Posts by cweedon • Home Renovation & Building Forum

cweedon

Joined 1 November 2009

Junior Member

Send Message

Posts Topics

Posts

cweedon

14 November 2015

Help with BuildingBuilding A New House

Nov 14, 2015 5:05 pm

Hi All, Hope someone can help! We have a really narrow corner block and are looking at building a house that is short, but has a long width. We have looked at lots of builders but have struck a brick wall! Has anyone built a wide but short house from a volume builder and know the name of the house? ...

Hi All, Hope someone can help! We have a really narrow corner block and are looking at building a house that is short, b...

Read Post Like

cweedon

19 March 2012

RocksGeneral Discussion

Mar 19, 2012 7:56 pm

Hi Guys, I'm looking at building a wall out of rocks, doesn't really matter what type but they need to be able to be lifted by myself as I have no machinery. Does anyone know any good places that are cheap (or preferable free) to get rocks from? I need quite a lot and would probably have to get a tr...

Hi Guys, I'm looking at building a wall out of rocks, doesn't really matter what type but they need to be able to be lif...

Read Post Like

cweedon

22 June 2011

Ducted HeatingHeating, Cooling & Insulation

Jun 22, 2011 4:12 pm

We recently moved into our Simonds home and have not had any real problems with it. However, when we turn our ducted heater on - it clicks - constantly - every 30 seconds or so and I can only assume its the plastic ducts that are in the roof that is expanding and contracting. It's not isolated and o...

We recently moved into our Simonds home and have not had any real problems with it. However, when we turn our ducted hea...

Read Post Like

cweedon

26 October 2010

Re: site costs in deer park areaGeneral Discussion

Oct 26, 2010 12:54 pm

Simonds didn't fix site costs as we went straight to contract instead of through a tender. In our contract they quoted the provisional site costs. While these costs were an estimate on their behalf, they cannot, as per the HIA contract, be increased 'excessively'. They tried a 600% increase for us, ...

Simonds didn't fix site costs as we went straight to contract instead of through a tender. In our contract they quoted t...

Read Post Like

cweedon

12 October 2010

Re: site costs in deer park areaGeneral Discussion

Oct 12, 2010 1:46 pm

Hi Trav&Jo, We built with Simonds and they seemed the most reasonable but a fair bit of fighting with them. Henley was good but very expensive for what they offered. Site costs they couldn't even give us an estimate. With that said, the Simonds contractors in Darley are FANTASTIC and did not hav...

Hi TravJo, We built with Simonds and they seemed the most reasonable but a fair bit of fighting with them. Henley was go...

Read Post Like

cweedon

21 September 2010

Re: Plumbing IssuesBuilding Standards; Getting It Right!

Sep 21, 2010 2:43 pm

Hi, I can't think of what it is called. It's the bit at the back (or front) that is connected to the drains in the house. It usually has a grate over it to let out the gasses (but in our case, water as well).

Hi, I can't think of what it is called. It's the bit at the back (or front) that is connected to the drains in the house...

Read Post Like

cweedon

17 September 2010

Plumbing IssuesBuilding Standards; Getting It Right!

Sep 17, 2010 10:13 pm

Hi everyone, Just a query really about plumbing. We are on a sloping block with the fall towards the back right hand corner of the block. During handover, I noticed that the sewer point at the back had water at the very top, if not overflowing and informed my SS that I don't think it should have bee...

Hi everyone, Just a query really about plumbing. We are on a sloping block with the fall towards the back right hand cor...

Read Post Like

cweedon

11 July 2010

Re: site costs in deer park areaGeneral Discussion

Jul 11, 2010 1:17 pm

Hi nanofive. We are also building in Darley and are near handover. Initially we were quoted around $10000 site costs, but went up to around $18000 when they realised their mistake in quoting us. We did however negotiate this down to $12000 due to my partner being a lawyer and finding a technicality....

Hi nanofive. We are also building in Darley and are near handover. Initially we were quoted around $10000 site costs, bu...

Read Post Like

cweedon

13 May 2010

Re: Simonds Homes problemsBuilding A New House

288

May 13, 2010 1:17 pm

I've just submitted an applicated to the BACV. Hoping they would be able to sort out our problems. Basically, we got quoted a provisional sum of $1500 in the contract for the site costs and now, with a variation is $9904. Which is not acceptable. They don't seem to want to respond, nor do they want...

Im surprised BACV said to submit an application. A provisional sum is just that, provisional, could be more could be le...

Read Post Like

cweedon

13 May 2010

Re: Chris and Anna's - Locked-out!Building A New House

May 13, 2010 1:13 pm

Well it's been a while, and a lot has happened. We have offically been locked out, however no bricks are up yet as they are having delays...I assume with finding a brickie, as the bricks have been on site for a couple of weeks now. However, internally a lot is going on. The plaster is going up (befo...

