Posts by leighton • Home Renovation & Building Forum

leighton

Melbourne

Joined 3 June 2011

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Cost of renovations

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leighton

7 December 2015

Re: Which project home builders for sloping blocks?Building A New House

Dec 07, 2015 6:11 am

The issue with costs is a little confusing. However, if a good designer creates a unique design to suit the site it may not be more expensive than the price paid to a volume project builder. One has to take into account the big excavation, risk of rock, spoil removal, and retaining walls/drainage. I...

The issue with costs is a little confusing. However, if a good designer creates a unique design to suit the site it may ...

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leighton

13 July 2015

Re: $30,000 site costs!!Building A New House

Jul 13, 2015 9:19 am

The problem with site costs is that they vary so much from job to job. It isn't a constant. for example, some sites no cut, some little cut , some big cut and some big cut and take soil away. Then there is rock, this rock, that rock, harder or softer, more of it or less. Is rock the same issue when ...

The problem with site costs is that they vary so much from job to job. It isn't a constant. for example, some sites no c...

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leighton

13 July 2015

Re: Drainage after buildBuilding Standards; Getting It Right!

Jul 13, 2015 9:01 am

It should be graded away but I think it is virtually always a landscaping issue. If a builder grades the surface the Owner usually then changes the area by landscaping paving etc.

It should be graded away but I think it is virtually always a landscaping issue. If a builder grades the surface the Own...

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leighton

13 July 2015

Re: Custom builders vs Project buildersBuilding A New House

Jul 13, 2015 8:56 am

In some ways custom builders can be cheaper. This can easily be the case when the custom builder designs and builds the home to suit the site rather than just providing a standard house that doesn't quite do the job. It is not a lot of help to say it all depends, but?

In some ways custom builders can be cheaper. This can easily be the case when the custom builder designs and builds the ...

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leighton

13 July 2015

Re: Building contract: to sign or not to signBuilding A New House

Jul 13, 2015 8:49 am

The contour lines should be shown on the site plan and they are important in that sense, of course. You use them to show location, extent, and depth of excavation. From that comes Finished Floor Levels, Wall heights, and Overall height. if you dont have the site data, you cannot show this and no-one...

The contour lines should be shown on the site plan and they are important in that sense, of course. You use them to show...

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leighton

13 July 2015

Re: Our First Home! Bearers and Joists Build on Sloping BlocBuilding A New House

153

Jul 13, 2015 8:41 am

Interesting. Are you able to build right on your rear boundary?

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leighton

12 July 2015

Re: KRB: Sloping block build, Pascoe ValeBuilding A New House

Jul 12, 2015 1:32 pm

PVBuild How did you go with the soil test results? Typical?

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leighton

12 July 2015

Re: Building on a sloping block in NE suburbs of MelbourneBuilding A New House

Jul 12, 2015 1:28 pm

remember always. 1. Size and complexity of the build. Bigger gets economy of scale but complexity kills that. 2. Site costs vary enormously and are to some degree dependent on chosen design. 3. Level of finish. I reckon on a scale 1-10 most of my clients are level 5 - level 9. Now the difference bet...

remember always. 1. Size and complexity of the build. Bigger gets economy of scale but complexity kills that. 2. Site co...

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leighton

12 July 2015

Re: Builder for slope block in MelbourneBuilding A New House

Jul 12, 2015 1:22 pm

I agree Snowing but it did use "to be true" as they say. Once upon a time when people were not so fussy and accepted something less grand, many people (maybe 1000) bought an off the shelf plan such as my old faithful the Splitco D7 which itself brought sales of 200+ People just don't want ...

I agree Snowing but it did use to be true as they say. Once upon a time when people were not so fussy and accepted somet...

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leighton

13 June 2015

Re: HELP! First time Building a Home.!Building A New House

Jun 13, 2015 6:15 am

Find the right builder for YOU. Not all builders are the same. You need to find a reputable builder who you can work with. Saving money by doing your own painting? OK with some builders but not an option with others. See what I mean? Be wary of P.S. items like sewer and stormwater etc. Choose everyt...

Find the right builder for YOU. Not all builders are the same. You need to find a reputable builder who you can work wit...

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leighton

13 June 2015

Re: Geotech Report - Rock removal?Building A New House

Jun 13, 2015 6:11 am

Rock is as in your case often found not too far below the surface. If one did 100 test holes, an absurd notion, of course, one would have a better picture. But the fact is that you have rock and no-one can tell you in advance what the costs will be. We can all be surprised. It will be worse if you c...

