekly update email each Friday, which is wonderful news for someone who likes to know everything! He told me that the architraves are now all finished, the guys will be back to fill in all the nail holes etc and get it ready for painting. He is still chasing our cabinetry at the moment so not sure when that is coming, hopefully it doesn't cause a delay. Our front door is now on and whilst it looks like a lot of other peoples I really like it and the fact that it matches in with the rest of the house and the direction of the front windows. If I had known how 'deep' the front door would be under the porch I probably would have brought it forward a bit, but can't do much about it now! Anyway: http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/front_zpsbct1vuc1.jpg http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/bricks%20side_zpsvo6nnvbw.jpg http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/bricks%20back_zpso0h0yao3.jpg http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/bricks%20alfresco_zpskiuknhrk.jpg Under the alfresco http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/pantry_zpsae5vu2wa.jpg Pantry http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv26/nataisha19/bed%20door_zpsl128alba.jpg Main bedroom door My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - bricks and plaster :) 70Jun 16, 2016 11:01 pm Coming along nicely Tash! Don't worry about the front door, better to have a bit of protection from the wind and street. We just settled on our land last week, so trying to get our custom plans finalised so we can submit to our developer for approval ASAP and start getting some quotes from builders. Fingers crossed they don't come back too expensive!! Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - bricks and plaster :) 72Jun 23, 2016 3:15 pm So... bricks are now done - finally! He has done a great job though. Of course I also got the lock up invoice yesterday - I think that they were there at the house watching and waiting to press the send button when the last brick was laid lol. The SS called my husband yesterday and said that the interior will now progress as quickly as possible. There hasn't been much action internally this week as far as I can tell so hopefully a lot gets done over the next few weeks, otherwise I am going to start tearing my hair out. I was warned this part does seem to go slow and I am not coping well!! Apparently the 'patchers' and fillers/sanders are next to prepare for painting. Stay tuned.... My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - lock up 73Jun 23, 2016 7:21 pm Build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=81011 Re: Our Forever Home at Cloverlea - lock up 75Jul 05, 2016 7:51 am Not much going on lately.... Our SS was moved to other jobs and so we have had a caretaker for a few weeks and whilst he promised a lot not much has actually happened. This comes after we have told him that our landlord wants us out of his house asap (he is demolishing it and building his own). So we have been a bit stressed. I have contacted head office about this so hopefully this helps to some degree. It is just so discouraging to see about half a days work in two weeks. My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Our Forever Home with Ashford - so close but so far 76Jul 22, 2016 12:15 pm Still not much to report.. that I know of anyway. Spoke to our new SS last week who said that he would be in contact once he had caught up with all the builds and had something to report. I haven't been to the house this week and I am going to try not to go until late next week in the hope that the ball has started rolling again by then. I SOOO want to move in! So sick of the rental and the pressure from our landlord to move out asap - not that he calls often it is just having over us. I think I should have gone on a month long holiday for July. Easier to ignore the delay if you are somewhere warm and drinking cocktails...... My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Our Forever Home with Ashford - so close but so far 77Jul 23, 2016 9:56 pm So many of your selections are similar to ours. Great seeing your bricks and windows in so I can rest a little easier with our own Mocha/Monument selection Re: Our Forever Home with Ashford - so close but so far 78Jul 24, 2016 4:33 pm Hey Tash, sorry to hear things aren't moving at the moment. Wonder if something is going on there. Did you see someone else post recently about having problems with this builder? Hope things pick up soon. We are still in the process of getting quotes. When it comes to building everything just goes sooooo slowly... really tests your patience and doesn't help if you're not the most patient to person to begin with! Re: Our Forever Home with Ashford - so close but so far 79Jul 24, 2016 8:03 pm Hey Dani, yes I did see that post. I think Ashford have had a few resignations lately that have had a flow on effect. Hopefully that's all! I have some new photos to load which I'll do shortly My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Re: Our Forever Home with Ashford - so close but so far 80Jul 24, 2016 8:05 pm SileNceR So many of your selections are similar to ours. Great seeing your bricks and windows in so I can rest a little easier with our own Mocha/Monument selection Well you must have great taste! The bricks and Monumentdo go really well together, don't stress about that! Can't wait to see the bricks cleaned to see them properly. My blog: tashandpaul.wordpress.com Thank you so much for the effort. We will use it to talk with builder. We also had idea of building duplex instead and seeking suggest ions. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=106744 11 13832 Hi VK, I am now retired however I have stood beside over 300 owner builders in the past 18 years that have successfully built their own homes. First of all a building… 10 22664 We already paid for somfy motors for the blinds. The quote above was purely for “pre-wiring” so the blinds company can install the motors and blinds. That’s why we… 5 16268 |