Well it's been a while, and a lot has happened. We have offically been locked out, however no bricks are up yet as they ...

Read Post Like

cweedon

15 April 2010

Re: Simonds Homes problemsBuilding A New House

284

Apr 15, 2010 8:16 pm

I've just submitted an applicated to the BACV. Hoping they would be able to sort out our problems. Basically, we got quo...

Read Post Like

cweedon

15 March 2010

Re: Chris and Anna's - Simonds Valencia 2414 BuildBuilding A New House

Mar 15, 2010 4:07 pm

We have been up again to our property and have noticed some minor but pretty cool changes, and it's starting to get really exciting! - The fences are up, but front gate wide open! - Port-a-loo is there. - House has been pegged out, so as anyone would do, we went and stood around the different areas,...

We have been up again to our property and have noticed some minor but pretty cool changes, and it's starting to get real...

Read Post Like

cweedon

8 March 2010

Re: Chris and Anna's - Simonds Valencia 2414 BuildBuilding A New House

Mar 08, 2010 6:35 pm

Hi! It is very exciting when it starts too happen. Hope you don't encounter too many extra costs during your build...from $1500 to $10,000 is pretty steep but then we just received our bill for removing rock which came to $7,000....all part of the fun I suppose. Going to have a nosey at your photos...

We kind of expected site costs to be high, however they initially quoted us $1500 and then, when no work had even start...

Read Post Like

cweedon

8 March 2010

Re: Chris and Anna's - Simonds Valencia 2414 BuildBuilding A New House

Mar 08, 2010 5:02 pm

Plans and current picture of cut and fill on my blog. Link in first post!

Read Post Like

cweedon

8 March 2010

Re: Chris and Anna's - Simonds Valencia 2414 BuildBuilding A New House

Mar 08, 2010 4:37 pm

Well, it has been a while since I last wrote, and a lot has happened! To date, all the contracts have been signed and colour and tile selections went absolutley perfect with S!monds! We didn't spend to much in the tile selection, just standard inclusions except for a glass tile feature in the ensuit...

Well, it has been a while since I last wrote, and a lot has happened! To date, all the contracts have been signed and co...

Read Post Like

cweedon

16 January 2010

Re: Chris and Anna's - Simonds Valencia 2414 BuildBuilding A New House

Jan 16, 2010 2:05 pm

Last week I called the council about a big hunk of concrete that had been dumped on our land to see if they had a service to remove it. They referred it onto another man who went out to check it and he called me to inform me that the block next door to us has dumped a mountain of dirt on our block, ...

Last week I called the council about a big hunk of concrete that had been dumped on our land to see if they had a servic...

Read Post Like

cweedon

16 January 2010

Re: Chris and Anna's - Simonds Valencia 2414 BuildBuilding A New House

Jan 16, 2010 2:05 pm

Recieved a phone call from Simonds yesterday about out colour/electrical appointment...and then later in the afternoon a call from the tile lady booking us in for our tile appointment. We decided to have our tile appointment first, as we would much rather pick the paints based on the tiles, then the...

Recieved a phone call from Simonds yesterday about out colour/electrical appointment...and then later in the afternoon a...

Read Post Like

cweedon

16 January 2010

Re: Chris and Anna's - Simonds Valencia 2414 BuildBuilding A New House

Jan 16, 2010 2:04 pm

Hi rocketleaves - thankyou. We really did look around for a builder and did look on this site, and many others about the builders and it seems that everyone has some sort of problem with their builder. We decided to then go by the look of the house and the quality and decided on S!monds. We figured ...

Hi rocketleaves - thankyou. We really did look around for a builder and did look on this site, and many others about the...

Read Post Like

cweedon

10 January 2010

Chris and Anna's - Locked-out!Building A New House

Jan 10, 2010 9:26 pm

Hi Everyone, Have been a member here for some time, reading about building our first home. We have decided on our home and thought that I would share it with you, that is, if you are interested. We originally bought our block to begin with before anything as it was a bargain, and a great place to li...

Hi Everyone, Have been a member here for some time, reading about building our first home. We have decided on our home a...

Read Post Like

cweedon

1 November 2009

Henley Home - Build LaterBuilding A New House

Nov 01, 2009 12:51 pm

Hi, I am looking at purchasing a Henley home, but am wanting to sign the contracts before the FHOG is lowered again at the end of December. From personal experience, what is the longest you can wait before they start building, as we are looking at building towards the end of next year, but want to s...

Hi, I am looking at purchasing a Henley home, but am wanting to sign the contracts before the FHOG is lowered again at t...

Read Post Like