Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 87Oct 16, 2019 6:58 am ST-Hardy I've just sat here and read your blog from the beginning, what a great read! Loved reading all of your ups and downs That "school gym" roof is massive!! What a statement it makes!! We live up the road from you in Port and are about to start our first build with Coral homes so i've been doing a lot of research and reading! Side note - if you'd like a quote for blinds/shutters, fly screens, security screens or doors contact us - 1800 Blinds Port Macquarie PM sent Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 88Nov 06, 2019 7:03 am OK, OK, so I am not dead. But I am just a little bit winged. The wrist was reasonably painful and I found that, surprise surprise, by doing too much, it hurt more. And presumably was not mending well. It was only in a half plastering so I still had some movement in it which meant the bone wasn't mending. So off I go the following week to the Orthopedic clinic for a review and on goes a full plaster. But at least this time it is a waterproof one so I can shower, swim etc in it. But now my wrist and thumb can't really move and i can't grip things etc. Grrrr! So I struggle on. But not before a fight to the death over 4mths with Telstra over getting a landline (which I don't really need) but it comes with ADSL2 (which I do need because the mobile reception is appalling here so I can't use my 60g mobile data). In the end I won, and I now have both. Telstra NIL, me ONE - Yea!!!! And that was after 5 mths battling the NBN, which they won by simply refusing to acknowledge my block existed. If I wrote a film script about it all, both Telstra and NBN, people would accuse me of making it up. Simply unbelievable. And such a huge waste of time on both sides, sometimes I was spending up to 3 hrs a day on the phone with them. Plus the TIO. Meantime, building has progressed thanks to the efforts of trusty Steve on the job and me wandering around aimlessly trying to help as best I can. And my son Patrick came up from Canberra and helped with the painting and the tractor digging for the big tank. Nice to see him. I enjoyed having here. Also a lot of time spent sitting in the office in the metal mansion doing the large amount of project management stuff that is required to build a house. Chasing product, harassing suppliers, investigating and choosing things, paying bills (why do people expect to be paid for selling me something or doing work for me??). I really underestimated the amount of time that needed to be spent on this sort of stuff. At least my years of working in the public service and as a consultant gave me the skills for it! I also had a week's holiday up in Cairns/Port Douglas with my friend Alayne, which i desperately needed after the wrist thing, the battle with Telstra and continuous work on the house since New Year. I am looking forward to actual retirement...... Here's where I am up to. Real signs of progress - the kitchen appliances arrived. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ As did the kitchen - well, some of it - and install started. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Once again, this picture is a not so subtle plug for AEG powertools. I love them, and they must love me, given I have been such a good customer! They have been doing such a great job, and I have a wide range of them bought in packs on Powerpass specials at Bunnings. Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 89Nov 07, 2019 6:49 am Unfortunately, the saga of the kitchen turned out to be very problematic too. Various things not delivered, misinformation, things damaged because of poor tying down on the pallet, incorrect speccing, delays and more. Bunnings have been good to me up to now and apart from some slipups which did not affect my installs and were able to be sorted in time, the no significant problems. Unfortunately I cannot say the same from the point of view of the Kaboodle kitchen - the peoples knowledge and communication, system processes, reliability, some quality aspects and delivery all failed reasonable expectations. I have been speaking to my account manager who is responsive - hopefully things will change. The price was very good though. But I will be definitely buying a custom kitchen from a reputable local supplier for my house - the Granny Flat is a rental so I can cope with a few modest quality issues. And both Steve and I are pretty fussy, most people wouldn't notice what we see! For example, if you laser align vertically the drawer fronts on one side of the 3 drawer 900mm cabinet, the other side doesn't align - the fronts are not precisely cut to the same length, so you can align only one side. Who will see it? Me, and Steve. These are the granite slabs at Edstein's factory which will provide both the benchtops for the kitchen and over the vanity and washing machine in the bathroom. The colour is a little stronger than the photo appears with the merest hint of a green in the grey - wasn't easy to capture with my phone camera. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ On that note, although I haven't yet had the benchtop installed, I can say the service so far from Edstein Creative Stone at Taree (also at Sydney and Newcastle) has been fantastic. Most importantly, the cost of my granite kitchen benchtop, measured and installed by them, was only $200 more than Bunnings' uninstalled manufactured stone top. Easy choice. They were recommended by a neighbour who had two large kitchen benchtops installed which were just beautiful and an excellent service experience. And the cost is much lower than going through a kitchen place. Worth a look if you are owner building in their area. BTW, I have no association with Edsteins of any kind, just impressed so far with my dealings with them. Here is the granite I am considering for the house kitchen and laundry. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ It may vary a bit from this slab, depending on what is available at the time. That is why they ask you to come to the factory to select the slabs you prefer at the time of measuring and cutting. The green is a bit stronger than this sample in the pic, and I am hoping to bring into the living area a bit more of the colours of the bushland against the neutral wall colour. And the bathroom tiled, awaiting the roof painted, silastic seal around ceiling line (no cornices throughout the flat), fan install (a larger remote one in the ceiling for quietness and ducted to outside), frameless glass shower door going in around 15 Nov) and granite benchtop for the vanity into which the white ABEY Quadro sink will drop. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Shower alcove below. Shower rose and tap was bought at a remainders outfit at Mascot. They are also in the Shed Bathroom. Nice quality Italian items at $20 each (new $120-140). There are great bargains to be had if you are in the right place (Sydney - I was working there for 5mths last year) and have the time to search. Wish I had been in a position to search out more then. Maybe an excuse for a trip to Sydney to buy some stuff for the house? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Still need to buy bathroom accessories - towel rail, hooks for robes, shower shelf, cupboard, mirror etc etc. Aim for completion of the flat is 20 November. Fingers crossed! Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 90Nov 08, 2019 10:32 am Oh your poor wrist! But it sounds like you're not helping it heal by trying to work haha! The nurse in me cringed at reading that you were still working with the half cast on! Progress is looking good...I like the granite but what colour is your kitchen and laundry cabinetry? BUILDING OUR FIRST HOME :x] Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 91Nov 08, 2019 12:55 pm Yes, I know, I know, I shouldn't be working with my crook wrist, but what can I do? Sit around and drink beer and play on the internet? Who would want to do that? Err, maybe I won't answer that. Anyway, I am impatient to get the granny flat finished so i can move into it and enjoy some comfort, after a year of building and about 2 years before that of mostly living on the block and travelling in my camper. It is getting hotter, lots of flies around and plenty of smoke from bushfires not so far away, so I want to be able to live in a well insulated place, with aircon as needed. The cabinets in both are gloss white. Not exciting, but neutral and fresh looking. The wall colour throughout is White Beach Quarter, a light sandy colour. One wall in the lounge will be Red Terra, an ochre/terracotta colour to give a bit of a lift. And I have a red coffee machine and other appliances. In the end, though, this will be a rental so I wanted something crisp and clean looking. Still trying to decide on the splashback tiles. Again, probably simple. Thanks for your concern about my wrist. I will probably get told off by the Orthopedic Clinic on the 20th when i see them too! Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 92Nov 11, 2019 9:15 am I think your colour choices are great, neutral is best! I can totally understand wanting a solid structure to live in after all that time in your camper. I hope you're safe from the fires where you are. It came quite close to us on Friday and my poor mum in-law lost her farm further north BUILDING OUR FIRST HOME :x] Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 93Nov 11, 2019 10:45 am BT-Hardy - sorry to hear about your Mum's loss. Really tough to lose property, animals etc. But hopefully she is safe. And you are all travelling ok. My tiler Jake's house was threatened at John's River near here and he was away working with his family at home. Two nearby houses to him went up and sadly a neighbour died. And I have some other friends who lost property. I went through this in the Canberra bushfires and, while not burnt out, it was close and risky. I never want to repeat that experience. My heart goes out to all those affected by these terrible fires. And tomorrow is looking like another terrible day. Be prepared, and be safe. Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 94Nov 12, 2019 9:20 am So some more pics to keep you up to date. Kitchen coming along. Waiting on some last bits from Bunnings. