New house build - Luxembourg

New house build - Luxembourg

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5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
woohoo

Today's the day!

woohoo



I've been down in the basement of the rental already today to sort out what we can move to the new place ourselves today. smile

Tomorrow: Moebel Martin trucks arrive to deliver the new couch and the kitchen's being installed by them too
Wednesday: Auchan deliver the American fridge freezer
Thursday: the heating installers, Sanichaufer, will be on site to show us how the heating and ventilation system works

Between all of this, Mrs.5potTurbo and I will be shifting as many of the still packed boxes we have here to the new house.

I'm renting a tail lift truck for Friday (big trip to Ikea, Arlon) and for the weekend, where I've roped in a load of workmates to help us move and unload all the new dining and living furniture we have stored in the rental basement too.

I need to collar the sparky sometime on site too, to get him and his apprentice to fit all the LED lights I have from EcoLED (E36GUY) - only 40 of the ZEP1 in our house, and 8 of the cool black/gold up/down lighters in the stairway and landings. smile


Edit: extremely poor grammar on my part!

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
quotequote all
Thanks guys. smile

Handover was all properly done and legally signed. The funds previously held in escrow by the builder's bank will be released to them.

The house interior was SPOTLESSLY cleaned, even the garage.

I knew one of the interior doors had been damaged and repaired, as the friendly sparks had shown me one Saturday when he was there, so that's going to be replaced FOC, which is good as the doors were rather pricey.

Another small issue resolved today by the decorators was silicon residue around the spotlight cut outs. That's all been removed and repainted this afternoon. (They have to seal off holes in the ceilings for the blower test for the efficiency rating confirmation).

We received a very neat folder of all the plans, electrical layouts, underfloor heating layout, all guarantees, supplier contacts list, instructions, etc., for future reference, and we've a 10 year guarantee with a dedicated 'service aprés vente' contact.

The best bit: the underfloor heating's not even switched on yet and the house was 21C inside. Apparently the house at the other end haven't haven't used their heating yet as it's been warm enough without. That must bode well for the winter and future electricity bills.

LOADS to do this week now, but it's a real change from being in the office or travelling for work, and a loads off my mind already today.


Craikeybaby: get thyself to the hotel's rooftop bar. It's a good place to start the evening. smile

There's another good outdoor above ground terrace at the Novotel on Times Sq., Broadway and 52nd, IIRC. Stayed there last month.




5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
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Well, true to their expected delivery times, Moebel Martin trucks arrived yesterday before 0830. smile

First truck was all the kitchen cabinets and appliances. Took 2 guys 4 1/2 hours to install everything they had....more on that in a moment.
New couch was delivered and fitted together by another team from Moebel Martin.

Granite suppliers arrived today with their funky 3D CAD measurement system, which creates the most accurate measurements for the granite - work tops, window sill, large panel between base and wall cabinets and the on the island. They'll deliver that on 16th December, which means they'll install the induction hob, sink, taps, etc.

Auchan Luxembourg delivered the 'Murrican fridge freezer today, LG for us, which was some €500 cheaper than anywhere else in the surrounding countries. smile

In between all of this, I've been installing ZEP1 lights and then working out how I should wire the LED strips - white under cabinet task lighting and RGB above the cabinets, and in my daughters' bedrooms above their wardrobes.

Other than that, we've also been busy moving boxes, boxes and more boxes of the previously unpacked stuff.

On another note, Lux Post, are proving themselves to be the dictionary definition of "a shower of ste" as they can't move our phone or Internet until 6th Jan!!! The s.
They fked us around when we moved in August, no phone or Internet access despite many weeks notice, and then I spent 6 hours on hold during calls over 4 days.... Pity we lack credible competition here or many word fk off elsewhere. Ho, hum. So, no home phone nor internet over Christmas and the New Year - just when you want to Skype/FaceTime family around the world - unless we move to the current rental house during that period. FFS!!!

