We have decided to go back for more punishment and put a rear retaining wall the full length of our back boundary.
Our landscaper has been fabulous, and has quoted us up to have the job done any time now, while we still have access.
Hopefully we will get this going in the next week or so..... hopefully it goes better than the first one!!
We also went shopping over the weekend. Freedom had a sale and we couldn't say no! We picked up a lounge for the living area, a feature chair with ottoman, and a wing chair for the library/study. Lucky for us, the lead time on the products were 2 months, so this helped us heaps.
Its all starting to come together!
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Frame work is up, up, up and away!
Well, after a week or so wait, the frames are well on their way.
All the frame work is now done and looking great. The Roof trusses were supposed to be craned on last friday, but due to the wet weather it was a no go.
When we went to have a look, we noticed that the main wall between the hallway and the main living area seemed to be backways - the main opening was in the wrong spot! Whopps! After a quick call to our SS, it was fixed up!
We were quite nervous about the frames being up becasue we brough this house right off the floor plan (and a few tweaks on our end). There wasn't a sydney display of this home. We loved it on paper, and had our fingers crossed that we would still love it once the frames were up and we could walk through it (too late anyway if we didn't). We are happy to say it has exceeded our expecations. Every room is perfect and I'm really loving the open kitchen/dining/lounge area.
The study was alittle smaller than we first thought, so its become more of a library, instead of a usable study - but thats ok with us.
Hopefully the rain stays away long enough next week to get the roof trusses on and the gutter and faschia up...... fingers crossed the weather is good.
Here are a few pics.
All the frame work is now done and looking great. The Roof trusses were supposed to be craned on last friday, but due to the wet weather it was a no go.
When we went to have a look, we noticed that the main wall between the hallway and the main living area seemed to be backways - the main opening was in the wrong spot! Whopps! After a quick call to our SS, it was fixed up!
We were quite nervous about the frames being up becasue we brough this house right off the floor plan (and a few tweaks on our end). There wasn't a sydney display of this home. We loved it on paper, and had our fingers crossed that we would still love it once the frames were up and we could walk through it (too late anyway if we didn't). We are happy to say it has exceeded our expecations. Every room is perfect and I'm really loving the open kitchen/dining/lounge area.
The study was alittle smaller than we first thought, so its become more of a library, instead of a usable study - but thats ok with us.
Hopefully the rain stays away long enough next week to get the roof trusses on and the gutter and faschia up...... fingers crossed the weather is good.
Here are a few pics.
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This is taken from the kitchen looking into the bedroom    |
Monday, 18 February 2013
The retaining wall......
..... has been certified!!!
After much back and forth, we finally received word today, that the wall has been passed and deemed 'satisfactory'.
Thank goodness!!! End of that chapter hopefully.
There hasn't been much action on the block for the last few days. The framer has gone 'MIA' - he was supposed to turn up last Thursday to start work, however he didn't turn up - he is uncontactable and has just disappeared. Coral is now rushing to try and find another framing company to get them up. Finger crossed another company should be onsite tomorrow starting to put them up.
Just want it started already!
We also have the excavation machine thingo going to site tomorrow morning to cut out the back retaining wall. From there we will be able to organise to have that one done - hopefully it will be less drama than the first wall.
we'll be heading to site tomorrow for some pics, so I will post some tomorrow.
Cheers!
After much back and forth, we finally received word today, that the wall has been passed and deemed 'satisfactory'.
Thank goodness!!! End of that chapter hopefully.
There hasn't been much action on the block for the last few days. The framer has gone 'MIA' - he was supposed to turn up last Thursday to start work, however he didn't turn up - he is uncontactable and has just disappeared. Coral is now rushing to try and find another framing company to get them up. Finger crossed another company should be onsite tomorrow starting to put them up.
Just want it started already!
We also have the excavation machine thingo going to site tomorrow morning to cut out the back retaining wall. From there we will be able to organise to have that one done - hopefully it will be less drama than the first wall.
we'll be heading to site tomorrow for some pics, so I will post some tomorrow.
Cheers!
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Frames have arrived!!
Our steel frames arrived onsite today. They were originally planned for delivery yesterday, however, the commute from QLD appeared to set them back a day.
Carpenters are onsite tomorrow to start putting the giant mechano set together! Or at least I think they are chippies.... or are they metal workers if its a metal frame???? Dunno....
The temporary fencing also went up today. It was good to get a feel for how big (or small....) the back yard will be, off the alfresco area.
Yesterday our landscaper went back to site and finalised the 'infamous' retaining wall. The certifier was supposed to be onsite today to (hopefully) approve it...... however we didn't hear from them this afternoon, so we are hoping that no news is good news. We'll be chasing them tomorrow morning so we know once and for all where we are standing with this wall. Fingers crossed.
