The Lerch house as it's built....

We're still here

2008-12-09T19:57:00.002+10:00

Well we've been in the house for 4 months now and just this last weekend Adam has been crossing projects off our list of things to do.

Here is what he did this weekend:
* Hang the dryer on the wall in the laundry
* Hang the clothes line in the garage
* Hang the hose hangers on 2 of the outside taps
* Put up his speakers in the lounge room so we no longer have holes in the walls
* Mow the grass & wipper-snipper the yard

Here's what he has left
* Finish the hook on the big fence gate
* Hang our pictures on the walls
* Clean the ceiling of the patio (darn moths keep leaving a mess)
* Build a vegie garden
* Build a cubby house for Alex (he has a few years to do this one)
* Concrete a slab outside the laundry door so it's not such a big step (& the grass just doesn't grow there)
* Concrete a slab for the wheelie bins

So we still have quite a few projects to do but slowly they're getting done.

Few pics since we moved in 05/09/2008

2008-09-05T17:21:00.006+10:00

I took a couple of pics today (by popular demand) because I hadn't taken any since we moved in so here are a few...

I got some pots from my grandparents as a house warming present & we picked them out from bunnings last w/end. We got a couple of little ones as well while we were there to fill the gap in the middle & just thought I'd show & tell them too

Kitchen (not much has changed here)

Dining room with our new dining table (and the loungeroom doors closed) - you can see the roller blinds in this pic too

Looking out from the lounge room into the kitchen/dining

Lounge room squeeze of the couches

Pannel glide blinds which open out to the patio

I'll be sure to take a few more once we clean up a bit, hehe

GATES 03/08/2008

2008-08-03T19:55:00.004+10:00

Today we almost finished the gates for the fence, the only problem is the latches, Adam didn't get them on today.

Here are some of the pictures from today:

Adam cutting the top of the fence to size

Adam coming through his 1/2 done gates

Big side finished (except for the latch)

Adam attempting to attach the latch (unfortunately he wasn't successful this time)

Finished small side gate

TURF & FENCING 02/08/2008

2008-08-03T07:21:00.006+10:00

2/3 of the turf has now been laid, and we have begun progress on our gates. Here are some pics from yesterday when we were out at the house:

Front of house turfed (we have since put our number on the letter box bricks too)

Otherside of the yard

Front yard (the slope)

The side (still missing turf, meant to come next week)

Back yard turf

Turf behind the tank & down the side

Turf behind patio

Adam and I started production on building the gates out the front yesterday however we only got about 1/2 way through as the drill we were using wasn't strong enough to go through the metal to screw the pailings on the gates. Here are some pics of how far we got on this side. We also did the same on the other side of the house (just don't have pics).

Adam making sure the gate will be level

2nd gate & side pannel on

Adam attempting to screw on the pailings (he stopped at this one)

We also have our security screens in and the ensuite tiles are finished so here are 2 more pics taken later last week.

Main bedroom security screens through mirror doors

Ensuite toilet side (seen as we've only been showing the vanity side this entire time)

WE HAVE ACTION!!!

2008-07-31T11:03:00.006+10:00

So much is happening now, before we know it we'll be moving in!! I got a call thismorning from the construction office saying we can go and pick up the final invoice and the occupancy certificate to take to the bank so they can organise the final valuation and payment of the final invoice. Once the builders receive the final payment we can collect the keys and move in! How exciting!!

I have attached a few pics below we have taken over the last week or so but haven't updated yet. The cleaners are meant to be going in today, security screens and turf on friday so full steam ahead!

Our new letterbox (yesterday the tiler put some tiles on the top too)

Tank (missing the downpipes which are now done too)

Kado out visiting while Daddy diggs to "kado-proof" the fence

Adam working on the fence

Kitchen bench cleared

Looking from the family room past the dining to the entry (with our cool dining light)

ELECTRICIAL IN PROGRESS 20/07/2008

2008-07-21T19:04:00.003+10:00

On the weekend the electricians were out working on the house so we got to go and inspect their work so far... here are some pics of the lights, fans and the new tapware.

Main bedroom

Laundry Tub

Main bathroom vanity

Main bathroom shower

Ensuite vanity

Ensuite Lights

Ensuite shower

FEW EXTRAS 17/07/2008

2008-07-18T17:03:00.004+10:00

Here are a few pics of what I took yesterday at the house:

Back patio

Our funky dining room light.

Air-con in the lounge room

GARAGE DOOR 15.07.2008

2008-07-17T13:29:00.002+10:00

The driveway is poured, so is the patio slab, the garage door is on, some of the air-cons are in and the lights & fans are almost complete.
The house is really starting to come together now. Below are some pics of the outside, we're going to take the curtain/blind samples out to check them next to the paint so I will take some more photos of the inside when we are out there.

