Posts by Hills Guy • Home Renovation & Building Forum

Hills Guy

Joined 17 September 2009

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Hills Guy

2 October 2011

Re: Your HomeOwner Builder Forum

Oct 02, 2011 12:50 pm

Re Stewie D's comment, our rural property is 500 square metres. and our utilities are not to bad. Water - all free - rainwater only and enviro septic tank. Gas - hot water and cooking only - about 4 bottles a year Electricity - $500-600 per quarter - I know many others in smaller houses with bills t...

Re Stewie D's comment, our rural property is 500 square metres. and our utilities are not to bad. Water - all free - rai...

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Hills Guy

29 September 2011

Re: Price of Steel Framed Kit HomesOwner Builder Forum

Sep 29, 2011 11:31 pm

I built with Nu-steel homes and found the cost to get their guys to do some of the work was excessive. I have since heard that the manager at the time was getting quotes from his mates who were over quoting on prices (that manager is no longer working at the company) It is worth shopping around for ...

I built with Nu-steel homes and found the cost to get their guys to do some of the work was excessive. I have since hear...

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Hills Guy

29 September 2011

Re: Your HomeOwner Builder Forum

Sep 29, 2011 11:24 pm

Environmentally sustainable homes are a real ballancing act. When we built our home my mind set was "this is what I want, how can I make it more environmental without sacrificing my needs or blowing out the budget" In the end our house has an east, west aspect (completly wrong) but conside...

Environmentally sustainable homes are a real ballancing act. When we built our home my mind set was this is what I want,...

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Hills Guy

27 July 2011

Re: Building a new home ourselvesOwner Builder Forum

Jul 27, 2011 7:46 pm

Hi You may be able to get a good price from a kit home builder, or even approach local builders in your area. If you can pay cash upon delivery they will benifit from the extra material they purchase from their suppliers, and it helps them to keep/increase the discouunt they recieve. Youmay have to ...

Hi You may be able to get a good price from a kit home builder, or even approach local builders in your area. If you can...

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Hills Guy

2 July 2011

Re: Building our Dream Hillbank SAOwner Builder Forum

Jul 02, 2011 9:29 am

It looks great :D

It looks great

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Hills Guy

18 June 2011

Re: Landscape designers in AdelaideLandscape & Garden Design

Jun 18, 2011 11:08 am

We used Living Pictures (Tony Stanton) to design our garden and were very happy with the service.

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Hills Guy

15 May 2011

Re: Ceiling insulation and downlights/LEDsHeating, Cooling & Insulation

May 15, 2011 9:14 am

My understanding is that you dont need a barrier around LEDs or Flouro downlights because they dont generate the heat of halogens and their transformers.

My understanding is that you dont need a barrier around LEDs or Flouro downlights because they dont generate the heat of...

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Hills Guy

26 April 2011

Re: Installing Ag pipeLandscape & Garden Design

Apr 26, 2011 10:08 am

I have seen this approach in really wet areas, (high rainfall and poor drainage) and usually where they havd a basement. I'm not sure its necesary if you dont have this problem though. Normally you limit digging along the edge of the foundation as it can weeken the support (rule of thumb is follow a...

I have seen this approach in really wet areas, (high rainfall and poor drainage) and usually where they havd a basement....

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Hills Guy

6 April 2011

Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing systemOwner Builder Forum

Apr 06, 2011 8:13 pm

If it helps, I believe Rehau offer a waranttee that states that the pipe will leak or break long before the fittings will let go. The fittings are rated to a much higher pressure than the PEX pipe. (but this is conditional upon propper installation - which with the correct fitting equipment isnt too...

If it helps, I believe Rehau offer a waranttee that states that the pipe will leak or break long before the fittings wil...

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Hills Guy

6 April 2011

Re: Plumbing to Water TankOwner Builder Forum

Apr 06, 2011 8:07 pm

I have a rural property as well, and we are not on mains water. I would advise you collect all water from all downpipes anr run them to the tanks. If you get too much water, its easy to take the overflow from here and direct it where ever you like. You dont need to worry about the gradient if you us...

I have a rural property as well, and we are not on mains water. I would advise you collect all water from all downpipes ...

