Tiling

Couldn't get on site all week and then today just as we were heading out to look at furniture, the tilers were there finishing up their work.

Porch

Powder Room

Shower

Kitchen

Pantry

Laundry

Main Bathroom

We upgraded the vanity basin here (and also in the ensuite) because the standard one looked a little small compared to the size of the vanity. I actually don't even think the vanity in the powder room and water closet are wide enough to have any other basin.

Shower

Water Closet

Tiler was in here working on the vanity tiles. It was at this point that I noticed the skirting tile in this room was somehow different to the previous bathroom and powder room. I'm certain that the skirting tile is meant to be the matching floor tile as shown here, but it seems like the tiler has used the larger white shower wall tiles in all the other room. I'm not complaining if that's what I'm getting. Gotta love freebies.

Ensuite

Shower

We didn't ask for floor to ceiling tiles because it was going to be an extra $4000 and we had to stop somewhere with all the variations and upgrades. However, we've just noticed that the shower here really needs to be full height. Otherwise it's going to look incomplete when the glass screen close off the area. We asked the tiler if they can lay the extra row but they said they will get in trouble if they do. So it has to be done after handover.

Cabinets

Someone forgot to take the keys home. It was just dangling there in the door via the garage, a great opportunity to see what's inside.

Kitchen

Island Bench

Cargo Drawer

Bin Drawer

Undersink Drawer

Pantry Bench

Pantry Cupboards

Laundry

Water Closet

Powder Room

Main Bathroom

Ensuite

It was literally only last week when payment for the internal linings was completed and today we've received the invoice for the fix-out. The next one with be the last payment, that is PCI. Not long to go now.

Locked out

Front Door

The doors are finally on but we managed to sneak inside to take a few more photos before it was locked the next day.

Back Door

Alfresco

Not much happening inside, mainly walls being plastered with cornices and skirting being installed... except for the stairs! This was an upgrade, though I'm not too keen on the second hand rail being there. This is the first time I've seen it (photos from other builds and the display home did not have it) but apparently it's a new requirement due to the width of the stairs. Also missed that the larger first step was not on our variation/contract. Never occurred to us till we saw the picture side by side.

Display home

Spot the differences

Looking Back

Another take on the build progress, this time from the rear.

Demolition - 07/09/2013

Cut & Fill - 12/09/2013

Piers - 11/10/2013

Frames - 09/11/2013

Brickwork - 27/11/2013

More Brickwork - 26/12/2013

Backyard covered in weeds

This is the view standing from the laundry door.

Roof - 06/02/2014

Almost there - 18/02/2014

Door - 12/03/2014

The strange thing here was when the council approved the plans, the rain water tank was moved. It was supposed to be behind the house, but it's now located on the side of the house. The only thing left at the rear will be the air conditioning unit. Going to be quite plain and bare here.

Build Progress

It's been about 6 months and the build is progressing along...

Cut & Fill - 09/09/2013

Piers - 11/10/2013

Slab - 15/10/2013

First progress payment after the slab was completed.

Frames - 30/10/2013

More frames - 06/11/2013

Second progress payment when the frames were done. Was literally two months into construction and we've already paid for 50% of the build. House does not look like it's half done at all.

Brickwork - 14/11/2013

Pillars - 26/12/2013

Third progress payment when the brickwork was completed. It's starting to look like a home now.

Roof - 18/02/2014

Cedar Cladding - 02/03/2014

Door - 12/03/2014

Exterior is pretty much done, most of the scaffolding is down and the front door is on.

Verandah - 05/04/2014

Scaffolding is down and the verandah is done. Though I have to talk to the SS and see why was the verandah painted black and not the same stain colour as the rest of the house. If it was a base/undercoat, shouldn't it have been white?

Paperwork

As you can probably tell from the timeline, after the electrical appointment it's just a series of paperwork. Mainly singing off plans and variations, going through the HIA contract and sorting out the finances and demolition. The only big surprise was the variation about the provisional allowance. Turns out when the actual figures came in, they were lower than expected (regarding the storm water and sewer drainage). So for once, there was a variation that reduced the amount instead of adding to it.

Site Demolished

Next post will be more exciting when the construction finally start. It's been almost a year of planning and preparations.