Rock is as in your case often found not too far below the surface. If one did 100 test holes, an absurd notion, of cours...

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leighton

13 June 2015

Re: Between A Rock And A Hard PlaceHome Finance

Jun 13, 2015 6:03 am

I agree that there is some value in getting your own plans, your own data, and your own engineering. The only problem is that often, people pay over $10,000 for this set up and cannot use the stuff they bought. This is equally true with architects, where sometimes no builder will build the project a...

I agree that there is some value in getting your own plans, your own data, and your own engineering. The only problem is...

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leighton

13 June 2015

Re: Valuation lower - what to do?Home Finance

Jun 13, 2015 5:58 am

Quite a lot of builders charge a significant amount for site costs (these are not costs but charges) to make up for what is essentially a low base price. Just the way they do it. Also, not many valuers see value in something like carpet because it may not be worth much if the owner defaults on the l...

Quite a lot of builders charge a significant amount for site costs (these are not costs but charges) to make up for what...

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leighton

24 February 2015

Re: Attach timber frame between concrete stumps - best methoRenovation + Home Improvement

Feb 24, 2015 6:14 pm

A lot of carpenters use hoop iron to fix the timber upright to the concrete stump. Then you frame out from there. There are more expensive methods but tying on with hoop iron is common.

A lot of carpenters use hoop iron to fix the timber upright to the concrete stump. Then you frame out from there. There ...

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leighton

24 February 2015

Re: Cut and Fill on EasementBuilding A New House

Feb 24, 2015 6:11 pm

In certain circumstances you can build over an easement. It does depend on the reason that the easement exists. It is more of a legal question. Also, excavating into an easement is not usually an option but one can cut alongside the easement. Need to talk to the right people. A lawyer maybe?

In certain circumstances you can build over an easement. It does depend on the reason that the easement exists. It is mo...

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leighton

24 February 2015

Re: Sloping Block Builders MelbourneBuilding A New House

Feb 24, 2015 6:04 pm

Hi StructuralBIMguy. thanks for the rant as you put it, but of course you hit the nail on the head. It is harder today and engineering is just a piece of the puzzle. I have been so busy for the last few months I haven't visited here. But the difficulties abound e.g. the planners preference for artic...

Hi StructuralBIMguy. thanks for the rant as you put it, but of course you hit the nail on the head. It is harder today a...

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leighton

24 February 2015

Re: Building at Northlakes Estate- Cameron parkBuilding A New House

190

Feb 24, 2015 5:52 pm

When one has 2m of fall the question is: 1. excavate flat and slab. 2. split level of some kind. 3. Build up with a timber floor. Most builders opt for 1. only - 2 and 3 are not part of the equation. My advice is to check that first.

When one has 2m of fall the question is: 1. excavate flat and slab. 2. split level of some kind. 3. Build up with a timb...

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leighton

7 December 2014

Re: Sloping Block Builders MelbourneBuilding A New House

Dec 07, 2014 2:21 pm

I agree with StructuralBIMGuy. That is why now all my houses are engineer designed and I get an engineer to inspect the frame. My total number of independent inspections has climbed to approx 13. You can't rely on one person and you cannot rely on a Building Inspector. You need many sets of eyes.

I agree with StructuralBIMGuy. That is why now all my houses are engineer designed and I get an engineer to inspect the ...

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leighton

11 August 2014

Re: Weatherboard v's bricks?Building A New House

Aug 11, 2014 8:09 am

WB is really just one of the fabrics that one could use without going to brick. I use natural timber Baltic Pine , Murray Pine, that is Australian Native Pine, Cedar, but not much due to tastes changing, maintenance factors, and bushfire. Then one can turn to Hardie products like Primeline NewPort W...

WB is really just one of the fabrics that one could use without going to brick. I use natural timber Baltic Pine , Murra...

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leighton

11 August 2014

Re: Extension Cost Per Square Metre - are builders serious!General Discussion

Aug 11, 2014 8:04 am

Hi. I just priced a 40 Sq for about $350000. Owner doing a bit himself. He said it was the same price as for the 20 Sq extension quote he had got for the alternative to knock down and rebuild.

Hi. I just priced a 40 Sq for about $350000. Owner doing a bit himself. He said it was the same price as for the 20 Sq e...