Roof Complete

Eventually got the roof on.

Roof and gutter are on and looking good. Also our bi-folds are in.

Taking Shape

Finally we got our frames up and windows in.

We had them delivered just before Christmas then Huxley had a 4-5 week break so nothing really happened until the end of January.

Now it seems like a lot has been done. Unfortunately not a lot got done for a few months after this photo was taken. This was mainly due to a trade shortage in both the roofing and brick laying industries.

Costruction Has Commenced

Once the plans were approved we had to get construction approval which took a further two weeks. As soon as that was approved our final site survey was locked in and before we knew it our site was level in the middle of November last year.

 This photo is of the leveled block and also the form work is started and the piers are drilled and poured. I think it was around 60m of piers all up which was allowed for in our contract.

 Pipes for plumbing installed and slab poured. This was taken at the end of November.

Our neighbour's houses have shot up so quickly.

Sorry, Completely Forgot to Update This

Once council approved our plans we were then able to select colours and materials for doors, kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry.

This part was pretty exciting for us as our plans were becoming real!!!!

We chose the following fittings and fixings;

Kitchen

• Gloss white cupboards on the top and malamine on the bottom cupboards
• 40mm Caesar stone bench top
• Tinted mirror splash back
• Misted glass pantry doors
• Frosted metal handles
• Frosted metal tap
• Top mounted double basin

Bathrooms

• Dark grey tiles with a slightly lighter feature tile
• Chrome fittings and fixings
• Wall mounted vanity
• Clear glass shower

Laundry 

•  Dark grey tiles
• Gloss white cupboards
• Black benchtop

I do not have pictures of all these as we selected out of a books and leaflets they gave us.

Plans Submitted To Council !!!!

Our plans were submitted to council at the start of August and they have estimated it will take six weeks to be approved. Some other plans have been submitted and approved in two weeks but this does not seem to be the case for ours. Fingers crossed it doesn't take six weeks.

A week after the plans were submitted we had a minor hiccup due to a roof being positioned over our courtyard area at the side of the house. After a sleepless night thinking we were up for an expensive variation the staff at Huxley changed it with no drama or cost at all. Thank god for the staff at Huxley for their swift rectification, crisis averted.

This is one of the plans submitted to council.

External Colour and Materials

During our settlement period we decided to complete our colour selection form.

I thought this was going to be easy, but, many trips to existing buildings with certain brick and mortar colour combinations, window frame and fascia combinations later we made our decision. Then when we thought we were finished the bricks didn't match the roof tiles or the render colour clashed with the facia. It is mind boggling sometimes the amount of slight combination changes we made but we have made up our minds (or have we?) and submitted the form to Huxley

 

 Bricks from Boral - Oasis Mountain.

(selecting a brick colour was the hardest part because once it is in, it is in. The actual brick colour is browner and less grey than this picture in real life, especially in the sun)

 Garage Door from Gliderol - Cedar Timbergrain

(this is aluminium with a timber look. We have seen a few of these around the place and look awesome with neutral bricks)

 Fascia and Gutter from Colorbond - Basalt

 Front Pillars from Taubmans - Popcorn Ball

(we are unsure about this colour but it will be easy enough to change if we have to)

 Roof tiles from Boral - Gunmetal Grey

Window and door frames from Trend Window Frames - Anodic natural Matt

Finally Registered

Our block was finally submitted to council in mid May, it only took 3 weeks to register. Now we have 2 weeks to finalise our finances for settlement, which is on the 19/06/2015. In the mean time we have been granted access to the block. We have advised Huxley and our site survey has been booked in (should have it back in a couple of weeks).

Here are a few photos of our first visit. This was pretty exciting for us as we have been waiting for this since October last year.

 First drive down our street. (Dashboard needs a clean)

 Panoramic shot of our block taken from the back fence boundary. (We parked in our "Driveway")

 Once we submit our colour selection (This is for the external colours and materials of the home) form to Huxley and our survey is complete we then have to submit the plans to the Estate. Once the Estate approves them we can submit them to council.

Finally we have reached a milestone.