Wisdom Home in Shell Cove (Manhattan 38): June 2011

Friday 17 June 2011

17.6.2011 - Carpenter

The carpenter arrived to finish off architraves etc. Should be finished by Tuesday 21.6.11. Still no tiler!

Tiler finally arrived but the truck that was supplying the motor and sand broke down. So they said they would come back tomorrow. Our water tank arrived. SS said the painter is due to come on 23/6. Carpenter should be there tomorrow.

15.6.2011 - Plumber installed rest of downpipes - no tiler

14.6.2011 - tiler supposed to start - didn't turn up

9.6.2011 - Kitchen, landry & vanity installed

8.6.2011 - Waterproof & kitchen

The waterproofing has been completed and did a great job. The kitchen, laundry etc arrived today. The carpenter came and put on the front door and finished off the eaves around the garage. He put up a few frames ready for the tiler.

7.6.2011 - Waterproof

The waterproof getting done today. They will need another day to complete. The front door and garage internal door semi put in t lock up.

6.6.2011 - Doors arrived, architraves & frame for doors

5.6.2011 - Cornices fixed worked all day Sunday

3.6.2011 - update from SS

Received call from SS. Advised that the house will be locked up, water proof done, kitchen, vanity to come and install.

3.6.2011 - Stairs and handrails went in

2.6.2011 - Finished cornices

1.6.2011 - Cornice started putting up

26.5.2011 - update from supervisor

Our supervisor called as usual and advised what is happening next week. Stairs to go in on 3/6/11, cornice and then the carpenter.

25.5.2011 - gyprock finished

24.5.2011 - Gyprock started

The gyprock has started. It has all been done upstairs. Our nextdoor neighbours got there land scraped out today.

20.5.2011 - Air con

The air con rough out was put in. The wood for the outdoor area & eaves have been done ready for the grip rock.

19.5.2011 - Bricks cleaned off downstairs

17.5.2011 - Roof tiles

The roof tiles went on the garage and back rumpus The electrician also put the rough fit out through.

11/12.5.2011 - Guttering for garage & rumpus to be put on

10.5.2011 - Scaffolding taken down

9.5.2011 - Painted top eaves

6.5.2011 - Half bricks cleaned & site cleaned up

Our new home

We decided to build again and saw some time ago a plan of the Wisdom Homes Manhattan in a Sydney paper and was love at first sight. Our friends were also going to be building and decided to go up to Oran Park. We asked them to go and have a look at the new Manhattan Wisdom Home to see if it was worth us going up and getting all the brochures. They were so impressed and told us that if we went up and saw it we would build it. So we went up the following day and couldn't fault it and knew that this is our dream home and wouldn't change a thing. Although we didn't have a great experience with the sales person the house sold itself. If you can persist with the office and all the paper work there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have taken notes all through our building experience and have now decided to do a blog to help others who are thinking of building with Wisdom Homes. There is where we are up to so far:-

Thursday 16 June 2011

3.5.2011 - Plumber

The plumber arrived and installed the down pipes and put in the back tap.

1.5.2011 - Eaves

The eaves went on and the sliding cavity doors delivered.

27.4.2011 - Finished bricking

12.4.2011 - Roof

The roof was started today and was finished off the next day. It looks fantastic and I really love the tiles.

8.4.2011 - Bricking

Halfway through bottom level of bricking and is starting to take shape. We need to put up the scafolding to start on the second level.

30.3.2011 - Pipes installed inside

The plumber installed all the pipes inside and were happy to see the bricklayers start.

29.3.2011 - Dirt and Austral

The huge dirt pile was cleaned up and taken away.

We had a meeting with Fiona from Austral. She acknowledged that the bricks were so light. She knew that all the clay bricks (including ours the Haigh) came out alot lighter than usually. Her only solution was to wait and see when they produce more bricks later in the year or another colour late in May. Neither of these are any good. So even though we pay alot more to upgrade the bricks, it was like take it or leave it. What a waste of time. Not impressed with Austral, especially when you pay so much from those bricks. The supervisor told us that he will get the bricklayers to blend them as much as he can.

25.3.2011 - Windows arrive and installed same day frame complete

24.3.2011 - Frame

Put the roof truss up on the back roof & garage. The bricks arrived and not really happy with them. We spoke to Darren and he arranged for the rep from Austral to come out on Monday 28.3.2011.

23.3.2011 - finished off second storey

22.3.2011 - Second storey started

It was really wet yesterday and couldn't believe the carpenter turned up trying to keep working. What an effort. They managed to get most of it done.

18.3.2011 - Frame

The frame downstairs finished and 3 metal beams plus the floor for upstairs has been put on with the second storey at the top ready to start. A weekly call from Darren advising us what is happening next week. The frame will be completed and bricks to arrive.

17.3.2011 - Frame started

It is starting to take shape and most of downstairs is done.

16.3.2011 - Frames delivered

15.3.2011 - Laying more pipes

Great to see someone there and putting in the plumbing pipes around the slab and the electrician as well.

14.3.2011 - selected carpets & tiles

We made the long trip to Baulkham Hills. It is a really good place and have a great show room. We did decide to upgrade the floor tiles and carpet. It is expensive and probably could have got it alot cheaper if we did it after we got the keys. But the idea of having it all done and just moved in is how we justified it.

10.3.2011 - We have a slab

Never been so excited to see concrete.

9.3.2011 - made appointment for tiles and carpet

8.3.2011 - Foam pods and rio done ready to pour

7.3.2011 - Foam pods delivered

5.3.2011 - Some plumbing done

Some of the pipes were put in ready for the foam pods.

3.3.2011 - Piers done

The piers were dug out and concrete piers done. Darren called to advised what is happening next week as promised.

22.2.2011 - Safety fence

We received a call from our supervisor Darren and he advised that he will be taking care of us. He was very assuring, friendly and was happy for us to ask and talk to him when needed. He also told us that he would update us every week. This service we have never received with any other builder.Our safety fence also went up today.

19.2.2011 - Land scraped

Finally we have started. Never thought this day would come. We have a really flat block but it nearly took all day to get the levels right.

4.2.2011 - Receieved Construction Certificate

Very exciting finally got another piece of paper to let us start building. We have been advised that the land should be scraped in the next 2-3 weeks.

1.2.2011 - Finally got Sydney Water approval

I have never seen so much red tape but finally got it out of Sydney Water. Another hurdle crossed and felt like we were now in the home stretch to get our Construction Certificate.

14.1.2011 - Land settled

Our wonderful Solicitors and in particular Lara settled our land today and arranged registration into our name so there is no more hold-ups. We were in the best of hands with Lara bending over backwards to get it done urgently. Wisdom Homes re-opened and were making arrangements to get all the Certificates to start.

10.1.2011 - Plans stamped by Council

I have today rushed around and got the plans stamped and sent to Wisdom Homes. We can hopefully get our Construction Certificate so we can start.

23.12.2010 - LAND REGISTERED

Finally the land is registered. It has been so stressful but was the best Christmas present you could ever get. On the down side all the Solicitors have closed over Christmas but we have been assured that ours will be the first to settle. Our Contract was up with Wisdom Homes on 31 January 2011. So it was so important that we get it settled, get the plans stamped and out of Council and get this started.