11.12.10 Driveway beginning

Well after lamenting the other day, at about 11am the concrete contractor turned up and said he tried to ring but neither I nor my Mum answered our phones and here he is to start the excavation and installing the formwork. Excellent, great to see you, feel free.

He and his son finished about 6pm having completed the formwork for the driveway, front steps and entertainment area and having laid some gravel over which the reinforced steel and concrete will go.

Camden Council will be contacted on Monday to organise the inspection they need to conduct to approve the road crossing, that is to say the point where the driveway meets the gutter. I am still yet to learn why this is needed, so if anyone has any understanding about it feel free to leave a comment about it.

Fingers crossed, if he can organise for the inspection to occur by Wednesday or Thursday he can organise for the concrete to be delivered the day after as it will take two days to complete laying the concrete. Therefore by Sunday it should be finished all going to plan.

Weather for the week, however:

WIND RAIN HUMID MIN MAX

SUN		Afternoon Clouds. Warm.	5 km/h N	-	45%	16	28
MON		Mostly Sunny. Mild.	18 km/h ESE	-	51%	16	26
TUE		Mostly Sunny. Mild.	13 km/h E	-	62%	18	25
WED		Early Fog Followed by Sun. Warm.	16 km/h NNE	-	48%	17	29
THU		A Few Thunderstorms. Mostly Cloudy. Warm. Humid.	5 km/h E	5mm (53%)	78%	20	30
FRI		A Few Showers. Morning Clouds. Mild.	10 km/h S	2mm (42%)	89%	19	25
SAT		Mostly Sunny. Mild.	16 km/h SE	-	51%	17	26

...so I am inclined to think it is more reliable to believe the concreting begins Friday and finishes Saturday (or Saturday then Sunday).

15 sleeps to Christmas

Well it looks like Christmas won't be at my house this year. With all the rain the concreting is still yet to happen, and for some reason the contractor doesn't rely on weather forecasts, so Tuesday and Wednesday just gone were good, he was able to finish the jobs he had oustanding, but then he says I'll come Thursday, to which I say it's going to rain in the morning and clear up as the day goes on. He calls my Mum Thursday morning and says he can't start it because of the rain??? My Mum said she doesn't care - it just has to be done in time for Christmas.

The skylight has been a massive improvement to the internal toilet and a number of times people (including myself) have commented they were about to turn the light off in the toilet when coming out, but then rememebered it isn't on, haha.

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT have the builder install built-in robes if you plan to have them fitted out. The fit out was done earlier this week but because of the way the shelf is installed, by removing it trashed the wall. This will now have to be patched and painted sometime in the future. When I put the pictures up over the weekend you'll realise what a waste the builder's effort is. If I were to do it again all I'd ask for is the external wall - as I think this is nicer than a retro-fit by the wardrobe company. I would say no doors, no tracks, no shelf, no rail - just a L shaped wall or the walk-in cavity and door. This way you have all the space to the ceiling to play with and all the space from wall to wall.

Waiting on a costing from a landscaper as the drainage really needs to be fixed otherwise the yards will continue to flood, regardless. What he wanted was for the concreter to do his stuff and he'd take over from then, but I've got a feeling they will have to work on the site together. The landscaper needs to get the drainage done before the fences go in, so my promise to my dog that she'd move in for Christmas looks like it has gone out the window.

Other than that I potted a michelia into pot and its sitting out the front on the portico. I plan to prune it into a sort of conical shape and it will hopefully obscure the view of the outdoor GPO that the builder put to high up the wall.

A glass skirt fell out of a light fitting last night and it appears that the flared part cracked at the waistband and then it sat on the globe which caused some plastic of the socket to warp and the skirt, globe and spring that holds it all together just fell to the ground.

The kitchen add-on should happen next week, which will mean things can go to their final homes. The whirly-bird that went in seems like it is doing the right thing, generally the house is moderate at all times, but the walk-in-robe in the master and the garage are permanently stiffling so so vents are going to be installed in the ceiling to allow the hot air to escape.

The solar electricity is not yet booked in for installation as the demand has meant there is an under-supply of units.

The air-con is booked for January as a neighbour asked what the delay is, the slab outside that the external unit sits on, and he suggested having the external unit fitted on brackets to the wall... Thanks for that, I have no idea why the company didn't suggest it.

So the to-do list is: concreting, air-con, landscaping, fencing, grass, clothesline, shed, solar, and finish setting up the study.

