I never really fully appreciated until now how a well positioned and insulated house makes all the difference to whether it is too hot or too cold inside. The main living areas of our house face north east and stay really cool even in 33 degree heat and high humidity. We catch the breeze no matter which direction it is coming from, simply open a few windows and a bifold door and viola instant cooling. We have not needed the air con on during the day once yet and boy let me tell you it has been hot and sticky weather here in Brisbane since we moved in. The last few places we lived we would have melted and needed the air con running at full bore under similar conditions and even then it would still be hot.
The only room that gets quite warm is the master suite but that's because it faces south west and at the moment we don't have proper window coverings and haven't been opening the balcony doors so our pieces or cardboard for curtains don't blow off!
Hopefully we will find the house stays warm during the winter.....
We have decided we are going to keep a tally of running costs for the house so at the end of our first year here we can let you know how much we spent on gas, electric and water. I think it will be quite interesting.
Showing posts with label Air Conditioning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Air Conditioning. Show all posts
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Nearly There?
18 weeks have passed by since the build started with the site scrape and it has flashed by in a blur of concrete, steel, plaster, timber, cables, pipes, bricks and tiles.
Things are slowly coming to an end, the balustrade on the balcony is in place and the air conditioning unit has been installed. We were trying to think what else needs to be completed before our home is finished and this is what we came up with:
We have had a stressful few days with the SS verbally fighting with the pool builders. It got very heated and quite nasty and I had to tell everyone to pull their heads in and try to get them to reach a compromise but sadly because tempers had become so heated everyone was digging their heals in and refusing to budge. In the end I had to call the construction manager who eventually calmed things down and got the situation rectified. I never knew temporary pool fencing would cause so much mayhem. I tell you they are worse than kids. However, we are determined not to let a moody SS spoil it for us. But had this happened earlier in the build I would be approaching Metricon regarding a change of site supervisor as I don't appreciate dealing with someone who is dismissive and aggressively defensive and then tries to bully people in to doing everything his way. It is interesting that when you ask him about something his answer is always a sharp "that's standard" I think I'll ask him if he'd like that as his middle name! Yes it has been irritating but Sandy and I are very calm people and can see the funny side of it but when people are threatening to walk off the job and rip up your concrete because a pool fence is too close to the house you know that it's time to say enough is enough. We are supposed to be having a site meeting on Friday so have decided that each time we point out something that needs changing we will be a little tongue in cheek and simply ask "erm is that standard?".
We have had a native plant gardener come and look at the nature covenant, he is going to pull out all the weeds and spray to prevent them coming back, then plant around 40 lovely native shrubs and mulch the entire 250 sqm with a thick carpet of forest mulch. The fencing contractor is also coming out to do a proper measure up and help us decide on the finished designs. We will need to decide where we are having garden beds and turf then get the grass people out for a quote as well. What else will we need to think about - the gas supply, window treatments, mail box, house number, landscaping etc etc etc. What fun!
We would like an independent inspection before handover, can anyone recommend a certifier in the Brisbane area?
Things are slowly coming to an end, the balustrade on the balcony is in place and the air conditioning unit has been installed. We were trying to think what else needs to be completed before our home is finished and this is what we came up with:
- carpets
- appliances in the kitchen
- driveway and concrete path to portico
- stain the stairs
- little bits of painting
- robe doors
- fix minor hiccups
- and let me see can I think of anything more ...... no I can't
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| Balcony With Silver Balustrade |
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| Air Conditioning Unit (This Is The "Ugly" Working Side of The House) |
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| Over Bench Lighting In Kitchen |
We have had a stressful few days with the SS verbally fighting with the pool builders. It got very heated and quite nasty and I had to tell everyone to pull their heads in and try to get them to reach a compromise but sadly because tempers had become so heated everyone was digging their heals in and refusing to budge. In the end I had to call the construction manager who eventually calmed things down and got the situation rectified. I never knew temporary pool fencing would cause so much mayhem. I tell you they are worse than kids. However, we are determined not to let a moody SS spoil it for us. But had this happened earlier in the build I would be approaching Metricon regarding a change of site supervisor as I don't appreciate dealing with someone who is dismissive and aggressively defensive and then tries to bully people in to doing everything his way. It is interesting that when you ask him about something his answer is always a sharp "that's standard" I think I'll ask him if he'd like that as his middle name! Yes it has been irritating but Sandy and I are very calm people and can see the funny side of it but when people are threatening to walk off the job and rip up your concrete because a pool fence is too close to the house you know that it's time to say enough is enough. We are supposed to be having a site meeting on Friday so have decided that each time we point out something that needs changing we will be a little tongue in cheek and simply ask "erm is that standard?".
