Our first meeting with the Site Supervisor

Last Friday we had our first meeting with our site supervisor (SS), at the house.  I'm a bit concerned I've left this update too long as I don't really remember the details, but the crux of it was that we are very happy with the site supervisor and the meeting renewed our waning confidence in the process.  A great outcome for everyone.

The SS was friendly, professional and helpful.  We had a few concerns to raise with him, and he patiently went through all the issues.  Most were 'standard' things that will be fixed up in time, but we weren't to know and he was never condescending.  Some of the things we were assured were:

• The roofer will be back to do a pre-handover service and will fix the piece of raised colorbond.
• The window supplier will provide matching aluminum strips to be fitted above the windows and doors that have a gap between the window and the brickwork.
• The missing plaster in the garage will be fixed up before painting.

The SS told us that we will be finished in October, but says he can give a better estimate once the tiling has started.  We'd be happy with October, but happier still with September!

The week's progress seemed slow again, but there were a few new bits and pieces for us to see.

Bathrooms

Ensuite Shower

Bathroom Shower

The shower bases are in in the bathroom and ensuite.

Internal doors

Pantry Door

All the internal doors have been hung.  The picture above shows the pantry door, which was the most interesting of the doors.  We had chosen the Balmoral 2 doors for all internal doors except the pantry, which was to be a flush panel door, but a Balmoral 2 has been delivered and hung.  We spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about it and have decided to stick with the 'wrong' door.  At least it will match all the other doors!

Architraves

 

Living/dining architraves and skirting

The architrave saga continues.  Despite calling the site supervisor at 8am Monday morning about the mistake, the carpenters didn't get word that they were using the wrong architraves/skirting until they had completed the architraves and were well underway with the skirting.  The correct materials have been delivered, and the SS tells us it should all be fixed up by the end of this week.

Front door

 

Front door (external)

Front door (internal)

Our front door has been hung and it looks great.  The wrong deadbolt has been put on it (it should be square), but apparently that is an easy fix.  The door is yet to be painted, but we are very happy with the look - we've been hanging out to see it hung and it didn't disappoint!

The writing's on the wall...

... literally!

Scribbles

The walls are covered with pencil scribbles.  The site supervisor mentioned that the plasterers would be out this week preparing the plaster for painting, so perhaps it's to do with this - we have no idea!

Generally, Saturday's visit was a bit disappointing.  Last week was definitely the slowest progress we've seen.  Fixing stage was scheduled to be finished last Wednesday, but it was held up by a trailer losing a wheel (at least that is what we've been told).  As of today it's still not done, so I guess we're at least a week behind schedule now.

Kitchen

Bulkhead

Progress in the kitchen was limited to the addition of the bulkhead.  It seems strange to us that they would do this after the cornice had been fixed, but as long as it gets done.

In the kitchen are a few extra cabinet doors.  We can't figure out what they might be for, I suppose time will tell (or they'll disappear).

Architraves

Architraves

The architraves are almost complete.  Unfortunately the wrong architraves were delivered so they will all have to be re-done.  Somehow we missed this last week.  The site supervisor has said that this will be fixed this week and shouldn't hold things up.

Bricks

What's going on here?

Bathroom window

Fence

Fence

The west boundary fence has been completed.  We also have confirmation that the rear fence will be provided by the developer, which is a nice bonus for us.  Technically we can be organise it once we have the certificate of occupancy, but hopefully we can at least get on the waiting list before then (a toddler and an electric fence don't seem the greatest combination).  We also discovered that the block on the east side has been sold pending settlement, which explains why the developer says it's sold but the council tells us the developer is the owner.  We will have to reapply for the owners' details at the end of the month.

All in all it looks like the dream run is over.  However we're hardly at panic stations, and hopefully our meeting with the site supervisor on Friday will set our minds at ease.

Almost at lock-up

Last week we got word that we were pretty close to lock-up, so we were keen to get out to the site on the weekend.

Bricks

Bricklaying is pretty close to done.  It looks like all there is left to do are the pillars on the portico.  The quality of the brickwork looks great, and we are glad that the site supervisor recommended the raked mortar to us.  It is interesting to see the difference in workmanship between the areas that will be rendered and the rest of the house.

