Custom Design. Project builder versus a Private builder

Any one used Masterton or Metricon for a custom design build? Or any project builder really ?

What was the experience like and what would the cost be in comparison to just going with a Private builder ?

Another important point to make is that you choose a project home builder you will be part of the sausage factory

For instance Metricon ( and many others) use a 2 coat painting system. Most paint suppliers will tell you that Gyprock needs a minimum of 3 coats plus a sealing coat. An example I use is that Metricon used to allow me $13 to paint an alfresco ceiling ( this was in 2015-16). Its impossible to even buy the materials for $13. So quality suffers.

Good question.

You can definitely modify Metricon's floor plans a bit and I am sure Masterton will allow it too but at the end of the day you are still getting a compromise in quality and design.

In Sydney, depending on your finishes a project home builder will normally end up costing you approx $1500-$1600/sqm where as a custom home builder will realistically be between $1800-2000/sqm.

The main differences will be in the quality of the structure and detail of the finishes.

Most people dont realise that in NSW you dont need a building licence to supervise the construction of a house. So in many cases with the project home companies you can have a supervisor without a building license who is responsible for managing the construction of 15-20 homes and often they rarely visit site so the homes are built by subcontractors who are paid less than custom home builders pay and therefore they often take shortcuts.

Speaking generally, custom home builders will have a licensed builder who visits your site regularly and keeps a closer eye on quality. They will also be managing less homes so keeping a closer eye on your build.

I guess just work on an extra 300-400 per sqm

I have worked for both a project home builder and a custom builder so I can attest to the fact that both can generally buy the materials for the same price but the cost savings do come in large part from cheaper rates for trades and supervision.

For instance Metricon ( and many others) use a 2 coat painting system. Most paint suppliers will tell you that Gyprock needs a minimum of 3 coats plus a sealing coat. An example I use is that Metricon used to allow me $13 to paint an alfresco ceiling ( this was in 2015-16). Its impossible to even buy the materials for $13. So quality suffers.

With a custom builder you can have any design that you like and that works for your lifestyle. Just depends on whether or not you can afford a few extra $.

Another important point to make is that you choose a project home builder you will be part of the sausage factory and as many people on here know, the design and approval process is normally 6-9 months via CDC. As a custom builder as we have less clients we get our approvals in 2-3 months therefore saving you in interest and other holding costs.

If you need any more advice happy for you to PM me. GrahamB on this forum is also very knowledgeable if you have questions ( he is an estimator by trade and has worked for both as well)

good luck

S

In fact, primer/sealer (prep coat) + 2 top coats should be enough for Level 4 finish over gyprock.

https://www.dulux.com.au/applicator/tec ... asterboard

Do they apply just one top coat?

I wonder if Metricon is still using 3 coats for their display homes?

Thanks for the feedback!

We are trying to build a dual occ either detached or duplex but our corner block with complicated drainage easement doesn't really fit into the project builder sausage factory unless we can get the easement re routed (which i haven't looked into yet). Or build 1 off the plan project on one side and a totally custom on the other.

Most likely going to keep both. Rent one and maybe move into the other or rent it out also. The project builder route appealed initially for price and simplicity of picking everything in 1 spot. Figured if i was saving a hundred grand or so it would pay for the repairs i'd be doing in a couple years and if i dug in and stood my ground post build to get every fault i could find repaired (as my brother did) it would be worth it.

Not going to know until we talk to council but seems clear at least one of them would have to be heavily customised. Hard to get a grasp of what that would cost through a project builder but i am guessing it would be eating in to the price difference a lot when you're moving away from the sausage factory.

So if there isn't that much of a cost saving looking more and more like i am better getting it done properly through a smaller builder!

Just hard to get a prices for a comparison as we don't know what we can do until we talk to council. I guess i work on roughly an extra $300 per sqm

thanks again!