Tile Appointment

After 3 visits to National Tiles, a huge amount of research on the Porter Davis Website, the Tile Boutique, visits to Display Homes and reading many Forums and Blogs, I was pretty nervous driving to the tile appointment today as this is the one thing we hadn't quite squared away in our heads.  DH and I was slightly in 2 different minds on some selections.........

I arrived 30mins early to have another look at selections and look up some of the referenced tiles I had read on other blogs.  By the time our Consultant arrived to start the appointment I had 5 large floor tiles out and a few feature type tiles.  The only tile we had worked out prior to coming was the Caffe Mocha 100x300 (Standard tile) that we want to use for the Laundry splashback in a brick laid fashion.  We had thoughts of utilising this in the Main Bathroom also around the bath and perhaps one wall in the shower.

First though, here are some pictures of the main walls of tiles.  Apologies, I didn't take pictures of the feature tile areas.  Hope this helps any newbies.

Standard (Cat 1) Tiles
Top Row - various types of white tiles
2nd Row - Rectangular feature tiles - some 100mm x 300mm
2nd Bottom - 333mm x 330mm
2nd topBottom Row - Portofino Matt 450mm x 450mm

Upgrade Tiles (Cat 2 & 3)
As you move along the wall from Right to Left,
the costs increase.
Included here - Portofino Gloss 450mm x 450mm,
I believe these are around $5/m2 extra
Others here are up to $35/m2 extra

Upgrade Tiles (Cat 4 & 5)
As you move up to the left, there are the lovely Porcelain
Tiles around $65/m2 - 600mm x 300mm and 600mm2

So we started working with the Laundry as we felt this was the easiest room to sort out.  Looking at the main floor tiles we had out, we actually worked out that the Cafe Latte tile colour was not right, so ended up selecting - Cafe Cino Matt (MAXFL008), this is a little darker and slightly cooler colour.

After a LOT of discussion, we decided on one consistent floor tile for all our wet areas - Colorado Grey Natural 450mm x 450mm (NT11-530FL).

NB: We have chosen Alabaster as our internal Wattyl Paint Colour.

This is what we came up with:

Laundry
Cafe Cino Matt tile along the full splashback length and also at the side of the laundry sink (this is extra).  Lay in a horizontal brick bond pattern (this has a slight increase in price).
Colorado Grey Natural on the floor.

Main Bathroom
Colorado Grey Natural on the floor, the shower and then right across the back of the vanity, between the mirror and the bath, wrapped around the wall above the bath.
The niche in the shower, the bath hob and the bath top will use the Cafe Cino.

Guest Suite
Colorado Grey on the floor, vanity splash back and the short sides of the shower.
Cafe Cino lay brick bond on 1200mm width of guest shower as main feature with a high window on this wall. 

Toilets upstairs
Colorado Grey on the floor.

The Cafe Cino Matt tile is sitting on the Colorado Grey tile, so a little hard to distinguish the exact colours.

Powder Room Downstairs
Colorado Grey on the Floor
Feature Tile as the splashback - Greywood G/M White Glass Random (DSSTM417)

Ensuite

Colorado Grey on the Floor
Greywood G/M White Glass Random splashback behind vanity and inside our shower niche.

See - that wasn't so hard now was it.  In fact we had it all selected in 1hr 45mins!

Note - we are opting for laminate flooring, so didn't need to do main floor tiles.

eBay and Tiles

Ebay

Well after deciding that the house wasn't going to be removed and it was in fact going to be demolished - a little sad, especially for the man who built the house for his wife, we decided to try to salvage a few things.

We removed some great door handles that we may be able to use, eyeing up the front door and screen door that we might use as our laundry door, and just some bits and pieces around such as - shaving cabinet, old wooden gates, sleepers etc.  It will be nice to keep some memorabilia of the old house for the new.  Some things we might just use in the garden.

I also went a little ebay happy, so lets see if anything sells.  Don't mind what for, just the thought of others being able to use things is great.


Tiles, Tiles, Tiles.....

