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Renovation progress
By Emma Hartnell-Baker ©

I have undertaken this project myself as I wanted to find a reliable,
hard working group of tradesmen who charge a reasonable rate- to then create Handyman Central based on my experience as a single woman trying to
undertake house renovations.
These people weren't told initially that progress is being documented as I
wanted to know what they would quote me for various jobs, and who
would do the job well if selected. I am managing the whole renovation project project myself- usually Im in charge of the interior design aspect after all the messy stuff has been completed lol - and it is turning out to be a great
learning experience for me!
I aim to offer a service based on what I discovered- and what I found is lacking on the Gold Coast. I hope you'll find the progress interesting!

Im working on the inside first- special offer from
Doors Plus in Ashmore (to include taking out window and installation of doors
- $1395 inc GST (price was $1295 - I chose funky handle for an additional $100)
Tel Kurt or Chris - Ashmore- 07 5539 2888
(and girls, these chaps arent too bad to look at either lol)
I would also recommend Alan - he's doe an amazgin job on the patio doors
installed at the back - see details further on...

I also tried to cut costs with the windows- instead of replacing I
sprayed them with (here soon) and then painted with sun safe white gloss - using masking tape to cut down on excess paint removal afterwards.

Doesn't look too bad once masking tape removed - so may do the same to all windows- and it's going to be rendered so any excess paint doesn't matter
(I'm not that neat!) Although Ive juat had a quote from C-View to replace
the two side windows (with white aluminium) for less than $1100 inc
GST (supply) so I may replace those altogether. C-View (07) 5520 1200


.
Bevan (see here for his info) took out the ancient a/c unit and bricked it in.
It now needs plastering and painting inside.
As you can see I am trying out colours on the right handside, for
when its been rendered..
These are the colours Im going for- grey roof tiles/ colourbond
- but with white windows


Bevan has also bricked in this window in the kitchen

and it just needs gyprock, then plastering and painting

The stove will go where the sink is in this pic..

He has also bricked in the bedroom wall - otherwise its a waste of space
and will look into the new garage when its there!
Now needs to be plastered and painted..pic here shortly.

I'm a bit peeved- got a quote from someone highly recommended- really nice chap too- called Gordon Whyte and he quoted me $20,250 to brick in the bedroom window, kitchen window, where old a/c unit was and to take out the stud wall.
Using the guys I have found- I have done the work for under $5000.
Bit of a difference!!

I had a new water heater installed to replace the previous electric heater
which was installed in 1983!.
I chose a Quantum Compact Solar system from Central Solar Systems in
Bundall which was $2500 after government rebate. A further rebate available
- this is means tested.
It apparently cuts bills down by around 75%

It's sitting on a concrete slab as the bricks are coming up soon
to be replaced with pavers.

I'm had been quoted $1600 plus GST to take down the stud wall, by
" The Handyman Team" and decided to grab a hammer and start doing it
myself as I didnt want to have to pay that much. However they gave
me a good quote for something else - and seem really professional
so I would still recommend them..

Luckily Shane - my kitchen fitter- recommended Alan - who has done a
far better job, and it took him only a few hours to do it, as well as to
take off all my internal doors, and remove the kitchen bench top and cabinets.
for around $300.. go Alan! (he even swept up afterwards...)



So I'm now ready for Shane and his partner to put in my new kitchen.
Cabinets and doors etc - Everything except bench top and
electrical goods etc for under $5000.
Ill be using them to put in the new utility area also.

