Handover Day!!

Today is the day - 26th July and we finally get the keys.  It's been a long haul but we're delighted with the final product.  We met the SS on site this afternoon and had a run through the PCI snag list.  

There was a significant issue that was identified by PD's inspectors post PCI - basically, there was some missing flashing and incorrect profile to the capping on the parapet wall at the laundry/kitchen. This actually needed to be a box gutter rather than flat.  The result was that scaffold went back up, then plumbers needed to return to remove, form and refit the capping, install the box gutter and (once the brickies had cut out a row of bricks) install the flashing.  Apparently this had been picked up earlier but no-one actually checked that it had been resolved.  Full credit to the inspector there - maybe they really are independent as it certainly created a big headache for PD.  Also, well done to Matt for getting it resolved in a short period of time.  Sure, we missed our target date for handover but that didn't affect us unduly as we were really planning for today.  

Otherwise, the vast majority of issues have been rectified with just a few outstanding but they will be sorted in a couple of days.  Main issue is the colour of the mouldings which I'm still not happy with - hence the painter will be back yet again on Thursday.  How hard can it be to match a standard Colourbond colour? Otherwise, we left the SS busily fitting door seals and arranging for appliances to be fitted tomorrow.  We also have our gas fire being installed tomorrow morning - and have just realised there is no gas connected. Yikes! After a frantic call or two, Matt managed to arrange for the plumbers to arrive first thing to connect the gas - that should coincide nicely with the gas fire installer.  Sanctuary Lakes fibre optic connection is also booked in along with hot water system and AC/heating commissioning. The concreting will be done on Thurs and Friday. 

Blinds were installed last week - they look really good and have saved a huge amount of work for me. Terrace and Al Fresco were rendered at the weekend and, as a result, the gap above the al fresco doors has disappeared. Great result there - we are really happy with the way that has worked out.  Lights etc were fitted over the weekend and we are really pleased with the results.  Overall, I think we are finally there.  There's a lot to be done before we actually move in a couple of weeks but this is a big milestone that feels a bit surreal. Looking forward to doing all those jobs over the next few days, then I'm off to the USA on business and will return on 7th Aug for a week off to sort the move.  Fencing is booked in for 8th Aug to make the block beagle-proof and removals on 10th Aug.  

What could possibly go wrong???

New capping to parapet with box gutter profile

Base coat of render went on Thursday 21st July....

Top coat on Saturday 23rd....very pleased with this

Look...no gap!!

New fan on al fresco - matching fan on terrace

Pendants at kitchen island

Pendants again

Light above dining table (eventually!)

Kitchen and lounge area

Roman plus roller blind in study

Roman in master bed

PCI....!

Today was our Pre Completion Inspection. True to his word, the SS had done a great job in getting on top of all those outstanding jobs.  We agreed to a 2 hour delay so that the site and house could be cleared. What a difference a good clean has made.  The house was finally revealed in all its glory.  No litter, muddy footprints or wee in the toilets.  The kitchen units had been stripped of their protective film (a nightmare for the cleaners to do, apparently), the floors swept and the interior painting (almost) completed. There is still some painting to be finished outside (lintels, fire box, garage access door etc) and lots of touch ups highlighted by bright blue tape.  

The renderers were on site yesterday but were unable to complete the job due to high winds.  Today was another nightmare weather day in Melbourne (freezing cold winds that whipped up big waves on the lake) so no rendering was done today.  The plan is for them to complete the facade on Thursday.  

The main issue for today was of course the gap above the sliding door.  Apparently a manager will review that on Thursday/Friday before they decide how to proceed.  As I reminded the SS, he has only known about that since Feb - so why are we still discussing a resolution at the PCI? As for the terrace ceiling leak, the SS sent me pics of the interior (of the ceiling, through the hole) and it was bone dry. He thinks the brick cleaning acid had caused the discolouration. I'm not sure, so we have made a note and will resolve it if it reoccurs. Not sure what else we can do right now. 

