Waterproofing, painting, rangehood

Waterproofing was being done on Friday.

Painting nearly completed.

Did ask carpenter to make architrave around guest WIR, but it's been done the same - may impact on cabinet... need to get it remeasured.

Outside has been levelled with crushed rock

Met with concreters over the weekend.
Was trying to decide between tile vs exposed aggregate for the alfresco.
Concrete - cheaper, but more uncomfortable with bare feet
Tile - more expensive, looks better.
In the end after speaking to concreters, have decided to do tile.
Gave a good idea regarding the alfresco.
Was intially going to only alfresco part of the POS, but have decided to tile all the way out.
Also will do a path from front to the back, easier for wheelchair access.

Rangehood installed today with no issues apart from plumber initially unable to find duct.  That other guy so dodgy.
Ugly though... need to try and get it painted.  Unfortunately installed after downpipes have been painted.

Retaining wall complete!

After all that hassle, it was finally completed this week.  No more stress with it!  In hindsight, I would definitely have done it at the start.  Took 3 days.  They had the wrong measurements for the south side at 1.2m as my builder hadn't specified it on the plan, but thank God I was there on the first day as they were excavating, so managed to change it.

Painters were also in.
Couldn't look inside today as it's finally locked up.  But can see the garage paint. Also evidence of the windows covered.  I don't know why the external door is this colour....

Rangehood is still causing me issues.
I decided to get another quote from another installer.
Came on Friday to have a look, walked around and then he told me it would be too hard to get do it back ducted. What?! After I moved the down pipe?  He was concerned if there was piping, hot water system etc there.  I showed him the pictures at frame stage, but he still thought it would be a risk and it would be better to go through ceiling.  I noticed there were wires in the ceiling too, but he said that there was more room to move going through ceiling.  However to go through the ceiling would involve more ducts, plus more labour, estimated at 1600-1700 - so expensive!!  I asked if he could try back ducted first, and he said yes, 550-600, but if he had known that I had the material, he would have just told me over the phone. By this stage he seemed annoyed.  And I was getting suspicious that he was a dodge tradie, trying to make me do the more expensive option.
Called P and found out he actually used my first installer that I had quoted.
Called the first guy back to tell him that the down pipe had been moved, and he said there shouldn't be any issues.
Back to my thoughts that the guy was a dodge tradie...

Still trying to decide on what to do with landscaping.  Had another landscaper look at it, but he doesn't think I need to have retaining walls...

Fixing stage completed

Just got the fixing stage invoice :O
But... the sinks/basins haven't been installed?

Downpipe has been moved!

Cabinetry installed. Rangehood issues

Had 5 appointments today
- security
- blinds
- rangehood
- landscape
- wardrobes

Issues
- Security guy couldn't find his wires at the front of the house - it had been moved, but I'd taken a photo so managed to contact site supervisor to find them - they'd been pulled out, probably while installing the eaves.

- Rangehood - this one I should have known.  My rangehood is back ducted meaning it goes straight out the wall of the kitchen.  Forgot.  Put down pipe there. Face palm.
Rangehood guy makes it seem like it will be hard to move down pipe, so instead, he will go roof ducted.  Means useless $350 ducting, need an extra 5 ducts costing $600, and rather than a few hours work, it will take a day. NOOOOO.
Message site supervisor. Thank God that he can move down pipe!

Plumber pointing out where the down pipe should be!

- Landscaper. Sounds like I need to fill in a lot of soil, may also need more retaining walls.  Going to move my herb garden to have better light.  Also no point having the clothesline where it currently is as there's no light.
- Wardrobe. I was a bit useless, didn't really know what I want...

Things completed
- My cabinetry! Kitchen, bathrooms and laundry. 

Complete with expensive condiment

and bin drawer

Annoyed that the broom cupboard again has a fixed shelf, however it is higher, so should fit an ironing board.

- Garage floor

- Doors, architraves and cornices being completed.

- Stairs and hand rail

- Electricity meter

- Bricks acid washed
- Missing powerpoints

Also thank God my retaining wall is finally being resolved.  Going to build it at a reasonable cost. Only annoying thing is that I now have to have it further off the boundary wall to make it less than 1m.

