Owner Building a PAAL Camden in the Lower Hunter Valley

What a difference re the rangehood - looks so much better - I know what you mean re not noticing things when we first moved in 11 years ago I felt suffocated by feature brick and I went around and painted little patches - I don't see them anymore but to this day people ask me 'What's with all the little patches of paint?' Lol

Fantastic! So glad you were able to get it sorted

Wow, I stumbled across this post after looking for a review Paal was doing on my recently completed home, and have thoroughly enjoyed reading your experiences, photos and your honesty when it comes to building your home, how refreshing.

You have done an amazing job; I wish this thread was there when I commenced my Paal Home, things may have gone a little smoother and without so much price shock.

I have just finished our Castlereagh home, and 3 years of full time building later we also have just about finished. Congrats to you on a job well done.

I concur with you on how much things work out to be, in our case we spent over 4 times the cost of the original purchase, however, we estimate that we saved about $300,000 on the completed project by doing many things ourselves.

Thanks Wilesy for your comments.

I have taken the time to document our journey in the ambitious ( and maybe a little conceited ) dream that maybe someone will benefit from our experience lol!! When we first started we struggled with the question of "What order do we do things in??"…..does the roof go on before facia etc….so I hope one day down the track we might point someone in the right direction.

I think I may have read PAALs review on your home (I like to keep an eye on their "featured" segment) - well done and an awesome result! Owner building isn't for everyone, but even with the highs and lows of our build I can truly state that I'm as proud as punch of our home.

I had a big laugh when I read your comment about what order do I do things in, that’s exactly what we said during out journey having never owner built before. You are correct though, owner building isn’t for everyone, it consumes your life entirely and that isn’t something all people can cope with, taking into account time and money spent. You think you are saving as an owner builder; however those savings are gobbled up as you lift your project up to another level in quality and workmanship.

My review isn’t published yet, they only did the story last week and apparently it is going to feature in some Owner Builders Magazine which highlights a kit home being built over $1 million before Paal puts us on their website. They were very vague on what they are doing with the pictures and what they intend using them for, which will highlight their companies profile without (in their words) scaring people away on a budget.

Regardless, I trust them as my experiences with their company have been beyond reproach. I would certainly use them again, however with what I have learnt along the way I would have made quite a few more changes.

Hello again!! I'm still here.....and we're still plodding away with the finishing off stuff..

It seems that holidays are the most productive times for us. Christmas and New Year saw some small progress made in our front yard. We had planned on having a brick/iron fence but after getting stuffed around by tradies we pulled the pin with that idea - our tolerance levels are pretty much zero these days hehe. Instead we decided to put down some Kwik Kerb and plant hedges, which I am looking forward to pruning (my gardening skills only include pruning and poisoning!)
We planted Murraya hedges and 2 different versions of the ornamental pear (on each side of the block).....it all looks a bit un-inspiring at the moment but with time it should all come together.

There was a fair amount of prep work in the garden beds.....turf cutting and rotary hoeing and shovelling of compost and wood chip....but the whole family was involved - including 87 year old Nan - so it was quite an enjoyable job.

We then finished off the path with Deco Dust for a more rustic look. Planning to build an arbor over the from of the path sometime soon.....

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/turfcutter.jpg
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/rotaryhoe.jpg
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/plantinghedges.jpg
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/Hegdes.jpg
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/drivewayhedges.jpg
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/decodustprep.jpg
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/path.jpg
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/path2.jpg

We've also made inroads to leveling off the backyard......but still a fair bit of work to do out there.....maybe we'll finish that job off next Christmas/New Year haha
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/backyard.jpg

OK, so I laboured over a newsy, witty post.....hit submit and it vanished hehe......so in point form this time:

Hunter super storm, April 2015 saw our home just millimeters away from flooding......Rear levee bank held up and did it's job thankfully.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/storm20back20fence.jpg
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/storm%20garage.jpg
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/storm%20veranda.jpg



House Rendering has started - about half the house has been coated in the base coat. Can't wait to paint it!

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/veranda%20render.jpg

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/Render.jpg


Wisteria along the front veranda is thriving

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/wisteria.jpg


Interior decorating.....not my strong suit - but stuck with my "preloved" theme, scored a Moran lounge cheap, paired it up with framed wallpaper and cushions.
BEFORE....Lifeless.....

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/moran%20no%20pictures.jpg

AFTER....a slight improvement
http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg634/lynny-jane/moran20pictures.jpg

Wow thank goodness the levee held up

Ps the render looks great

Hi,

Thanks the fantastic post!

How have you found the Waffle pod slab? Have you had any troubles?

Thanks

Lee

Ooh thanks for bringing this thread back to the front Wigman27.

How's the house and yard going Lynny-Jane?