Progress (or 'Regress'!)

Got to learn from our SS that few windows were broken including the sliding door to Alfresco during the vandalism that took place on the night before our pre-PCI scheduled last Thursday. Also many vertical blinds and fly-screens had been torn off. Tradies are currently working on site to fix these items. 

So, we are delayed by 3 weeks or so. Tentative PCI is around second week of November (possibly same day for Independent Inspection). And there will be no separate pre-PCI  to save time.

We are just trying to be positive thinking it could have been worse if it was done at a stage where we had given a notice to our land-lord that we would be leaving or we were just handed over the keys! Now it is just the delays and the bad feeling. 

Here are few pictures on the items that had been added since last time:

Cordova Two: Classic Facade

Cordova Two: Classic Facade

Cordova Two

Cordova Two: Laundry

Sensor Lights

 Benchtop in Kitchen and Butler's Pantry had been installed along with Sinks:

Cordova Two: Open Kitchen

Cordova Two: Butler's Pantry

Cordova Two: Butler's Pantry Shelving

 Main Bathroom Vanity (Caesarstone Linen and Polytec Artisan Oak) and mirror had been installed:

Cordova Two: Family bathroom

Cordova Two: Family Bathroom Vanity

 Shelves had been installed in all of our built-ins:

Cordova Two: Bed 2 Built-in

Cordova Two: Home Theater

Cordova Two: Study Nook

Pre-PCI Cancelled

Our Pre-PCI supposed to happen today but we got a call from our SS this morning and learnt that someone broke into our house and vandalize few windows. So, in summary, everything will be possibly delayed by at least 3 weeks!

It is a bad news indeed, would have been worse if it happened after the Handover and before we move in! MJH will replace the broken items with brand new ones. However, it is the delay that is troubling us more.

I supposed to be uploading pictures of our finished home today, instead I am sharing this awful news!
We have to postpone all our inspection, flooring, landscaping and electrical appointment as well. This is so bad!

Nearing Pre-PCI: Finishing Touches ongoing

Electrical and Plumbing fit-out is ongoing along with installation built-in shelves, robe, towel rails etc. We couldn't visit this week-end because of the birthday party of our darling twin daughters who turned two.
However, Received few photos from a friend who also informed us that tradies were working over the week-end. From the photos, I see that they have completed Bag & paint of Front facade, though the paint looks really light (i.e. close to white) under afternoon sun, not bad though! We selected Taubmans Abstract which is supposed to be a bit darker!

Downpipes were also painted, now not that visible. The Sentinel Square light at the front pillar had also been fitted, along with four downlights under eaves and patio. The intercom system beside Main door is not installed yet!

Cordova Two: Classic Facade

Cordova Two: garage door in Surfmist

Painted Taubmans Mountain Wine

Cordova Two: Classic facade

Cordova Two: Classic Facade

Cordova Two: Classic Facade

Cordova Two: Classic Facade

We are having Pre-Practical Completion Inspection (pre-PCI) on Thursday 20-October where our site supervisor will give us an walk-through to identify as many things as possible before PCI.
On our end, we are getting ready for the pre-PCI inspection, preparing checklists and all. We will inspect again on 25-October with our Independent Building Inspector before formal PCI (27-Oct) next week .

MJH has produced the final invoice last week and we forwarded it to the bank on the next day. Bank is also preparing for an inspection of the property before releasing the final payment (through bank cheque) to us to be handed over to MJH on the 'Handover' day.

Flooring Choices Finalized

 As we are nearing the completion of the construction, we had to revisit our flooring choices, reconfirm and provide a tentative installation date. Carpets will be installed in all bedrooms and home theater. Rest of the house (living, kitchen, pantry, hallway entrance etc) will be vinyl.

Our selections are:

Vinyl: Quick Steps’ Canyon Oak Light Brown with Saw Cuts

Carpet: Delrey Beach Shale Grey

And here is how they look together:

Canyon Oak Light Brown & Delrey Beach Shale Grey

We took the colour samples for kitchen cabinets, walls provided by MJH with us:

We have generated few images using Quick Steps’ visualiser tool to understand how the vinyl floor would look:

Canyon Oak Light Brown

Canyon Oak Light Brown

Canyon Oak Light Brown

Canyon Oak Light Brown

Canyon Oak Light Brown

Canyon Oak Light Brown

Cordova Two: Canyon Oak Light Brown

As shown in the picture, the colour appears quite different depending on the light.

Regarding installation, it would take maximum two days, usually vinyl goes first, followed by carpet. Even though we have supplied the plan for measurement, someone from flooring company would visit the site, measure and determine if any floor preparation would require! Skirting installation for the Vinyl areas are included in the quote, however we need to paint the skirtings boards afterwards by ourselves. Let's see how it goes!

Note: How it looks on the house laid is covered here

Painting completed, PCI booked

We are notified by MJH that painting of our house has been completed. Wish to visit next weekend to have a look. It took nearly three weeks I see.

Our Site Supervisor called us and we are booked for Pre-PCI, Independent Inspection, and PCI respectively on 20-Oct , 25-Oct  and 27-Oct . Exciting time ahead indeed. Whether the overall experience will be good or bad will surely depend on the quality of finishes along with mistakes/defects and how easy it is to correct them.

As now we have specific dates, we can book tradies accordingly for electrical, flooring and landscaping work.

Photos of a "Cordova Two" Home

McDonald Jones has released some wonderful pictures of a Cordova Two home built in Queensland, Australia. The owners (Matt and April) had styled their house so nicely. I wanted to have these pictures here so that people who are interested in 'Cordova Two' (including myself) will be benefited.

Here they are (Photo Courtesy: McDonald Jones Homes and the owners of this beautiful house):

Cordova Two: Classic Facade

Cordova Two: Hallway entrance, open Kitchen & Dining 

Cordova Two: Living

Cordova Two: Living

Cordova Two: Living

Cordova Two: Living showing HT and Alfresco

Cordova Two: Living

Cordova Two: Open Kitchen

Cordova Two: Kitchen

Cordova Two: Home Theater

Cordova Two: Home Theater

Cordova Two: Alfresco along with Backyard

Cordova Two: Alfresco along with Backyard

Cordova Two: Deck extending Alfresco 

Cordova Two: Mastersuite

Cordova Two: one of the bedrooms

Cordova Two: Family Bathroom

Cordova Two: one of the bedrooms turned into a nursery

Cordova Two: Ensuite (different from standard layout)

I loved the floor colour, the warm tone and the whitish theme of this house. Also  I am glad that there is a downpipe at the front facade and it has blended so well! The ensuite layout is different compared to standard one: the shower location and toilet position had been swapped and the toilet is made into a separate Powder room with sliding door. Also some walls along with shelving had been added beside the vanity. However, the 'study nook' is not included. the floor space is also standard but the house looks so much bigger because of the increased ceiling height as the owner clarified. We are also extending our alfresco through decking, not this much though.