Right, onwards and upwards, McDuff! smile


5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Thursday 5th December 2013
quotequote all
I passed your details on, btw. smile


We've now settled all the invoices to get the keys. The construction site lives on, I'll get some more pics so you can see - the firm will be there for some time. Keys were handed over to our 2 other neighbours this morning, so that's the block of 4 done. I saw another house has also been moved in to on the other side of the site.

We have a 1 year guarantee on fixtures and fittings, e.g. Tiles becoming dislodged, and a 10 year construction guarantee. The Weishaupt heating system has a 2year guarantee. I've noticed a couple of small snagging items to be fixed, but the guys are on site to take care of that too.

I've been fitting more lights today and I can't believe how quiet the house is, given all the insulation and triple glazing. It's also lovely and warm in there too, unlike the rental. Brrrrrr. smile

In terms of British house builders, no-one wants to pay the premium. I've a mate who's a land director for a major house builder, and their budgets/margins on construction are quite tight. It's the land they're making more £ on.

Edited by 5potTurbo on Thursday 5th December 12:25

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Saturday 7th December 2013
quotequote all
120 fking packages from pIkea yesterday... >1,300kg of the flat packed st to build! :-(

Just as well I hired a tail lift box Sprinter. 8 trolley loads, all heavily laden, in the back of the truck. It was even worse, though, to move most of that from the truck to the 1st and 2nd floors of the house. Fortunately, though, I had help from a couple of buddies today to move and then build a quite a bit already. My wife's also worked her butt off building stuff too. Another couple of unsuspecting individuals are lined up to help us tomorrow. hehe

I did make a boo-boo on the long pIkea shopping list - forgetting to buy the wardrobe doors for CostCentre#1, so another quick trip to pIkea awaits me for Monday. frown

Most of the EcoLED spots are already installed - by me - its a wonder they work! wink Another 15/40 to install this week!

I'm working again W/T/F, but I'll then be off 'til 30/12 - but not before a roadtrip to my hometown of Bormuff on 19/12 - 2 days after we move.... Eek!

It WILL all be ready beforehand. smile




Edited by 5potTurbo on Saturday 7th December 20:20

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
quotequote all
Muncher, I will.... when it's tidier. smile

Richtea: "quick" in that I had created an online shopping list, which notes exact warehouse locations of each box needed, so you don't waste time in the showroom, but loading trolleys directly in the warehouse. Ikea Arlon, Belgium, is right in the Lux border, a 30 min drive for us. It was 3 1/2 hours still - me, wife and 11 year old daughter!

QROPS: where have you been?
And yes, something like 130,000 "frontalieres" cross the borders daily, 70% from France, 20% from Belgium and 10% from Germany.

Can you guess what I'm doing today?.....

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Sunday 8th December 2013
quotequote all
QROPS: not sure I'd want to be in Bangkok at the moment, although its pretty bloody parky in Lux....sprinklings of snow around. Hope all is well?

Nick, thanks! Had a couple of English mates from work help us today. All the living & dining furniture's in place (per-assembled from Henders and Hazel) and 7 of Ikea's finest Pax carcasses were built so I can then get on with hanging to the doors and sorting interior fitments. It's really great progress With the help we've had.
Another couple of days to get on with stuff, then working W/T/F this week, and another mate's helping me next weekend.

9 days and we'll be in the new house full time. smile

Edited by 5potTurbo on Sunday 8th December 20:57

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Monday 9th December 2013
quotequote all
nerdread

Nah!

blah

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Sunday 15th December 2013
quotequote all
The RGB LED strips above the kitchen cabinets and my daughters' wardrobes have been fitted, as has the white LED under kitchen cabinet 'task light' with a dimmer, so the RGB can run without the white light being on too.
The remaining LED spotlights are fitted today, so they're all done.

In the last week we've also built,
- 9 x double Ikea PAX wardrobes
- a desk
- 4 bedside cabinets
- 2 x 6 drawer units
- 2 x 4 drawer units
- 1 king size bed
- 1 single bed.....
.....and a partridge in a pear tree!

Tomorrow the granite fitters will be in the kitchen in the afternoon for the work tops, hob fitting and large wall panel to be fitted, so I'll take some pictures and will post them up tomorrow night.

