Building our first new home!

Sunday, 15 September 2013

Plaster & Brickwork start

Master Bedroom

We have now seen some progress on the walls of the house - with the basic plaster installed to the frame and the bricks at very early stages. Temporary external doors are also installed.

Chestnut bricks - Cat1 from Carlisle

Above are the bricks we selected, it was the nicest color in the bricks we were after and luckily had been moved down to category 1. Additionally, the bricks where in stock, so we didn't have to go to our backup bricks/have a delay in the build. The switch/meter box color is the same as our roof, a nice match.


Brickwork under construction

The brickwork is currently very early days, hopefully this week there will be a lot of progress. It looks like they only started very late Friday afternoon, so lets hope with a full week they can get a good portion done.


Garage Plaster

The plaster work looks to be at just fixed to wall the stage, cornices & plugging the screw holes still to happen. In the photo you can also see the man hole, which we had relocated to the garage instead of in the powder room.

Pre Plaster Inspection

Our per-plaster inspection came in a while ago - the defects/issues raised were very small/minor. The issues raised were mainly reinforcing and completely sealing holes that had been made - ensuring things are to code.

Carlisle have been responsive to our independent inspectors and followed the matters up - something that we hear often other builders will fight tooth and nail to avoid doing any fixes/works.

Our Slab inspection picked up only a few minor issues as well, with a slight slab miss-pour and again reinforcing the frame (mostly at overhanging areas - such as the porch). These were rectified without issue as well.

As mentioned previously in this blog, we used NHI - New Home Inspections. Reports have been good, with clear photo's, general description of the fault and then the applicable code/standard the flagged item relates to.

We will be having them back a third time, for pre-hand over inspection. On average it's around $500 per inspection - but money we believe well spent (Mostly peace of mind when building with Carlisle and just keeping on top of trades, to ensure corners are not cut) - as well, as, we are not versed in the relevant standards & codes.

It's also not in our interest for large items to be fixed latter - as that will cause large delays / destructive/inconvenient fixes in cases.

Electrical and plumbing in


Switch Box

The nice frame of the house has now been fitted out with the basic plumbing and the electricals of the house (The frame looked nicer without them!). The ducting for the central heating had been installed into the roofspace as well.

Bricks, Plasterboard and door-frame supplies had arrived - all the resources for the next weeks worth of work. We are glad that our choice of bricks was in stock (no need to worry about how alternative bricks will match + additional costs incurred).

Electrical, Data & plumbing

The electrical work in the place did see the cables go everywhere - making for a big web of cables behind almost every wall. We had elected to go with slimline points, which means all our power and data outlets are attached to wall studs - hoping they look great as a finished product.

Sunday, 1 September 2013

Roof - Complete!

Roof Complete

Our colourbond roof is now complete and looking good. We are happy to see the progress and great to see it all really taking shape.

Side/full view

The next stages are the start of internal plumbing and cables, follow by brickwork. The house should be heading to lockup soon (less photos and information then!).

Inside

Truss, batons & Sarking

Roof - Under construction

Roof under construction

A week after the frame had been done, the gutters went up initially and then our colourbond roof went up, along with the sarking underneath the roofing.

The roof is 25' degree pitch - as required by the estate (added cost for the build) - with the all important safety rail to ensure the workers are safe.

The light colour is looking great and we are happy with our choice. Hopefully with a lighter colour it will absorb slightly less heat then a darker colourbond roof - it will also contrast the darker colour bricks that will be coming soon.

Frame Stage - Complete!

Shell of the house

Our frame stage has now completed, with the trusses installed. They have also tacked on the extra noggins in the locations we requested (excluding bathrooms at current).

It is really taking the shape of a house now and its interesting to see and know the design of the place - hopefully that will make it easier for post hand over works in the future (both short and long term).

We have organised for New Home Inspections to inspect our frame stage and provide us with a written report. We are wanting to ensure that any problems are flagged as soon as possible, rectified in a timely manner and that the building is to code (which we know nothing of - so hiring a professional!).

Next stage is for the gutters & the colourbond roof to be attached. Looking forward to that and pictures to follow for that stage as well.