Finlay Homes Building Process

You've gone through the process of choosing your design and getting a great price, now its time to stop worrying about anything else and let the great team at Finlay Homes make your journey a happy one. The process from signing a contract to starting on site can seem long and frustrating. We try and make this an efficient and enjoyable process. If your land is registered and settled into your name the process is a lot faster.

PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS: Preliminary Drawings take approximately 2 weeks and take our plan with its modifications or our custom plan and put it into a sketch format. We also try to get this drawn in a format called Revit which enables us to show you 3D images of your home. The prelims are a key part of your starting process. Once we have these back we will call you to come in and have a "walk through" of the plans.

SOIL TEST: If a soil test hasn't already been done we need to order this immediately. A soil test is required to confirm the soil type. This is important both for a slab on ground construction or raised floor constructions. The tests they use today are called a shrink - swell test which involves on-site as well as laboratory work which takes around 5 to 10 days to complete.

ENGINEERING: Once a soil test has been completed and preliminary drawings are done we can then send the drawings away for slab and/or subfloor design work. Engineering takes around 5 to 10 days.

COLOUR SELECTIONS: (The fun part) As part of building your Finlay Home, we allow a colour consultancy. We send your drawings across to our colour consultant who will contact you to make an appointment. This allows you to bounce ideas off the colour consultant or just get feedback on your ideas from a trained professional.

FLOOR COVERING SELECTIONS: Once we have a copy of your preliminary drawings you can now go to our recommended floor & tile suppliers to select your flooring requirements.

KITCHEN SELECTIONS: We send a copy of your preliminary drawings across to our kitchen manufacturer and they will arrange an appointment with you to design your kitchen.

WORKING DRAWINGS: Once you have approved and signed off on your preliminary drawings we can then move forward and order your working drawings. This is the time when the finer construction details of your plans are created.  This also takes between  5 and 10 days to complete.

BUILDING & PLUMBING APPROVAL: Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork!!! The process to obtain a Building and Plumbing approval is an involved and and complex one. The following steps must be completed:

• Completing Parts A and B of the Building Application
• Contract for Assessment to Council
• Photocopying the Working Drawings, Engineering Plans, Plumbing and Drainage Plans, Truss Engineering, Survey Plans, Soil Test Report, DIP forms and other forms as required by Council Law
• Obtaining BSA Insurance
• Obtaining Builders All Risk Insurance
• Completion and payment of Portable Long Service Forms
• Completion of Plumbing Application and required drainage plans
• Application for Driveway access
• Advice on Termite Application Systems from Direct Pest Control
• Water Meter Application
• Energy Efficiency Compliance Information
• Smoke Alarm Installation Advice forms
• Owners Letter of Authority or Land Developer Authority
• Referrals Checklist
• Superseded Planning Scheme for certain areas

We then submit all of the above to the Private Certifier to complete the processing and approval of our plans. This process is controlled by the amount of approvals being actioned at that particular time. It can take as little as 2 weeks and it has taken as long as 6 weeks. We will keep you informed of the process and give you options if applicable.

So, to get your house started from contract through to Council Application could take between 6 to 9 weeks. If all works well we can sometimes have it all done in 5 weeks.

YOUR JOB IS NOW READY TO START: When we get the Council Approved Building and Plumbing plans and Permit back from the council we can then begin your home.  This is the time that if there is any outstanding deposit or preliminary money owing, this amount is now to be paid, so we can move forward.  This is also the ideal time to have completed your colour consultancy, picked your floor coverings and completed your kitchen design so we can construct your home without any delays.
 
The first thing we do is to set your house out on the block ready to dig the footings. Once the footings have been dug and poured we then erect any posts, block up the slab, place in fill and lay all plumbing into position. If your home is a slab construction we have footing inspections done, install plastic membrane and steel up your slab for pouring. We then complete your termite protection.

If your home is an off the ground construction we erect the posts, put our bearers in place and start our joists or sub-floor.