Outside with garage door, front lights, drive way, air-con box in the way and front door painted...

PROGRESSING 10/07/2008

2008-07-10T19:01:00.004+10:00

I got a call today from the construction office from our builders saying they have an estimated practical completion date of 08/08/2008 (Adam got excited cause that's the day the olympics start) but unfortunately untill the final payment is made we wont be handed over the keys to move in.

Today we delivered the air-conditioners to be installed hopefully tomorrow and to our surprise when we got there this is what we saw! The driveway boxed & ready to pour!!

We went inside to see the mirrors have been put in also, see below

Ensuite

Main bathroom

Not only did we see all this but also the cupboard doors have been put on as well.

Linen cupboard

Spare room

Main bedroom

Baby's bedroom

Door where we can close off the laundry

Laundry

PAINTING ALMOST DONE 5/07/2008

2008-07-05T15:52:00.003+10:00

The painting is almost completed now and the count down is on till we are allowed to move in. We stil haven't been given a final date so everything is still up in the air. Hopefully I'll hear back from the builders next week with a more accurate date of completion so we can get busy & get packing & moving.

Here's a few more recent pics:

Down pipes are up (not yet painted)

Ensuite basin is in

Bathroom basin in

Pantry door on & painting done

Paint on linen cupboard & hallway

Baby's room paint

Family room paint

Garage paint

Hallway paint

PAINTING IN PROGRESS

2008-06-25T17:30:00.002+10:00

Today Adam & I went out to the house & met the painter, they've done the undercoat & the first colour of all the inside of the house and it's looking great.

The painter is just one guy so it's going to take quite a while but he said he should be finished by the end of next week.

We still don't have a date when we can move in, I'll be asking for that next.

MORE TILES 17.06.2008

2008-06-17T17:49:00.004+10:00

The tilers are almost done now, we guess the painters will be next but we'll just have to sit back & wait and see.

Adam has decided he is going to do the gates across the front of the house himself to try and save us a little bit of money so we'll see how that goes too.

Here are some updated pics:

Kitchen - Top corner things done

We had an intruder here... busted!!

Main - bathroom shower

Main bathroom - vanity

Main bathroom - bath tub

Ensuite - vanity wall (minus the mirror)

Ensuite - shower (few tiles missing still)

TILES STARTED 12.06.08

2008-06-13T11:12:00.002+10:00

The tilers have been back & at work, they've finished the tiles in the kitchen and are almost finished the ensuite. We will go back later today or over the weekend and see if they have started the main bathroom but here is a quick preview so far.

Kitchen

Ensuite

UPDATES INSIDE FROM JUNE 3rd 2008

2008-06-04T17:35:00.006+10:00

After almost 3 long weeks of stand-still at the house the carpenters have been back & done a great job of hanging the doors, installing the cupboards & all the skirting boards etc and yesterday was the first chance we were able to get inside to take some photos to update the blog.

Kitchen

Kitchen & linen cupboard

Linen cupboard

Hall-way from garage

Family Room

Lounge room & entry

Family room looking to front door past kitchen & dining

Lounge room doors - one open

Loungeroom doors from in the lounge room

Study built-in

Main Bedroom built-in

Guest room - built in

Adam & Dad inspecting the garage door entry to the house

Inside garage

Nothing done

2008-05-16T14:10:00.002+10:00

There has been nothing done to our house in 2 weeks now.

We got a visit from Adam's family for the Labour Day weekend & we went to look at the house and have been back a few times since then and nothing has changed. Everything is slowing down now when we want it to be speeding up to so we can move in sooner than later.

We'd love an estimated completion date so we know how everything is going.

HOUSE PROGRESSING....

2008-05-05T18:57:00.005+10:00

The bricks are now all now complete, not a lot else to finish ont he outside of the house (except the landscaping, concreting, clean-up, eves, etc). Here are a few pics of the outside bricks

The kitchen and vanities have now been put into the house, the kitchen isn't finished yet but here's a few pics to give you an idea:

Oven

Cook top

Main bathroom vanity

Ensuite vanity

BRICKS ARE UNDERWAY & FLOOR TILES FINISHED!! 19.04.08

2008-04-19T15:54:00.005+10:00

We went for a drive out to the house today & saw that the brickies have started their work to finish the outside of the house. Below are some new pics taken today:

From the road

Brickies ever so clean site

Better view of our bricks

Mum & Dad being sticky beakers!

