Windows to the world

I’ve been asked a few times about windows and how much the volume builders will let you customise. The good news is that we were allowed to add as many windows as we wanted. The cost for an extra window was very reasonable, ranging from $300 to $800 for the kitchen splash back.

• We added a window to the kitchen as a splash back. Can’t wait for this very popular feature in our own kitchen. We changed a few windows from overlooking a neighbour to the rear of the property  – no frosting required.
• We added a window to our walk in robe (small) in the chance that we might steal some sea views (we can!)
• We added three smaller windows to our facade as we felt a large window was too severe and not private enough given that is where you get dressed
• We swapped out and centred a window with a sliding door for access to our future rear deck.
• We added a larger widow to the bathroom and aligned the window with the bath so we can watch the moon!
• We added another widow to the study to capture more north light
• We looked at double glazing but the cost – in this case – didn’t really have a reasonable pay off for us.  We’ll look at a pergola for the rear and think curtains to keep the heat in during winter.

Day 73 – Christmas shut down

We are racing the clock as we try and get as much done as we possibly can before the house goes dormant for the festive season. We are aiming to have all windows in, fully wrapped, and perhaps, if all goes well, a bit of brickwork done.

The bricks have arrived. Looks like 6 pallets of lovely golden haze. Warning: they are yellow and pretty ugly.  Need not matter – they are being bagged in our fantasy green colour! I’ve got a mate who renders and he’s said he’ll quote a bit lower. Bagging is a lost art – just make up a sludge mix and toss it on the bricks. How hard can it be?

I’m told our job is a few weeks behind where Metricon wants it to be, but that we are still in within the acceptable limits. That is, we are not in the ‘delayed’ or ‘behind schedule’ part of the graph just yet. Hopefully the new year will bring us back to the middle of the curve.

I’m told the tradies will be off until mid-late January. The roof on has been a blessing in the horrid weather. The plumbers have roughed in, and have now gone. Gas work is all done as well. The heating and cooling guys have also come and gone and have put down all the internal ducting pipework. Not stuff that you can see, but important progress all the same.  There is even a new tv antenna on the roof. The 20 year warranty is a blessing with the salty beach rain we get some days.

I was sad to see the bricks still sitting there this week – but we did get some good news. Hopefully our brickie will work a few days next week to start the job.

And a big merry Christmas to our family, friends, loyal blog readers and fellow building friends. I feel your pain as your build goes dormant. Not easy is it. Hopefully Santa will bring us all a fantastic build next year! Have a safe one.

Day 44 – Roof trusses and windows

A nice surprise today when we drove past; we have windows!  Not sure they’ll keep the cold out very well just yet, but they do start to hint at the house within!

Also great to see such a lot of work done on our pesky roof style.  It is not a standard gable roof that most people build. Instead, we have gone for a skillion roof.  A skillion roof is a bit of a rare item around the suburbs. The Metricon Salamanca – with a skillion roof has never been built in Victoria before! How exciting. We hope the boys keep the engineer’s drawings close at hand. A skillion roof basically is a roof that is not a standard triangle roof but a sloping roof surface often not attached to another roof surface.  It can also affectionately known as a shed roof.  

Windows to the front office and side lounge room and dining room.