Well the big TILE appointment is tomorrow.  Wish us luck.  Going in there with some ideas but nothing set firm in our heads.  I am going to go a little earlier to sneak a look around first and try to maximise our time whilst we are there.  I have looked and looked through the Tile Boutique Website, forum one blogs, other peoples blogs and seen some good info.  Finger crossed...

Wembley 35 Display Home Pictures

Thought I would add some photos that I have taken at the Display Home in Leopold.  Some are taken at weird angles - just ignore that...

Looking from front entrance towards back

Powder room

 Kitchen

Kitchen - Change Pantry Option (gives additional 3rd cupboard - we will have drawers)

Rumpus (kids playroom - future lounge room)

Media Unit extension from Kitchen Bench through Dining (we will have draws)

Kitchen - view to Pantry (we are not having kitchen window)

Stairs - ours will be carpet with bottom tread stained

Family Room

Main Bathroom

Upstairs Games Room - Teenage Retreat

Study Alcove outside our Bedroom

Master WIR - love it!

 Kitchen - we will have pot draws, no window and 900 Blanco stand alone oven/stove

Kitchen - we are having Island bench just like this (thinner caesarstone though!)

Ensuite

Main Bathroom

Processes to get site cleared

I didn't realise how much had to be done to clear the site ready for PD to come in.

Obviously we need to get the site cleared.  As mentioned on earlier posts, we were looking at trying to remove the house for 2 reasons: 1. To see the house kept and being used be someone else.  2. Save us costs on demolition.  Unfortunately due to the fall of the land at the front of the house, we would have had to remove a fair chunk of soil to get the house out, which sent our costs sky rocketing.  Also the house remover we were talking with wasn't getting any interest in anyone wanting to purchase the house in our timeframe.  So we made the decision that we will just have to demolish.

To help others, these are the steps we have had to follow:

• TREE REMOVAL - Gain Council Approval to remove a large tree in the front middle of our block ($30)
• ELECTRICITY ABOLISHMENT - Apply to United Energy to Abolish the electricity from the house - this can take up to 20 days, for us it actually only took 12 days ($171)
• GAS ABOLISHMENT - Apply directly to Gas supplying company to Abolish Gas Meter and Line from the house - again, this can take up to 20 days, this actually only took 12 days ($152)
• ASSET PROTECTION - Apply to Council for Asset Protection ($226 + $600 bond) - this is to cover the Demolition and Pool - took about 7-10 days
• DEMOLITION - Engage Demolition Company - they need 3-4 weeks to get Council Approval ($13,500)
• POWER PIT INSTALLATION - Apply to United Energy to set up Underground Power Pit - they come back to you with a quote within 20 days and then once you pay and confirm their quote, they will then install the Power Pit within 20 days.  Note: this has to be ready for PD to start on your site. (I haven't received our quote as yet, just posted off documents yesterday) - (Edit - received quote today (31/01) - $2,830)

We are also installing a pool, so have had to coordinate this along the way as well.  The pool will be installed after demolition but prior to the build.  They need electricity, so I am hoping that the power pit is installed by this time.....

Everything is now starting to fall into place on this side of things, hopefully it keeps running smoothly.  Our hope is to have the site fully cleared by the end of Feb, pool going in during March and hoping for April start date for the house.  Lets see what actually comes to fruition!

Tender Meeting

The Tender Process is for us to define any structural changes and variations to the plans.  Following this meeting, our individualised plans for council will be drawn up.

We are excited to have now finished and signed our Tender.  You spend so much time researching and thinking about it all and wondering if some of your changes are possible.  It feels great to have this all locked in now.

We took 6.5 hours at our first appointment, but ended up having to leave due to commitments.  I then went back for the 2nd appointment which took 2 hours.   As our Tender Presenter advised though, it is all about getting it right, if this takes a bit of time, then so be it. We plan to be living in our house for a very very long time, so want it right now.  So for others out there, just allow yourselves extra time.  It does take time going through the Tender Agreement line by line ensuring every word is correct and everything is listed.

I have been advised for Contract stage to make sure that we check everything on the Tender Agreement against the plans very carefully and ask them to show us where the changes are on the plans.  A great way to cross check.

