Down Pipes Installed - WK 16

Week 16

Mon 21st Apr - Sun 27 Apr 2014


Not much happened this week seems tradies are still enjoying the Easter/ ANZAC break so besides the Downpipes half fitted to first floor we had nothing 


Mon 21st Apr - Down Pipes Installed - Day 75
Delivery: DownPipes (Colourbond June)



Tue 22 Apr - No Work - Day 76


Wed 23 Apr - No Work - Day 77
Not only was there no tradies on site but no Weekly Contract Admin status update either


Thu 22 Apr - No Work - Day 78


Fri 22 Apr - No Work - Day 76
Public Holiday: ANZAC day

Not feeling the love this week Lets hope we get back on deck next week? no more public holiday/short week excuses

Wall Installations & First Floor Brick Cleaned - WK 15

Week 15

Mon 14th Apr - Sun 20th Apr 2014


This week we had beautiful Melbourne weather so got to see some bits and pieces done to the home. If one were to drive by the home they would have thought nothing was done but because I have a really nice neighbor who happened to be on a two 2 week leave , he managed to see tradies come in and out and was even kind enough to take some photos for me

Heres the highlight of the week:-
- Electrical Rough Ins (Door intercom Camera wiring)
- First floor bricks cleaned
- Rendering (second coat)
- Brick control joints sealed
- Plumber - Bath and shower mixer installed
- Internal Wall installation delivered and installed
- Roof Scaffold down


Mon 14th Apr - Installation Batts delivered - Day 70
Delivery: Installations Batts ( Bradford Gold high Performance)

Accordingly to people we were given very good quality installation Batts (Bradford Gold high Performance) Apparently is one of the best you can get and this came at no additional cost to us because it was based on our 6 star energy rating report

Heres some light ready if anyone is interested
Bradfold Gold high performance Ceiling Batts
http://www.bradfordinsulation.com.au/Products/Residential/Thermal-insulation/Gold-high-performance.aspx


Bradfold Gold high performance Wall Batts
http://www.bradfordinsulation.com.au/Products/Residential/Thermal-insulation/Gold-high-performance-wall.aspx 

No work was done on the sight besides Family Room Double power Point issue fixed.

Last week when the Electrical rough ins were done , I'd noticed the double power / Antenna point was not correctly position in the center of the wall ( we plan to wall mount a TV on this wall ). Today when we returned we notice this had been corrected.

Here is the before and after shots 

Tue 15th Apr - First Floor Bricks cleaned - Day 71
Today at about 7:50am received a courtesy call from the SS. Apparently this is the Lock Up courtesy call that you'll get. Then about 1 hour later received my "Lock Up" invoice via email..
So you guys building with Burbank, if you receive the courtesy lock-up call from SS, expect to get the LOCK up invoice moments later

So we are now officially at LOCK UP stage!!


We also had someone come and clean the first floor bricks.



Who said tradies dont work late???
Drove pass around 7pm (its quiet dark given daylight has ended) and notice there were two cars parked outside the house so I decided to pull up and question what they were doing? They advised they were the installation guys coming to put in the installation batts. (apparently they had 5 other jobs to do before ours today and we were there last).
They were planning to do as much as they can between 7pm - 10pm and were going to return at 6am tomorrow to complete the remainder.


Here's a photo of the guys putting up the batts. I couldn't believe it but within 15 minutes , most of the wall to my living room was done...

Lucky we have temp power hey?

** Lucky we managed to clean in between the walls before they were covered up by these batts



Wed 16th Apr - Installation complete - Day 72
It was a busy day at the house according to my neighbor today

Plumbers and Electrician returning to do last minute working and plumbing work (before plaster goes in I think.)

The Roof Scaffold was taken down and we even a man come to seal up the brick control joints


Yeap the same installation guy that was there last night return at 6:30am and by 5pm he had finished fitting the installation batts to both first and ground floor

Based on our 6 STAR energy rating report we had the following installations put in:-

- R1.0 installation batts between ground and first floors (I've been told its very rare that builders will install this) But its been installed to protect the sound barrier between the two floors.

- R2.7 batts and foil to external walls
- R2.7 to walls between garage and house
- R6.0 batts to First storey ceiling.

TIP: if you havent been provided with copy of your energy rating , its worth to get a copy of it from your builder so you know exactly what you are getting.




Thu 17th Apr - 2nd Coat of Rendering - Day 73
The Renders returned today to give the front facade a final under coat of render (total of two under coats) before the real colour goes on. He told us that he wont be back to after Easter now because he has a few other jobs to finish off due to the rain last week.


Weekly Contract Admin status update:-
SS is organizing all trades to return on sight to fix up all the issues that has been raised, Bricks were cleaned this week.



Fri 18th Apr -No WORK - Day 74
Pubic Holiday: Good Friday


Heres some photos:-

Man sealing up the brick control joints

Second undercoat of rendering

Installation batts to wall and between first/ground floor (joist)

Yes its been a busy week this week at the house and I have a feeling if we lucky we maybe seeing plaster get delivered and installed next week.

