Week 11 - Plumbing complete

Lock-up stage is still in progress. Plumbing and ducted heating connections are done. Two solar panels at the roof for the hot water system were also installed.

All wrapped up with foil and ready for bricking

Aluminium foil wrap for insulation

Plumbing in the toilet

Bath tub frame

The front door. This will be painted in Manor Red to match our garage door colour

Week 10 - We have a roof

Roof tiles have been installed.

Week 9 - Windows and doors installed

Frame is now complete. Glass windows and doors have been installed. Next will be the Lock-up stage which includes the installation of the tile roof and brickworks.

Facade of the house. On the right side is the garage while on the left side, with the large window is the master bedroom

The alfresco / outdoor room. One of the two upgrades we included in the house. The other one is the Rumpus/Home Theater room. Aside from the Master Bedroom, these two areas of the house are my faves. Of course, Kareen loves the kitchen!

The Rumpus/Home Theater area

The Master Bedroom

Here's the side of the house

The backyard. Still enough space for garden and playground

Garage area

View from the garage. Construction sites all around

Week 7 & 8 - We've Been Framed!!

I was not able to post an update last week since there was nothing to update other than the excuses that I've heard from our Builder why no one was working at our site.

Now I know why they say that I should have lots of patience when we start building.

The good thing is that they have finished the framing this week and about to start laying the bricks next week.

Slowly taking shape

Here is the garage

Bricks already delivered to the site

Week 6 - Slab conctrete complete

The 1st stage of construction, which is the slab stage, is now complete. We have also received the 10% invoice for this stage.

Next up will be the Frame Stage wherein the timber frame of the house will be erected. According to our builder, frame stage should be finished by 30th of September.

The Slab, finally complete!

The slab for the Alfresco area

Timber for the framing already delivered to the site

Week 5 - Slab frame done!

Our slab was supposed to be in last week but as of today, only the slab frame was done. I'm pretty sure that the slab will be in by next week because the only thing that the builder needs to do at this stage is the actual pouring of the concrete.

Our builder is using the Waffle Pods System for the ground / slab. They laid several large blocks of styrofoams (waffle pods)on the ground before they pour the concrete for the base of the house.

This is one of the technologies that they use in home building in Oz as the waffle pods act as an insulating layer between the structure and the ground. This will keep the house warmer in winter and cooler during summer.

The large block of styrofoam used for the waffle pod system

The Slab Frame. At this stage, I can already visualize the different areas of our house

The waffle pods on the ground

Week 4 - Pipes are in

After almost a month after the site start, we now have drainage pipes.

Several large rocks were also removed from the site. Removal of these large rocks from the ground is one of the biggest cost components of house building here in the land down under. Depending on the result of the soil test and how rocky (?) is your lot, site costs ranges from $15k to more than $50k.

Good for us that our builder have tested the block already prior to offering to us the house and land package. Hence, our site cost is already fixed even if they will find a rock as big as Tasmania in our block.

Here are some pics taken today.

The rocks from the land down under

The drainage pipes

Porta-loo?

Playground/park under construction. One of the several playgrounds / parks in the estate. This one is just within walking distance from our house