Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Split level 181Apr 30, 2010 12:21 pm Hi Lou Your place is looking great. Are you happy with everything or have you picked up any problems. Hi Gambarol Tell us a bit about your design. How is your build going? Anyone else doing a split? Re: Split level 182Apr 30, 2010 5:49 pm Hi Micks_K Generally we are pretty happy, just wish they would hurry up and finish, as with any building project there has been a few problems, the surveyors did the mark out wrong so we had a few sighting issues with the slab, but that was fitted quickley, we have been happy using a smaller builder so he often confrimed things with us before they started and if there is something wrong we could talk to him directly. But I used a spreadsheet to list any problems, when I spoke to the builder and how are they have been fixed etc power point in the wrong place, damage to windows. So we don't have a lot at the end and its easier to get things fixed if the trade is still there. I was able to meet sparkies, plumbers, tilers, cabinet makers on site to go over things so I think it helps when you don't have to pass messages through someone else. It would be great to hear more stories of other split level homes. Cheers Lou http://take2-customdesigndownslope.blogspot.com 07-10-09 omg they have cut the block 14-05-10 we finally have the keys Re: Split level 183May 04, 2010 4:47 pm Hi Micks_k Our block has a 1.5m fall across the block (parrallel to street) so our split is in the middle of the house. Garage, laundry & rumpus are on the lower ground level; living, kitchen and meals on the upper ground level and then bedrooms & bathrooms on a 1st floor above the garage. Build is going okay. We are almost finished the bricking stage and are looking forward to getting a roof on in the next week or so. (I almost cry everytime it rains on the yellow-tongue upstairs). Re: Split level 184May 05, 2010 11:03 am Hi Gambarol, Your place sounds interesting. I remember looking at a place at Homeworld that had a side split and it felt so open being able to see between the levels. Have you gone with a standard design from a project home builder or custom build. You should post some pictures of the build. Lou, Any sign of the keys yet. Re: Split level 185May 05, 2010 7:00 pm Hi Micks_K Our house is a custom design although its basic "roots" are consistent with a couple of standard side-split designs from the volume builders. I had a quick look at your blog. Your place is really steaming along. It looks great. Re: Split level 186May 05, 2010 9:58 pm micks_k Hi Gambarol, Your place sounds interesting. I remember looking at a place at Homeworld that had a side split and it felt so open being able to see between the levels. Have you gone with a standard design from a project home builder or custom build. You should post some pictures of the build. Lou, Any sign of the keys yet. The gas was connected today, and the driveway is tomorrow, due to all the delay the builder is letting us move in before monies have cleared so fingers crossed next week, well it has to be as we have let go of the rental Cheer Lou http://take2-customdesigndownslope.blogspot.com 07-10-09 omg they have cut the block 14-05-10 we finally have the keys Re: Split level 187May 07, 2010 9:55 am Hi Gamberol, Thanks, pretty happy with the way it is looking. I would be interested in seeing some plans/images of your build if you are willing to share. Lou, Your builder sounds really flexible allowing you to move in prior to completion. I wouldn't have thought you had much delays as you place seemed to go up so quickly. I think they should finish bricking the walls on our place today. I'm not sure what will happen next. Maybe render/bag paint the walls or the roof tiles going on. Re: Split level 188May 17, 2010 8:48 am Mick, I have a ton of photos, but I've been too lazy to set up a photo-bucket account for posting. Last week was a milestone for us, our bricks are finished and the gutters, fascia, sarking and roof tiles have been installed on the main part of the roof. After weeks of dreading the next dose of wet weather, I now find myself looking forward to a nice rain shower because I want to see how well the guttering holds up. The data and phone cable rough-in has also been completed and the sparkie is due to start his bit today. Re: Split level 189May 17, 2010 2:04 pm Great news on getting your roof up. Maybe hold off the rain for a few more days as we are supposed to get ours on this week. Do you plan on walking around your house in the rain to see if the gutters are leaking. Sounds like a good idea. Re: Split level 190May 17, 2010 3:07 pm I have stopped my rain dance though the forecast is not looking great. Quote: Do you plan on walking around your house in the rain to see if the gutters are leaking. Sounds like a good idea. Something like that. I'm particularly looking forward seeing how much rainwater my roof collects. Though I might have to wait a bit for that since I don't actually have downpipes or tanks connected yet. Re: Split level 191May 19, 2010 9:50 pm We have our keys at last, moved in on Monday, but only got certification today. So that works out about 2years,2months & 17 days from when we purchased the block until we moved and looking at all the boxes another 6months before we finish unpacking Gambarol set up a blog it is quicker to post photos, it does not take long to set up as you just use a template. Micks_k did they get the bricks finish and start the rendering, Cheers Lou http://take2-customdesigndownslope.blogspot.com 07-10-09 omg they have cut the block 14-05-10 we finally have the keys Re: Split level 192May 20, 2010 9:02 am Congratulations Lou. Great to hear you have moved in. It must be so rewarding moving in after so many years of waiting and effort. Have you got your occupational certificate already? Our house has been bricked and the front rendered. Check out pics on the blog. They have been putting up the facia/guttering yesterday. Hopefully roof tiles will go up soon but as of yesterday they haven't been delivered yet. Re: Split level 193May 20, 2010 10:16 pm micks_k your home is really starting to take shape now, I love the elevation at the back. We have no occupancy certificate yet as certification was only done on Wednesday, we put the pressure on the builder to let us move in on the weekend as he kept putting the certification back this was going on since the end of March we had enough, but there was not problems at certification so we should have the occupancy certificate in the next couple of days plus the final payment. It great to be move in finger crossed we can get back into some sort of routine for the kids so after being in limbo for so long, esp the last 2months. Cheers Lou http://take2-customdesigndownslope.blogspot.com 07-10-09 omg they have cut the block 14-05-10 we finally have the keys Re: Split level 194Oct 09, 2010 10:15 pm There are a few people asking about building on slopping sites so I thought I would give this thread a bump. Cheers Lou http://take2-customdesigndownslope.blogspot.com 07-10-09 omg they have cut the block 14-05-10 we finally have the keys Re: Split level 195Oct 13, 2010 3:20 pm Hi Lou, Split levels homes musn't be a popular as they used to be. Your pool is starting to take shape. Just in time for Summer. How are you going to finish it off. Are you planning to lay decking all around the pool? Mick Re: Split level 196Oct 13, 2010 3:42 pm Hi Mick, People are crazy if they don't try to build with the fall of the land as it just cost them so much more in the long run if the just cut & fill. I have been following you build on the blog, it looking great do you have a move in date it must be close. Everything has come to a complete halt with the pool we have had so much rain up here they are even talking about a repeat in conditions that led to the 74 floods. We are going to pave around the top part of the pool as it will be cooler under foot, and then eventually deck the back and put in a pergola(just spread the costs for now) Cheers Lou http://take2-customdesigndownslope.blogspot.com 07-10-09 omg they have cut the block 14-05-10 we finally have the keys Re: Split level 197Oct 13, 2010 4:05 pm How will it cost them more in the long run if they cut and fill? We should be finishing up by the end of the month. We've heard it will be finished "in a few weeks" a few too many times. Starting to get a little frustrated. Re: Split level 198Oct 15, 2010 10:31 am It is the cost of all the extra retaining and drainage work they have to do outside of the build, some of the retaining wall they have built around us are large, and once you start getting over a 1.2m you have to start getting these walls engineered it starts to add up quickly, we have over a 7 meter fall over our block about a 6 meter fall in the build zone, we ended up with 2 retaining wall that run through the house an one external, I wish we split leveled the house and lifted it more at the front and we would have not needed the wall at the front. The last few weeks are the hardest, you get to the point where you have just had enough and you want to move in. I think it that being stuck in limbo for so long and you have the list of when we moved into the new place............then it all happens so quickly. Cheers Lou http://take2-customdesigndownslope.blogspot.com 07-10-09 omg they have cut the block 14-05-10 we finally have the keys Re: Split level 200Oct 27, 2010 9:00 pm Hi there. Been watching this thread whilst contemplating the purchase of an upslope block on the South Coast. Looking at retaining walls to DIY and concepts of split level homes. Got a concept design now and talking to the lender. Looking forward to building again (already done 3 times...glutton for punishment). Cheers, P&D Cudina Lot 240, Seacrest Estate, Flinders Blog: http://lot240seacrest.blogspot.com It won't happen overnight, but it will happen... Move your linen into laundry and access laundry from your present linen space 1 8013 isn't a garage level with the rest of the house a given? pretty sure they 'came around' long time ago. if you have a flat block, the garage is usually level with the rest… 1 17527 they can, it's a fairly standard solution when the slab isn't recessed. the falls need to be in the main floor, if it hasn't been done then you need to ask them to redo… 4 6593 |