Front

Rear

Rear

Rear

East

West

Portico

Heating and Cooling

Heating unit are in.

Cooling

Heating unit

Gas

Gas has been plumbed to the kitchen and alfresco.

Alfresco pillar with gas

 

Electrical

The electrical has been roughed in.

Electrical

Front Door

Much to our delight the front door frame has been fitted.  We were concerned because by our calculations the frame was going to be a little to big for the cavity (about 6mm).  We weren't sure whether the frame size out be different to the standard or whether they would make it fit somehow, but either way it is in and it looks fantastic.  There is a temporary door on at the moment, but the size is exactly what we are after.  The door is a 2340 x 1200mm pivot door and will hopefully be a the feature of the entrance.

Front door

Front door

Front door

Defects

We noticed a bent window frame on the west side.  The we mentioned it to the site supervisor who said it was pretty common and would be fixed later.

Bent window frame

Bricks and Roof

Yesterday we visited the site and were welcomed by the sight of a wall of bricks and most of a roof.

A week's work

Bricks

Last Monday, before the bricks were delivered, we recieved a phone call from the site supervisor to ask us about our selected mortar.  We had selected raked mortar, in off white.  At Hopetoun Interiors we were told that the only option for these bricks was raked mortar, and we (the most indecisive two people on the planet) were pleased that that decision had been made for us.  However the site supervisor was calling to tell us that in his opinion, raked mortar was not the best option for our bricks, and that we should consider ironed (or rolled) mortar.  His opinion was based on the shape of the bricks.  We thought it over and decided to go with his recommendation.  We were really pleased that he called us when he saw something that he thought could be improved.

Our bricks were delivered on Thursday, and by Saturday the external wall of the garage has been layed and the eastern wall has been started.

Our site supervisor is very happy with our bricklayer - he told Robert that he is one of the top 3 bricklayers in the western/northern region.  We're not experts, but the work looks very good so far.

Garage Wall - External

Garage Wall - External

Garage Wall - Internal

East Wall

East Wall - with window frame

The bricks are Boral "Mocha".  Unfortuately I don't think any of the photos show the colour of the bricks especially well.  Perhaps the last one is the best.

Roof

We also found that our roof is well underway.  The roof is Colorbond Woodland Grey.

Roof from the front

Roof from the rear

Roof from the rear

Roof from the rear

Hole in the roof from inside

Roof from inside

 

Plaster

Sitting in the middle of the family room we found a giant package of what we assume to be our plaster.

Plaster?

 

Repairs

The carpenter had been to fix the internal doors which were not the correct height.  All internal doors are now the correct height.  Walking through the door frames gives a real sense of the high ceilings; it's very impressive.

Corrected door frames

The dodgy nogging in the theatre room had also been fixed.

Theatre room nogging

Wrapped!

Robert did another drive-by on the way home from work tonight. Word from the site supervisor is that the bricks and brickies will be onsite tomorrow. None of the issues identified in our weekend inspection have been addressed, but there has been progress, with the addition of gutters and facia, and the whole place has been wrapped for bricking.

Garage and east side

Front

West side

Gutter and facia

Defects - Frame Stage

Independent Inspection

Yesterday we recieved the report of our independent inspector, explaining some of the pink paint that we saw on site.  There were no major defects, but a few things that need attention.  The pictures below are from our inspector's report.

There are a few spots where the frame overhangs the slab by more than the recommended maximum of 10mm.  The east and west walls of the garage are both affected, as is the west side of the portico.

Portico overhang

Garage overhang

Garage overhang






One nogging is not firmly fitted between the two studs under the theatre window.

Nogging

Nogging

 




There is no packing between the door jamb studs and the door frame between the garage and the house.

Door jamb

Door jamb

 


 

Finally, there is inadequate blocking/support below the underside of the timber beam above the bi-fold doors. 

Support

Support

Support

 We notified our site supervisor of the issues this morning, and they will be rectified.

Door frames

I mentioned in my last post that some of the door frames were standard height where they should (according to the contract) be higher than standard.  The site supervisor noticed this himself and has arranged for the carpenter to come and rectify this.

We have been impressed by the site supervisor's response to these issues, and hope that, given they are all minor, they won't cause unnecessary delays.