Re: Take Two 61Sep 16, 2017 10:13 pm Sorry to hear about your Dad, and everything else that's been going on. I hope things are getting better for you. Take Two 63Sep 19, 2017 6:39 pm Thank you Algernon. A friend has offered me the other half of her double garage that doesn't currently house a vehicle, so a little over half my "stuff" has been moved in. Just waiting for some quotes to move my ovens, as they are too big and heavy to put in a car. It is a great relief to have the storage space (and for free!) JB1 The aircell is on the inside of the walls. The layers in the nonstrawbale walls from outside to inside are: Weathertex cladding (supposed to be being installed this week and next) Extasana - moisture barrier Chipboard Gold Batts insulation Intello wrap - air tightness membrane AirCell Gyprock - next to happen on the inside. uPVC windows were the best option, and in terms of maintenance, or the lack thereof, win hands down! Variegated Re: Take Two 64Sep 19, 2017 9:56 pm Did you get the windows through your builder, or did you choose a manufacturer/distributor yourself? Take Two 65Sep 20, 2017 6:13 pm Algernon, Windows came through the builder, I asked for double glazed with either uPVC or wooden/aluminium frames. The ones with wood inside were more expensive (by a reasonable margin) and the uPVC ones came in a fraction over the window allowance anyway, so uPVC it is. Variegated Take Two 66Sep 22, 2017 6:45 pm Driving up to the site didn’t look very different to what was there last week, so I was preparing myself for a disappointing visit. But – close to the fence at the rear of the block there is a ute – someone is here after all! The renderers are here to do the final coat. All the windows and doors in the strawbale walls are installed, covered in plastic and taped up to protect them, the inside floors are covered in thick black plastic, and the render spraying apparatus is about to be fired up. Living room windows ready for the final render coatLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The renderer explained that they will spray the walls, trowel it over to ensure it is even, and then sponge over to remove the trowel marks. It is a labour intensive process. They are planning to work today – Friday – Saturday and Sunday! They will ensure that the render is sealed to the window frames to create the air tight envelope required. They said it was perfect weather for their task – warm and sunny. Expected temperature in Canberra on Saturday is 28 degrees, so hopefully things will dry quickly. The noggings for the grab rails, and the framework for the seat in the shower have also been installed, and all the air cell on the external to-be-cladded walls is completed, and frames up for gyprock. Bathroom seating frameLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ A friend offered the unused half of her double garage for storage, so most of last weekend, and some of this weekend was and will be used in moving things from my sister’s house where they have been stored. I have organised for the bigger items, like the ovens, to be moved on Monday by the Little Green Truck people, so at least some of the stressors have been dealt with. And something unexpected – there is a TV aerial on the roof! Variegated Take Two 67Oct 14, 2017 1:14 pm After a few more weeks of very little activity, I received an email from the builder asking for approval of a variation due to the cost of the fire sprinkler system required. The quote received is for more than twice the amount allowed in the contract. And, I have found that there is nothing in the contract that covers the cost of the sewer pod I am also required to have, as the development is not connected to the existing sewer system, but has a small treatment plant of its own. And this is despite having provided everyone with a copy of the development conditions at first meeting. So lets add another $20,000 to the build price, and hurry up and make a decision, because no further work can continue until you do. Oh, and we've made a mistake in our accounting, and you need to pay another $10,000 that should have been included in the roof invoice. Why is it that builders think it's OK to not bother to give information when they receive it ??(The original quote for the sprinkler system is dated 19 September, and the builder's email was sent on 6 October). Variegated Take Two 69Oct 14, 2017 6:54 pm It would be nice to think so JB1. Given that there are other payments still to invoice, I would have thought the easiest thing to do would be to add the under-billed bit to the next one. I wouldn't have queried it, especially as the the roof invoice was less than expected, and I wouldn't be so p***** off with them now. The most annoying thing was that it was completely unexpected, when I was already reeling from the required variation cost. Variegated Take Two 70Oct 20, 2017 7:52 pm Today’s site visit showed some progress – at last! I had a follow-up conversation with the kitchen installer following his phone call to me earlier this week. He has measured up the kitchen and laundry spaces, and will be making the units. He is also going to quote me for the linen press and broom cupboard spaces, so I can make a decision about which way to go with those. I have at least 3 external taps installed. They have lovely mauve tap heads as the water supply to them is non-potable. The fire sprinkler system has been installed. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ There are sprinklers terminating in each of the living areas and bedrooms. The pipes look really long at the moment as the ceiling gyprock is not yet installed. The system needs to be connected to the water supply plumbing, and a new fitting is required at the water inlet to the land to ensure the system is lockable and can’t be turned off, as a fire sprinkler system that has no water inflow isn’t going to be particularly useful. Both gables have their Weathertex cladding applied, and the rest of the cladding has been completed as far as possible – they ran out of cladding. New supplies were supposed to be delivered today, but are now expected on Monday. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Most of the windows have their glass installed, with the front, laundry and north-facing double doors expected to be completed by next week. The scaffolding on the south and north sides of the house has been removed – with the east and west bits staying until the painting has been completed. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Kris the carpenter’s plan is to install the “finishing” next week – so neatening the joins between the cladding and the roof, and to apply the side slab insulation and cladding over that. I’m hoping that there might be plasterers available as well – they could make good use of the scaffolding built in the studio at the moment Variegated Re: Take Two 71Oct 20, 2017 8:06 pm Good to see the progress! Was the sprinkler system required, or just something you wanted? Take Two 72Oct 20, 2017 8:24 pm Algernon, It is indeed good to see some progress! The fire sprinkler system is a requirement. Variegated Take Two 73Oct 27, 2017 9:39 pm Further progress this week. The cladding has been completed, and the trimming bits mostly added so it looks neat. The remaining insulation around the slab has been installed and cladding over the top of that. North side of house - claddedLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The front, laundry and living area doors are now installed, so I suppose, technically, we have finally reached lock-up! The gyprock installers have been to measure up, and are expected to begin work next week. I talked to the builder today about staircases, and whether or not I want visible stringers or the stair treads to cover from wall to wall, and wardrobe and linenpress doors, and what's supposed to happen with tiling the seats in the bathrooms, and colours for painting, and what to make the driveway from! I hope that there will be progress on all these items in the very near future. There may also be another item to pay for not included in the contract, as there appears to be a spring in front of the house, and we'll have to put some form of drainage in place so the ground doesn't stay completely waterlogged all the time. And I now have a vehicle crossing too! Drive way crossingLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Variegated Take Two 74Oct 28, 2017 12:50 am Your house looks amazing! I can’t wait to see the finished product. Ive worked in insurance for the last ten years and had heard of strawbale construction and always wondered how it was put together and looked in the end and its so much better than I’d ever imagined! The first time someone called to insure a straw house I thought they were pulling my leg haha (I’m in WA - not many straw builds here) but it really is amazing Re: Take Two 75Oct 28, 2017 8:47 am Looking good! Too bad about the extra drainage needed for the spring, but on the positive side, you might have a nice water source there that you can use for gardening. Re: Take Two 76Oct 28, 2017 10:42 am JAMBY Your house looks amazing! I can’t wait to see the finished product. Ive worked in insurance for the last ten years and had heard of strawbale construction and always wondered how it was put together and looked in the end and its so much better than I’d ever imagined! The first time someone called to insure a straw house I thought they were pulling my leg haha (I’m in WA - not many straw builds here) but it really is amazing Thank you Jamby. The three little pigs didn't get it quite right either, as nothing is going to blow it down. One of the workman told me he cleaned up 4 tonne of rubble after the renderers had finished - very messy creatures. He estimated that there is probably around 10 tonnes of render in the walls, so it makes it difficult to burn too. Variegated Re: Take Two 77Oct 28, 2017 10:44 am algernon Looking good! Too bad about the extra drainage needed for the spring, but on the positive side, you might have a nice water source there that you can use for gardening. I hadn't thought about using the spring for the garden - I'll ask if it is possible - thank you. Variegated Take Two 78Nov 19, 2017 4:47 pm Ive been a bit missing in action - it's not easy to see how everyone's build is progressing when it seems that mine is going at less than a snail's pace. On Tuesday, the build has been underway for a whole year, so any excitment there may have been at getting a new house is long gone, and it's hard to find any enthusiasm for writing posts either! The builder has further blotted his copybook by not paying the kitchen people the deposit they require, so they didn't start making the kitchen units, which means further delays. When I spoke to the builder, (at the joinery people's request), he suggested I could pay the gyprock invoice early - like that's going to happen - but this would cause further delays, as the payment would need to go to the lender and their processes first. I've therefore requested a variation in the contract to take out all the joinery - kitchen, laundry, bathroom and wardrobes - and I've paid the deposit directly. This at least means the joinery can get started, so they will be able to install it this year. Who was it who thought it would be a good idea to build a house? On a slightly more positive note, the insulation is in. It really sucks up the light given it's dark colour insulation in atticLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Celing insulation - studioLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And the gyprocking has finally started - the installers told me on Friday that it didn't get delivered until lunch time on Wednesday, when they were told to be there on Tuesday to begin work. They have been working upstairs, and say that downstairs will be done quickly as they don't have to worry about the roof angles. The study now has some walls, with half the hall having a ceiling as well. I couldn't see much of what was going on in the attic as the temporary stairs have been removed to allow the scaffolding to be installed, and it rather blocks the view. Half the hallway ceilingLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Looking toward hallway - study walls and ceilingLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ There are lots of very long lengths of gyprock in various places, and I hope there is enough to finish without waiting for more to be delivered. Gyprock - almost 4.5 metres longLike ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Keys before Christmas? Variegated Re: Take Two 79Nov 20, 2017 11:51 am Ouch, sorry to hear about the lack of progress and the kitchen shenanigans. I'm a bit worried to hear that your builder is crying poor and wanted you to pay more cash before he'd pay the joinery deposit! Anyway, hopefully it all goes much more smoothly with you managing the joinery directly. And the sheeting is making it look a lot more like a house and less like a barn What are those dark-coloured batts? Take Two 80Nov 20, 2017 6:56 pm Algernon - that was part of my concern too. Considering I have already paid about 2/3 of the contract, I would have thought it wouldn't be a problem to pay the joiners. Not planning on paying anything further until the work is actually done. I have been collecting my kitchen appliances for a little while, so I will at least get my kitchen without any further problems. It will be nice not to have a barn any more! The dark insulation looks rather like sheep fleece a bit compressed together, but it feels like fibreglass. There wasn't any wrapping around, so I don't know exactly what it is. There is certainly a lot of it through all the ceilings in the house. Variegated Hi Mofflepop, I would recommend finding a building designer to prepare plans, they should design to your specified budget. The benefit is you can tender the project out… 9 20355 Hi, We're building a double-storey in Perth and I'm undecided with the kitchen sink situation. I'm set on having the main sink with dishwasher in the scullery - and… 0 20895 2 2963 |