Waffles/Termite protection

Today our waffles have been delivered. 
Termite protection has also been competed.

Its been a busy week, and Im quite happy with how the whole slab process is coming along. 
We were meant to have some activity on site today. However due to the bad weather, the boxing has been post-phoned to Monday next week. Which means our slab pour will be also pushed back by a day to Tuesday. 

Waffles 

Steel reinforcements

Termite Protection

Doing some research on Homeone forums and those who have built with PD before, it appears that many use an independent inspector to check the work at major stages. 

We've decided that in order to have a peace of mind, we needed an inspector to do this for us. I enquired about New Homes Inspection and they've told me that they don't do slab inspections. I also enquired with Final Inspect, and Peter does slab inspections. However because I've contacted him so late, there was a sense of urgency to get documents/contacts to him if we engaged him.

However, he explained over the phone that his services are MUCH more experienced as he's inspected many new homes before including PD. He comes with a building regulations background and a law background, making his reports and findings more creditable compared to other inspection services which could be just ex-tradies having a good eye for things. 

During a span of 3 hrs, I engaged him and allowed him to start contacting our BC/SS to get the slab inspection ready by Monday before the pour on Tuesday. 

Peter will be conducting inspection on our SLAB/FRAME/FINAL HANDOVER

I will provide more updates on these reports and findings.

more site works

It seems like things are happening EVERYDAY! Can't wait for the site pour!

Levelled rear of the land

Further cut back on the garage side wall

Does anyone know what this is? I believe it could be an aggie pipe?

Not sure why did this pipe get removed.

Plumbing works

Things are really moving along quickly! 
Today plumbing have been completed - 4/9/12

I do believe the Pink pipes denotes Downpipes

Not sure why they have spray painted that box. Could it the storm pipe? 

Some of you may remember Melbourne's insane windy day.
I had to punch holes in the shade cloth so that it doesnt take off like a sail

Bore Piers

Today we've seen that bore piers have been drilled into our land. 
Im quite interested as to whether they follow the engineering drawings and ensure that all the bore piers in the drawings have been constructed. Its interesting how the waffle slab will just 'sit' on top of these piers! 
Wouldn't the whole slab just 'SLIDE' off the piers if there is a heavy rain pour? 

Engineering Drawing for Slab

View from the Garage

Garage and facing the master ensuite area

Left over concrete?

More Piers

Not sure why they haven't filled these holes

Piers on the boundary line (garage side)

Garage Engineering Retainer wall

Garage Engineering Retainer wall

Confirmed Site Start, Electrical Box, Retainer walls

27th July - 2nd Soil and Survey Ordered

 7th August 12 - Establishment Surveying

Managed to have a chat with the bloke doing the survey and mentioned that PD was rushing their company to get it done! - Means site start will be soon!!

13th August 12 - Final Construction Drawings Signed!

Click on the link above to view drawing
PM me if you would like to view more details.

We had to request for a Building Variation to have our taps mounted under our laundry sink as oppose to having it on the wall above the sink. That way we can have the Drier stacked on top of our front loader washing machine, and no pipes will be exposed! WIN!

Also, we managed to get a credit back for our S-flashing pipe on the side of our garage wall as we were able to have it run down the rear of the garage. (S-flashing is usually used when the property is right up against the neighbouring property and in order not to cross the boundary, this method of flashing is used)

14th August 12 - Confirmed Site Start!

23rd August Site Start

10th Sept Concrete Pour

16th August 12 - Port-a-Loo/Rubbish cage Delivered

23rd August 12 - Scraping begins

24th August 12 - More earth works & Stakes put in

28th August 12 - Retainer walls put in 

30th August 12 - Electrical Box put in

Demolished

We had no activity for almost a whole week! 
But today we see that the shack has disappeared! 
Express Demolish had been absolutely great at their work! 

18 July 12

23 July 12 - as Promised!

If you look carefully, you'll see that our neighbour decided that he'll chop off his tree that was right on the boundary line. No more leaves to sweep off our driveway! 
At first, they've requested if our demo guys can just break the tree off with their excavator. We were astonished at their request. I told them that we can't just simply remove trees, we need council permits etc. The next day they, manage to get it and got a tree logger to remove the tree!

Demo Starts/ Rejected Dispensation

Today 11/7/12, theres some activity at the site!

Asbestos have been cleared. 

13 July 12 
Received confirmation from Council that our dispensation has been KNOCKED back!
They have advised that the setback is too far forward of the neighbouring property. They have asked us to move the house back by 1000mm increasing the front setback to 7000mm. Council advised if this can be done, we can resend the plans through and they will stamp and approve within a week.