QUESTION: WHAT ABOUT TERMITES?
Good question! Termite barriers are an important design consideration when building your home. North of the Tropic of Capricorn is a termite called the Masto Termes. It is a large aggressive termite which can cause a lot of damage.  This means it is good to  remain diligent in regards to termites. If you are building a slab on ground home the predominate protection methods used are called Physical Barrier Methods. As the name suggests these are not designed to eradicate termites rather they are purely  designed to create a barrier which makes termites visible for inspection. There are several physical barrier methods available for use. We currently use Termseal which is made up of two parts. The first being collars around all of your pipes in the slab and  secondly a perimeter treatment which is a parging material placed on top of your slab and under your blocks or external frame. We also produce our slabs to AS2870 which aids in reduction of cracking which might allow termites through. 

NOTE: Slabs will crack. The Australian Standard 2870 is designed to reduce cracks which  run deeply through the slab – not surface cracking. Upon completion of you home we will apply a sticker inside your meter box and kitchen cupboards as a reminder to get your termite barrier inspected. The Building Code asks for a six monthly inspection of your barrier but it is worth checking with the manufacturer to ensure the preferred timing to keep your warranty in place.

Once this process has been complete your slab is poured. If you are off the ground your floor joists will be layed.

SCOPE OF WORKS: This is a chance for your Sales Consultant, Builder and Site Supervisor to have a meeting with you to discuss your home to keep the communication lines open.  The process of building a home is well regulated and controlled, but the most important thing is to ensure you end up with the house you envisaged - that's why communication is important.

At this stage we go over your colour selections, products and floor coverings as well as your electrical layout.  If you have any questions along the way, regardless of how insignificant you may think they are, please ask away.  The use of our client login section of the web site is also designed to keep you up to speed with the progress of your home and give you as much information as possible.

NOTE: Slab stage is one of those areas where your home appears smaller than it actually is. Don't be alarmed, this is normal.  You will also see some pipes coming up through the slab/floor.  You may notice one that you are not aware of, this is probably your vent pipe.  It will be concealed in a wall at a later stage.  It shifts any air from around your sewer and disperses it up above the roof.

PROGRESS CLAIMS : WHY DO BUILDERS MAKE PROGRESS CLAIMS?

As a subcontractor or supplier completes work on your home they are paid by us for the work they have completed up to that date. This is the reason we make progress claims. We also make an effort to give back to the industry, so we have a Carpenter Apprentice and Tradesman on staff.  The advantage to you is having qualified people working on your home who care about the quality of their work. You are also helping to train the tradespeople of the future.

The progress stages are set out in your contract and again, please feel free to ask if  you have any queries along the way.

The Progress Claim Stages are as follows:

FRAME STAGE: This is the process from your slab or sub-floor up until your roof is ready to go on. This is the fun stage because a lot happens and you get to see your home starting to come together. The other process which occurs with masonry homes at frame stage is your bond beam. This is where steel is placed into your walls and filled with concrete. Once this has been done we are no longer able to move power or light points on the external walls.

LOCK-UP STAGE: During the time from frame to lock-up the following processes will take place:

• Your roof will have been fitted
• Your internal frame will have been sheeted with gyprock
• Your windows will have been measured for manufacture.  If you have a block home the window reveals would also be painted to help water-proof the opening.  (This paint may not be the same as your external colour.)
• Your kitchen will have been measured for manufacture
• The Electrician will have done what is called a "rough in" which puts the wires in your timber walls
• A Plumbing "rough in" is also done.  This gets your pipes into the walls ready for fittings
• Windows will be installed
• A temporary front door will be fitted
• Exterior rendering will be done

QUESTION: WHERE ARE SOME OF THE WIRES FOR LIGHTS AND POWER POINTS?
Sometimes when placing the gyprock sheeting up the sheeter may not be certain of the position of a wire and not bring it through.  This will be done later so you will have the correct power and light points. It is also standard practice to bring these points through with a hammer so do not be concerned if you see this situation. This is an advantage of plaster.