View from the back corner of the block

View from ontop of the dirt hill in the back corner of the block

The tilers have also been busy and have finished the tiling of the floor. We have the same tiles throughout the entire house including the bathrooms and capet in the lounge and the bedrooms. Below are a few pictures taken today also:

From the patio sliding door looking in

Looking from the lounge room towards the kitchen/linen cupboard

Kitchen - into the pantry

Looking from the garage up the hall way

The family room/ dining room from the kitchen

LOCKED OUT 15.04.2008

2008-04-17T11:36:00.002+10:00

We're now locked out of the house, so when we went for a look today I had to take these pics through the window (hence the crappy photos).

The tiler has been there working for the last few days, they're only doing the floor tiles at this stage and wont do the wall tiles until the carpenter has put in the kitchen & vanity so they can work around them.
Family room

Kitchen

CEILING DONE 8.04.2008

2008-04-17T11:30:00.005+10:00

Below are a couple of photos of the plaster on the ceiling in, there is still a bit of tidying up to be done but it's looking more and more like a house every day.

Kitchen

Garage

Family room looking towards front door & loungeroom

WE HAVE WALLS UP 31.03.2008

2008-04-03T14:21:00.006+10:00

We now have walls up in the house, the ceiling is next then we're guessing the bricks will be after that, here is a few more recent photos:

Inside the garage

View from in the front door

Loungeroom

Kitchen

Dad inspecting the house

Linen cupboard (next to the kitchen)

Main bedroom

Adam inspecting our bedroom cupboard

View down the hall-way from our bedroom

Laundry

Toilet

Main bathroom

LITTLE UPDATE FROM YESTERDAY

2008-03-18T19:58:00.005+10:00

Windows are all in now and the plumbing is done, chippies have gone in & done all their work now.

WINDOWS & PLUMBING 17.03.2008

2008-03-17T19:07:00.002+10:00

We went out to the house thisafternoon & the chippies have put in all bar the garage windows and the plumbers have been doing their bit also. So here are the latest pics:

Front entry from the garage

Patio & drive down side

Back of house, patio, our bedroom & ensuite windows

Windows from the inside of the family & dining room open area

Main bathroom, the bath will be under the window with the taps coming out in the middle

Ensuite shower plumbing & looking through the frames is one of the spare rooms

Other side of the ensuite shower (yep we're having a double headed shower - YAY)

Windows in our shower

Sliding door out to the patio from the family room

ROOF ALMOST DONE 7/03/2008

2008-03-09T13:21:00.002+10:00

Roof guys reckon it'll be finished monday afternoon.

From street

Down side we can drive through

Roofer working on garage roof

Front of house ladder is over the entry

Back of the house

ROOF STARTED 6/03/2008

2008-03-09T13:12:00.004+10:00

Here's a few pics Mum took on 6/03/2008 when the roofers had only just started

Patio from back

Under patio roof - cables for electrician

Front with bit of insulation

Looking from back down skinny side

Insulation on roof

From other side of patio

Back of house

Roof from the inside

ROOF BATTENS UP 4/03/2008

2008-03-09T12:49:00.002+10:00

Roof battens were on after the gutters, so they're ready to start the roof now!

From the street

Patio with wiring hanging down

Back of house

GUTTERS 1/03/2008

2008-03-09T12:13:00.004+10:00

Our gutters were put up the week before 1st March, We've got a few pics below of them:

From road front

Adam inspecting the insulation

The loungeroom from the outside

The garage

The back, looking at the patio

The back

Down the skinny side

The frames looking up at the roof steel

STARTING THE TRUSSES....

2008-02-22T10:22:00.005+10:00

I went back thisarvo with Mum to look at the house & they've done more on the roof, check it out!!

Kitchen

The back of the house roof & patio

Kado trying to get to the fence to play with the neighbours dog.

The back of the house

The kitchen & entry

The loungeroom & entry

From the front

The garage

Mum in our bedroom

The patio post

FRAMES ARE UP.... TRUSSES TO COME

2008-02-21T11:09:00.005+10:00

I've gone for another look at the house & the carpenters are there and the frames are up! They're currently working on the trusses so they can put the roof on and go full steam ahead!

Here's a few pics I took today.

A few of the house from the street

The front entry of the house

House looking from where the patio will be

Looking straigt from the back (the tank will be here)

Down the side from the back

Down the opposite side, the dining room & family room & at the front loungeroom looking towards the street

The inside looking out from the family room, that pipe in the middle will be where the kitchen sink is

Kitchen, pantry cupboard looking through the frames are the study & garage.

From the front this is the lounge room

Patio looking into the family room

We're meeting with the electrician on Monday afternoon to discuss where exactly we want the powerpoints, TV points, lights, phone points etc so looks like we're full steam ahead again, ready to go!

Here's one pic I took of Kado playing with the carpenters dog, they made friends quite quickly surprisingly.

