11 March 2011, Surveyer did the peg on site.
Peg to the right of the land
Peg to the back of the site
15 March 201 - Site preparation
There was alot of rain and the builder can't start the work, then on the 15 of March 2011, they start preparing the site with some heavy equipments. Take out the grass from the building area to prepare for the foundation. I was at the site that day the whole day.
17 March 2011 (day 1) - Footing
Concreting company come to site working for the footing. I was not aware that that day there will be people come to work, I just stop by on the way to work and take the following pictures:
They have to dig 80 posts for the footing slab foundation.
After work I stop by again and they almost done, pouring concrete to the last post.
All done before 2 pm that day.
18 March 2011 (day 2) - Power Cable Broke
The above picture is taken on 18 March 2011, one day after the footing day. I was not working that day and come to the site for some pictures. I used to make tea at the shed, but that day, I found out the power at the shed is not working anymore. I went to the builder office and reported it orally.
Then the builder's office manager call me that yesterday the people work there hit the power cable and said that lucky the worker are not electrocuted, as they are not aware of the cable there. The builder just instruct them to work without telling there is probably the line underground cable to the shed.
The office said that they are not responsible to replace the underground distribution cable to the shed.
Oh dear who gonna pay to replace it then, it is underground cable about 40 meter run with three phase line.
I wish I was there the whole day and watch them work and warn them about the cables.
That day I also noted that there is mobile toilet and waste bin were at the site already:
Then around 2 pm the surveyor came again to do another peg on the slab.
21 March 2011 (day 5) - Gravel for plumbing work delivered
I was at the site cleaning and mowing the grass. At the shed there was cute possum :
Not long after that there is truck coming deliver the gravel for drain plumbing work.
22 March 2011 (day 6) - Bricks out of stock
Builder's office manager called me that the brick colour of slate is out of stock, and it takes at least 6 weeks to make the product.
A big bang into the schedule. Bricks is a major colour in the house as it takes about 60% of the colours.
Wait for another 8 weeks and paying interest on mortgage for waiting ooorrrr change to other bricks?
23 March 2011 (day 7) - Plumbing work
I call the austral brick staff on and ask about that, Karen said it is a little bit quite before March, and suddenly many projects starts so they are not having alot of stock. I ask her to check again whether threre some stocks available as we just need the bricks for the bottom part as the retaining wall for the foundation. She promised me to call back tomorrow.
I did some visit to PGH display office, oh...they have a variety of colours and cheaper price, what a pity, my builder didn't use the brick from PGH.
Plumbing work also start at site today, I stop by before work and ask the plumber to change the toilet position at powder room. Talking on the phone with the builder as well to get approval and took some pictures below:
24 March 2011 (day 8) - Bricks
I check with Karen again, and she said they haven't get the information from the warehouse. Then I decide to call the builder to use almond instead. That day I went to the site and get some picture of the pipes:
Oh dear the HSTP pipe is located in the middle of the dummy driveway. The builder said the HSTP company told him to put them 10 meter from the house and 4 meter from the tree, this is the result.
I wish the builder realise that it is in the middle of driveway and reconfirm with me before digging, but he didn't. Another loss to me, first power cable to shed, now I have to relocate the pipe on my cost.
Not to mention about checking the stock of slate brick, they quote me for the additional cost of slate in february and at that time they should have check about the stock as well. Not my luck.
The driveway was messy with mud and some parts chipping since the plumber's excavator loaded and unloaded on the driveway. My hand sore broom and clean the driveway.
25 March 2011 (day 9)
I was at the site when the austral brick truck come and deliver the 5 packs of almond bricks and 3 packs of plain bricks for retaining wall.
I was at the site when the austral brick truck come and deliver the 5 packs of almond bricks and 3 packs of plain bricks for retaining wall.
After seeing the almond bricks those delivered, I get panick, it is so ugle, when it is chipped, you will se red colours instead, it is totally different with the sample saw at ausbrick. Then I remember to check about the stock of slate brick with Karen again. Call her that day and she said, they have 8000 of slate first stone produced and asked me to pick up the sample saturday morning.
26 March 2011 (day 10)
I pick up the sample of slate brick at the ausbrick. It is the same colour as current slate those put on the display. Then I decide to go to builder office and ask him to change back to slate from almond. He said can't promise till Monday to find out what is going on...as usually Karen call him for any update.
28 March 2011 (day 12)
Builder ask me to sign the letter of indemnity that no guarantee when I use the bricks from 2 batches of products. I sign the letter, take the risk of chances of two colours of bricks. I think this stage is only cover the bottom area of about 3000 to 4000 bricks, then the next stage will use the same batch of bricks of about 10000 of bricks. I have to pay cartage to return the bricks and admin fee of $220.
The bricky start work today and put the plain bricks first as retaining wall.
29 March 2011 (day 13)
Ausbrick delivered the slate colours.
I notice that the sand that is use for my off white mortar is just normal brick sand and this is the result of the mortar colour:
these is the sand used, it is just normal sand used for bricks laying
I did the survey to ausbrick and ask them what kind of sand they used for off white mortar and the bricky that is working at that time at ausbrick show me the kind of sand he used. It is white sand, he bought from Redback landscaping supplies. No wonder the colour is so contrast.
Once again I ask him what is the name of the mortar, he said "off white mortar".
And he said: "you will not get off white mortar with the sample of sand that I brought from the site."
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