A New Year....

Happy New Year!

Well 2013 is here and our countdown has begun. After my last post just before Christmas things understandably stopped. We were however told that there would still be a reasonable amount of work to happen over the Christmas New Year break, however this didn't happen and things only started again this week and this week has been a slow restart. We are at the point were we are quite over it and just want to be in. Let's hope the momentum picks up. Given there wasn't the anticipated progress over the break  we doubt we will be in end of Jan, more like mid - late feb, but like we said last post happy to be wrong! But then to put that all into perspective, the 10th Jan was 5 months since the block was cut.

So what's happened since last time, not too much

Tiles grouted
Few more architraves done

then last few days...
Sealer/Primer on most of the upstairs
Front and side of block cleared

There have been some quality issues with the cabinetry which we have passed back to the builder and cabinet maker and these need to be resolved.

On a positive the new pool is being poured Monday... We had a big of a hiccup with the pool. While we were going to renovate and resurface the existing shell, it became clear doing that we still had a big risk of the new surface cracking. Our existing shell was 30-40 years old and we were told that we would have no warranty for any cracking that might occur to the new surface. We looked into putting a vinyl liner in it, but in the end we opted to build a new pool shell inside the old. This will then be a 100% warrantied brand new pool. Sure it's cost more than the renovation, but at least we know that if we do have any issues we are covered and it will look brand new.

He jack hammered through the old shell to put in a new hydrostatic drain .The pool is ready to be steeled up and poured on Monday. It will be 300mm less in length and width but we won't lose any depth as we are raising the level of the surrounds. It's still going to be a good size pool at 4.7m x 9.7m.

some photos...

Feature tiles still to come, but wet area tiles grouted

Upstairs Alfresco

 Pool ready for new Hydrostatic drain and new shell to be steeled and poured

 Ceiling upstairs painted

Down the side from upstairs

Cabinetry, Tiling done.. Painting about to start

Still moving ahead, slowing down due to Christmas naturally.  While early days they were trying to get us in for Christmas, we have known for a while that we weren't going to get in before. We have reached fixing stage completed give or take a few items. Tiling is done except the splashbacks and recesses. Kitchen, laundry, pantry and vanity cabinetry is in. Painting prep has started today.

We fell into a bit of a trap for new players when it came to feature tiles. We were going to use feature in the recesses and splashbacks for vanities and laundry. We chose some glass ceramics we liked. The area that was being tiled was approx 3 sqm, but these tiles are sold by the sheet or piece. Most we chose were 300 x 300 sheets. In the end we needed over 30 sheets which equated to about $1300!! this turned out to be over $400 per sqm vs $35 sqm for our rectified porcelain wall and floor tile. We have changed  where we are going to put the feature to cut down the extra cost.

Wardrobes were measured up for shelving, doors etc. Ceasasestone was measured up today and they started with the painters gapping and filling

Builder is saying end of Jan, I think it will be mid-end Feb, but I'm happy to be wrong!

Kitchen cabinetry going in

Study Nook

Island Bench with cupbard on reverse side

Overhead cupboards missing doors for where range hood will go

Banks of drawers

Laundry tiling

laundry cabinetry

Main Bathroom

Alfresco upstairs

Ensuite

Pantry shelving on one side. They got this wrong and have to replace it. Its too narrow, should be 300mm  but they made it 100 for some reason.

Flooring started!

Heaps of progress...

plastering and cornice all done, floors are being laid and look great. Rendering has started, rear deck is finished except for balustrades, internal doors hung and architraves & skirting done. Tile bedding done and tiling starting soon. 

The big thing we are very happy about is that we have internal stairs!! Woohoo. They look great and make it a heck of a lot easier than climbing the ladder!! 

Had final meeting with cabinet maker last week and kitchen is being made. We chose Dulux Lexicon for cabinetry and likely Haze ceasarstone for the benchtops 

Cornice - Cairo Three Step

First coat ( of three) of render

Rear Deck

Waterproofing for main bathroom

Internal Stairs

Door way to under stairs plasterboarded up

Mixed hardwood timber floors

 Upstairs looking to kitchen

 looking back to lounge

Pantry

 Study nook