More Bricks + Scaffolding

Stopped by the plot this evening to check on progress, and they've been busy the last two days.

We now have scaffolding, and more brickwork has been done...


Inside the garage. The wall has been finished...

The lounge/dining room looking through to the kitchen...

The alfresco...

Brick by Brick...

Brickwork continued. Here's a few photos of the great work they've been doing.

The back of the house. We plan to plant bamboo or something similar against the ugly fence/wall combo...


The side of the house (home theatre)...

They've started on the steps inside from the hallway up to the living area at the back of the house...

Inside the home theatre...

Inside the study...

Kitchen...

Outside where the rainwater tank and hot water tank will go...

Side of the garage...

Back of the house from the other corner...

Floor Puzzle

Not sure which floor style to go for:
Natural and grey...


Porcelain and polished..

Brickwork Starts

We got a call from our site supervisor today, Wisdom have been great keeping us uptodate, and he said he had bricklayers and plumbers on site. When we stopped by this evening to check they'd bricked up part of the front of the house and the garage, and all the pipework was done.

We were really pleased with the colour of the bricks as we'd been a bit worried whether we'd made the right choice.

Most of the front of the house will be rendered, hence the motar is flush and rough in places. They've done a great job down the sides of the house where it will be face brick.

Frame Complete, Windows In

Today they finished the frame and put all the remaining windows in. We've been told that brickwork should start early next week.

First Floor Frame and Roof!

This morning they'd managed to get the first floor up and the roof trusses. Whilst I was there the bricks were also being delivered. We're on track for brickwork to start next week. :-)

This Is What We're Aiming For

Thought I'd post a quick graphic of the house and colours we're aiming for. This is my first pretty poor attempt at using MyVirtualHome (great piece of software). I haven't figured out how to do the balcony properly yet, but it gives you an idea.

Ground Floor Windows In

Even more progress! We got a call from the construction manager yesterday morning advising that there were 6 guys on site sheltering under a sheet of plywood waiting for the rain to stop. The rain eventually stopped and when we went to check progress in the evening, they had managed to get all the windows in to the lower level and all the steel beams that arrived yesterday.

Up Goes The Frame & Services Done

We got a call from our site supervisor this morning advising that half of the frame went up yesterday. He also said that the services had been done. What great news!

So we went across to have a look and the guys were hard at work continuing to put the frame up. Took a few photos but couldn't get too close as didn't want to get in their way.

Our site supervisor also said that he was hoping to get the bricklayers on site next week. Things are moving very quickly. Keep up the good work Wisdom!

We have a slab!

Yesterday the slab was poured.

Tile Selection

Went to Di Lorenzo last Monday to select tiles. There's a good range, but we were tempted to upgrade to a bigger tile (40cm +) which incurs additional laying fees. A close laid tile incures further charges. With a tile allowance of $25 per m sq, and the tile I wanted was mid range at $42, the laying costs were $18 per sq m for a larger tile, and another $30 per sq m to lay close together. Now of course that's the look that's in all the mags, but is it worth double the price?? My 'in range' tile (most are a small upgrade)was $35 per sq m and no laying fee. All borders were upgrades, or at least all borders that you'd ever want. I'm waiting on a quote to tile to shower height all-round in 2 bathrooms. Std inclusion was only shower, 40cm above bath and then skirting everywhere else.

The style

The bath is going to be tiled up the side with the floor tile and then have the mosaic round the edge and a silver metalic trim. The white rectangular wall tiles are going to be horizontal not vertical for added effect. There's going to be vertical strips in the showers of 4 mosaic wide strips.

The more expensive tile choice.

Laminex Fresh Snow (New)
The cleanest in the range of about 10 squareform colours offered for the bathrooms.

Carpet - darkest in the included range. For other Wisdom builders following - handily you can see this in Di Lorenzo to compare your tile choices against in.

More Timber

Today they added more timber in preparation for the concrete to be poured.

Remaining Waffle Pods Down

Went to the plot this evening and found the remaining waffle pods have been put down, so we're ready for the concrete. We have another couple of dry days this week before the rain is due later in the week so hopefully it will get done this week.

Fencing Up

Went to the site yesterday and the fencing has been put up.

Oh, I also spoke to our SS yesterday and he advised the empty piers would be filled in when they pour the concrete for the rest of the base so that's nothing to worry about. Good news.

Waffle Pods In (Top level)

By lunchtime yesterday (when I last went to the plot) they had installed the waffle pods to the top level of the base:

The bottom level is yet to be done. However I also noticed when they first did the piers that they had left about 5 piers at the front of the house yet to be filled with concrete. I assumed they ran out of concrete and would be back to fill them, but they're still empty. Now the black sheeting is down I'm worried they're going to forget to fill them, so I'll make a call to our SS today just to make sure they've got it covered. You can see some of the holes for the piers that haven't been filled in the next two pitures.

Waffle Pods

The waffle pods arrived this morning. Not sure if anything else happened this afternoon as haven't been to the plot to check. Will go across tomorrow.

Photos are taken on my mobile phone.