Day 129 - Pre-Plaster Report received

Money well spent!
The report was emailed to me late last night, but I didn't see it until today.

CG were keen to see it so I sent them a copy once I had read it.

As others have sais, the NHI report is very clear, detailed and references the specific Australian Standard Building codes.

The inspector found quite a few shortcomings, many but not all, introduced since the last inspection.  Types of things found related largely to changes that plumbers and others had introduced that would have had long term impacts to the house, such as possibly creaking floors due to cut timber supports allowing too much movement between struts, lack of noggins in some of the woodwork, that would have resulted in difficulty getting the plaster up (and to have it stay without issue), and a number of technical matters.

Pretty impressive report, and CG naturally offered to jump right on it, rescheduled the work for next week, so as to address the raised issues.  CG have always told me that they value additional private inspections, they do multiple levels of inspection themselves, but they value "a fresh set of eyes", and seem to truly want to deliver a product of the highest order.  I really cant imagine there are too many builders where the site supervisor is allowed to just make this call, and action it.

I am blown away, of all the normal worries of a small family, I am delighted to report that the house build itself seems to be the least, which is not what I expected when I started this journey.

Day 126 - House Inspection booked - pre-plaster

I have to admit I um'd and ah'd about the need for an inspection, after the last inspection found nothing but work to complement, but in the end as I had to sign off acceptance of this stage to the bank, I thought I would have an inspection and perhaps use a different mob than the last one.  So I organised NHI, and they impressed me from the word go.

The first thing to impress me was the callback after the booking, the lovely lady who took the booking apparently discussed the job with a director, and they decided that they needed to inform me of two facts, first that they have done some paid work for CG, and second that the inspector that they are sending would have no relationship with that previous, and fairly minor it would seem, work.  While I already knew that NHI had been employed by CG in past, that was the rationale for not using them on my first inspection, it was refreshing and very reassuring that they would go to the trouble of making a second call to volunteer such information to me.

No inspection done yet, but I was happily impressed already.

Day 90 - Hebel continues, almost all ground floor windows installed

Great progress occurring this week, looking forward to catching up with DL now that he is back. Carpenter has just about completed his work downstairs, glass people have been around and put in almost all the missing ground floor windows.  Looks like lockup by the end of the week.

Day 84 - Work has recommenced preparing frame for the Hebal

Ground floor of house has been wrapped, and hebal has arrived just need to understand if there is a downside to areas not wrapped, such as where the remaining scaffold is still in place. Will do some research. 

Day 63 - Private Inspection of Frame stage

I selected an inspector that had never worked for CG, and whose company was unknown to CG.
The inspection found no defects, but impressed the inspector no end. He took me around to show me all the areas that well exceeded standards, but which were in line with the very best practice. He did mention that this was an unusual outcome and that his experience with other builders, one in particular, often is a long list of defects that apparently are addressed only after lengthy and repeated demands

Day 62 - Tile roof complete

Saturday 27th April extra safety platforms went up around the house
Monday 29th colour bond rear roof and all gutters installed
Tuesday 30th all roof tiles on, and heating and cooling ducts started to be installed

Day 56 - Framing complete

We have been invoiced for the frame stage, and the builders inspection is due to happen today, it will be reviewed Friday by RH (our fill in SS, who has been great). Any remediation work will be done Monday and Tuesday, and our inspector from www.justinspections.com.au will check it out on Wednesday morning.
The bulkhead that appeared to block the hallway, over the stairs down to the family room, has been proactively removed from the hallway by CG on the recommendation of RH who thought it was an unfortunate oversight.

Our youngest has inspected the house and is giving it the thumbs up. He particularly liked the fact that not only is the frame complete, quite a number of the window and door frames are in, the plumbing supply to the wet areas is done and it all looks a treat.
Comparing the frontal view, looking from the hallway, now to the original, looking towards the front, you can see it is a vast improvement, as the original 950mm bulkhead has been removed and replaced with the unfortunate 300mm ceiling drop

The roof tiles and gutters have all arrived, so we are hopeful that the roof will be next and soon, quickly followed by the walls