Mess around with the Ikea Wardrobe builder. It's fun and you can see what you can fit into your space. Then take that to someone who does robes (Luckily, the company who did my Kitchen, also does Robes and Cabinetry.) Mines a fraction smaller, we got $800 back from the builder and paid $2300 to the ...

Thanks. It works out about $500 more for my kitchen to get AbsoluteMatte wrapped like laminate. I am leaning towards 2pac though.

If it isn't included in your contract to be rebated, then I guess it can be however they like. IMO $310 isn't bad for that. I am not an engineer or in the construction business though. If that were me, I would just suck it up and pay the $310, and get what I want with minimal fuss.

You can get the absolute matte laminate pressed onto board, infact it may even be available direct from Laminex. They definitely have the matching ABS edging so it can be used as a panel. Being a laminate pressed onto board will cost more but it's the same process Laminex use for their designed tim...

I have seen 2 Pac kitchens chip quite badly within 3-4 years of use so I would avoid them. I would suggest getting the fingerprint free finish you love. It might be a bit more expensive, but how much will that add to your monthly repayment over the life of your loan? Probably not much. Unfortunatel...

Had 2 PAC kitchens for 23years,both were not easy to chip,had one chip in original kitchen over 15 years and kitchen was big, been in new home kitchen for 4 1/2 years,no chips, just make sure the paint used is quality paint,you can also respray door if chip happens fairly easy and not expensive Tha...

Hi, We're currently in the building process and we fell in love with some Navy Blue kitchens we seen. When we went to the kitchen company, we loved the new range of Laminex "AbsoluteMatte" in french navy LINK . This is fingerprint-less product. Once we fell in love with it, we were told la...

It's personal choices, but if my builder was happy to show people my house, then I'd be happy. I'd rather that than the opposite where they don't want anyone to see their bad finishes

Single story here, includes fencing, dishwasher, oven, driveway, LED downlights. Pretty much everything except landscaping. This came in at $1600ish

Really depends on your builder. If they outsource your kitchen to another company, you can always go talk to that company and organise to pay the difference in cash rather than go through the builder to save any possible builders mark up. I was told it was roughly (for my kitchen) $400 per grade. My...

You have warranty for a reason. I would be asking the builder, even if you just send him some pictures via email and see what he replies.

If you know who you're going to build with, bring them into the conversation now before you plunge into the land.

Hi MIchelle, have you had any experience with the Plantino Engineered Timber flooring? I have a smaller house and to upgrade from Laminate/Hybrid to Plantino is about $3-6k, which I think might be worth it. Just after any experiences you may have had? Edit: Thinking about the "Royale" seri...

Ask your private building inspector that you used for the build, they should be familiar with your build and will have first hand knowledge of the builders practices.

If you're worried you should book in your private inspector to go check It for you.

Just following up on the Pryzm hybrid flooring by Armstrong Flooring. Went and seen a couple that had been laid. We will not be going that way. If you lock your house up for a couple of weeks and go on holidays, the flooring will warp and the joins will bow and move. That's what I seen anyway, the o...

It can depend on what stage you are at? Generally (most decent companies) will only charge you for what work they have already completed. If you haven't went to site yet, then it could possibly only be a few drafting costs and legal costs plus site works as in soil tests and the like. If you've been...

I removed the fitout that the builder quoted (Just a hanging rail and a bank of shelves) and I was refunded about 30% of what it cost me to go to a designer and get it added to my building quote (which included builders 20% mark up) Go onto the Ikea website and use their design tool for a robe, its ...

You'll never get an itemized bill I doubt. The problem is, if the builder goes over on one part of the build and under on another part, then of course most clients will want the builder to refund where they went under but wear the part when they went over.