Building a Santorini 26 in Port Fairy

First time on...I've settled on an 800+sqm block in a town in SW Victoria, and decided on a Santorini 26 with Metricon based out of Warrnambool.

Haven't done any selections yet, but I've opted for the grand Alfresco, and am going to replace the sitting room with a study. Nothing else much different, but I want to automate up the place a little bit.

I'm not really sure what Metricon do in this area...I've been told EnviroNexus but then, on enquiring about data points, got quoted figures based on using a Hills Home Hub. I'm really only interested in all the data connections - we're only going to get ADSL2+ down there...no NBN projected, so I want Cat6 in each room. I expect to do some software work from home in the medium term future.

As far as the automation goes, I'm not all that interested in the A/v, but more interested in lights, blinds, security/CCTV and heating.

I'll probably do the alfresco and portico floors and roofs, plus a 14000 litre tank, and the blinds after handover.

Anyone else had any experience with their offerings?

Congratulations on starting your building process. It can be a frustrating process at times but all worth it in the end. Hope to see you around and posting some updates as you go. Was there anything in particular you wanted to know about their offerings?

Oh I'm so excited to see another build in Port Fairy! Almost fell off my chair. Ha ha I didn't think you'd need much in the way of CCTV or security systems in sleepy Port Fairy but maybe I'm naive. I was aiming to start locking the door in our new place!!

LOL Joanne - I've got extended family down in that part of the world (though mainly the other side of Warrnambool). If we pop in to visit certain relatives, we know they've gone away on holiday as opposed to out for the day because the doors are locked!

We've allowed $7k on the quote for electrics...including lots of LEDs, data access points etc, but what I was wondering was about the Hills Home Hub.

I think the other thing I'd budgeted for was engineered wooden floor, rather than laminate.

I've got the Premium upgrade as an offer, plus Colourbond, double-glazing, and not sure of much else. I might opt down for laminate benchtops, rather than stone. Not a massive fan of the stone.

Still waiting for Studio M but I think they're hoping for contracts Sept 8 so they'd better get their skates on.

Just got the appointment for Studio M in a week and a bit down in Geelong.

I did Studio M today.

A little bit up in the air on the home automation Clipsal arrangement. The consultant has to speak to the installers to see about the panel, and how that would handle data access, Foxtel/antenna etc, so the total cost was about $9K (we'd originally allowed $7K). I need to look into surge suppressors too on some valuable computer and A/V equipment.

But this covered 6 doubles in the study, 3 in BR 1, 3 in the family room, 2 in the garage. LED downlights except in the BR2 and BR3. External double power in the alfresco. Downgraded heatlamps in the bathroom and ensuite to Thermalite.

Upped the heating to 4-star and added a zone, and added 2 more cooling ducts to BRs 2 and 3.

Went Cat 1 on bricks, upped to Cat 2 on carpet and wood flooring, put opaque glass on ensuite and bathroom windows, bumped up the shower sets by $900 each. And added a Smeg cooktop. I'd already upped the oven to Smeg, didn't see any drama in leaving the rangehood at Technika.

So $2000 extra on electrics (so far) and about $8000 on the rest (opted for the off-white mortar too).

Looks forward to following your build slugger52. We are also building the Santorini but the 4bdr. We have also opted for the grand outdoor room and changed to the walk through butler's pantry/study.
Good luck with all your selections appointments. Is your land titled yet?

I'm not quite sure exactly what you mean by titled...but it's been fully paid for etc.

I've got all the variations for the bricks, carpets, kitchen etc. Upgrade the cooktop and oven to Smeg 90cm and added a Smeg dishwasher. Stayed with the Technika rangehood. Just under $10K all up. Upgraded the carpet and timber floor to Category 2, upped the shower plumbing, most other upgrades were minor.

I'm having a few issues with the electrical and cabling. I want to get a decent amount of computer cabling in, to cater for potential home automation, with an all-in-one panel holding the router and everything else, but haven't had any joy in the automation path. I got put onto someone else yesterday who do the electrics etc, but they will only deal with Metricon...fair enough I suppose...I think we all know the reason for that, but I set out everything I wanted on Monday. When I get all of that organised, it'll be full steam ahead. I need to get light switches compatible with the wireless apps.

Finally got to talk to the electrical/cabling people in Geelong, and I've got to say what a pleasure it is to talk to guys who actually know about the products you're trying to get info on (although they've never installed Push Controls - recently acquired by Clipsal - which is more of an app to control automation and A/v). I'm a bit scared about what it might cost in total, but I've said I mightn't want automation of heating/cooling or wired-in home security....but we'll see what it's quoted at. I've said I wanted automated lighting in the front and living areas, multiple data access points and wi-fi access points so we'll see what comes up.

On the down side, the handyman I use for stuff around my house didn't turn up at the appointed time, or at all.

Finally got the quotes for the electricity extension - data access points all over the place, a degree of home automation - about what I expected - using C-Bus and Push Controls.

Now I've got to put in for the planning permit...I was going to go to Port Fairy tomorrow to talk to the planning guy, but I've just teed up an estate agent and to get it on the market before Christmas, I have to have it ready by Cup Day so major effort and decluttering required. I've decided to get back another storage unit in Pascoe Vale Rd. The monthly cost of a shade over $100 is one and a half trips down there's worth of petrol. The one in Warrnambool is more than 3 times the size for 1.6 times the cost of the Essendon one.

Good luck with your build. M told me that the Santorini is by far the most popular design.

Got the contract yesterday (should have picked it up Sunday but wires were crossed and I spent the day in Warrnambool otherwise engaged). Site costs were up a bit and the overall costs a bit more. I'll go through it with the tooth comb tonight, and probably go down to sign it Sunday.

Exciting to be progressing. Are you going to try and cut anything out?

Contract signed...now for the planning permit, or whatever...the one you need to say you're staying within the beachside tastes.

Another couple were in at the same time as me, building further down towards South Beach.

congratulations! Do you have to put your plans out for public consultation as part of the planning approval process?

Planning permit is through. Now it's got to be displayed for 2 weeks in case of neighbour objections.

I'm now looking into solar power and a 22,500l tank plumbed into the house. I'm told the water in Port Fairy ain't real flash.

The house two doors from me is going up quickly after starting just before Christmas.

I heard on Friday that having a 22,500l tank means that you have to have more downpipes connected to the tank, and that means a double sealed stormwater system, where everything goes into the tank and only an overflow goes into the stormwater. Can be up to $4k. Smaller tanks don't need it, but I feel it's more sensible to allow for droughts, and to avoid the local water for drinking.

That'll mean I hold off on any thoughts of solar power as that would cost $5K plus and not be guaranteed to work efficiently as the house faces north, and you don't have the panels on the front of the house.

Planning permit is due Thursday providing no-one protests and that's about a 0% chance, as it's quite a new estate and my place is very much in line with the rest of the street...except for the blockhouse monstrosity with the front roof across the street.

Just be aware that the overflow discharge capacity needs to be greater than the tank's inflow capacity to prevent overtopping. Very few plumbers know the overflow capacities for the various sizes and types of overflow outlets.

You are also talking about a wet system, practically all of the ones installed are sub standard. Common issues are crud build up in the underground pipes and the water retained in the pipes becoming anaerobic. Regularly draining the wet pipes is not very efficient and wastes a lot of water

There are some threads in Eco Living that would be worth your while reading.