Looks like the next week will be all frame work. Gutters and fascias turn up straight up.
Lots of pics below.
Carpenters are onsite tomorrow to start putting the giant mechano set together! Or at least I think they are chippies.... or are they metal workers if its a metal frame???? Dunno....
The temporary fencing also went up today. It was good to get a feel for how big (or small....) the back yard will be, off the alfresco area.
Yesterday our landscaper went back to site and finalised the 'infamous' retaining wall. The certifier was supposed to be onsite today to (hopefully) approve it...... however we didn't hear from them this afternoon, so we are hoping that no news is good news. We'll be chasing them tomorrow morning so we know once and for all where we are standing with this wall. Fingers crossed.
Looks like the next week will be all frame work. Gutters and fascias turn up straight up.
Lots of pics below.
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And the retaining wall is done.... just needs to be approved       All shinny!  Shot of the back yard, standing in the master bedroom. |
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
The retaining wall...... again................
Soooooooo, our landscaper has been to site (for the third time now!) and has completed the retaining wall, so it goes right to the rear boundary. The private certifier is heading out to site tomorrow, so fingers crossed he finally approves the wall and we can close this chapter once and for all.
Because this has all been too easy (?!?!?!?!?), we decided to run a retaining wall the whole back length of the boundary. Our SS was kind enough to organise to have his bobcat guy dig out all the dirt required (and take the dirt) for $100 bucks! Deal of the century, given there is probably 8-10 tonnes of dirt to move. This was all scheduled to happen yesterday, and from there, we would organise the fence (once the current one is approved and closed off).
However, as seems to be our luck with retaining walls, the bob cat could not unearth the rock hard dry clay which was onsite. Weeks of rain and then sun, has turned the clay into almost rock!
So, the bob cat guy couldn't do the job after all that! So we still have all that dirt sitting onsite! Fortunately, our SS said he could organise the bigger digging machined (dunno what it is actually called) to come out to our site when it was next in the area to break through the clay - and he was kind enough to pay 50% of the cost for us, as he was feeling sorry for us.
Should have an idea when this will happen by the end of the week.
Unbelievable!! Don't build retaining walls!!!!
Below is a pic of the final I-beam against the rear masonry retaining wall on our neighbours plot. Timber sleepers were fitted today, so I'll have a new pic tomorrow.
We're off to site tomorrow to check out what the chippies were up to and hopefully celebrate the approval of our retaining wall...... hopefully we'll have good news tomorrow!!
Because this has all been too easy (?!?!?!?!?), we decided to run a retaining wall the whole back length of the boundary. Our SS was kind enough to organise to have his bobcat guy dig out all the dirt required (and take the dirt) for $100 bucks! Deal of the century, given there is probably 8-10 tonnes of dirt to move. This was all scheduled to happen yesterday, and from there, we would organise the fence (once the current one is approved and closed off).
However, as seems to be our luck with retaining walls, the bob cat could not unearth the rock hard dry clay which was onsite. Weeks of rain and then sun, has turned the clay into almost rock!
So, the bob cat guy couldn't do the job after all that! So we still have all that dirt sitting onsite! Fortunately, our SS said he could organise the bigger digging machined (dunno what it is actually called) to come out to our site when it was next in the area to break through the clay - and he was kind enough to pay 50% of the cost for us, as he was feeling sorry for us.
Should have an idea when this will happen by the end of the week.
Unbelievable!! Don't build retaining walls!!!!
Below is a pic of the final I-beam against the rear masonry retaining wall on our neighbours plot. Timber sleepers were fitted today, so I'll have a new pic tomorrow.
We're off to site tomorrow to check out what the chippies were up to and hopefully celebrate the approval of our retaining wall...... hopefully we'll have good news tomorrow!!
Some more additions onsite.
Hubby and I went to site last night and have a few things to report.
We have had a delivery of temporary fencing - its still in a pile, but its onsite! Don't know how useful it will be sitting on the slab..... but it's there! Plan is to have this errected tomorrow.
We also found that some dirt had been spread out right around the slab - looks much better now, and it helps to get a feel for how high the house will sit.
We also got an electrical box! Yay.
Frames were due onsite today (so hopefully they are sitting there waiting) and the carpenters are scheduled to start tomorrow. Hopefully we will have our retaining wall dramas sorted by tomorrow as well - see next post for more details.
A few pics of whats going on.
We have had a delivery of temporary fencing - its still in a pile, but its onsite! Don't know how useful it will be sitting on the slab..... but it's there! Plan is to have this errected tomorrow.
