It's A Date!!!

It's finally happening, the date for the Practical Completion Inspection (PCI) has been set for Friday 4th November. Wow, gosh and double wow that's next week. We are booking an independent inspection as well which will cost around $550 but will be money well spent if it picks up any issues that need attention.

Inspectors

Not sure how long it takes from PCI to handover - can anyone give us an idea from their own experiences?

Our bank have been really good at paying the invoices and getting things organised so I can't see them holding things up. Are we being too optimistic to think we might be moving around the 20th November?

I'm so excited, it's really happening we are getting a new home oh and a massive new mortgage to go with it!!! Brilliant, now we can do landscaping, finish the pool, getting fences and plants, decorate and furnish the place. Oh to have a big kitchen and bathroom again..... I've gone all dreamy.

Site Meeting and Bricks Begin

Not much has happened on our house so far this week I have seen occasional signs of a tradie doing something on site, possibly some corrections to the frame but not sure what. However, it has been good to be able to simply pause for breath and have a look what is going on with the other blocks with the neighbours houses. We are enjoying watching their builds progress, working out which room is where, whether it'll be a single or double story, what external colours have been chosen, tiles or colorbond, bricks or render etc etc. It makes quite a fun game...erm really? I must get a life!

Popped by site this morning to find the bricks have been started, the termiglass is down and upstairs is being gyprocked / plaster boarded. The bricks look lovely so far, all 2 rows of them! The colour of the brick really works against the off-white mortar. It will take the brickies about 4-5 days to finish the ground floor and the they will need scaffolding to do the few bricked areas upstairs half of which will be cladding.

The Mortar Mound and Mixer

Termiglass

Gyprocking and Rolling

There's A Ceiling Up There

Bricking The Portico

Called a site meeting with the SS to go over the QA inspection, discuss our concerns (bi fold doors and gas outlet to hob) and also get some feedback as to progress etc. All went well and yes the doors will be dropped as low as possible so it looks like we will only end up with 2-3mm height difference which will be fine. The gas point is in the correct spot as there needs to be an emergency cut off valve that then attached the rest of the piping to the hob. The SS pointed out and explained a few other things to us, talked through when the pool can start, how long bricking will take and then what happens next. All in all a good meeting - feels like we have gotten off to a better start now.

Upstairs most the rooms have been boarded and the frames for the baths are in. Sorry no photos it was getting too late. Off for a quiet weekend down the cost so will not be going back on site for a few days, ta ta until next time.

QA and Fit Stud

The Inspector was on site mid afternoon yesterday carrying out the Quality Assurance Inspection with his trusty can of orange spray paint in hand he has gone around marking up defects, problems and things that are not up to code. We have also spotted something that may be a potential problem but as I have no spray paint we couldn't highlight it. Took some photos instead and will ask the SS if this is really where the gas pipe for the hob should be because right now it is coming out into one of the pot draws!? I feel confident that the QA has been done thoroughly as even small defects like a screw sticking out too far or a protruding edge of metal frame have spotted. From one of the comments I think he finds our house quite sexy! (see photos below).

The french windows have been fitted and we have had a package arrive way ahead of schedule.....

Ooh La La Le Fentestra Francais

How Can You Tell Just By Looking?

Sexy Boy

Sill Not Level You're Telling Me!

Looks Like Pipes and Stuff To Me

Toilet Seat - Quiet Closing and Quick Releasing

Yellow Pipe For Gas (Left) Should Be Where These Wires End?
In the Middle Of The Window (The Right Of Shot)

Fire Ants

In eager anticipation of our site start we have booked our fire ant inspection. Apparently we need the all clear before any soil can be disturbed or removed. Fingers crossed the little critters aren't making themselves at home on our land.