I needed to get the plumbing sorted as Im moving the site and putting in
a dishwasher, got a quote for $990 and then spoke to Ben Hanson
who has done it for around $400 - how can quotes be so different?
Did a great job- easy guy to work with- will use him again!
See Plumbing section for his details

Talking of electrics- I have ordered everything from AppliancesOnline.com.au
Getting quite friendly with David now- at Appliances Online - getting the
deliveries organised! Really friendly bunch- and prices seemed
good in comparison with others. The downside is that the delivery side of
things is is very iffy- depending on who you get, at Allied. The cusomer
services rep I called, to get some idea of delivery time, was
unhelpful to say the least...and Im being very polite:-)

Anyway, this is what I've ordered....its always about $70 for delivery
...I did it in two goes.
These weren't the cheapest- they were the ones I liked, and fitted in with
the style of my new kitchen. I have chosen a gas stove top and will
run this with two gas bottles outside. This is being fixed up by Michael- see
plumbing pages

Ive also got a fab electrician- also called Shane! He came and made
the kitchen area safe etc so Alan could pull it out.
He's coming back next week to get it ready - dishwasher, points etc.
I've also seem some gorgeous light fittings etc I want putting in, and got some groovy lights from Ikea to hang over the dining table area.

I'm planning on putting in a lowered section - like this- where the
kitchen walls were- and so I can make a feature of it and put in downlights.




Still getting on with painting the exterior windows...doesnt the
white brighten it up?! I may paint the outside rather than render-
still unsure- and if Im putting in a new garage I may look into prices
for a colourbond roof. If not Ill get the roof tiles painted.

Mark, a fantastic floor layer, recommended by my friends Julie and Brian
is putting down bamboo in the living area, hall and office the week after
next and I'm trying to find a tiler to put down my white floor tiles in the two bedrooms.
Can I find one who will return my call though???

Ok we're getting somewhere now- good old Alan has put up the gyp and
the new lowered area over the kitchen area despite feeling crook
(I gave him the flu - sorry Alan)
As you can see the pipes and electric cables are in, ready for the oven, sink, dishwasher - thanks to Shane my sparkie and Ben Hanson.
I got Michael to put in the gas pipe so I can have a gas stove top - $484. Ouch.

Kitchen cabinets ready to go in! Shane hard at it...




Andrew seems to have encouraged some happy orbs!!
The funny things is that I kept cleaning the lens, and took pics elesewhere,
and yet its only in the house I get these circles in my shots - and when taking 10 different pics they arent in all- which you would expect if its a dusty lens!
My good friend Kay tells me it's because they represent positive energy http://www.ghostcircle.com/_orbs.html



And Mark has started on the floors- my bamboo goes down soon!
Around $100 pr square metre- supply and fit

During installation



At last- a tiler with reasonable rates- Bingo Badelle will be putting
down the floor tiles (tiles from World Carpet) in two bedrooms the week
after the wooden flooring goes down- $950 for 22 square metres.
Tel 0404 510 888

Alan is knocking out the window, and wall below it, to put in new patio doors
off the main bedroom- these will eventually lead out to the extension.


He sorted everything, I just chose my door handles. I used
Handles Plus who were excellent- really friendly and helpful
- Harvest Court off Ferry Road, Southport.

Had my new delivery from Appliances Online- can you believe it, this time
the delivery guy (who works for Allied) left my fridge freezer and washing
machine on the driveway, insisting it wasn't his job to put them inside! Mark, my wonderful floor guy, was there and even offered to help him bring them in
but he wouldn't- unbelievable!! How he thought I was going to get them in is
beyond me- apparently, after a lot of phone calls, he was told to go back and put them inside the house, and I sat on the front step and waited for about two hours before realising he wasnt coming. One of the guys at Appliances Online called him back- 0413***741- and he denied knowing what he was talking about.
Anyone with a van could've come and taken them- so the same guy, at Appliances Online, called a mate to come over, and I had to ask the neighbors to let him in.
So don't use Allied for deliveries if possible and don't sign the delivery
note if they don't put them inside!!