We also found that some dirt had been spread out right around the slab - looks much better now, and it helps to get a feel for how high the house will sit.
We also got an electrical box! Yay.
Frames were due onsite today (so hopefully they are sitting there waiting) and the carpenters are scheduled to start tomorrow. Hopefully we will have our retaining wall dramas sorted by tomorrow as well - see next post for more details.
A few pics of whats going on.
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Nice pile of fencing there  Site rubbish bin ready to get filled.  |
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
The wall that will never end........
So, while the pouring of our slab is great news, unfortunately, the retaining wall saga continues.
After a second attempt, the private certifier has still not approved the wall! We now have to have our landscaper go back for a third time. Our landscaper has been nothing but helpful, and has offered to go back at no additional cost to us, if we agree to use his services for another retaining wall at the back of the property (thankfully this one won't need to be certified!).
We are hoping to have the wall completed by the end of the week, and fingers crossed we can get it signed off early next week.
We are really over this damn wall! The stress and angst this has caused us is ridiculous. I will be strongly suggesting that Coral Homes offer the option to provide owners with retaining walls because this is just stupid!
There is one small benefit to this mess. We have decided to run a retaining wall right across the rear boundary while the house is being constructed. We were always planning on installing a wall here, but thought it would be easier to install after handover. However, after seeing the amount of excavation required we have decided to get it done now, while we have no neighbours or fencing's getting in the way. Just waiting on the quote back from the landscaper...... I'm sure that will be delightful!
Just a word of advice for anyone looking to buy some land - PICK THE FLATEST BLOCK!!! NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE SLOPE SEEMS RUN FAR, FAR AWAY. YOU DON'T WANT TO NEED RETAINING WALLS!!!!!! IF YOU DO - INSIST THAT YOUR BUILDER DOES THEM. DON'T END UP IN OUR MESS!
After a second attempt, the private certifier has still not approved the wall! We now have to have our landscaper go back for a third time. Our landscaper has been nothing but helpful, and has offered to go back at no additional cost to us, if we agree to use his services for another retaining wall at the back of the property (thankfully this one won't need to be certified!).
We are hoping to have the wall completed by the end of the week, and fingers crossed we can get it signed off early next week.
We are really over this damn wall! The stress and angst this has caused us is ridiculous. I will be strongly suggesting that Coral Homes offer the option to provide owners with retaining walls because this is just stupid!
There is one small benefit to this mess. We have decided to run a retaining wall right across the rear boundary while the house is being constructed. We were always planning on installing a wall here, but thought it would be easier to install after handover. However, after seeing the amount of excavation required we have decided to get it done now, while we have no neighbours or fencing's getting in the way. Just waiting on the quote back from the landscaper...... I'm sure that will be delightful!
Just a word of advice for anyone looking to buy some land - PICK THE FLATEST BLOCK!!! NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE SLOPE SEEMS RUN FAR, FAR AWAY. YOU DON'T WANT TO NEED RETAINING WALLS!!!!!! IF YOU DO - INSIST THAT YOUR BUILDER DOES THEM. DON'T END UP IN OUR MESS!
We got Slabbed!!!!
Well today is the day......
WE GOT A SLAB!!! The concreters were on site early this and all the concrete trucks were done and dusted by mid day.
Love, Love, love this house!
Our SS expects to have our steel frames arriving on site monday/tuesday next week. Really looking forward to walking through the house - hopefully by this time next week we should be well on our way to doing that!!
WE GOT A SLAB!!! The concreters were on site early this and all the concrete trucks were done and dusted by mid day.
Love, Love, love this house!
Our SS expects to have our steel frames arriving on site monday/tuesday next week. Really looking forward to walking through the house - hopefully by this time next week we should be well on our way to doing that!!
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| View from the street - facing the front door |
Waffle pods baby!
On monday this week the waffle pods were installed in preparation for the slab pour. After the wild weather last friday, the frame work had to be redone as the rain had literally washed it away! Some of the piers had also been exposed as the rain washed away the soil surrounding them. Coral had to put more dirt back, compact it, then set out the frame work again.
Anywho - the waffle pods are down!!! And....Wow the house looks so big!! Really really happy with the layout of the house. Its a tight squeeze down the side of the house, but we don't care.
All being well we should have a slab by mid this week - yay!!!!!
Anywho - the waffle pods are down!!! And....Wow the house looks so big!! Really really happy with the layout of the house. Its a tight squeeze down the side of the house, but we don't care.
All being well we should have a slab by mid this week - yay!!!!!
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| Re-worked frame work ready for waffle pods. |
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Thats a nice pile of waffles!! 
Alfresco area ready for slab pour. Bring on the concreters!
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