The Great Flood

Last week, I can't remember which day, but I was driving home from work and I thought "ow what a great sky, I am sure it is going to look awesome from the portico". So I called my Mum and asked her to grab the camera, as my one in the mobile is broken (see below).

I hit the Oran Park/Gregory Hills intersection on Cowpasture Road and it is raining. I call home and ask about the rain. My Mum says it's pouring and she wants to show me something when I get out of the car.

I get home and OMG:

The sky was lovely.


But because the block out the back sits higher, the rain rushed down to my backyard and down the sides of the house. It also came from the side neighbours backyard as her landscaping isn't complete yet but because of the way Allworth excavated my block, it just...


Pooled around the house. The water tank is on the back wall.


And at worst it was above my ankles. I'm wearing my gumboots, which come up to my knees.


My Mum reported this to a Mirvac SS the next day, and he said he is going to look into it.

Painting continues

First night back at TAFE for this term and class was cancelled. So after I had dinner I went for a drive to check progress. It appears painting is finished in most rooms, except for the open plan great room and kitchen. The high gloss on the trims and doors also looks done as the doors were leaning against walls throughout the house. The front and laundry doors are also painted, but the eaves and the downpipes have not yet started. By the look of it, if the weather goes well tomorrow they could finish it.

WIND RAIN HUMID MIN MAX

TUE		Light Rain Early. Mostly Sunny. Mild.	16 km/h NNE	1mm (30%)	58%	15	23
WED		Afternoon Clouds. Warm.	12 km/h NNE	-	48%	14	25
THU		Mostly Cloudy. Mild.	15 km/h N	-	59%	16	24
FRI		Heavy Rain Early. Morning Clouds. Mild.	18 km/h N	9mm (83%)	90%	11	24
SAT		Mostly Sunny. Cool.	23 km/h W	-	34%	6	16
SUN		Mostly Sunny. Mild. Crisp.	16 km/h W	-	36%	7	19
MON		Mostly Sunny. Mild.	11 km/h SW	-	34%	8	20

Hmm, maybe Wednesday?

What a joke!

The Building Manager contacted me to tell me that an Independent Inspector is fine, but that they need to provide copies of all insurances, policies and cards, AND consult with the SS before going on site to arrange access (pfft the gate is never locked anyway which is why people keep dumping rubbish on the pile at the front).

I raised the issue of SS2 being uncontactable to which I was told he has been off with pnuemonia. And that's my problem how? They can send out a letter because of rain but can't have the same courtesy to say "Hi. Your SS is sick and please direct all contact to so-and-so until further notice" ???

The rain is my problem because even though I think everything is going swimmingly it may be that a painter was off work last week and therefore may have to catch-up and this has a ripple effect to me in about 4 weeks. So if a butterfly breaks wind in Tibet...

And he tells me that there is a limited supply of contractors. Again how is this my problem? I have seen them working weekends in Spring Farm, don't kid me. But unless I want to put a complaint in with Fair Trading he's not budging, but its only a letter to say there MAY be a delay, not that there WILL be.

Also the contract is deemed to commence from the end of the 4 week lead-up period, so if thee take 19 weeks, they take 19 weeks, if they need another, they can take that too. He only handles construction and isn't responsible for delays from other departments to date. Great.

So do you think I got anywhere on the concreting and retaining? NO I didn't. Apparently other builders or trades on their site will sue them if they have an accident. Well why does anyone bother to have insurance, seriously! They haven't allowed anyone in over 20 years of building to do work of that nature, maybe pools but not concreting. Well why have 'unless written approval from the builder' if you are never going to allow it? He never said never apparently.

Somebody get me a sedative.

Allworth want an extension

Allworth wrote advising that due to the rain they are entitled to extend the contract by one week. I have emailed back saying this is not accepted as they commenced building two weeks earlier than planned and therefore have 17 weeks to complete instead of the usual 15 weeks, an therefore an extra week is not reasonable.

Also since I go out there so frequently I agree they lost a few days but not 7 days to the rain, and since I am satisfied that progress is proceeding at a normal rate based on what I read from other Bloggers, I disagree with them that they need an extension.

In the email also complained that SS2 is not answering phone during his office hours and not leaving his answering service on so I haven't had contact in a week, and therefore had to let them know in the email that I have organised an independent inspection for progress and PCI checks.

