Thomas Archer Hive 46 (customised) Build 2020-21

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Only the top part is caulked from inside the house. The below and sides are not caulked. Should all 4 sides be caulked? I can see gaps in the bottom of some of the windows.

For the sliding doors, they have applied caulking from inside on all 4 sides. And for the top of the windows. Some of the windows in bathrooms have all 4 sides caulked. From outside I don’t see any caulking at all, just render. Not sure if I should be enquiring about caulking from outside or from inside. Would be good to get blacktea2sugars to respond regarding how it is done for her house.

Thanks Blacktea2sugars. When you get a chance can you please upload a photo of your window? So I should ask them to caulk externally and internal is optional or ask for both? I am really annoyed. I wouldn’t have know if not for others mentioning it here in forum.

It’s so good to see more TA homes being built and thank you all for sharing your journeys with us! The building industry is just crazy at the moment and TA has advised us that if we sign up now, we won’t be able to go on-site till April 2022! But seeing all yr homes come to life is making me excited abt mine ☺️

We have had our PSQ reviewed from last year (Covid interrupted our plans to build) and if you don’t mind sharing, can I pls check if any of you were charged a drafting fee ($3300) for making changes (TA has said that our changes to the predesigned plan is significant enough) and also a reestablishmeny survey charge of $1485? It wasn’t in our quote last year but is being put in our reviewed PSQ.

Thanks brain trust!

we were charged a fee around that amount for facade design (as our is custom). re establishment survey was also required as we are doing a pool and the shell was dug before the house started construction, so they re-surveyed in the event pegs got moved etc.

that being said, the set out was wrong anyways. Our re establishment fee was 1856.

We also paid a $3300 drafting fee due to many changes we made to the Evoke floor plan.

We have started on site but are now delayed due to traffic management - something that was an $18k cost in our Tender - yes, you read that right, not a typo.

We signed our PSQ in Feb 2020. The process has been largely frustrating but seeing pics from bigdaddy, blacktea2sugars and lilaandco gives me some hope....

I'll start my own thread about our experience given how helpful the other threads have been for me. I go from days of being excited and happy with TA to days of wondering why on earth we chose them as a builder. All part of the process, I guess....

You are echoing our feelings too. The process has been frustrating and has made me question our decision, but we are making progress too. Look forward to hearing more about your build.

This is probably design specific, however a few examples are:
- Because our roof pitch is quite low, there is limited space in the roof cavity. We had planned to have extra space around the HVAC unit for future upgrades etc. Whilst this was known at time of design, on site due to the roof trusses this could not be accommodated.
- The prefab frame and steel were not 100% accurate, so we had to make some concessions here
- A window had to be made smaller due to space constraints

All of these things were accurate as per the plan, however once you get on site and are actually constructing, things can change.

My only advice is to ensure you know your plans back to front and question the site supervisor if there are things that don't reconcile.

They had a total site requirement cost / provision in the PSQ of $25k.

Cost at tender / contract? $57k.... this included $18k for traffic management, $13k for eight crane deliveries and $13k for blade piles. Tried to push back on this without much luck. Got to a point where it was either "suck it up" or walk away.

The irony is that it is now traffic management which is holding up our build.....TA haven't had the traffic management plan approved and is requesting an extension to the HIA contract....ridiculous.

Omg! What a big blow out! That really is quite ridiculous 😬thank you all for responding so quickly to my query above. I just hope that with the increase in their business and workload that their care and quality will still remain into the near future. We’re planning to build a version of an Evoke too. Wellbuild, are you on a main road? Just wondering what their justification is for such significant traffic management.