Frame Nearly Complete!

Well, we're nearly at frame completion stage.  And it's looking good.  Luckily our SS seems to know his stuff and has a great team of tradies to get the work done.

In saying that, we're having some issues with Metricon.  We want to do two variations (change of kitchen cabinet colour (upper ones only) and change from over mount sink in kitchen to under mount) and we're getting nowhere fast... grrrr.  Metricon is saying a resounding NO.  We've tried asking nicely, then a formal request as per the contract, then asking nicely again and all we get is NO, NO, sorry we really know you will enjoy the house but NO.  The sad thing is, the suppliers are happy to do it, and they've not even received confirmation of measurements from Metricon.

So frustrating.  Especially when the process to date has not been a great one.  We even put some feedback on their Facebook site, gotta love social media.  However, a warning to you; be mindful what you put on there.  It seems as though constructive feedback is not welcomed.  It backfired big time and now we feel like we're being targeted.  Basically they've said no changes to contract, none of our tradies allowed onsite (previously we were going to get some small changes done during build that were no issues).  Now it's no go but "we're sure you'll love where you live".  We learnt the hard way so if you want to complain, and you haven't got what you want yet, don't do it via their Facebook page.

Anyway, we've now progressed our 'request' to the GM of South East Region Victoria.  Fingers crossed that he may want to provide a really good customer experience.  We're hoping they'd rather have us praise Metricon than not.  But we're not holding our breath too much.  Next step will be to progress it further so stay tuned for more updates on that.

Meanwhile, here's some pics' of the house so far.  Most of the downstairs windows are in (except the front study corner feature) and they just need to do the second story windows.  This week should finish those off.

Aaron.

From the front

From the left

From the right

Yay and Nay

Yay - The second storey of our frame has been put up and it now looks like a house! Minus the roof which we think will actually go up today :) The frame has certainly gone up quickly.. bet Metricon have already got that invoice drafted and ready to send!!

Nay - On another note, I sent our CSC an email yesterday with a few questions and she advised that after some reshuffling within the organisation, we now have another CSC.. This is number 4 and we have yet to hear from her, not even an introduction.. Surprised? Nope, have to say that communication from Metricon has been less than average!

Nay - Also, I have to ask all our readers - Variation Fees. After a random search of google, there seems to be no set price on what Metricon charge and they seem to range from $500 upwards. What is the cost that Metricon have advised you on and has anyone been successful in making an internal change without having to pay this ludicrous fee especially after all the extras they charge you??!! Any info/advice on what you changed and what prices you have been advised/charged would be much appreciated!! :)



Thank goodness for high beams and iphones ;)

mali :)

Progress!

So it has been a week since our last post.. The slab has been paid for and they have commenced putting up the frame! Yay! Went by yesterday afternoon and happy to see some tradies working hard on a public holiday at getting our frame up :) Good on ya boys!

Nothing else to update but nice to have some progress :)

Our beautiful slab!

Front Door :)

mali

YAY - we have a slab

So its been just over a week since our last update.

Our slab was poured last Thursday morning and we received the invoice for it via email later that afternoon. Ha, at least we can count on Metricon to have that part of the building process down pat! Thank goodness the Melbourne sun was out for the next 3 days which allowed time for the slab to dry!

We had a call from our site manager yesterday to advise that the frame was delivered but due to the rain yesterday, they would try and commence that today and should take approx 2 weeks to complete - wow!! Looking forward to driving past it tonight :)

It has all definitely started now and the excitement is starting to set in and we hope that the roof and bricks commence before the real Melbourne winter weather kicks in!

mali

Update on updates or lack thereof

So we're supposed to hear from our site manager every Friday afternoon to with an update on how the week has progressed.. Friday has come and gone and we have yet to hear from him.. Disappointing considering it is only the 2nd week since construction :( Disappointment seems to be the only constant when it comes to Metricon..

Since it rained pretty much all of last week, not much has been completed on site besides the laying of the blade piles - the laying of what I hear you ask? Piles are like screws that go into our dirt all over the block to support and strengthen our slab - Sort of looks like there are land mines everywhere!

This is a blade pile

Besides that, nothing else has happened - Melbourne's weather is predicted to be cloudy for the rest of the week with no rain - fingers crossed so the slab can progress!

mali

Quick update & our colour selections..

So this week started with a dream last night that our neighbours garage was built 30cm into our block - Definitely know this wasnt the case as we were at our block over the weekend - Phew but anyone else dreaming of their blocks and future neighbours? Maybe I am starting to lose my mind lol

Our electricity box has been put in and it looks like they have dug trenches and holes throughout the whole block! So much for a nice, clean cut site! Question though, do they usually cut the site larger than the actual size of the slab?

Looking forward to the slab being poured this week, fingers crossed we have some progress and the rain stays away..

Weather forecast as of today - Sunny
Tuesday - Partly cloudy
Wednesday - Rain developing
Thursday - Showers
Friday - Showers
Looks promising! :(

So as promised, here is a list of our colour selections:

External:

Austral Urban One Bricks - Chocolate (We had originally chosen the Selkirk Blue Rain brick, but it then became discontinued, a blessing in disguise i think as the colour was not consistent from all the displays we saw)
Contrast Brick - Bluestone Splitface blocks
Render - Raku (Dark Grey)
James Hardie Cladding - Clear Concrete
Roof tiles - Boral Slimline - Ebony
Guttering/Fascia/Downpipes - Dune
Windows - Satin Black Aluminium (We originally wanted the beautiful timber window frames but after a lot of consideration, we opted for the aluminium frames as we both decided we couldn't be bothered maintaining them every year to keep them looking beautiful ;))
Garage Door - Tuscan style overhead in Monument
Front Door - Cabots Charcoal

Our bricks with the cladding and render colours above and garage and downpipes below



Internal:

Ceiling and Wall paint colour - Lexicon, we have decided to have the one colour for both our ceilings and walls on recommendation by our colour consultant - apparently makes the room look bigger! We shall see..
Benchtops - Caesar stone Snow (for our kitchen, laundry, bathroom, ensuite and powder room)
Kitchen Cupboards - Colourtech White and Colourtech Black for the overhead cupboards above our cooktop
Rest of the cupboards for everywhere else - Burnished Wood Laminex
Kickers - Decometal to all except for the wet areas which are being tiled
Floorboards - Wenge - we are in love with these floorboards and cannot wait to see it laid throughout the house!
Carpet - Californian Twist, Long beach 80% wool, 20% synthetic, Catergory 4 for a decent carpet (Anyone else find that M's carpet options were pretty ordinary??!)

So there you have it, our colour selections, which took an extrodinary amount of time to get correct as our consultant had not noted down half the items we had selected, upgraded or deleted!!

And lastly, here is a photo of the gorgeous sunsets we will be privvy to from our backyard - just stunning!!

Happy Monday all and enjoy your week :)

mali

Update on pouring the slab...

After talking to the SS today, it looks like we will have the slab completed by the end of next week!
Then we'll be weeks away from the frame going up - here's hoping the weather stays fine so this can progress quickly!

Have a great weekend all.
- Aaron