We have had a native plant gardener come and look at the nature covenant, he is going to pull out all the weeds and spray to prevent them coming back, then plant around 40 lovely native shrubs and mulch the entire 250 sqm with a thick carpet of forest mulch. The fencing contractor is also coming out to do a proper measure up and help us decide on the finished designs. We will need to decide where we are having garden beds and turf then get the grass people out for a quote as well. What else will we need to think about - the gas supply, window treatments, mail box, house number, landscaping etc etc etc. What fun!
We would like an independent inspection before handover, can anyone recommend a certifier in the Brisbane area?
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Sparkies and Spaghetti
Phew it's mad down on site can't turn your back for a second. The sparkies are back. There are electrical wires being run everywhere, it looks like we have a spaghetti house. Sandy managed to persuade the electrician to lower the power points in the garage even though he had already run and trimmed the wires, so this meant he had to re do them. Apparently they put them up high (1200mm) because they think you are going to have a work bench or hose the garage floor, at first he said he'd only lower them to 500mm so we could hose. Now I have had a garage for the last 10 years and have never had the urge to hose it once (we have also had water restrictions remember). Sandy explained she sweeps the floor and wants the sockets at standard 300mm - after all it is our house so in the end the electrician agreed. Good job!
The ducting and tubing for the air conditioning is also being installed at the same time so its all go at our place today.
The SS called to give me a progress report and introduce himself as we hadn't spoken with each other yet. After a little chat I mentioned about the the bi folds and he agreed they were installed backwards but indicated that no they would not be flush to the tiles like we had been told at our colour selections. I explained to him that is what we wanted, what we had paid for and how they appear in the display homes. He informed me that the ones in the display homes have several more coats of lacquer on to protect them and he wasn't sure if he dropped them down that they would meet quality assurance. I explained we want what we have paid for and if these means we need to have more coats to protect the wood then so be it. As we have the QA on Monday he is going to check then and get back to me. I also asked if he'd seen the mismatched glass in the bathroom window which he reassured me was no problem, the manufacturers sometimes run out and put in what they have so the windows can be on site in time. It will be changed later.
Some detective work is in order to see if the frames for bi-folds do actually sit flush to the tiles or not so Sandy has driven over to Underwood to take photos, measurements and ask questions with our CSC Greg (a top bloke by the way) who helped us through contract and prebuild. And yes you've guessed it they are totally flush! So if they can do it there we want it on our house - no silly toe stubbing raised bits please.
Does anyone out there have know if it can be done or have bi folds where the tiling or carpet is flush to the frame?
San and Revi - I see you have had your site scrape done. Fantastic.
The other Metricon houses on site will be a soho, a trentham, 2 newhavens and possibly a lindrum next door to us but we don't think it will fit as it is too long. Thanks to Greg for letting us know.
Next: The bricks and gyprock will be delivered tomorrow and the Quality Assessment inspection (QA) will be happening on Monday.
The ducting and tubing for the air conditioning is also being installed at the same time so its all go at our place today.
The SS called to give me a progress report and introduce himself as we hadn't spoken with each other yet. After a little chat I mentioned about the the bi folds and he agreed they were installed backwards but indicated that no they would not be flush to the tiles like we had been told at our colour selections. I explained to him that is what we wanted, what we had paid for and how they appear in the display homes. He informed me that the ones in the display homes have several more coats of lacquer on to protect them and he wasn't sure if he dropped them down that they would meet quality assurance. I explained we want what we have paid for and if these means we need to have more coats to protect the wood then so be it. As we have the QA on Monday he is going to check then and get back to me. I also asked if he'd seen the mismatched glass in the bathroom window which he reassured me was no problem, the manufacturers sometimes run out and put in what they have so the windows can be on site in time. It will be changed later.
Some detective work is in order to see if the frames for bi-folds do actually sit flush to the tiles or not so Sandy has driven over to Underwood to take photos, measurements and ask questions with our CSC Greg (a top bloke by the way) who helped us through contract and prebuild. And yes you've guessed it they are totally flush! So if they can do it there we want it on our house - no silly toe stubbing raised bits please.
Does anyone out there have know if it can be done or have bi folds where the tiling or carpet is flush to the frame?
San and Revi - I see you have had your site scrape done. Fantastic.
The other Metricon houses on site will be a soho, a trentham, 2 newhavens and possibly a lindrum next door to us but we don't think it will fit as it is too long. Thanks to Greg for letting us know.
Next: The bricks and gyprock will be delivered tomorrow and the Quality Assessment inspection (QA) will be happening on Monday.
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| Air Con or Alien |
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| Extractor Vent? |
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