NO NEWS

2008-02-13T14:22:00.002+10:00

Well with all the rain that is going on around the state and in Calliope we haven't been lucky enough to have any more progression on the house since the frames were delivered to the site.

WE HAVE WOOD NOW

2008-02-08T14:13:00.000+10:00

Yesterday afternoon Adam and I went for a drive out to Calliope to inspect the block as I hadn't seen the slab since it was poured. When we arrived this is what we found below.... YAY WE HAVE THE FRAMES HERE!!!
So now we've just gotta wait for the weather to be good and the builders to come and start things happening.

SLAB DONE

2008-02-08T14:07:00.000+10:00

On Friday 1.02.2008 they poured our slab... Here's some pictures Mum took of it only ours after it was poured... it's pretty exciting finally seeing it come together, up until now it was a really slow process.

RIO READY FOR CONCRETE

2008-02-08T14:00:00.000+10:00

Well on 31.01.2008 Mum went out to look at the block and take some pics for us, looks like they're getting ready to do something.... check out these pics below.

SAND FILLED BRICKS

2008-01-31T14:17:00.000+10:00

Ok, so here's the latest of the house photos taken 30.01.2008.
Adam has said they just have to lay the rio then they can pour the slab so hopefully it'll get done by this weekend.
The pipes are all in now and the sand is level, just waiting now for the concrete.

Our neighbour has their house on the market at the moment, when we went out yesterday we saw they have a new puppy in the back yard, it is cute! Kado would have made great friends with it, not so sure about the little rat looking dog they also have but the puppy was about his size so I'm sure it'll grow much bigger.

They have $475k on their house which really surprised me considering it is only Calliope afterall.

Well here's the new pics for you to have a look.

PIPES ARE IN

2008-01-27T12:47:00.000+10:00

Well the progress this last 2 weeks has been ever so slow, we think that 'they' thing as long as they do something each week that'll keep us happy.

So all they've done since the last photos were taken is deliver more bricks to the site and put the plumbing into the slab but still nothing done in the way of filling the base in with the dirt/sand or the concrete so it's pretty slow going.

Here's some photo's we took last thursday when we went out for a look.

Adam & Dad outside the ensuite pipe work

Mum standing in my bedroom next to the ensuite

Kado the king of the mountain!!

House at a standstill

2008-01-17T16:55:00.000+10:00

The wet weather means no new progress on the house lately, we were hoping to have a slab by the end of this week but I'm not so sure anymore.

I haven't been out to the site since last weekend but I've had Mum giving me updates on how everything's going.

I might venture out there tomorrow or Saturday sometime (morelikely saturday with Adam).

11 JAN 2007

2008-01-14T09:49:00.000+10:00

Here are some photos mum took on Jan 11th 2008, I've taken a few more since then but haven't had a chance to put them on the computer,

As you can see we have our first few rows of bricks so they can now start to pour the slab, hopefully by te end of this week we have a slab.

New pics from today 10th Jan 2008

2008-01-10T16:09:00.000+10:00

The block is now really starting to look like a building site! Adam finished work early today due to the rain so we went out for a drive to check it all out, here are some pics I took on my phone cause we didn't have a camera with us.

WE HAVE BRICKS!!!

2008-01-09T18:20:00.000+10:00

Adam does the surveying work for Absolute Homes (the guys who are building our house) & he was asked before x-mas holidays to do the 2nd lot of surveying on our house before 8th of Jan because that's when the bricks were arriving to start the slab, we weren't sure how accurate their dates would be but Adam went out & did it before we went on christmas holidays so it was all done.

I got mum to go for a drive down yesterday (8th Jan) to see if they arrived & to take some pics & guess what! They're here!!!

Below is a few pics she took yesterday for us!

I'm not sure when they'll start it but I'll see if Mum or Dad can keep an eye on it & send us pic as it progresses if we can't get out there as much as we'd hope.

HOUSE PLANS

2008-01-07T19:06:00.001+10:00

I finally scanned the house plans (not best quality) to add to the process, here they are below:

Only the floor & site plan at this stage:

Starting Post

2008-01-05T05:06:00.000+10:00

We have started this blog to show those who are interested the progress of the house as it's being built. We'll try take regular photos (some of the ones so far are poor quality because I've lost my digital camera so I'm relying on my camera on my phone till we get a new one).

So far we've got the house plans picked, block scraped to start construction, Adam's done the surveying work & we currently have footings.

The builders estimate that the bricks will arrive on the 8th Jan so hopefully more will happen after that.

Below are some pics from the start to now.

Footings Dug 17/12/2007:

pics taken on 18/12/2007

Our first tap:

pic taken on 18/12/2007

Footings Concreted 20/12/2007

pics taken on 05/12/2007