Home Straight......

Realised it has been a while since I posted.  Problem with fixing is that for days on end it appears that nothing has happened, and then one day you return and find you have a kitchen!

Since my last update things inside have been progressing well, if a little slowly with the heat.  Painter has almost finished, which is allowing other works to progress.  This now allows the electrician to get going on lights, etc, and with the kitchen in tiling and plumbing can also progress.

Still a little work to do, but we are now able to see the light at the end of the tunnel!  Some other photos below fyi.

  

Vanity unit in our ensuite.  Love it!  You have no idea how relieved we are that the tiles, vanity top and cupboards all appear to blend together instead of clashing!

Close up of ceiling

Alfresco area with ceiling and lights installed.

 We have also been lucky with our footpaths.  Given the poor state they were in prior to starting our build, the council agreed to replace the lot while we did the crossover.  We now have new fences and new footpaths / crossover along our boundary.  Looks great and no gaps between our fence and the footpath!

This week sees Peter Horton back to finish paving the back entertainment area, which finishes off the back.  We then just need to install the driveway and all outside works are complete.  Remainder is inside works, which can continue regardless of the weather.

Fixing Continues

Joe (builder) was hoping to have fixing complete before Christmas after getting a good head-start, but a couple of minor hiccups delayed us beyond recovery.  Still, we have floors down, most of the skirting and architraves done, tiling completed upstairs and almost done in our ensuite, and the front and back decks almost completed.  We also have started on the retaining walls which should be completed in the new year.

Decks just got their first coats of clear protection today, and they look a treat.  With most of the retaining wall done the entertainment area out back is really starting to take shape.  Can't wait to see the finished product!

Main thing we are waiting on now to finish the fixing stage is the cabinetry.  Cabinetmaker (Sussex Designer Kitchens) is expecting to install last week of Jan, so hopefully by mid Feb we will have kitchen, laundry and vanities installed, which will allow Joe to finish skirting, tilling, etc.

Have attached a few photos of current state to keep you interested!

Alfresco and retaining wall

Alfresco

Upstairs bathroom from doorway

We Have Stairs!

When I left for work at 9am this morning, there was a van parked at the house, and a single tradie working.

I came home from work today at about 1pm, and the house was locked up. I peeked through the front, and this is what I saw...

Yes! 

Stairs!

(Thank you to the excellent craftsmanship of Melbourne Stairs.)

Rooms taking shape

With the plaster on the walls we can finally get a feel for the size and layout of the rooms.  Downstairs is almost complete, and upstairs should be done this week.  It's amazing what the addition of Cornice does to the plastering.

Hallway view from front door (stairway on right)

Family Room

View into Kitchen / Dining

Clerestory in Kitchen / Dining

On Friday we will have our stairs installed!  The kids are really excited as they will finally be able to go upstairs and see their bedrooms, bathroom and playroom.

Everything going well we will then get timber floors dropped off next week.  Joe is also hoping to get tilling underway soon, and then install the vanities and laundry cabinets before Christmas.  Have hit a bit of a snag as the skirting we want will take around a month to arrive, but there is plenty of work for Joe's guys to do in the meantime.

Outside is not progressing quite so quickly.  Still waiting for renderer to come back and finish mouldings and final coat of paint.  Also hoping that the retaining wall and concrete for outside paving goes in this/next week, so that Joe can install deck of Alfresco before Christmas.  Thankfully this does not impact on works inside.

Fingers crossed everything goes to plan!

Lock-Up and Beyond

Reached lock-up a couple of weeks ago, and everything seems to be taking off.  Outside we are still waiting on the last bit of rendering to be completed and painted, so that we can install the fence and retaining walls.  Not as much of a rush now as we can work on the inside if the weather doesn't suit.

Inside everything seems to be flying along.  Plumber and Electrician have been through and roughed out piping and electrical wiring.  Hydronic heating pipes have also been installed, and just this week insulation was installed in the walls.  Plasterers were here this weekend installing battens on the ceiling, and insulation will then be installed on the ceiling.

Next week we are expecting plastering to start, more insulation to be installed, and a visit from Melbourne Stairs to measure up for our stairs.  Also hoping to install solar panels on the roof while we have rafters exposed making wiring easier.

Because of all the activity we are getting busy picking tiles, a vanity unit, cornice, finalising colours for the kitchen, etc, etc, etc!!