Construction Update - Week 20 - A Bit of Progress and A Bit of Back and Forth

So last week was the first week that we have had to get firm with Porter Davis and following numerous phone calls I thought we had reached a way forward on three of the biggest issues that I posted about last week.  Namely:

• What to do about the misplaced window on the front façade
• What to do about the incorrectly roughed-in plumbing in the powder room
• What to do about the staircase hand-rails

Here is how it all panned out...

In the case of the incorrectly placed window, Porter Davis have admitted that it is a mistake and are going to fix it.  According to our site supervisor, rectification work will have commenced on Monday of this week.

 

The Powder Room plumbing is interesting and we have had four or five phone calls with our site supervisor on this.  Our PD "co-ordinator" at head office was unresponsive to our emails on this topic, but it turns out our site supervisor knows how to use a telephone and (like me) is a pragmatist.

 

As at the end of last week (I am posting this nearly a week later, sorry) as far as I can tell, the logic on both sides goes something like this:

• Our site supervisor wants to finish our house so he can move on
• We want our site supervisor to finish our house so we can move in
• He has never installed hand-rails on a staircase before and claims it is not included (note to anyone purchasing staircase "Option 4")

• His plumber has stuffed up the rough-in on the powder room
• We want hand-rails on our stair case
• We can live with Powder Room as it has been plumbed, if we can re-select the taps and faucet that we like
• He can only install the 'standard' taps and faucet in the Powder Room, but at least it will match our Laundry
• We think that's bollocks, as standard looks terrible.  I don't care what the laundry looks like - I don't expect my dinner guests to avail themselves of the Laundry when I invite them over to show off my new home
• He can't give us anything we want because he "cannot afford a $600 tap set" if that's what we choose
• We reminded him to look at the selections we have made so far (we are pretty frugal)
• He admits yeah, you guys are tighter than a cats bum (he didn't actually say that)
• We all agree to pick a tap set is fair and reasonable
• He agrees to install our choice of tap set and a pair (yes pair) of hand rails for the stair case

 

This all sounded good, but there has been a significant unravelling of this since last Friday, which I will post an update on shortly.

 

Dramas aside, in terms on progress on the house, the major highlights are:

• With the obvious exception of the powder room, the plumbing fit-off is completed
• The electrical fit-off is completed - yes we have lighting!

Here are the usual assortment of progress pictures...



From the Front



From the Front



From the Rear (with Chuggalugs striding through the weeds)



From the Rear

Panoramic shot from Dining Area with Living Area on Left and Kitchen on Right



Panoramic shot from kitchen with Dining Area on left and Living Area on Right



Panoramic shot from Living Area with Rumpus Room on left and Dining Area on Right

Panoramic shot from Rumpus Room with Hallway Staircase on left and Living Area on Right



Our Kitchen Sink Mixer



Buggalugs checking out the Ensuite - note the mixers

The Downstairs Powder Room - no mixer possible....

OK, it's just a toilet, but it's my new toilet

I had forgotten that we decided to do our own lighting (other than down-lights).  This is what the 'standard' light fitting looks like.  It won't last long after we move in...