Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Rain and earthworks

The weather here has been really stormy lately and I was wondering if that would affect the earthworks and if this would make our house more unstable after it is built.

I've asked a building expert who's response is along the following lines:
It should be alright but the supervisor should check it prior to slab pour which happens the next day. Usually the builders do not leave the clean fill for more than a day or so. They will not pour the slab if there's significant change in the sand pad. The rain shouldn't have done that, but the builders won't pour in the rain anyhow.

Phew.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Earthworks

Earthworks have started on our land. We just drove past since we were in the area today and we realise it has begun.

A friend's husband who is in the industry was explaining that earthworks means:
1. The builders take away the top layer of sand/roots/rubbish etc.
2. A layer of good sand is laid
3. Sand is compacted for the foundation
4. Trenches for the footings are dug (not sure if this comes before the sand is compacted)
5. Concrete is poured on it to form the slab
6. Concrete left to be cured

After the concrete is cured, the bricks are delivered and the rest of the building process happens. Apparently, from earthworks it is 20-30 weeks to the handover of the completed building. Not as far off as we think!


This is what our land looked like on 15 May 2011.

This is what our land looked like today

From the back


From the back showing more of the neighbours fence. We are going to have to adopt the neighbour's fence colour for our house too for a more uniform feel. The neighbour's fence looks so different in this picture than in the picture we took above on 15th May with the overcast sky.


From the back again showing the expanse of the earthworks. The land has an 11m wide frontage.

From the front.

It's so nice a flat now. And clean - except the front bit. However, since our neighbours have moved in it seems to be a lot better than when we visited the land late last year.

Looking forward to seeing the slab down very soon.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Exciting stuff

After much to-ing and fro-ing with regard to our building plans, we have finally signed off the plans and made the first payment of the installment today!

We received a letter in our mailbox advising that our contract file has been processed to our Construction Department and earthworks will commence within 10 working days!

We visited the site a couple of weeks ago. It was fun meeting the neighbours who have moved in. Looking forward to getting our house!