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Colour going on the feature wall - needs more coats.... and is very orangey. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Wall colour on living area - White Beach Quarter by Dulux. Has a little more creaminess in reality. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And in the other corner of living area. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 95Nov 12, 2019 9:29 am And more. Finished. It took 3 coats to cover. Top strip needs to be done but I can't reach and not getting up on scaffold (can't even move it on own) with crook wrist. Line on ceiling doesn't matter - still coated in plastic wrap. Will remove all later. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Floor going in...... Like ⋅ 1 comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And finished. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I like the figuring and grain. Possibly a little darker than I would prefer, but looks good and feels nice underfoot. It has a Dunlop acoustic guard underlay, it is good quality.Will fit skirtings over the top. Getting closer. Looking good for finish next week. Meantime, fire prep done, could be a bit risky tonight and lots of smoke around. Off to complete painting. Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 96Nov 14, 2019 7:06 pm Looking good! I love the floor choice too Glad to hear you've got a fire plan... I didn't have one until Friday last week when the apocalypse scenes hit Port! BUILDING OUR FIRST HOME :x] Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 97Nov 17, 2019 9:24 am Been a bit of a challenging week. Firstly the bushfires. For those in living in the face of them, my thoughts go out to you. This level of fires, and their prolonged nature, is unprecedented, particularly at this time of year. So many people have been directly affected, whether by the fires themselves, loss of lives or property, the threat of fires, the loss of staff in their business to RFS volunteering or protecting their families and homes, the smoke and its health effects and as emergency services workers who have had to deal with the impacts and aftermath. Thankfully, here in Laurieton/Lakewood the fires haven't burnt into town, at least yet. I feel for all of you affected. The fires have had some impact in terms of availability of goods and services, trades and deliveries. What's more, my delivery of a case of Pilsener Urquell, a lovely Czech Pilsener, has been held up too! It may not help fight a bushfire, but certainly would quench my fire. Oh well, these are trying times. Work has progressed.To demonstrate how bad the smoke gets at times, here is a pic out the door of my shed on e morning. The fires were still at least 10kms away south and north....... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Carpet laid in Bed 1. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Another view. Like ⋅ 3 comments ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Bed 2 done as well. Layer rells me that it is an interesting synthetic fibre. It feels more like wool than nylon, is very durable and cleans well, doesn't shed fluff and is made of 33% corn starch. Very popular for rentals. He has the more plush pile version in his own home. Oh well, if I get hungry..... These are the tiles I have chosen for the kitchen splashback. Simple, with the texture they will add a bit of life but not clash with the colouring in the granite. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 98Nov 17, 2019 9:30 am You can see in the pictures above of the Bedroom that the colour of the paint does not match the edging (and the earlier photos of the lounge/kitchen area) already painted in Dulux Whie Beach Quarter. The main colour is much darker, a greeny/grey. I am not sure I like it. When I opened the tin, it was pretty clear that the colour was wrong, but as I was running late from fire prep and the carpet was being laid the next day, I had no choice but to use it. As the curtains are also grey in a textured weave, I think the overall effect will be a dull greyness. But it means I will have to repaint at some point, probably before renting it out. Didn't finish until 10.30pm that night. Ah the joys of owner building! Not happy Jan..... Re: Am I crazy? OB near Port Macquarie 100Nov 18, 2019 6:14 am Thanks - but what would Just a Carpenter know?(private joke!). Still a bit to go and some interruption to proceedings from the bushfires which have been taking some of my time plus delaying some deliveries. Still hoping I may be able to move into the Granny Flat by the end of the week but looking challenging at the moment. Well these guys are not looking good... I sent them a written enquiry last week and they have not yet replied. If they cannot respond to a simple… 4 11055 It is in lake macquarie area and dimensions are width 14 m and depth 8 m and the slope is 1/5 going down from the road. 1 7782 I looked into it a few years ago and my conclusion was to just build a carport that will support panels and get a system installed separately. The company I looked at had… 1 6691 |