Posts by Lamamu • Home Renovation & Building Forum

27 April 2021

Apr 27, 2021 11:43 am

Good for you for then for choosing to make other peoples' health worse when you don't have to. I wouldn't bother with noname. She obviously is ignoring vulnerable people's plights for reducing unnecessary wood smoke in urban areas. Asthma attacks are just a small inconvenience for others apparently...

I wouldn't bother with noname. She obviously is ignoring vulnerable people's plights for reducing unnecessary wood smok...

27 April 2021

Apr 27, 2021 10:40 am

stones throw, you have the option of not contributing to polution in practically every other facet of your life I know. It's not possible to be perfect, but some things are easy to substitute. Not installing a wood fire (in an urban area) is low hanging fruit. Anyway, apologies for replying 'nay' t...

I know. It's not possible to be perfect, but some things are easy to substitute. Not installing a wood fire (in an urba...

27 April 2021

Apr 27, 2021 1:53 am

Just because everyone has a carbon footprint/pollutes to some degree, doesn't mean you should go and make it worse than you have to. That argument has never made sense. I actually love fire places and have one in my current rental. If I was in the country I'd probably put one in. As I'm building ne...

Exactly. Woodsmoke is incredibly harmful for many peoples health. Asthma Australia are currently trying to influence la...

16 March 2021

Mar 16, 2021 6:06 pm

I can plant a tree to renew wood. I don’t think that’s a myth. I have done it a few times now .;-) Pro Planting trees is good. Polluting the air is not. The evidence is very clear on that.

Planting trees is good. Polluting the air is not. The evidence is very clear on that.

16 March 2021

Mar 16, 2021 5:22 pm

We have an 120ish year old house with a dominating wood burning, brick, open fireplace. Yes it is hard work to split the wood but it is the centrepiece of two rooms. We installed ducted last year so we don’t need to use it but we still light it on weekends in winter. As far as pollution goes I get ...

Wood burning is not renewable. That's a myth. Its not carbon neutral as the time and energy to grow the trees takes muc...

Re: FireplaceBuilding A New House

12 March 2021

Mar 12, 2021 2:42 pm

Definitely go an electric or gas. Wood burning produces 6000 packets of cigarettes worth of toxic smoke per 1 kg wood burnt. They are awful for environment too and contribute to enormous indoor and outdoor pollution. Fire pits are the same (Karen trend). Dont pollute the air, they'll eventually get ...

Definitely go an electric or gas. Wood burning produces 6000 packets of cigarettes worth of toxic smoke per 1 kg wood bu...

12 March 2021

Mar 12, 2021 10:57 am

Wood burning is a huge indoor and out door pollutant. If you want aesthetics go a gas or better an electric. And go clean energy like ducted heating or a split system which can do both.

Wood burning is a huge indoor and out door pollutant. If you want aesthetics go a gas or better an electric. And go clea...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

10 March 2021

Mar 10, 2021 3:04 pm

Thank you. We will hire a private inspector and I won't give up trying to get a price break down of the site costs. They said they "don't give a price" 🙄 way to look suspicious Its unfortunate we had to sign a contract quickly to get finance. Now just need to make the most out of a bad sit...

Thank you. We will hire a private inspector and I won't give up trying to get a price break down of the site costs. They...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

10 March 2021

Mar 10, 2021 10:36 am

You are getting a better slab and much better foundation for your house. It might feel like crap now, but you are better off in the long run. Can I ask what things make it a better slab? All I can see is the screw piers and mesh perhaps? They are concreting only 85mm and we've asked for 100mm but t...

Can I ask what things make it a better slab? All I can see is the screw piers and mesh perhaps? They are concreting onl...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

8 March 2021

Mar 08, 2021 8:59 pm

Our contract allowed for a waffle pod M class with up to 300 mm fall. Our soil test came back at an M but they are charging us $17000 above our contract price (wasn't fixed as we didn't have soil tests yet). See picture of soil test summary, email from builder to where the costs are going to and th...

As a guide our slabs with concrete piers cost us around $250/sqm, screw piles are a lot cheaper at around $70/ lineal m...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

8 March 2021

Mar 08, 2021 8:21 pm

Don’t feel ripped off, money spent on footings is well spent provided you get something for it, $2k is nothing in the big scheme of things. If the site is P classification you should expect to pay a bit more. Thanks. I know many people must got through this. But its very unfair builders don't give ...

Thanks. I know many people must got through this. But its very unfair builders don't give a cost break down of a variab...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

8 March 2021

Mar 08, 2021 6:47 pm

Our fall is only 200 mm. So that doesn't make sense. :( and the fill is apparently quite deep some areas i think from memory 700mm. So that's why they need screw piles to get to the good soil. 100% I agree with what you are saying, but it might be too late now, after you have signed a Preparation o...

100% I agree with what you are saying, but it might be too late now, after you have signed a Preparation of Plans Agree...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

8 March 2021

Mar 08, 2021 5:36 am

Our fall is only 200 mm. So that doesn't make sense. :( and the fill is apparently quite deep some areas i think from memory 700mm. So that's why they need screw piles to get to the good soil. The total just doesn't make sense to me. And I don't get why they won't send me a break down cost....

Our fall is only 200 mm. So that doesn't make sense. and the fill is apparently quite deep some areas i think from memor...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

7 March 2021

Mar 07, 2021 7:47 pm

I'm not to sure how to explain it differently 🤷‍♀️ we didn't expect site costs so high and wondering if anyone can extrapolate the info I attached.

I'm not to sure how to explain it differently 🤷‍♀️ we didn't expect site costs so high and wondering if anyone can extra...

Re: What Were Your Site Costs?Building A New House

7 March 2021

Mar 07, 2021 6:37 pm

Builder: simonds Slope Across Land: appears flat Slope Across Build: appears flat Slope Direction: Running up from road Slab Type: m waffle pod needing 28 piers Region: pelican waters 220 m2 single house, 565m2 land Total Cost: $17,000 (feel ripped off due to not being allowed break down cost)

Builder: simonds Slope Across Land: appears flat Slope Across Build: appears flat Slope Direction: Running up from road ...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

7 March 2021

Mar 07, 2021 6:33 pm

Ie they want an additional 2 k but as the standard contract already allowed for a m waffle slab we are just confused to why its 17k additional if we aren't for instance getting a h1 or higher.

Ie they want an additional 2 k but as the standard contract already allowed for a m waffle slab we are just confused to ...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

7 March 2021

Mar 07, 2021 6:32 pm

We allowed an additional 15k in their words (its likely to cover a h1 slab which is what is needed in that area (development). But seeing as its a m waffle slab not sure why ifs costing us so much especially as they won't do a break down costing for us. Surely the piers wouldn't be so much of that?

We allowed an additional 15k in their words (its likely to cover a h1 slab which is what is needed in that area (develop...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

7 March 2021

Mar 07, 2021 6:30 pm

Yes. Weve done a gallery variation and we are content with that price for what we get. I dont know anything about slabs etc but thought 17k for site costs seemed alot

Yes. Weve done a gallery variation and we are content with that price for what we get. I dont know anything about slabs ...

Re: Site costs simonds homes! HelpBuilding A New House

7 March 2021

Mar 07, 2021 6:17 pm

We signed prior to fixing price. Many reasons such as needing finance with build and land contract and living situation so we are stuck with builder. I was hoping someone could give me some idea if we are getting overcharged or not. We need 28 piers to the slab

We signed prior to fixing price. Many reasons such as needing finance with build and land contract and living situation ...