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Hills Guy

1 April 2011

Re: Owner builder in AdelaideOwner Builder Forum

Apr 01, 2011 4:54 pm

He may have meant that you will need someone with a licence to sign off on the building at the end. You can OB, I built my home myself (other than electrical, slab and plumbing)

He may have meant that you will need someone with a licence to sign off on the building at the end. You can OB, I built ...

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Hills Guy

20 February 2011

Re: Plastic hot/cold water plumbing systemOwner Builder Forum

Feb 20, 2011 8:34 am

We chose Rehau, and have had no regrets. (I believe Rehau is recognised as one of the best systems) Whilst not the sole reason we chose it, I did hear thet some PEX can be compromised by rodents (those buggers will chew on anything) but that copper offers the best protection and that Rehau rated bet...

We chose Rehau, and have had no regrets. (I believe Rehau is recognised as one of the best systems) Whilst not the sole ...

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Hills Guy

20 February 2011

Re: Slab overhangBuilding Standards; Getting It Right!

Feb 20, 2011 8:15 am

Please dont landscape over this. All landscaping needs to be below the DPM (damp course membrain - where the bricks meet the slab) otherwise you allow water to enter at the weep holes and start a whole lot of new problems) You may be able to cut or chip it away but be carful you dont expose any stee...

Please dont landscape over this. All landscaping needs to be below the DPM (damp course membrain - where the bricks meet...

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Hills Guy

20 February 2011

Re: A big problem for my slabBuilding Standards; Getting It Right!

Feb 20, 2011 7:51 am

Raise it with your site inspector. Most slabs will have some iregularities, but it all depends upon how big the highs and lows are in your slab. You may get further if you advise you want to tile the floors in a 600x600 tiles and have been advised that this much variation will cause problems (smalle...

Raise it with your site inspector. Most slabs will have some iregularities, but it all depends upon how big the highs an...

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Hills Guy

5 February 2011

Re: what licences do i need ????Owner Builder Forum

Feb 05, 2011 8:55 am

The answer varies with the state you are in. You obviously need a licenced electrician and plumber to sign off on their work, and in SA you would need a licenced builder/supervisor to sigm off on the rest of the structure.

The answer varies with the state you are in. You obviously need a licenced electrician and plumber to sign off on their ...

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Hills Guy

29 January 2011

Re: Plumbing rough in, before or after bricks startOwner Builder Forum

Jan 29, 2011 8:55 am

Befor the bricks. There is more space and it saves time when roughing in the plumbing. If you have a cavity on demand hotwater service your brickie will need it roughed in to know where to fit the box.

Befor the bricks. There is more space and it saves time when roughing in the plumbing. If you have a cavity on demand ho...

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Hills Guy

22 January 2011

Re: looking at owner buildingOwner Builder Forum

Jan 22, 2011 12:44 pm

Hi 2 smaller tanks has an advantage of being able to pump beteewn them for cleaning/maintenance/leeks etc, and 21,000L tanks are often the most ecconomical to purchase (do you have to use conctete, plastic or fibre glass should be cheaper)

Hi 2 smaller tanks has an advantage of being able to pump beteewn them for cleaning/maintenance/leeks etc, and 21,000L t...

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Hills Guy

27 December 2010

Re: Steel frame versus timber frameBuilding A New House

Dec 27, 2010 7:00 am

Not sure about other builders, but mine told me I cannot have steel frame with tiled roof, something about the roof trusses not being able to support the weight of tiles. There is 1.2 m between the supports and can't be changed, as opposed to 60cm gap between timber supports for the roof. Maybe the...

Partially correct. 1200 centres are normal for colourbond roofs, 600 for tiles. You can do either with steel frames.

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Hills Guy

24 May 2010

Re: Steel or timber frame??Owner Builder Forum

May 24, 2010 7:08 pm

Hills Guy you do realize that timber frames come in prefab form in the same way steel does? Yes, I realise it can be done that way, but I cant really think of a site I have seen in the past few years in Adeliade that have done it. (other than for a roof truss) Most places I know are not set up to p...

Yes, I realise it can be done that way, but I cant really think of a site I have seen in the past few years in Adeliade...

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Hills Guy

22 May 2010

Re: Steel or timber frame??Owner Builder Forum

May 22, 2010 7:37 pm

I'm sorry 'Hills Guy' but from what i've read of your posts my interpretation is that . . . 'I disagree' (WTF) In fact your assertions need qualifying . . . We'll wait for your posts. Which assertion? Please explain?

Which assertion? Please explain?