Loads of little jobs left to do tomorrow, but a shame the recycling centre's not open on Mondays.... I've a massive stack of stuff to get rid of again.

TUESDAY'S MOVING DAY! smile
Our daughters will be at school and the removals guys will be here to move the little amount of what's left. We'll finally be in a warm house!

Sorting day on Weds then I've the *ahem* short (460 mile) drive to Bormuff on Thur..... Looking forward to that! :-/

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
quotequote all
A brief update as we're still not online in the new house.... but I'm at work. frown

The granite fitters arrived as expected, and promptly broke a 2.5m long run piece of granite - 1 day before moving in. It transpired the suppliers hadn't strengthened one side of the sink cut-out, so when it was lifted off the trolley it broke!
It's been fitted, temporarily, and Moebel Martin already contacted me to sort a replacement piece. It wasn't the fitters fault, but a problem we could have done without and will be done in the next couple of weeks.
We've since come to an agreement that when M.M. fit the new piece of granite it will also have a new sink, fitted under the granite (as we thought that's what we'd ordered anyway!) and the drainage channels in the granite too, which weren't specced, as they should have been, when we ordered waaaay back in October 2012.

We've also had a problem with the extensive cabling for the satellite system which the sparks partially fixed the Fri before Christmas, (but I was in the UK!) but they've to come back again next week as there's only a signal to some wall outputs, despite the large distribution/amp in the garage. We've 4 new Humax Freesat recorders in place, but only 1 works with signals to both tuners - and that's in my eldest daughter's bedroom!

We did have an error message pop up on the solar panel controls in the laundry room where the heating system also lives, which was corrected quickly by Sanichaufer, but the heat pump seems to not heat the water to the expected 55c it's set at, being more like 40C. They'll be back next week to have a look.

Overall, though, we're very happy in our lovely warm, very quiet house, but we already know we need to have a sliding door, at least, fitted to the large opening from the lounge into the hallway, which is a shame. The TV noise goes straight up the staircase to the 2nd floor, and that's before I've added a Sonos soundbar and sub!
( hehe )

As soon as we're online properly (P&T coming next Monday morning, finally!), and we're devoid of Christmas decorations, I'll post up some pics.

smile


BTW, Guy, those black/gold up/down lighters look ubercool! cool

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Thursday 23rd January 2014
quotequote all
I get the message!
The fastest internet I have to upload pics is at work, but they're >2mb so too large for Thumbsnap on here and Photobucket's now been blocked at work along with Flickr. I'll get it sorted ASAP. smile

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Friday 21st March 2014
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E36GUY said:
It's now March. No pictures!!! mad
Oh shut up you big girl! wink

Yes, I know - I'm guilty beyond reproach. judge
Travelling a lot for work - Toronto, NY & Tampa next week.

I shall rectify the situation upon my return, OK?

Oh, and I need to order some more LED strips, so.... blah

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Sorry, I've been finding everyone else's PROPER build threads more interesting than my own.
I didn't realise others were really interested in ours. As I'm actually at home this weekend, I shall make amends and take some pictures.

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Monday 25th August 2014
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dxg said:
I'm interested to see the MVHR system, and the terminals and controls in particular.

Plus, it was a nice house.
You want to see the controls? I thought I'd posted up lots of pics of the (uninteresting) parts before. I've still not much idea as to how it works, but the house is around €300/month cheaper to run than the previous 9 year old place.
It still is a nice house!

dxg said:
(Ooooh, look at us. Like a bunch of nattering housewives waiting for their invite to the first coffee morning so we can have a nose around.)
You can come round for coffee, if you like. smile



I took some pictures over the weekend, but when I viewed them on a large screen, the living/dining room didn't look very nice. I'll try again this evening. thumbup

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
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Long overdue picture update. Not the best pictures, but I've only a cheapo camera:

Front of the house -



Rear/side view -



View out from the front, bearing in mind these are plots still to be built on -



Kitchen view, from dining room -



Up/down lighters on the stairs -



Dining room from living room end -



Living room from dining room end -




5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
Now, for Mr.dxg, I'm not entirely sure what you wish to see. The heat pump system looks like a giant fridge freezer and had a small control panel,

Panel -



The room that and a lot of other stuff's in is a mess - laundry room, attic space, etc. so not much room to take pictures. Next door in the office space is a custom made cabinet! which is on the piss -



This contains the air circulation system and its control panel -





To be honest, we don't really understand all the technical stuff other than it's saving us a lot of money each month. All our hot water, since about April, has come from solar panels.

