Tuesday 23rd July 2010
I've had some dramas with the builders charging me an extra $3500 because they claim my titles took too long to issue. I've disputed this since I have email evidence that I informed them when my titles were ready and it was their oversight and lack of attention to detail that has caused a delay in my construction progress. They've backed down to give me a 'discount' but I don't think I'm going to get them to waive the whole cost. *Aargh!!*
Anyways, I'm trying to fight the battles that I can win. I got in touch with my new neighbours on the strata and they are two months ahead of me. They're expecting their slabs to go down any day now.
I went to prestart last week and finalised all my colours and fittings. I was extremely disappointed to find out that the kitchen splashback tiles I had chosen were going to cost almost $2000 extra!! Needless to say I'm not going ahead with those.
I've also changed my choice of roof tiles so that it will suit the rendering colour that I want. I think I am very happy with my final choices.
I also spent time altering my electrical plans. I consulted my cousins who are electricians by trade and I think I have come up with a good electrical plan. Lots of power points! Pity that my strata only has one phase power available.
All there is to do now is show proof that I have the available funds to pay for the variations and additional selections. They say it will take about six weeks for my final building plans to be ready and then the slab should go down very soon after that. So I'm looking at about two months until the slab goes down.
It's all getting very exciting!
Bricks
Wednesday 14th July 2010
Recently I diligently went around to various showrooms and businesses to try to complete my Prestart checklist.
I have chosen my bricks!
I have always liked the earthy toned bricks so it wasn't a tough decision. I went to visit the Austral Bricks display at the Home Base Expo on Salvado Road in Subiaco. After a bit of a wait to get some help from someone, the lady was actually very helpful and explained the brick selection to me very well. She explained the difference between 1 course and 2 course bricks. 1 course are pretty much your standard brick and 2 course are twice the size. The 2 course bricks are becoming quite popular but I still prefer the 1 course bricks. I think it gives the house more of a quaint charm, whereas the 2 course bricks give the house a more modern look.
My choice? I love the look of Dampier
I love the earthy red hues running through the bricks.
Here's an example of the 2 course 'Prevelly Limestone' bricks.
Recently I diligently went around to various showrooms and businesses to try to complete my Prestart checklist.
I have chosen my bricks!
I have always liked the earthy toned bricks so it wasn't a tough decision. I went to visit the Austral Bricks display at the Home Base Expo on Salvado Road in Subiaco. After a bit of a wait to get some help from someone, the lady was actually very helpful and explained the brick selection to me very well. She explained the difference between 1 course and 2 course bricks. 1 course are pretty much your standard brick and 2 course are twice the size. The 2 course bricks are becoming quite popular but I still prefer the 1 course bricks. I think it gives the house more of a quaint charm, whereas the 2 course bricks give the house a more modern look.
I love the earthy red hues running through the bricks.
Ceramic Tiles
Monday 5th July 2010
I've been trying to go through my Prestart checklist and make sure that I'm on top of things before my Prestart interview. I've selected my vinyl floors and blinds. Today it's ceramic tiles for the bathroom, laundry and kitchen.
I went to Crosby Tiles on Albany Highway in Kenwick. I was met by a lady by the name of Jan (who proved to be very friendly and helpful) and shown to the builders standard range. I knew this wasn't going to be easy but I thought I would have a head start with the photos of the colours from the display home. Aside from knowing that I wanted a darker brown for the floor tiles, everything else that was in the display home was pretty much discontinued.
I started off by ruling out the colours that I did not want. Like the greens, the blues, the blacks, the light browns. I narrowed my choices down to three shades of dark brown.
left: my lighter brown choice
right: this one sort of had two tones
I think I am going with this one though. MOCHA.
Next...I have to choose the feature tiles. These are a way of dressing up your bathroom and there are so many different tiles to choose from, and endless ways that you can position the tiles to create different effects.
I fell in love with these tiles - different hues of brown. It looks like a packet of chocolate bars. Delicious!
I also need to choose benchtops and cupboard colours. I'm probably going to carry the same colour schemes through both bathrooms and the laundry. I'll probably just have the feature tiles different in each room to give them a bit of individuality.
I think I spent a good two hours there. I eventually left with these as my preliminary choices:
MOCHA floor tiles
DONKEY feature tiles
TUSCAN MARBLE benchtops
BIRCH cupboards
I still can't decide what colours I want for the kitchen cupboards and benchtop - I think I will have to have another look at the samples tomorrow.
The more I look at the colours, the more I worry that if I make the wrong choice, one element could really throw off the whole balance of the room. I hope it all works out alright!
Another consideration is that if I stray from the builders standard range, there are additional costs involved. There are also restrictions where there are certain ranges that I cannot select from. While it would be fantastic to be able to go in and choose whatever I want and not be limited to choices, at the same time I really appreciate the time I am saving in not having to go from store to store to find out the absolute best choice. Knowing me, I would go for the most expensive tiles. I am already going to be paying a bit extra for the feature tiles.
I've been trying to go through my Prestart checklist and make sure that I'm on top of things before my Prestart interview. I've selected my vinyl floors and blinds. Today it's ceramic tiles for the bathroom, laundry and kitchen.
I went to Crosby Tiles on Albany Highway in Kenwick. I was met by a lady by the name of Jan (who proved to be very friendly and helpful) and shown to the builders standard range. I knew this wasn't going to be easy but I thought I would have a head start with the photos of the colours from the display home. Aside from knowing that I wanted a darker brown for the floor tiles, everything else that was in the display home was pretty much discontinued.
I started off by ruling out the colours that I did not want. Like the greens, the blues, the blacks, the light browns. I narrowed my choices down to three shades of dark brown.
 |  |
right: this one sort of had two tones
Next...I have to choose the feature tiles. These are a way of dressing up your bathroom and there are so many different tiles to choose from, and endless ways that you can position the tiles to create different effects.
I fell in love with these tiles - different hues of brown. It looks like a packet of chocolate bars. Delicious!
I also need to choose benchtops and cupboard colours. I'm probably going to carry the same colour schemes through both bathrooms and the laundry. I'll probably just have the feature tiles different in each room to give them a bit of individuality.I think I spent a good two hours there. I eventually left with these as my preliminary choices:
DONKEY feature tiles
TUSCAN MARBLE benchtops
BIRCH cupboards
I still can't decide what colours I want for the kitchen cupboards and benchtop - I think I will have to have another look at the samples tomorrow.
The more I look at the colours, the more I worry that if I make the wrong choice, one element could really throw off the whole balance of the room. I hope it all works out alright!
Another consideration is that if I stray from the builders standard range, there are additional costs involved. There are also restrictions where there are certain ranges that I cannot select from. While it would be fantastic to be able to go in and choose whatever I want and not be limited to choices, at the same time I really appreciate the time I am saving in not having to go from store to store to find out the absolute best choice. Knowing me, I would go for the most expensive tiles. I am already going to be paying a bit extra for the feature tiles.
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