Other issues are relatively minor.  The tiling around the benchtop that was redone last week is actually rubbish so that needs to be re-done - for a third time!! And the edge of the tiling on the terrace needs to be redone as it is noticeably uneven. Downpipes to be straightened to cater for my OCD. Bricks to be cleaned in areas (where they are turning green - apparently this is common with this brick colour which is why we paid extra for brick neutraliser - so I assume the treatment was missed in some areas. Otherwise, it's the usual touch ups and caulking.

So we are pushing for a 22nd July settlement which would give me a bonus weekend to get stuff done before heading overseas.  Also met the concretor on site and he had some good ideas to achieve the finish we are looking for.  Overall a very positive day.  Shame I've got tonisiliitis and didn't sleep a wink last night.  It must surely be plain sailing from here :-)

The Pressure Mounts

Another frustrating week despite starting with an email confirming PCI on the 12th. Trouble is, I think we will be turning up with some major jobs outstanding. Sure, the weather has been awful but we have had a couple of really bright and dry days yet the render has still not been done.  Fence came down though - although that just meant the disgusting amount of litter on our plot has spread to our neighbours property. Wholly unacceptable and I fired a terse email to the SS to tell him about this.  It's a tip. 

Electrician was also back to fit out the garage and down lights to the facade. There are still a few missing in the eaves so I'm hoping he'll be back on Monday to complete that.  On Friday, the SS promised that the render would be done that day and the painter would be 'working all weekend'. Yeah, right...! I saw the painter on site briefly on Saturday but not sure what he did. There is a ton of work to be done by Tuesday. 

And then I noticed water leaking through the al fresco ceiling. Oh my....this could be a real problem.  I let the SS know but he couldn't explain why it's happening.  After all, the terrace was waterproofed and tiled.  I notice that a hole was cut and plastered in the ceiling on Friday so maybe they have found the cause - will be watching that closely as a persistent leak there will be a big deal.  

I also provided a long list of snags that I expected to be fixed by PCI. This includes many things that I pointed out to the SS during our first meeting in February.  Thought it best to set out my expectations in writing because they have been ignored thus far.  My number 1 issue is the two brick-course gap above the sliding door on the al fresco.  The SS was referring this to his manager (at long last). He was talking about cutting and welding - it's now time for action not empty promises PD.  With just 48 hours to our PCI, the pressure is mounting.  Still no painter, still no render and the site is a disgrace.  Tick, tock.....

Fence gone...the big reveal!

Water leaking through to al fresco ceiling

Water leak

What a tip.....Really PD???? Litter blowing into our neighbours' properties which is very embarrassing. And tradies are still chucking their crap into it.  So over their complete lack of respect...and PD's inability to manage them. 

Goodbye June...you were supposed to be the one

So June 20th has been and gone and, surprise, surprise, we are still living in a rental and waiting for our house to be completed.  There has been some progress this week (ending 2nd July). On Monday - soffit boards, garage door, bits and bobs, Tuesday - nada, Wednesday - shower screens completed, Thursday - mouldings fitted to the facade and....wait for it....the missing bench top. Hoorah!!!  Our PCI is locked in for 12th July but there is still so much to do. Tiling at benchtop and alongside master bath, rendering, electricals to name but a few.  Oh, and we didn't realise the mouldings would be going on our facade columns so that means our new LED up/down lights won't work. Bugger! Back to Beacon we go.

Having said that, we have had to start planning for our move. Of course, if we were to settle 2 weeks after the PCI, then that would be a week before I have to go to the US for work.  Bloody typical.  So assuming we do get the keys then, we will install fireplace on 27th, concrete on 28th, and lights etc fitted that weekend.  I will then be away so we will book removals for 11th Aug and hand back the rental on the 15th. By this time I will be overseas yet again so I have one week from 7th to 14th Aug to do all those jobs and get the move complete.  Exciting but daunting as well. Was really hoping we would be in by now.  Anyway, here are the latest pics....

A different view looking across water to rear of house. 

Shower screen complete. Quite like these frameless shower screens. 

Mouldings. These are cool. Polystyrene covered in a render. They will be painted to match facade render colour. 

At last...the long awaited benchtop.

Progress so far....

Looking down the street to our new house. 