Some of our Changes:

• Site Costs - these actually ended up being cheaper than the quote (exciting!) - it was good to have realistic quote for this
• 450mm Eaves
• Grand Alfresco
• Guest Suite with Ensuite and Separate Powder Room, instead of Lounge.  As all the other bedrooms are upstairs, we thought it best to have an additional bedroom downstairs for guests or family
• Guest Bathroom - added a window as it didn't have one
• Wembley 35 Amended Pantry - as displayed at Leopold (Standard option is different)
• Garage - 2m extension with roller door at rear
• Removed window in Pantry - don't want food getting hot and also want to utilise the space for full shelving all the way around
• Bi-Fold door - we have recessed the frame - this means there won't be that raised area that people can trip on.
• Double glazed windows
• Changed some of the types of windows - how they open
• Hebel
• Added doors to WIR, Rumpus
• Front door - changed from 2 doors to 1 door
• Colourbond roof
• Niches in bathroom
• Media Unit in Dining Room - as per display
• Gas connection in Alfresco for BBQ - this also then entails upgrading the gas line to the house
• Upgraded Ducted Heating unit to more efficient model

Clearing the land and preparing for Tender

Following from my last post, still no closer to choosing exterior colours..........

However, after the Christmas and New Year break, I hit the phone on Monday morning to line up Tree Removalists and Demolition Companies to provide some quotes on helping to clear the land.  We have also been looking at trying to remove the house instead of demolishing it.  I still need to get 2 more demolition quotes this week and then we will make a decision as to which way we will go - remove or demolish the house.  

Exciting news is that we have received council approval to remove a tree that is centre front of the current house and would have been very difficult to try and build a new house around. We are very excited about the approval.

Yesterday we went to visit the Wembley display again, unfortunately it is all the way round the bay near Geelong.  So I took heaps of photos and worked out some finer details as we prepare for our Tender Meeting this coming Friday.......Yikes!

We are planning another trip to Hopetoun and National Tiles next weekend in preparation the selection appointments.  

I have loved reading the homeone blogs from many other people and also the following ones titled "Porter Davis Homes",  "Things You Forget" and "Porter Davis Upgrades and Costs", they have been invaluable in preparing for the meetings with PD.  How did people get all this information 10 years ago!

Exterior Colour Discussions

Colours, colours, colours.......

We headed to the new Ambrosia Display Centre at Cranbourne today to have a look at colours and see if there is anything new and fancy there. We are really finding it tough working out the External Colours for the house.  We are going with the Hebel option, so therefore the house will be fully rendered.  Also we love Colourbond, love to hear the rain!  

So the decision is between:
Monument Colourbond roof - light renders - white windows
 or 
Lighter roof (Surfmist or Shale Grey) - darker renders (?Dune) - white windows.  Perhaps with some Monument guttering/fascia???

We love the Cool white/grey tones, so chosing between Monument down to Windspray down to Surfmist.  So we are going to walk the streets looking and hoping someone else has just the colour scheme so that this can help us chose!

Think we will be visiting Hopetoun Interiors in the next couple of weeks to look at colour options again for this.

Now that we actually own our house and tomorrow being the first day back at work for many, I am going to hit the phone calls for Demolition and Tree Lopping businesses to line up getting some quotes hopefully this week.  Lets get this ball rolling.......

From the Beginning...

After looking for a very long time to purchase our dream house that we want to live in for many years, we just couldn't find it in the area we live.  So Plan B, Knockdown/Rebuild came to life.

In Oct 2012 an old house came on the market on a good sized block with a north facing backyard, so we pounced on it.

Nov 2012 - We went searching for the house for us and came across the "Porter Davis Wembley 35", it is just the sort of floor plan we were looking for.  We want the open plan kitchen/lining/living area to look out directly over the backyard so we can keep an eye on our young children.  This house has 4 bedrooms upstairs, including an upstairs sitting room (future teenage retreat!). Downstairs there is a lounge room at the front which we are converting to a Guest Suite (one of PD options on their plans).

Link to see the house plans and pictures -  http://www.porterdavis.com.au/#/homeviewer/wembley/35

Dec 2012 - Settlement - yippee!  

Now the fun really starts....well after Christmas and New Year shutdowns.