And it gets worse... am desperately waiting now for Shanon- the plasterer I have booked- to to come and finish off the areas that were bricked in, and the new lowered part over the kitchen so that Shane and crew can put the wall units in.
They cant get on until he's done it. He should have come last weekend, then had promised to come Friday morning- and again today. So he's let me down three times now- promising faithfully to come and then not even calling to let me know he couldn't (or wouldn't) or picking up the phone. Its really messed everyone around, and all he needed to do was let me know he wasn't coming and Id have got someone else. So if you are looking for a plasterer- don't use Shanon
- 0405 7**245. Complete waste of space. So unprofessional.
Things crop up- but a quick phone call to let people know, is all that's needed.
So will start my search this afternoon to find someone else.

On the bright side, Joe - from my son's soccer- has recommended the best
places to get some quality modern lights and stainless steel fans
- and made sure I got the right things
- I knew nothing about which down lights to get etc!! - So wonderful when
people go out of their way to help. It was Joe who also put me
onto Shane the sparky. And that's what Vision is all about- Handyman Central™
is being created so that people can find out who to use, and who not to use,
when renovating. Even if you havent got a Joe- you can ask us!

Update- AppliancesOnline are really apologetic about the driver leaving
my goods on the driveway and refusing to take them inside - obviously its
not their fault, and they are trying to source their own warehouses and delivery service so they are not dependent on other companies eg Allied.
They are sending me a coffee maker as a small apology for my inconvenience.
Those kinds of gestures really go a long way with regards to Customer Services!

And my kitchen is moving along...even if they are behind time wise because
of Shanon the plasterer :-(

Bingo has started on the tiles in master bedroom - really nice chap....

Alan to the rescue....he's has found me another plasterer
-should be here in a day or so . And Shane has done some more of the
electrical work- the new down lights in the kitchen, and stainless steel
fan in living area look fab! Pic here soon...

Ive also sorted a removals date - Ive booked these guys- Rob (0415 982 363)
who called me back after I made an enquiry through the site, sounded really
friendly so we shall see..




They arrived on time and it only ended up costing $185 inc GST. Very efficient!

Plasterers have arrived! And Shane has put in my down lights..

Floor tiles finished in bedrooms- and Shane has put up the new fans
- plasterer has finished off the bricked up window area- now I need to
start painting the walls and get the new skirting boards in!

Shane's put up my Ikea lights- to go over the dining table..and the
plasterers have finished the kitchen area. (cost around $1000)

Now I need to get the granite bench top ordered! Have had
several quotes - went for one of Regency's mid ranges $3900 inc GST -
- black granite- however Id highly recommend Global Stone Consultancy
- Unit 3 / 141 Old Pacific Highway Oxenford QLD 4210 tel 55027765
- who seem to be a bit cheaper as well as really helpful. Unfortunately I got the quote after already ordering from Regency.
This is similar to the granite I ordered:

Shane has also put up my outside lights- they will need to come off when
if I get it rendered but I'm not ready for that yet ..

Wall units are up!

Ive ordered new blinds from Kresta - to replace all has cost under $500.
Sue- who came to give me a free measure and quote
- was really helpful and friendly. http://www.kresta.com.au/
2/120 Brisbane Rd, LABRADOR QLD 4215 Call 133 096

Benchtop from Regency installed 7 days after measurement!...

Have also painted feature wall in living area

Bingo will be tiling above worktop on Monday- Ive chosen more
tiles from Carpet World


Busy tiling!

Laundry room - off living area- next!....

Old sink has been ripped out, and plumbing (Ben Hanson- highly recommended) changed to accommodate new sink and front loading washing machine





View from living area

..and from laundry room external door..




Shane and Darren putting in new units ...



View from laundry/ external door..

View from dining area..

Now needs doors, handles and boxing/ walls painted- will put
up same tiles as in kitchen...

Elliott's room- in progress-

This is the part I like the best- the prettying bit!!:-)

View as you walk through the front door- looks a bit better six weeks on!

From end of hall/ bedrooms..

Feature wall ... and bored dog!

New living and dining area...

More here soon!! At the end of the renovation all tradesmen mentioned
in a good light will be listed in my special Handyman Central database
- at that time you can call me to schedule work with them
(then they know the work has come from me as a thank you for their efforts)