Just to try my luck I also sought permission to lay concrete in the driveway and entertainment area and then retain the backyard after the security fence comes down, but before PCI as the remaining vacant block to the rear is now the only easy access to the yard.

Drove past tonight after TAFE and the long bedroom wall and the rear wall is about 3/4 bricked up, so really can't figure why they need another week. I'm thinking at this speed end of next week the bricks will be finished.

RAIN!

I cannot believe that there is one small space of roof still not finished, the bricks are sitting there and the RAIN has started. So I am guessing unless they get in and out tomorrow nothing will happen now until next week.

Wind Rain Humid Min Max

WED		Mostly Sunny. Cool.	11 km/h WNW	-	85%	9	17
THU		Drizzle. Mostly Cloudy. Cool.	18 km/h WNW	1mm (33%)	78%	8	16
FRI		Drizzle. Decreasing Clouds. Mild.	25 km/h SW	1mm (32%)	72%	9	17
SAT		Sunny. Mild.	10 km/h NNE	-	52%	6	18
SUN		Drizzle. Partly Cloudy. Mild.	15 km/h W	1mm (30%)	79%	7	20
MON		Mostly Sunny. Mild.	19 km/h SW	-	69%	9	18
TUE		Mostly Sunny. Cool.	11 km/h S	-	37%	5	14

Slab Poured 13-07-10

Today the slab was poured just in time for showers to hit SW Sydney. Someone I know who is building on the same block but on Minorca Circuit went past his house today as I let him know that his roof tiles were completed yesterday, and today he let me know the slab was done. He said he is surprised how high it is but is probably as high as I anticipate as there will be 3 steps from the garage into the house.

But just in case I didn't know about the slab it would have been alright because Allworth called to let me know the invoice is in the mail and to ensure the authority to pay is submitted the the lender ASAP. My gosh, I haven't heard from them except for when I called the SS but now because they will need to be paid they are quick on the phone the same day. Mind you my friend's builder had the hide of submitting the invoice a week before his slab went down and he called to say thanks but he wouldn't be paying until they had done the work. The hide of them, seriously.

I was out with a friend for lunch today and because of the rain there was no point trying to get out to SF by dark, so tomorrow I'm going to take pics and post them later.

Booked in for piers

Writing after midnight so have to remember that I called yesterday afternoon to start with. When I did call I spoke with SS1. After a bit of persuasion that I need to know when things happen and not be advised last minute, an appointment was made for pier hole measuring on Monday 5 July at 11am. I understand this to be the time at which holes will have been drilled about as round as a bin lid and I walk around with the SS or some other person with a tape measure and confirm that the various piers have been drilled to the depths recorded. I guess this must be due to someone being sued at some stage.

Fingers crossed for no difficult rock extraction though as that will be an extra fee. Feeling confident so far as the cut and fill showed no evidence, and when driving around I have seen what appears to be sandstone after cut and fill, particularly in those blocks down near the creek. Speaking of, if the fence goes up next week, I might go help myself to some abandoned rock if I can find it because the backyard is going to have a rainforest/tropical type landscape adjacent to the entertainment area. This includes a cascading water-feature, pond type installation, so some manageable sizes will be handy.

In re-reading my Allworth info however, I found out that SS1 and SS2 are only contactable Monday to Thursday after 3pm!!! For anyone who has been reading the adventure to date you will appreciate that I like to keep my finger on the pulse (if for no other reason than stuff just doesn't progress without nagging), so a maximum of 8 hours during the week in which to contact these guys is fairly restrictive. Also, when considering that I rang SS1 and went to voicemail, then SS2 and that rang out, so then rang SS1 again to leave a message and lucky he picked up, this instills in me little confidence that communication will be easily achieved during those 8 hours.

But looking at the bright side, Monday is booked in for piers, pending no rain on the day. If it is raining that morning he said don't bother coming, which I guess is a fair call if it were torrential, but in the event of a light sprinkle I will be there with my umbrella and gumboots in tow because what little I know of concrete is that a little dampness is good for allowing it to cure. You just wouldn't want the ground so wet that the pier holes cave in before being filled.

Looking at another blogger who is building the same design with Allworth I anticipate the initial plumbing and slab to be done by 20 July, with lock-up achieved by the end of August!

Whatever you believe in people (so long as it is not malevolent) ask it to go easy on the rain over the next couple of months, even if you cross our fingers, and then once we have lock-up it can rain all it wants :o)