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

Week 3 - Earthworks have started!

Earthworks around the block have already started, albeit, slower than I expected. We have several sunny days this week but it seems that the contractor worked only for a few days.

Utilities were already installed. We now have a tap and electric meter. We expect the slab to be in before Porter's deadline of September 9. Hopefully, everything speeds up from there....

The electric meter that will be used during construction

This will be the site of the Alfresco

View from our backyard