Painting started - Where is the sealer ??

Day 166 - The painter's have started.

We turned up on last Thursday night, the front door swinging in the breeze. The slack painters had left it open, lets have a look how they are going inside - to our surprise, they had painted all the ceilings and sprayed the Architraves and skirting's. I wish they had not......they have not used any sealer at all on the walls. When the builder tells you a "2 coat" system. Make sure it's in writing they are putting the first coat as a sealer. Anything less than this is not acceptable - as defined by the Building commission of Victoria - standards 2007.




 The ceiling white was sprayed everywhere as a sealer over all surfaces. I have told Ashford this is not acceptable, no one has got back to me with any explanation of what has happened.  See what the SS has to say on Wednesday's meeting on site.

See if the retaining wall is started again this week, still lots to finish off prior to any sort of handover.



More soon :->>

No real progress since fixing stage.

Day 159 ( Week 24 ) With no real progress over the past week or so, it's hard to see them getting the build finished for several more weeks. With SS being very apologetic over the lack of progress and the tardiness of the subcontractors being used to complete the job. What do you do ?, it's in their hands.  Might need a good push along to get something started.

Outstanding Major issues :-

* Retaining wall is now redesigned - but yet to be restarted, with people moving into the adjacent house, they
   better get this sorted soon.

* The overhead cupboards over the fridge cavity have a slight lean, around 5mm out of level.

* The lock mechanism in the front doorway was not installed correctly and fell out, therefore leaving the door
   unlock-able, combine this with the report of people in the yard the other night, which SS was told about.
   Why would you not fix the door quickly, yet now 5 days later still not fixed.

No sign of the painters other than the masking all fixed now that some of it was removed on one doorway.

Another annoyance, the manhole was installed during the past week, now one would expect a ladder would be used, seems not so, given the dirty foot marks over the laundry bench top. I will be checking for scratches on this - it can be replaced if there is - sloppy workmanship is not acceptable.

Where to from here, they have a lot to do before handover.

* Electrical fit out
* Plumbing fit out
* Ceiling Insulation
* Ducted Heating fit off
* Solar HW & Smart start unit fit out
* 80m sq of  Tiles
* Stone bench tops
* Door seals
* Garage door & Remote

More another day :-))

Fixing stage complete - so we are told.

Day 150 ( Week 22 ) - After the visit last Wednesday there was a  "flurry" of activity to get the house to fixing stage completed - you guessed it, a payment stage. Ashford Homes want their money.  Since early last week we have been "locked out" how unfair - since the painter masked up the doors and windows, not even a peak inside to see what is happening.

At the meeting, we also discussed the retaining wall again, I'm told that it is being re designed - I guess they had to do that given the wrong size posts were installed. The previously installed timber sleeps are now all gone.
I am still waiting for the "official notification" as should be done due to the HIA contract item's 23.0 & 23.2.  I was told the timber rails will now be 200x75mm a 25% reduction to the width of the sleepers. Hmmmm should I get at least a 25% reduction in the price I was charged for the wall - I would think so - now my wall has a reduced lifespan and/or strength. I may run this new design past my structural engineer - to see what he says.

I managed to get in to see where they were at on Thursday afternoon, the cabinet makers were still there.
They had fixed the wall oven cabinet and completed the bulkheads except for the Fridge space area.
A fuzzy view through the Kitchen window - I could see they have patched up the window frame where they remove the Architraves - the tiles will now go on this surface now.


We have a normal Wednesday meeting - I will check that all the internal surfaces are complete, Architraves installed, Wet area's completed, Cabinets installed.....so called "fixing stage".

More later :-

Kitchen is underway

Day 140, After a few days of the kitchen cabinet's sitting there, they have been installed. Looking good so far with  a few minor items to correct - there always seems to be small issues !! At least Ashford homes are keen to correct these items with minimal fuss.

 One issue to get resolved, the Oven tower has been made too tight, as we are installing the appliances after handover, the cavity made is 757mm and the oven width is 757mm  - no 2.5mm clearance on either side as noted in the product install doc's given to them during contract stage. - I'm told by the SS, that this will be corrected.

Overall Kitchen view - Basic White with - Stone benchtops - Night Sky ( Black)

The island Bench with underbench sink in place also - looking good, space for the dishwasher on the RHS. The bench has a stone top & waterfall stone sides.

Other cabinets Installed in Bathrooms & Laundry.

Met with the new construction manager "G" today along with our SS, we had a good discussion about the retaining wall issue, seems like a redesign of some sort is underway, not sure how this works out given the wall was a structural design for the soil conditions in the first place. See what comes out of the design / engineering group - looks like a double check through my structural engineer when they give me something. 

What happens next ? you say.   I'm told the painting is booked, may happen soon. The internal carpeners are due back to complete some small items left over. The brickie is due back to fix up and do a final cleanup of the brickwork. 

More next time ->