Expected completion date

Met with my builder yesterday and he finally gave me an expected completion date - end of November :O
I was expected next year!
I have so many things to do

Also discussed the retaining wall - hopefully it will be settled soon. Solution is to have it under 1m so I don't need permit, and for that to occur, it needs to be 1.1m out, which is a bit annoying as I would like to have had more path space.

I have had to organise so many appointments for next Friday
- Security
- Landscape
- Blind quotes
- Wardrobe

Plaster completed

Things are speeding along.

During design phase, I was a bit concerned about the lack of window over the stairs for natural light.
Not too bad - although, there is still light coming from the master bedroom. Will know exactly once the doors are in.

Bulkhead over kitchen

Manhole in master ensuite, not in the right place, was meant to be in the retreat.

Master WIR has been extended to 600mm depth.  It looks smaller now that the plaster has gone in.  Okay still pretty big :D

Powder room sink bulkhead is a bit low.

Garage floor has been prepared.

Lock up stage, pre plaster inspection

Received the lock up stage invoice 2 days ago.  More delayed than I expected. I think the brick layers were held up.

8 September
Front door

12 September
Started bricking

15 September
Bricks completed
(Good to have someone next door taking photos!)

Had a look for the first time yesterday - pre plaster inspection was scheduled. I wasn't able to attend the whole time as I had to go to work.
Main thing I needed to check was electrical as the plasterers are going in on Mon.

Things that have been done:
- Living room window raised to 1.63 - so happy!  Will now be able to fit my tv

- Master WIR depth hadn't changed but site supervisor said he could do it.
- Insulation installed.
- Sliding door frames installed.

- Ensuite has been reinforced.  Not sure if there's enough reinforcement by toilet, but unlikely to have rail anyway.

- Front porch wall bricked.

- Electrical completed.  Missing one porch light.  Also had to change main switches of living/meals/kitchen to the hallway due to support timber beam.  This happened last time too - I need to think about those beams!  Should still be fine as most of them are 2 way switches, and a 2 way was added to the family.
- Bath installed

Things to do before hols

Going away for 3 weeks this Friday.

Things to chase

- Retaining wall.  Have been trying to chase my builder about the retaining wall.  It's still stressing me.  I got an email from him, and sounds like a do need a building permit for it. Tried to call today, but couldn't get through, so I'll need to sort it after I come back.

- Appliances. Was meant to be delivered next Thurs but site supervisor asked for delivery today for the cabinet makers - thankfully HN were able to rush delivery in time.

- Pre plaster inspection. Asked my builder and inspector to organise as it's likely to happen while I'm away.

- Guest ensuite. Frames had not been reinforced for grab rails.

- I realised that my living room window is too low at 1.5m and now my tv won't fit without covering part of the window.  Poor design by me.  I didn't even think about it.  It's not quite at 1.5 (1.48) so I've asked my builder to chock it up as high as possible as there's still a small gap above the window.

Not much has happened past 2 weeks.

Scaffolding has come down, and the render colour is the same - SOB! I was definitely expecting a more grey base, not yellow/brown.  Oh well.

Ground floor roof tiles have been completed.

Rendering

I dropped by after church today and was surprised to see people working today - due to good weather.

They were completing the rendering.

It looks like it has a yellow tinge which I don't like. Not what I was expecting.

Hmm, will have to wait and see.

Also looked at hallway duct - taken out more of my wardrobe space - boo (ignoring the fact that it is nearly the size of a room!)

I also realised that the west side wall depth is only 500. I should have made it deeper for my cupboards considering I have so much space.

Speeding along

My weekly check.
Hive of activity today.
Met my security guy on site for wiring today.

Installed:

- Stairs going upstairs.  Not much space under stairs to go in.

- Upper floor windows

- Foil insulation around upstairs

- Water pipes installed - Realised they didn't use the main bathroom void which is a waste.

- Cladding people here today.  Have already completed the Weathertex cladding.