ALMOST to Lock Up

It was very exciting to see the brickwork has been almost completed!  A little down one side and a little at the front.  So nice to have the brickwork above all the windows, it is surprising how such a seemingly small thing just finishes the house off in such an appealing way.

The floor is still mostly a pond and the dripping through the under floor insulation is still disturbing... but at least i know if i ever spill anything it can't do any worse that what has already happened!

The gas line has also been attached, just no meter yet!

The idea that we will be moving in a few months is finally sinking in!!

WINDOWS!

Drove up today to what looked like BLACK WINDOW FRAMES!!! I almost had an heart failure, until i realised this was just the protective tape and the actual colour was exactly what we had chosen :) PHEW!

 So exciting to see all the sisalation on and the scaffolds up for the brickies. Next week should see a real attack on getting us to lock up! All going well Lock-up should be complete around the end of July! I really need to start pushing for an end date after that!

 The rain has been a real issue, with puddles on the floor and holding up works. We did have to choose to build over the winter... although it feels REALLY wet, the weather bureau reports only average rainfalls this winter, so it is just my impatience making it appear that it is raining more than usual >.< 

We have a combination of awning windows and sliding window, we were not too fussed what went where at the end of the day windows of both kinds have favourable features.

Family Room

Kitchen Splash back

Front.

Floor Coverings Chosen

We actually chosen flooring months ago, it just slipped my mind to blog it ;) We went with Carpet Call in the end, their fully installed costs were just so much more competitive! We chose a beige solution dyed carpet (looks warner than the picture) and a spotted gum look floating laminate floor board (which is also warmer than the picture)

Frame stage complete

The roof trusses are on! The brickies have started on the entrance, door frame in, and the side if the house. Still no windows on site and with the weather due to rain all week it is not looking good. (i was just thinking 'but I haven't heard any rain yet, they nay get a day today' when sure enough it started!) Again the rain in that flooring makes ne more then a little worried about the condition of our floors and under floor insulation... Only time will tell I guess.

Floor and Frame!!

Things have really taken a big leap for us this week with the Floor, under-floor Insulation and Wall Frame going up! This is such an exciting stage as it is the first look at the feel of the flow of the house and the size of the rooms! As we have never seen a display house of this plan it has been a real leap of faith for us to build this house from just the plans.

We  were ecstatic at the views from our windows, facing southwest  around to Northwest - the view of the weather moving over Melbourne and the Baw Baw Ranges to the North is going to be such a plus!

The size of the living and the family rooms was a really pleasant surprise, we had anticipated smaller living areas that we actually have.  There is a lot to plan in terms of decking, paths and driveway, eeeeep! I sense the bills will just keep floading in!

 Fig 1: Looking from the corner of the kitchen you can see the Bedrooms, Bathroom and Toilet.

 Fig 2: Garage, gotta love the dry access!

Fig 3: Main Bedroom from the front of the house, on the left is our front door. 

Fig 4: You can see the Fence line where the neighbour's garage is to be built, our side yard!

Fig 5: Our Living Room and Dining - the kitchen starts on the very left!

There was some water build up on the insulation under the floor, once the roof is on this will have an opportunity to really dry out before the floor coverings go on!  I have some concerns about the yellow-tongue will all the rain we have had (with another 30mm expected overnight) about the state of the flooring before the floors go on.  I guess a really good inspection to ensure all the joins are even before allowing tiles to go on and a good clean beforethe carpets go on will be in order.

The finish still seems such a long way off!

Assuming another week for the roof, a weeks windows... they would go in over a day you would thing (but they are not on site as yet), 2 weeks for the bricks (plus wet weather) I would hope to see Lock up by the end of July we would hope!

Then it always seems to slow right down, with sparkies and plumbers, plasterers and painters, tilers and fitters, cabinet makers and carpenters. We had originally hoped for a May finish, then a July, then a September. I am now calling October!  We have now not had a place to call our own for 17 months, October will have seen us living with the parents for 20 months... the kids have shared a room and hubby's parents have given up half their house for us: it is time!

Joists and Bearers!

Well we are slowly getting there! They had to knock a layer of bricks off for some reason... who knows why, I am guessing it has to do with tying the brickwork into the carpentry, but honestly i have not idea really.  We are excited that we get a better idea of our view now and the underneath of the house is starting to feel like a room!

An the delays just keep coming!

Well after 2 weeks hold up we should be back on track next week!  Although with the weather the way it has been it would have been little use even if the delays hadn't happened.

The variation for the fact that the house is actually 400mm higher than the initial plans indicated have been approved by the council and signed by us!

The carpenters should be there next week and the frame should be up by the end of the week, weather permitting! :)