Friday, 25 September 2015

Tuesday, 8 September 2015

Plasterboard

Mid-week update! No pictures

4-9-15: Insulation in walls and ceiling - 80% laid, eaves soffit lined with a few vents. Have not yet confirmed rating on wall insulation, it should be 3.0 not the standard 2.5.

8-9-15: Gyprock linings fixed, 99% of joints are taped and plastered over.

Friday, 21 August 2015

Colorbond Roof

22-8-15

Over the last week the 'Manor Red - 0.42mm' metal deck roof had been fixed. Capping, roof vents and fixings are mostly completed. Roof is fixed down to Topsan 40 (steel) battens spaced at 900 centers that span between the trusses. Fixing down screws to the battens are at 450 centers or so. I'm not sure about the fixings from batten to truss though. I would assume two screws at the intersection.

Anti-con blanket was visible from the under side, sitting in between the battens and roof sheeting. The blanket is simply a glass wool layer on top of a reflective foil.

Not too happy with the anti-con blanket installation. I don't think enough of an air-gap between the roof sheeting and blanket has been allowed for - thus significantly reducing its effectiveness.



Crisp lines of a Colorbond roof.

On a side note we had to re-select main bathroom wall tiles since the supplier discontinued that particular tile - the wife was furious. Also, received a letter from Allworth explaining a shortage in trades people, specifically brick layers and together with inclement weather delays have notified us of a 25 day delay in the construction time line.

Sunday, 16 August 2015

Brickwork

16-8-15

Today the brickwork has been completed. The brickies did most of their work last week and to my surprise finished it off yesterday which was Saturday.

The brick tie spacing is adequate many still need to be nailed off, I hope they do this quickly. Termi-mesh has been installed correctly and under the flashing where there is no drop edge beam. Brickwork over the garage door also looks good.

All plumbing (that is hot & cold water and gas) I believed was done last week. The lines to the hot water system and rainwater tank are all in. Lines run above the ceiling, entering from the master bed room and go through to the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms.

The lines are a sort of slightly flexible PVC material which are about 3mm thick.

I checked many of the truss plates and nailed connections in the roof and walls as I was worried about the extended exposure of the timber to the elements, but they looked okay.

Not sure if I mentioned this earlier but underground charged stormwater lines are installed.

 East elevation of the house showing one of many articulation joints. At the moment the joint is just a foam backing rod the flexible sealant is yet to go in.
 The awesome wife with 1% of her family (she looks taller than she really is). Front elevation in the background - I feel the external colours compliment themselves enough so when the roof and garage door is installed there will be a good balance of colour.

As viewed from the master bedroom: Plumbing lines above the ceiling level. Yellow is gas. Green (the inside one) is sewerage and Black is cold water which gets split into hot and cold down the line.

Tuesday, 21 July 2015

Roof Frame

18-7-15

As of this date not a lot has happened due to inclement weather. Roof framing has been completed with the addition of fascias and gutters.

Speed bracing has been nailed off at the ends to the walls and trusses themselves have framing anchors to the top plate. A girder truss runs over the dining and living room bearing on a stud cluster at one end (dining) and a door lintel on the other.

A down pipe near the front entry (which was not on our plan) has been added in. Apparently a down pipe or over-flow allowance is made near every valley - which is stipulated in the contract somewhere. I made a few attempts at trying to convince them to delete this down pipe but didn't press my point as I don't want to hold up the progress.

Second progress invoice has been paid at completion of this stage.



Saturday, 27 June 2015

Frame

27-6-15

We have timber frames erected with roof trusses ready to be fixed. Windows, wall bracing, lintels and frame connections mostly done, there is a little bit left to do.

Steel beams (2 off) over the garage are in. Props will be kept to under the garage lintel beam until the supporting brickwork goes in. Couldn't see any termite mesh or SmartFilm under the external frames.

We can finally get an idea of room sizes and see overall shape of the house - which I am happy with.

Got a receipt of first progress payment from Allworth on 26-6-15.


Front entry and corner of master bedroom


.Living room door and entry to kitchen/dining

Thursday, 18 June 2015

Slab Foundation

13-6-15

Conducted a site inspection today to see completed formwork and all steel reinforcement laid, couldn't really fault anything, it was all as specified and done well.

Got a variation cost letter today, looking at a $3000 (extra) bill for removal of excess fill - I was expecting about half that cost.



 16-6-15

Did another site visit today to see the slab poured and formwork stripped. Also got a letter from Allworth for first progress payment - they don't much around.