Monday, October 28, 2019

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.


Sunday, October 20, 2019

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...

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Fixing stage completed

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

Downpipe has been moved!

Friday, October 11, 2019

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.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

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