Part 2

To sum up the design, here are the main features:

• concrete slab on waffle pods (P class soil)
• Blueframe treated timber (called H2 or T2)
  
• Hebel Power panels 75mm (ground floor)
• Polystyrene panels 75mm (first floor)
• PVC double glazed windows with Argon gas & Low-e treatment
• Colorbond roof
• For the garage, we will use concrete blocks as a cost saving measure!

By Christmas 2007, we had decided on the Builder, almost received the Permit, and approval from the bank.

The builder took possession of the site on the 4^th February.

We then received a call from him saying that the sewerage pipe from the front property was going right thru our block! Shock, horror!

We experienced frustration and anger for days. No one would take responsibility: the previous owner, the surveyor and the Council. Our Solicitor got involved, but to no avail. We learned that there are two documents that anyone contemplating the purchase of a subdivided block should be familiar with.

One is the Property plan, which is part of the Section 32 documents, but more importantly the Property Service plan which is issued by the Water Company. This is the one that shows precisely where all existing pipes are located on the block.

At the time of subdivision, the Owner was told to divert the storm water pipe; she did not have to divert the sewerage pipe…

No recourse, we had to get the pipe moved over, at our cost.

Another issue arose soon after that. The electricity provider imposed upon us what they call “group metering”. Because of the small area of common property, we had to group both meters.

This meant the existing overhead cable feeding the existing house had to be run underground.

Once again, we had to cover the cost.

Finally, all services to the property where laid out in the trench, and excavations could start.

One of the requests from the Structural Engineer, was to have 6 piers under the slab of the garage, near the fence: Ø600, 2400 deep… A lot of concrete went into theses!

I should have placed a tape measure down the hole: it is difficult to realize how deep the holes are on the photo .