QUESTION: CAN I GET THE KEYS TO MY HOME ONCE THE WINDOWS AND DOORS GO IN?
Unfortunately, because of our Workplace Health & Safety requirements we cannot hand out keys to give you access. Even though at Finlay Homes we place a great emphasis on keeping a clean site, it is still a construction site and deemed an area of possible risk. Your safety is a priority to us. We do however, want you to be able to inspect your new home as often as you wish. This will allow you to inspect the progress of your home first hand and to see that we build a quality home. Please feel free to contact your Sales Consultant or our Building Supervisor to arrange a time to meet you on-site for access.

NOTE: We will also endeavour to keep you up to date on the progress of your home with photos on your client log-in on our website.

FIXING STAGE: At fixing stage your house is having the following sections worked on:

• Plastering completed
• The main sections of tiling is completed
• Your mouldings and doors have been predominately completed
• Your external sheeting has been completed
• Your kitchen is in the process of being installed

QUESTION: WHY IS THERE NOBODY WORKING ON MY HOME TODAY?
During the scheduling of your home there is a lot of trades and materials that have to be co-ordinated. There are also stages of your home where only one trade can be working on-site at one time, as is the case with tiling. This means if a trade is working on another site we may have to wait until he can start and during that time there may not be much else that can be done until that trade has completed their stage.

Also, we like to use a small group of skilled tradesmen to ensure a quality end product.

PRACTICAL COMPLETION: We will send you a notice of practical completion to let you know your house has reached that stage. This means minus our final inspections (some with you) and minor admissions and touch-ups, the house is complete. We ask for the practical completion stage payment at this point which enables your lending institution to complete the paperwork in time to give you access to your new home as soon as it is ready to handover.

As a part of our final inspection process we have a meeting on-site with you to look at the near complete home. This gives us a chance to ensure we are providing you with a quality home that meets your expectations. By authorising payment for your home at this stage you are not accepting the house in its current state. You are purely ensuring efficient handover of your home.

We are dedicated to providing you with a house that Finlay Homes is proud of. The other insurance that you have in place to provide you with confidence of this process is the insurance that we have paid to the Building Services Authority on your behalf. This is to provide protection if there should be any issues your house during  construction. Our motto at Finlay Homes is 'Homes for Life', and that is what we want to deliver to you.

At Practical Completion your home will be:

• Painted
• Tiled and showers screens and mirrors fitted
• Kitchen installed
• Council Final Inspection completed
• External works underway or complete

QUESTION: HOW DOES THE PLASTERING WORK WITH PAINTING?

Plasterboard is a great product as it enables a finish with no exposed nails and can be modified and patched easily. The issues with plastering is that the board is basically 2 pieces of cardboard around a centre of gypsum. This means that when two boards are  butted together a tape is placed on the joint and it is then plastered. This means that the joint is slightly raised from the board and is a different texture. The only time this is an issue is with a situation called 'dancing light' or with some paint colours. With the situation of dancing light, some of the joints or blemishes may be slightly visible. Finlay Homes aims to inform you of any of these situations as much as is practical.

YOUR HOME FOR LIFE: Finlay Homes offer a 25 year structural warranty to the original purchaser of the home. A new home built will experience a large amount of settlement in the first period of time from completion. This is due to climatic conditions, soil movement and the settling factor of tonnes of house weight. This is also made greater by the impact of clay soils which can rise and fall up to 70mm to 100mm in a year. So to allow for this situation, Finlay Homes have a six month maintenance period where after six months of settlement we will come back and correct any areas of settlement. These areas may show up in areas such as occasional cracks in your cornices and plasterboard, binding doors and movement in blockwork. All of these issues are normal for a home to go through and there may be some area which it would not be wise to attempt any works as it may hinder the future movement of your home in areas of driveway cracks and some wall movement.

These are normal house issues, but we can understand any concerns you may have and will certainly come to see you if you wish. 

Please ensure that a list is completed before your six month period is up and we will address it promptly during business hours.

HOMES FOR LIFE

At Finlay Homes we build Homes for Life, your stage of life, for families and for investors. We know you will enjoy building your home with us.