Sisilation Wrap

10 November 2010 - Sisilation Wrap

Roof

8 November 2010 - Roof Tiles

Gutters and Facias

2 November 2010 - Gutters and Facias

Frame & Trusses

29 October 2010 - Trusses

28 October 2010 - Windows

27 October 2010 - Frame Completed

26 October 2010 - Frame Started

22 October 2010 - Frame Set Out

Slab

2 October 2010 - After plenty of rain throughout September leaving us with a very soggy block we finally have our slab. I must say the wait was rather excruciating.

Electricity and Water

24 August 2010 - The developers of the estate have planted a tree in our nature stripe today. It's a little Gum Tree.

25 August 2010 - We have been pegged out and by the looks of things the builder has kindly built us a swimming pool where are garage was going to be.

26 August 2010 - We have pipes along with a big mushy mess!

27 August 2010 - We have electricity and even more mush! The pole with the red top and wires sticking out is the electricity. There will be a meter box attached to this soon.
Who's idea was this to build during our wettest winter in a decade!

Site Cut

Our site cut was done today. We also have a port-a-loo, temporary fencing and a rubbish cage.

The digger working away on our block.

Our port-a-loo, rubbish cage and temporary fencing.

The site cut from the front.

The site cut from the back.

Site Start Dates

Our building permit was issued 10th August. Site cut will be 20th August and slab poor will be 1st September. All of these dates are subject to the weather and anyone living in Melbourne will know we have had nothing but rain lately and the long term weather forecast is suggesting more of the same. Of course this rain is great for the 10 year drought we have had, but, not so great when your trying to build a house you have been longing for!

Our Tap

Our build has begun. Well almost, we have a garden tap. It's this the nicest garden tap you have ever seen?

Paperwork Compeleted

I have finally been allocated a site start date Wednesday 11th August. The building permit was applied for today and should be issued by the end of the week. I'll have more photo's to share in the coming weeks as the building begins.

OUR BUILDER

We have chosen to build "The Mandalay" by a local builder, Aaron J Homes. It's 29 squares with everything I wanted in a home - walk in pantry, en suite, alfresco, 2 separate living areas etc, etc. I have spent 9 months planning my home with them and have my fingers crossed the building stage will go well.

www.aaronjhomes.com.au

OUR BLOCK

18 January 2010 - This is photo of our little street, well it's actually a "Close". There are only 2 blocks in our close.


18 January 2010 - This photo is taken standing on our block looking up the street to the rest of "Stage 24" in our estate.


15 April 2010 - Our gutter's and lamp post are in and the bricks to the right (on the pallets) are ready for our road to be paved.


19 April 2010 - The paving has begun.



20 April 2010 - Paving almost finished.


22 June 2010 - The block all fenced and ready for Titles.


22 June 2010 - Our soil tests have been done.

COLOUR SELECTIONS

Exterior Colours

Bricks: Mist (Boral)
Roof: Gunmetal (Boral)
Garage Panel Door: Woodland Grey
Gutters: Woodland Grey
Fascia & Downpipes: Windspray
Infills: Windspray
Render on Portico: Thunderbolt (Wattyl)
Windows: Andoic Grey
Front Door: Scorpion (Wattyl)

Interior Colours

Kitchen, Laundry & Study
Cabinets: Polar White Silk (Laminex)
Benches: Silver Strata (Formica)
Kickboards: Brushed Silver (Formica)
Splashback: White Gloss

Bathroom & Ensuite
Cabinets: New Graphite (Laminex)
Benches: Diamond Gloss Pure Mineralstone (Laminex)
Tiles: Minimal Platinum
Shower Niches: White Gloss

Walls: Alabaster 1/2 strength (Wattyl)
Woodwork & doors: Purest White (Wattyl)
Ceiling: White
Carpet: Darkstone (Bedrooms & Activity Room)
Floor Boards: Bamboo (through the rest of the house)

THE BEGINING

After 9 months of waiting, our block will finally be ours tomorrow- One more sleep!

I first found the house I loved, being only the 3rd display house I walked into, back in mid October 2009. Then the hunt would be on to find a block of land to suit. I found our block on the internet only a week later. It was in the estate I wanted, it was in my budget, it was a great size and I would be close to family and friends.

The land would not be ready and titled until mid 2010 so that gave me plenty of time to renovate and sell my current home and plan for the new home I wanted to build. I put a hold on this block and got straight to work on the old house. The old house was renovated and on the market by late January 2010 and sold 10 days later in early February. The pain of renovating now a distant memory! I put my 5% deposit on the block on 16th March, now while waiting for titles it was time to get busy choosing colours etc for the new home. I had my daunting colour selection on 31st March. After much chopping and changing I made my last final decisions on 21st June so now everything was ready to go to contracts and for my drawings to be done. I received my contracts and drawings 8th July and had them signed on 11th July. To keep myself busy while I wait for the building permits etc (we are hoping for a site start in 3 weeks) I am creating this blog for family, friends and visitors to follow our journey of building our new home. This will be a our dream home, for myself and my son - just the 2 of us!