Crawling Along

We met with the SS on Friday and I think he got the message loud and clear - I am very upset, frustrated and disappointed with the inexcusably slow progress over the last few weeks.  By his own admission, he is struggling to get trades to commit to turning up.  This is compounded by the fact that they have generally already been paid and are therefore reluctant to turn up to complete the job or rectify the mistakes made.  The benchtop is still not in - apparently that was cut incorrectly yet again and is now starting to cost Porter Davis money - $1500 according to the SS.  I am quietly satisfied at that although I'd be even more satisfied if the damn thing was fitted.  

The sound insulation has gone in...or has it??? When I asked how they had fitted sound insulation at the foot of the stairs, he didn't have an answer - that's because it hadn't been done.  So, yet again, they need to remove gyprock, fit the insulation and then re-plaster.  It's farcical...!  

But the most maddening thing of all is that tradesman have been in the house with muddy boots and traipsed mud and dirt across our new floors and carpets.  This is outrageous.  PD's response is they will replace any damaged or scratched flooring.  Well, of course they will but this attitude is precisely why we are delayed - just get your tradesmen to do the job properly the first time around.  Rework is costing PD and me.  It's pathetic really - amateurish and something I would expect from a lower cost builder.  

The carpenter hasn't yet been to finish off, mouldings have been incorrectly ordered, and termite protection is incomplete.  The SS thinks we will have a PCI on 12th July with a settlement 'a couple of weeks after that'. We still don't have that in writing but an end of July settlement couldn't be worse for me as I need to go to the US on business then.  So disappointed yet again.  

On the positive side, the gas meter has been fitted, alarm and data wired up and garage cornice fitted.  This week, the SS has assured me that the carpenter will be back and benchtops fitted. Masters has also had a lighting sale and we have bought outside lights and a bunch of down lights to be fitted in bedrooms and bathrooms. 

Overall, there is a lot still to do and I have lost confidence in the SS.  Feeling helpless right now but at least he gets how annoyed I am.  We have just ticked over a year in our rental - thank god we haven't been given notice to vacate.  

Lots of photos of the house though.....

Kitchen - the troublesome benchtop is below the windows

Kitchen with flooring -we really like the laminate

Repair in cloakroom where missing sound insulation had to be fitted.  This is a farce!

Rumpus and stairs, looking towards bedroom at front of house

Master ensuite with shower screens fitted.  Very pleased with this but just noticed there is tiling missing alongside the bath (in addition to the glaringly obvious!). Why does no one but me bother to look at the plans???

Master bed vanity and mirror

View from the terrace

Eve's bathroom with freestanding bath

Looking back to rear of the garage.  Pool will go here - one day!!

A very muddy hallway.  Very annoyed about this - chances are that mud and dirt will have found its way into the joins between laminate panels.  Very, very poor form PD! 

From the hallway looking up to rumpus

Triple garage - ceiling still to be painted 

The story so far.....

Progress this week....

......yep.....nothing.  WTF!

Now looking like end July before we're in. So over this!

Totally Floored

A better week this time around.  I left for the airport on Monday morning to see the brick cleaners hard at work.  By the time I got back on Sarurday morning, the flooring had been laid, the base coat render applied, site (almost) cleared and - from my vantage point downstairs - the mirrors and shower screens installed.  There's still heaps to do - finishing, rectifying earlier faults, fitting the missing benchtops and re-tiling around the hob to name but a few.  The tiles have been ripped out where the new top needs to go and packing fitted to the bench - hopefully we will get the desired effect. The SS still hasn't notified us of a settlement date but assured us that would be this week.  I don't think end of June is possible so maybe we should be aiming for mid July.  Let's see what happens there.  In the meantime, I got yet another quote for fencing (the first from Jim's Fencing was nothing short of outrageous - he clearly didn't want the job) while the second didn't actually bother to submit a quote.  Hhhmmmmmm.... Spent this afternoon at the site killing weeds in advance of moving in and clearing a spot for the dog to enjoy!

Flooring - laminate in dusty rock....I think!

Flooring through kitchen and lounge area

Render to garage facade

Render to facade piers

Progress so far....