 

Eaves and Rendering Starts - WK 14

Week 14

Mon 07th Apr - Sun 13th Apr 2014


Despite Melbourne having a whole week of rain, we had a few things done in order for them to be one step closer to lockup, not long now

- Electrical Rough Ins ( Power Points, Light points, Datapoint, TV Points and Security Alarm wiring)
- 4500m Eaves Installed & Painted
- Rendering
- Kitchen Drop down Ceiling and Hallway Bulkheads
- Wall Leveling (preparation for Plaster)


Mon 7th Apr - Washing Machine Tap re-positioned - Day 64
No work was done on the sight besides Washing Machine Taps issue fixed.

During time of plumbing rough ins (Week 6) , I'd noticed the washing machine taps were in the wrong location. It should have been installed on the Middle or LHS of the cupboard so they could be closer to the washing machine and the pipes NOT taking up the whole cupboard. Today when we returned we notice this had been corrected.

Here is the before and after shots

Tue 8th Apr - Electrical Roughins - Day 65
It rained all day today, would have NOT been surprised if no work was done on the house today. After hearing some friends suggestion I thought we go to the house after work to clean and sweep between the internal walls before they get covered up with plaster. To our surprise all the electrical rough ins were done to both first and ground floor.



Wed 9th Apr - Plaster Preparation - Day 66
What an awful wet day it was today as it rained again all day. I am so thankful the bricking was completed last week

Thought I drop by to take some photo of the electrical work and notice the cleaner had come and cleaned the interior of the house (both first and ground floor) Yah!! this cuts back some of our cleaning time.


Weekly Contract Admin status update:-
We still waiting for a few things to be done before we call it lockup. We may organise to have the Eaves put on and some rendering work happening next week.




Thu 10th Apr - Eaves & Rendering commences - Day 67
Yet again another wet and raining day but this did not set any of the tradies back.

There were tradies on sight putting up the eaves and even managed to start abit of the render work to the balcony.. YAP you heard right, even when it was raining they were rendering




Fri 11th Apr - Facade Rendering - Day 68
Despite it rain again today, today was a busy day at the house.

A few different tradies were on sight today:-

- The two renders returned to try apply as much as possible - the first coat of rendering
- The Lockup man was there to do the remainder of the wall leveling (in preparation for the plaster) and checking all the door heights etc.
- The Plumber returned to put on the shower pipes


We also managed to go check out Melbourne HIA Home Show - Many thanks to HomeOne & organizer of Melbourne HIA Home Show 2014, for sending us two complimentary tickets.




Sat 12th Apr - Eave Painted - Day 69
As it rained all week the painters had to come out today to apply the first coast of paint to the eaves

Now the Eaves are installed and painted, it makes it look lovely and neat

Here are some photos:- Electrical Roughins Kitchen Drop Down Ceiling /Bulkheads & Internal Floor cleaned   Eave installed and painted A little rendering House @ Day 69 of Build - Since sight start

First Floor Brick DONE - WK 13

Week 13

Mon 24th Mar - Sun 30 Mar 2014

The First floor after (09) days of Brick work is finally complete.. YAH!!!



Mon 31st Mar - West Side Complete - Day 59
First Floor Brick Work Day 5: Brickies completed the bricking the remainder top half of West Side.

Tue 01 Apr - Above Alfresco Door Bricked - Day 60
Delivery: More and more and more Bricks were delivered today (this making the third brick delivery)
First Floor Brick Work Day 6: Brickies complete above and below Alfresco Sliding 

Wed 02 Apr - East Side Bricked - Day 61
Delivery: The Balcony External Flooring ( Scyon Secura)
First Floor Brick Work Day 7: Brickies completed the bricking the remainder top half of East Side.

Weekly Contract Admin status update:-
The bricklayer is due to complete the First floor brickwork by the end of the week.
Once complete we can proceed to LOCK UP.


Thu 03 Apr - South Side Bricked - Day 62
Delivery: Bath Tub
First Floor Brick Work Day 8: Brickies completed the bricking the remainder top half of South Side. Also the bath tub to the upstairs main bathroom was delivered and installed

Bath Tub arrived

Fri 28th Mar - Balcony Bricked - Day 63
First Floor Brick Work Day 9: Brickies completed all the brick work to the front of the home and at long last I get to see my brick Balcony.
I just hope once its rendered it was worth my 2K upgrade from Cladding to Brick work.
Also, all the brick to the window sills were bricked too!!

Brick Balcony (as opposed to Cladding) 

Yet to be rendered

So how Long did it take (3) Brickies in the end to finish bricking a 41 square double storey home I hear you all asking??



Drum roll................



Ground Floor - 11 Business days
Thu 20th Feb - Fri 7th Mar 2014

First Floor - 09 Business days
Mon 24th Mar - Fri 04th Apr 2014


I am interested to know if anyone's bricking took as long as mine???


But I must say in the end they did a very clean job which I am impressed   

House @ Day 63 of Build - Since sight star