Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Our build- back on track.....mostly garden 2061May 04, 2013 7:20 pm Nice to know you are still there... I have been slack at posting updates on mine too, and we have done quite a few things recently too. Slack I am. Are you coming for H1 lunch on 1 June or 2 June? I am wanting to coordinate with you and Jodge and meet up with everyone... let's chat soon.. SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Our build- back on track.....mostly garden 2062May 08, 2013 9:01 pm Hey T! Would love to hear what you've been up to at your place. I will post my update again soon, when I can sit down at the big PC. I think I might be ok for lunch on 2nd June. Need to check with Dh as he's been on lots of weekend duty recently... Dee, always happy to dig out a pic of Eliza.....this was a couple of days ago. She gravitates to these pots all the time and it's a nightmare as they have those little fertiliser balls in the soil. She'll be 10 months tomorrow. How?! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43846 Re: Our build- back on track.....mostly garden 2063May 09, 2013 10:36 am Awwwww...how gorgeous is she? Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Our build- back on track.....mostly garden 2064May 10, 2013 5:06 am Beautiful Photo! please let me know whether joining on the Sat 1st or Sun 2nd suits you best? SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Our build- back on track.....mostly garden 2065Sep 09, 2013 2:53 pm Hello! We are just 4 days away from being in our home for 12 months – and the list of things to do is still far too long! Where oh where does the time (and money) go? I have started an update post many times and really hope to be able to complete this one – that’s if anyone is interested. About a month ago we finally got our OC. We had a few issues to contend with – firstly, the hydraulic guys wouldn’t approve the work as executed as the original hydraulics design took into account a property behind us that no longer exists. Talk about only seeing black and white. Our builder described in great detail the changes to the works and how the original plan was superseded, but the investigating engineer obviously couldn’t think for himself and could only refer to the original plan. So the builder had to submit an amended plan for them to approve. Unbelievable and daylight robbery if you ask me. If anybody ever needs a recommendation for a hydraulic engineer there is no way on earth I would ever recommend the guys that we used – throughout the whole build they caused us no end of trouble and what seems like a lot of unnecessary expense. Once we had that signed off, the private certifier just wanted to make sure that the step from the lowest step from our laundry didn’t have too high a drop off. We had a soil bank there and it was slowly being eroded, so we just bit the bullet and put the rest of the concrete steps in. We had always planned to do this, but this just meant it was done sooner rather than later. H were back a number of times to fix very minor things – mostly painting and crack filling. The biggest thing we struggled with getting them to do was to fix the creaking landing. They were quite reluctant saying it was a tricky job – but tricky job or not, the creaking drove us mad and it had to be done. So we ripped up the carpet and they fixed it in an afternoon. Not such a problem after all. We are half way done with the fencing now – just the back garden to complete, which we hope will be done in the next few weeks or so. Wooden fences down the sides and a pool fence at the bottom to keep the kids from being able to get down to the creek. You’ll see from the pics that we got the fencing finished out the front, up the driveway – and we also installed an electric gate and intercom. Great peace of mind knowing the kiddies can’t get up to the road now. We still have a lot of furniture to buy – playroom needs shelves and desk, all bedrooms need chest of drawers, new sofas needed, builts in family room wanted and art work and wall pictures to sort….etc. etc. – but it is slowly getting there and we have at least crossed off a fair few things on the list (nevermind that we keep adding more to the list!). Some piccies…. Front driveway with gate at top. We still need a blower to keep this free from leaves etc! We really wish we could have afforded coloured concrete, but it was a step too far at the time. We might get the bit right in front of the house sprayed at some stage - need to investigate. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Steps from laundry Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ New dining table, chairs and sideboard. Less bar chairs now - thanks to toilet training, one had to go! What on earth was i thinking getting material bar chairs with children and cats around?! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ TV finally on wall and surround speakers on ceiling Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 1st tier of garden - coastal rosemary, white aganpanthus and herbs (star jasmine in pots as we decide where they are going) Grass starting to look a bit better after a good watering. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 2nd tier coming along quite nicely. This is my ebay garden Kanga paws going particularly well. Agaves in planter box transplanted from pots we had. Frangipani present from brother in law also in planter box. Would like to grow some jasmine up it to cover the brickwork. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Just planted some mondo grass inbetween the rocks - neighbour donated it. Not sure what it will look like, let's see if it takes. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Other side of 2nd tier still a work in progress. Lomandra longifolia and some other dwarf grass there to create a bit of a barrier for the kids to avoid. Might add some kangas for colour at a later date. Also a grevillea, calistemon and a couple of leucadendrons there. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Bottom tier a mix of shrubs (including gardenia - can't remember the other names) and leucadendrons again (which I love - bit of a weird mix though having gardenias and natives, oh well). More work needed down here still. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ (Excuse the washing hanging on the railings - there is always washing everywhere!!) Fence will go all the way down the right handside as you look up and we will put "Goodbye Neighbours" in front of the fence. This will stop next doors dogs from weeing and pooing on our grass and will eventually give us a bit of privacy. On the other side we need to get help to clear the nighbour's garden as it is a serious fire and snake hazard. We are hoping a charity called Easycare Gardening will assist with this since the owners are in no state to clear this. When we were building we very nearly roofed all the deck, but I was concerned about losing light in our family and dining room. I'm glad we pulled out of this and have lived with it to see how it works. We are going to get a roof on half of the deck (where the table is) and will keep the awning on the other side. Eventually we may put a louvred roof on the awning side too, but we will see how it works first. this will probably be a job for this summer. The fixed roof we will put it will be a fraction of the price we would have paid with our builder. Generally we have found the house to be quite warm in winter (of course it helped having such a mild winter). We bought a gas heater and found that really efficient in heating the whole house and I was absolutely amazed at how low our gas bill was. I think the house works less well in the heat and air con might just happen this year - once we've checked the finances again! But at least we have the sun blinds and awning now - and the fixed deck roof will also help shield the main room from the northerly sun. One thing I am really disappointed in is our spotted gum flooring. Whilst I absolutely love the look, I find that it rarely looks clean as it shoes up every single little foot smudge. This could be from how the light plays on it and perhaps when the kids are older, it might stay clean for a little longer – but I do wonder whether tiles might have been better for somebody who can’t be bothered mopping every day. Come on Roomba – get your Scoober Mop sorted ASAP, I’ll buy one when the reviews are better! Whilst we have dabbled in planting the back garden, we are going to get somebody in to do the front for us as the soil out there needs a complete overhaul. We should be speaking to him in the next day or so and hope to get this scheduled in for the coming weeks. Thinking a buxus hedge, (I’d love) some white hydrangeas (but need his advice), some Hostas underneath (if they grow in Australia – not sure!) and the acer palmatum we have – plus some lilypillys along the fence. We are also going to get a bin store built here (i.e. get some fencing put in). This should greatly improve this area. I had a go at using some left over moroka on the neighbours wall yesterday. It went on so nicely that I think we will do this along the whole of this god awful ugly wall. Need to get the right moroka pre-treatment and buy some more moroka first. Then eventually, we might buy some rectangular planters to go in front of it and plant something that camouflages it a little. Need to find some reasonable planters though – they seem to be about $250 each and we need 5 or 6 I would say. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ SO - that's where we're at! We love the house and we love pottering about in it. It was definitely worth the rollercoaster! (And Yayy! I finished the update!!) Oh - and remember this little girl??!! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43846 Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2066Sep 09, 2013 6:27 pm Oh, and something we are not thrilled with is our poor surfmist roof. Weare really disappointed with the look of it on the south side. We approach our house from a slope towards the southside of the house (which is the front) so we can see alot of the roof surface and we can see the roof has turned green in winter. Only in for 12 months and it already needs cleaning. Beginning to wish we had gone dark grey now.... Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43846 Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2067Sep 09, 2013 10:15 pm Oh dear ... Don't tell Dee about the surfmist roof turning green But what a wonderful update! You have fone wonders with your garden and the grass still looks very healthy after winter. Those were some serious laundry concrete steps! We too wished we went with colored concrete. It was in our contract, but on the day the concreter convinced me to keep it all the same basic plain concrete color. So you are thinking of spraying?? I would be interested too. And oh my hasn't your little princess grown!!! I remember her nursery before she was even born! We have found our spotted gum floors to be ok, but maybe that means I am an untidy mum?! In the end H seems to have done well by you. What a hideous hydraulics experience though. There is always something painful in a build. For us it was demo as you know. Did you upload pics from photobucket? I really should try to upload some. Your 12 month update with garden was such a delight! SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2068Sep 09, 2013 10:57 pm Read your update with interest. Love the latest pic of your little darling, what a sweetheart! Oh dear we're having a surfmist roof too. At least if ours turns a little green it will blend with my house colours... It still looks fine from what I can see in the pics... I love your rock retaining wall. Great job landscaping- you've done a lot in a short time, congrats! Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2069Sep 10, 2013 3:02 am congrats on a great job landscaping love what you have done to the house Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2070Sep 10, 2013 9:16 pm Thanks guys! We dont really feel like we've achieved that much! Yes T, she finally wearing the clothes you gave her - just in tis last week! Currently sitting in A and E with her - very swollen eye. T - I use picasa for pics, always have. Dead easy. Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43846 Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2071Sep 10, 2013 9:18 pm If you only have a roof on top Treeseachsnger, i reckon your surfmist will be fine. It is our lower roof that is the problem - it is shaded by the top floor. Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43846 Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2072Sep 11, 2013 6:54 pm Oh Nina you princess has grown so much, what an absolute cutey The gardens look fantastic, it seems to take forever doesn't it! I love the levels in your garden, it is looking so neat and tidy! Thanks for the update, it is always great to see how things look a year down the track. Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2074Sep 11, 2013 8:11 pm Ryan 1977 Yes, your daughter is gorgeous, so sweet. Your lawn doesn't look yellow, has it yellowed since these were taken? That's exactly what I thought. Nina your grass looks great! Jodge was telling me today about something called Shirley number ??? Which is magic on grass. Ps: hugs and hello to Ryan and gogo SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2075Sep 12, 2013 1:44 pm Hi Nina I've been lurking for a while (we're building near you), and I just noted that you don't have air conditioning? We're almost at the lock up stage now, so need to decide whether we go with ducted downstairs or wait until after handover and just do upstairs to save on costs. Could you live without cooling downstairs completely? Your house looks awesome by the way, and I love the landscaping. It's so hard to know what to do with a sloping block after they've cut so much. Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2076Sep 12, 2013 1:51 pm We built nearby and dont have air con. No regrets. Ceiling fans are the solution and no windows on the West. SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2077Sep 12, 2013 6:06 pm Hey GoGo, thank you! Levels are pretty, but flat would be so much more practical for kiddies. A least we have the area at the bottom they can use as well, but it would be lovely to be able to leave them playing in the garden on their own. Ah, thanks Ryan - of course I agree, but then I am completely biased! Can you oet see all the brown grass through the green bits? Does it really not look that bad? It seems that half of it is dead almost as the brown stuff is like straw. I wish it would rain, I really think that is the cause now as it started to respond well to the hose when I finally got it out! Does yours look similar? Ours used to be amazingly lush and green. Never heard of Shirley number T?!! I gave it some (cheap) slow release fertiliser and keep meaning to try and find some molasses as Fu goes on about how good that is for the lawn, but haven't quite managed that yet. Hi Novice! Nice to hear from you. Hope all is going well with your build so far - do you have a blog or thread? We also have fans, but on those really hot days we had last year they just weren't enough. Our north facing family and dining room has bifolds and full height double hung windows, so it cops a lot of sun. For a couple of previous air con junkies (both me and my husband lived in Asia for a while) we were surprised at how well we actually did do without Aircon. But I reckon we are in for a few very hot summers now so it is going on our list. I suppose we could live without it downstairs if we had to - our back room which is south facing is very pleasant in summer, so we could live out there (with all the kids toys!). Where are you building and who with? Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43846 Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2078Sep 12, 2013 7:38 pm @ T and the greening of the Surfmist! Nina & I had discussed this on another thread...the shading of the southern roof is the issue. It's all looking gorgeous Nina ( including Little Miss!) - we've been here nearly 3 years and I am envious of your lawn! Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2079Sep 14, 2013 5:59 am You home looks amazing!!! The garden looks lovely. Where did you get your dining table & side board from, I have envy, they are just gorgeous! Built the Seaview 36 with Rawson Homes - Read about it on my blog http://lamaisondemorgan.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Our build- back on track....12 months update with piccie 2080Sep 21, 2013 8:22 pm Really Dee? Your garden is so fabulous and our my lawn is definitely not looking special at the moment. Smorgzzz, we got the sideboard on ebay from collections by Kate - they seem to have their own website now. And the dining table was an absolute bargain from livingstyles.com.au but is too high, need to get the legs chopped down! Cheap though! Build Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43846 Our standard double-glazed window is tested to achieve, Rw 34, and can be glazed to suit Rw 39. The price is good too... 3 11724 Our external decking was only installed 2 months ago, and already moulded, with cracks, and some timber decolorated. The decking is in an exposed area, uncovered in our… 0 1400 My land is 260m2 (10m x 26m) located in claymore NSW. Under campbelltown council. I know in general the following setbacks would apply ground floor side setback =… 0 7396 |