FLOORING

Entrance border

Border in Butlers pantry

Living area

Kitchen

Hallway

Over the last 3 days we have had the guys out laying the Karndean flooring, we have opted for what is called a "ships plank" finish which is apparently the most labour intensive for this type of flooring. I must say that we have been impressed by the level of craftsmanship involved! They should be finished by the end of tomorrow. Tuesday the carpet layers will be on site. Still having problems getting the induction cooktop & rangehood installed hopefully this will be done by Wednesday.

A HIVE OF ACTIVITY

Rain water cups and downpipes to canopy

Water Tank

Coffee Machine and Plate warmer

Range Hood minus cowl

Range Hood fitted but needs raising to give more head room

Basins finally fitted as per manufacturers speci's

Hot Water control panel en suite

Hot Water control panel kitchen

Hot Water system

Intake vents

Air Con Installed

Air Con being installed

For the last couple of days there has been a hive of activity on site. Guess why? We had our final inspection yesterday and had told the builders that if all was not ship shape and Bristol fashion then there would be no settlement and no filthy lucre for them!!!

Arrived on site at 10am to find no less than 5 white vans & 3 Ute's parked at the site! We have never seen more than one trade on site at any one time over the last 15 months and yesterday we had Plumbers (gas fitters) Plumbers (Water tank installation) Plumbers (Spa pump installers) Electricians, Air Con installers, Renderers, Glaziers and site cleaners along with the SS and CS all madly beavering away to get things finished!

So how did it all turn out you may well ask? Well at 10am we could quite reasonably have turned around and gone home such was the bloody mess that greeted us. None of the 15 odd windows had been replaced as promised, no sign of any appliances, Water tank still being installed, rendering not finished, hot water system still being installed, electrics still being installed, downpipes to canopy not installed, rainwater cups not installed, mixer in en suite not refitted properly, shower not installed, missing one grab rail and two others installed were the wrong finish, front entrance not redone and numerous other items not done. In addition to all this our Air Con contractors were also on site installing their system!!

SS assured us that all was under control and that most of the items would be completed within hours he then went on to show how and at the end of our inspection we felt that although not everything would be right all the major items would be done by the end of the day and all outstanding issues had trades booked to fix within the next few days. We told him that provided this was the case and that appliances were installed we would settle, we then left him to it and went to the bank to get cheques for final payment and had lunch. Returned at 2pm to find nearly everything finished except for some electrics and the appliances which had arrived and were being installed. However after inspecting them we found they had the wrong range hood! More frantic calls by SS to supplier had the correct one on site an hour later.

We finally handed over our cheque at about 3.30pm and stayed on site till 6.30pm waiting for everyone to finish and clean up. There were still several items to be finished ie: range hood needs raising (to be done tomorrow) Ducted vacuum (done today) all other items are minor.

Why did we settle despite not being 100% satisfied? Economics! even if we pay extra to fix outstanding items ourselves it is still cheaper than the alternative of waiting for the builder and paying extra rent, storage and cattery fees!
Where to now? Well flooring prep was done today and Kandean flooring and carpets will all be done by next Tuesday along with all the window furnishings after which we will move in.

UPDATE

Well it's been 15 days since our last post and I have had complaints (Alan) that we are not updating the blog frequently enough and so subsequently not keeping him entertained! Some people obviously don't have enough to do at work! The picture above is for his benefit!!! Since the last post very little visible work has taken place. Met the SS & CM on site on 14th January to discuss positioning of grab rails and discuss items raised in the independent report and our walk through last December. They assured us that all items would be attended to and that we should be able to have a Final inspection by this Friday however after talking to the SS again today it would appear that this inspection will take at least another week.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hi all, well here we are at the start of another year and after 13 months of construction the end of the ordeal is in sight! Builders shut down over Xmas and will not officially recommence until the 12th January however I spoke to the SS today and he said that some work will be carried out this week starting with all the grab rails tomorrow. BTW the driveway was coloured and sealed on Xmas Eve

DRIVEWAY

Drainage grate and pit for rainwater cups

Closeup of stencil pattern

Aam visited site tonight to see if driveway had been poured as promised, great news its done at long last! Hopefully all the internal issues have also been fixed and we can get in early in the new year. Also we received our independent Pre handover Report today which states that house is fairly well constructed but had approx 27 items that will need fixing prior to handover. Many of these items we would not have picked up on so this inspection was money well spent.

FLYSCREENS

Security door to laundry

Security doors in Alfresco area

Aam visited site today expecting to see a brand new driveway which was to be poured yesterday. Still not done! Spoke to SS who said that driveway was not poured because of the wet weather but will be done next Tuesday. She did find however that flyscreens and security doors have been fitted. Not to sure that I really like the doors in alfresco area as I feel they dominate the wooden doors.

SOME PROGRESS

Taps fitted but tiling above mirror still to be done and power point still missing

Glass shelves finally in now for the lighting

Top grade grouting! I don't think! And this was how it was presented at final walk through

Now we have a hole in Spa hob Why?

Bidet installed but notice holes in tiles! Yet more rework!

Bidet installed

Mortar does not match will need redoing!

CM & SS both rang today confident that despite all the problems that house will be ready for settlement come Friday! We are not so confident, Aam visited site this evening and found that yes the Bidet has arrived and been installed but not very satisfactory also mortar around spa pipes does not match, feature wall in en suite has been repainted but not with the suede effect as previously so will need re painting. Driveway still not done! Still if everything is ship shape and Bristol fashion on Friday we will be happy to settle. Lets wait and see. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm