Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 01, 2009 2:21 pm TIMELINE: (will be updated as things happen) 15/02 - First saw vacant block 04/03 - Entered into contract to purchase block 06/04 - Preliminary agreement signed 20/04 - Land settled 07/05 - Fixed price quote signed 04/06 - HIA contract signed 08/06 - Submitted to council 12/06 - Colour consultation 27/07 - Council approval 21/08 - Authority to build from bank 22/08 - Site scrape/cut&fill 28/08 - Piers dug & filled 31/08 - Plumbing 02/09 - Pre-slab form work 04/09 - Slab poured / sign off slab stage 07/09 - Frame delivered 10/09 - Frame erected 11/09 - Roof trusses begin to be erected, windows delivered 14/09 - Completion of roof frame, mountain of dirt distributed around site 15/09 - Roof bracing, portico roof framed 16/09 - Bracing completed, house wrapped 17/09 - Windows in 22/09 - Gutters and fascia up 24/09 - Roof up!! 27/09 - Plumbing & gas 30/09 - Electrical 02/10 - bricking commenced 09/10 - bricking finished OKay......I've been meaning to start my own thread for a long time, but find myself procrastinating and reading everyone else's instead. But it's time to bite the bullet... as ground is now broken, and I now have reason for my own thread! So a little about us... we're a couple of happy kiwis in our 30's, who moved across to Sunny Queensland in December 2008. We have 2 daughters, E6 and O4. The man of the house is Al, he slaves his @rse off during the week, so I (Jo) can stay at home and read H1 all day! We decided to rent in North Lakes, after researching Brisbane suburbs before moving over - the suburb appealed to us, as it was an nice, new and evolving estate, and with a population of many people who had immigrated to Australia, or had moved inter-state... thus creating a community of people who have all experienced moving away from their families and friends and starting new, so people are generally friendly and willing to give new friendships a go! (and, we have found this to be quite true!) Initially we were shocked at the size of the land plots and the closeness of the neighbouring houses, after moving from a large block in NZ... but we quickly got over over it and decided we wanted to stay, and build in North Lakes. Our journey began back in February 09, when I was encouraged to check out a house being constructed by a parent in our daughter's new class. 4 houses away, was a vacant block which was being re-sold, after the current owners decided they weren't going to build afterall. It was perfect for us (albeit a bit small, but in our price range!).... and it backed right onto our daughters' school!! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 2Sep 01, 2009 2:33 pm Hooray Jolene Congrats on your site start and getting your thread underway but you do realise you will need to provide us photo piggy's with constant updates including lots of pics And I would love to see your plan if possible? Welcome to Australia too, I hope you enjoy and love living here as much as we Aussies do Good luck with your build P.S. North Lakes is a great area and I know a few people that live there too! We're building across the highway in Murrumba Downs. Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 3Sep 01, 2009 2:40 pm Ok... so everyone likes plans and photos - so here they come... Our house plans, a simple 4 bedroom house, 202sqm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ COLOURS COLOURS COLOURS... External: Roof: Colorbond DUNE Facia: Colorbond IRONSTONE Gutters: Colorbond IRONSTONE Windows frame: Black (windows will be tinted) Linea board: Colorbond DUNE Render (front room): Colorbond SURFMIST Render (pillars): Colorbond IRONSTONE Render/bag (rest of house): Colorbond DUNE Front door: 820 Hume XN5 - Colorbond IRONSTONE Garage door: Slim-line - Colorbond IRONSTONE Internal: Walls: Dulux NATURAL WHITE Main floor: tile 400x400 white/grayish Wet area floor: tile 400x400 charcoal Carpet: WARM CHARCOAL solution dyed synthetic Kitchen: Bench tops: Caesarstone ICESNOW Cabinetry: Laminex NEW GRAPHITE Bathroom/ensuite/laundry: Bench tops: Laminex NEW GRAPHITE Cabinetry: Laminex WHITE Colour swatches: Caesarstone ICESNOW Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Colorbond DUNE (I don't think this shows true reflection of colour) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Colorbond SURFMIST Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Colorbond IRONSTONE Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Laminex NEW GRAPHITE Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Dulux NATURAL WHITE Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Tiles and colour swatches Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Three feature tiles in the front hallway: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Feature tiles in bathrooms: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Carpet: (photo doesn't accurately reflect true colour) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And, finally my try-hard effort of creating what it will look like... gotta love paint swatches!! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 4Sep 01, 2009 2:49 pm Awesome Jolene! Love, love, love your colours....They sound and look like they go great together And your try hard effort with the elevation pic is terrific! (I would never have thought to do that) Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 6Sep 01, 2009 3:39 pm lostcause Gotta love the Pine Rivers Council huh! We were in for 6 weeks too I think! Such incredible efficiency The waiting for Council approval really did my head in!!! Even moreso when one of DH's work colleagues' plans were submitted after us, and approved in 2 weeks (he's building in Griffin). Ours was held up a bit because we had to apply for a relaxation for our skillion roof. Although, we had the last laugh, coz his builder hasn't broken ground yet!! View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 7Sep 01, 2009 3:58 pm Ok... so photos of progress so far!! I'm a bit trigger happy, and happen to go past the site several times a day, on our way to/from school and often at the end of the day when DH comes home. Before we desecrated the land Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Site scrape/cut& fill - 21/08/09 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Pink pegs mark the corners - 25/08/09 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Piers dug and filled - 28/08/09 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Plumbing - 31/08/09 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 8Sep 01, 2009 4:37 pm Congratulations on starting your build. I have also read alot of build threads and have been contemplating starting my own. To tell you the truth our build has been so fast I don't think I will be able to. We are looking at completion in about 3-4 weeks time. We are also building in North Lakes and can't wait to move from the bayside. We are building the kiara by plantation and they have been fantastic. I think we are very lucky that we have a great SS. Do your children attend BBSS? My son will be in yr1 next year. We are really looking forward to moving to the area as we have heard so many good things about it. Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 9Sep 02, 2009 2:27 pm kiarabuild Do your children attend BBSS? My son will be in yr1 next year. We are really looking forward to moving to the area as we have heard so many good things about it. Hiya! That's really wicked that your build will be finished really soon - how exciting for you and your family!! I am sure you will love living in North Lakes!!! Our 6 year old does attend BBSS (our house actually backs onto the school) and she's in year one this year. The school is still developing, and they've had a few teething issues since they opened in January - but that's to be expected!! Our daughter really likes it though, and she has a really lovely teacher (Mr T). Which village are you building in?? View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 10Sep 02, 2009 2:40 pm More progress today, as was expected prior to pouring of the slab! Went past at 0820 to find it all action stations... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And at 1230! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 11Sep 02, 2009 3:17 pm We are in the Outlook. We were quite surprised with out building progress because in our contract it stated at least 8 months for a two storey. We had slab at the end of May and will be finished by end of Sept. I can't rave enough about plantation but there is always final inspection...anything could happen. Thanks for the heads up about BBSS, I'm quite nervous about sending my first but we did meet the principal and she seems nice. I also have a 3 and half year old girl and I have put her name down at Sesame Lane in North Lakes. They seemed welcoming when we visited. I hope your house gets a speedy build like ours. At least your land is bigger than ours. The kiara was the only two storey house plan from plantation that could fit on our land. I'm not complaining though, we are the only highset on our block. Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 12Sep 02, 2009 3:23 pm walker79 And your try hard effort with the elevation pic is terrific! (I would never have thought to do that) Its funny what idle minds do... I bet you never thought to draw out your new ensuite on your lounge room carpet with chalk either, (to get an idea of the feel of it)... our sales consultant popped in one day and absolutely laughed her head off at me, when she saw what I was doing - she said that was a first for her!! View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 13Sep 02, 2009 3:35 pm kiarabuild We are in the Outlook. We were quite surprised with out building progress because in our contract it stated at least 8 months for a two storey. We had slab at the end of May and will be finished by end of Sept. I can't rave enough about plantation but there is always final inspection...anything could happen. Thanks for the heads up about BBSS, I'm quite nervous about sending my first but we did meet the principal and she seems nice. I also have a 3 and half year old girl and I have put her name down at Sesame Lane in North Lakes. They seemed welcoming when we visited. I hope your house gets a speedy build like ours. At least your land is bigger than ours. The kiara was the only two storey house plan from plantation that could fit on our land. I'm not complaining though, we are the only highset on our block. I'm gunna have to go stalk your house - I quite often drive through The Outlook (there is another house like ours being built up near where the convenience centre is going - but a few weeks ahead of us... so I check it out frequently!) There is a new daycare being built across the road from BBSS - the frame went up earlier on this week. They'll be open early 2010 (Kids Capers) and are currently taking enrolments... closer to home and school!! I can get the telephone number for you if you want? Will your lil miss start prep in 2011?? And that is excellent news about Plantation - its refreshing to hear something positive about them - lets hope it remains that way I've just looked at the Kiara plans (online) - and it looks like a nice house for a compact site!!! View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 14Sep 02, 2009 3:46 pm walker79 Welcome to Australia too, I hope you enjoy and love living here as much as we Aussies do Good luck with your build P.S. North Lakes is a great area and I know a few people that live there too! We're building across the highway in Murrumba Downs. Thank you for the warm welcome!! We love living here, and have hardly had much thought of NZ since we arrived! Murrumba Downs is lovely too, we considered buying a house there! I checked out your forum, I love your plans (and changes), and I think the guest toilet is a great idea!! View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 15Sep 03, 2009 1:52 pm lol at house stalking. Cool you can keep an eye on our house for us.hehe We are also near the new convinient centre. Plantation was a good option for us as they provided alot of inclusions as standard. Although you always end up spending another $60,000 on top of the house price for all the other things that are not included like the driveway etc.. I have put lil miss down at the new kids capers centre that is opening up in January. I'm just leaning more towards the sesame lane one because they provide food (3 less packed lunches to make lol). They also seemed more structured which is ideal for my active child. She won't be in prep till 2012 because she is born in July and just misses the cut off date for school. Gotta love the QLD system, so she has to wait a whole year. I said in the last post she was 3 and a half, i meant she will be that age by the time she starts at daycare next year. Thats great that your house will be right next to the school, at least they will never be late. I'm just contemplating the long walk up the hill when I take my son...maybe the car is a better option (so lazy). Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 16Sep 03, 2009 2:10 pm kiarabuild ....She won't be in prep till 2012 because she is born in July and just misses the cut off date for school. Gotta love the QLD system, so she has to wait a whole year..... My youngest daughter is also born in July - she misses out going to prep next year... by 10 days!!! Arrrghhhhhh kiarabuild Thats great that your house will be right next to the school, at least they will never be late I've had a number of people tell me, the closer you live to school, the later you are... lol - we would love to cut a gate through the back fence to the school - but some how don't think the school will be cool with it!!. View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 17Sep 03, 2009 2:17 pm yepp big grrrrrr at kids missing out on school cut off date. Funny thing is if we were still in sydney she would have just made the cut off as their one is August 1st. lol. What day in july was your little one born? My one is 8th July. Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 18Sep 03, 2009 2:23 pm kiarabuild yepp big grrrrrr at kids missing out on school cut off date. Funny thing is if we were still in sydney she would have just made the cut off as their one is August 1st. lol. What day in july was your little one born? My one is 8th July. I wasn't aware that NSW was any different - now reading that, that'd really rip my undies!!! Lil Miss is the 10th of July - back in NZ she would've started school on her 5th birthday... so really, for us, she is only starting school 6 months later. But what annoys me, is we planned to have a 2 year academic difference between our children, and now we'll have 3!!! Ahhh well... I haven't stalked your house yet LOL View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 19Sep 03, 2009 2:35 pm This is just too funny...we seemed to be the only ones posting at this time on the forum. Sorry for hijacking it by the way. Its just so cool to meet someone who with common interest who literally lives around the corner. Well lil miss was born just in time for the increase in baby bonus, but if I knew then that we would move to qld and miss school by a month I would have been tempted to induce her earlier. LOL. Oh, I forgot to mention that we moved to Australia about 10 years ago from N.Z. we love it here and this where are children were born so I don't think they will be All Black fans. lol Re: Building our North Lakes home :) 20Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm There... I have now stalked your KIARA... its around the corner from the "house like ours" (its on the opposite side of the road from yours, and is almost directly opposite the convenience centre). I was excited to see its progress since Monday when I last saw it - they have done the wrapping and put in windows and doors!!) - I can really visualise what ours will look like - and the time frame! The owners of the "house like ours" have no idea i'm stalking their house... LOL There were still tradies' vehicles outside your place as at 4:15pm. Looking good!!!!! View my thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=22825 bricking finished 09/10 - plasterboard install booked for 12/10 Hi, can anyone recommend a custom home builder who can build in north east area? Looking to build a custom 4-br energy-efficient home with a max budget of 750k. If they… 0 23132 interesting situation what happened after builder issued final invoice? did you list as defect or not does the building surveyor have any responsibility? ie. issuing… 13 47048 Building Standards; Getting It Right! Hi all, My neighbour has built his 15m long garage on our boundary. It was agreed as part of the planning permit that the wall must be in exposed recycled brick. For some… 0 11024 |