Please let me know if there's anything more detailed you want a snap of?

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
E36GUY said:
Nice on Russ. Great to see it finished!

Finally wink
Yeah, I know... sorry again.
If the weather's a bit better this week I'll take some better pics of the garden. The pics above were taking on Sunday evening, so the garden was already in the shade, and it's not for much of the day. smile

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Friday 29th August 2014
quotequote all
Interesting points on British planners. I've mates who work in planning and another who's a land director for a major UK housebuilder. They've also commented similarly about our house!

I hasten to add that, whilst it's entirely possible to buy plots of land here and build unique houses**, mine's part of a development of ~60 houses and 2 low rise apartment blocks. The apartments are finished as are about 22 houses.
I'll take some pics of the others on site that are finished and underway, so you can get a sense of the area.





- **plots the same size as ours to build unique detached houses on were 3x the price of our plot from the developer, who's the largest construction company in the country.

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Firstly, the pics I mentioned ^^^^ above, I took on my BB, then stupidly deleted them without posting them up here. silly


Actually, we've been in the house 13 months now, having moved in a few days before Christmas 2013.
It's quiet, warm and less than half the energy cost of our previous place - maybe even less than that, in fact. We're currently waiting on the local electricity supplier to do their meter reading and close out the 1st year so we can see if their monthly DD € amount is right or not. We're not used to the noise the heat source pump makes sometimes, it takes some getting used to, but other than that, it's all good, thanks.
Our neighbours, for the most part, are friendly too, which helps.

Whilst my wife is annoyed at having 3 bathrooms + 1 WC to clean and keep supplied, it's a godsend for us now our daughters are older. The previous house had 1 bathroom, so we'd never get a look in now!

Development and release of the remaining plots in the zone continues, and some of the larger plots with slightly different designed houses on are up for sale between €940K & €1.3m now (we didn't pay anything like that!) so we did well, I think, to get this when we did. We simply couldn't have afforded it on the newest offering prices.

One point I am rather annoyed about, and it's specific to the planning guidelines on our residential zone, concerns a garden shed. The construction company orignally quoted us something like €13K for a block built, rendered and painted shed, with a dark grey zinc roof, etc., which matched the style of the house. Having baulked at the €13K, we said no to them and decided to apply for permission to build one of these in the large size and painted dark grey, which we thought would be in keeping with the house style. Modern too.
OK for the planners?
NO!
We MUST have the pre-approved design the construction company offered to us. NO negotiation! Since they've completed our house, I can't get that shed built for the price originally offered. So, €20k now. fk right off! I'm not best pleased as you can tell.

I really need the shed as we've 5 bikes and tons of gardening stuff in the garage which I'd like to put in the shed so both cars can go in the garage. Do I need it at €20K though? Time will tell.

I have been having fun in the snow over the weekend though. My neighbours think I'm bonkers as they saw me racing up the empty street and handbrake turning in the empty cul-de-sac on Saturday afternoon. Big kid, me. hehe

I will get those pics up of the surrounding area, soon - ish. T'is fookin freezing outside at the moment. smile

5potTurbo

Original Poster:

12,593 posts

169 months

Sunday 8th February 2015
quotequote all
Let me know if you want any information, I've binders full of all the technical specs, even down to the type of cable and trunking used by the sparks, but also all the heating and ventilation makes/models, and our final certified EPC, if that would help?

The view to the front of our house has changed in the last couple of weeks as they're cracking on with a few more houses on the far side, but their back gardens will be east facing. Sorry for them.
Mind you, it's been well below freezing for the last week, so the brickies haven't been able to lay any more blocks.