Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 19, 2009 5:16 pm Dear all, We just went for color selection today at Allcastle Homes. We're building the Kingsworth 30, which is a new model, none of this style of homes havent been built yet. My questions to the group: 1. In our estate at Glenmore Park (NSW 2745 in Penrith City), roller doors for garages are not allowed, it has to be Panelift doors. So we asked for a Panelift door, the sales rep just wrote "sectional garage door" because apparently Panelift is just a brand and it means the same and quoted us $1000 for the upgrade. In the color selection package instead of getting Panelift they are giving us Panelmasta, both made by B&D but much cheaper, has only 1/2 the life of the springs and doesnt have the pinch-free (finger-safe) design. Allcastle said if we wanted the Panelift and not Panelmasta, we need to pay an extra $580. The color selection lady insists that the two look the same (but of course the features are much difference, that's why they're charging extra for the better Panelift) I thought this was grossly unfair and would seek advice from Dept of Fair Trading. Has anybody had the same experience? 2. When we got the color selection letter attached to it were 2 business cards of hydraulic engineers, and in the letter it says that we are required to have a stormwater hydraulic detail design and that we have to engage those consultants. I contacted both, one was charging $800 + GST, the other one the same but if paid in cash would do it for only $600. I was skeptical about these two consultants, so looked up Yellow Pages for consulting engineers in the Penrith area. Two of them said this was very strange; and confirmed that in Glenmore Park there is no requirement for onsite stormwater detention, so why the need for a detailed hydraulic plan for a dwelling on a small residential block? (Our 510 sqm block of land slopes from the back downward to the street front, so no storm water is likely to be retained in the property). This seemed very fishy indeed, and today the plan presentation guy said we received a "standard" letter and that plan was not necessary. We could have paid almost $900 for an unnecessary consultancy service! 3. Our tender mentions that Taubmans paint will be used; however the color selection lady insists that they will use Bristol and that Taubmans and Bristol are part of the same company (which is true: PPG Architectural Coatings Australia). However that doesnt mean they're the same quality! Even Woolworths makes the same canola oil in the "Home Brand" and "Woolworths Select" brands, which are of course different qualities and different price points! Does anybody here have an opinion whether Taubmans is better than Bristol; I will call up Bristol/Taubmans Color Centres tomorrow and ask whether the quality and prices are the same for the two brands. Hoping for your views on these. Re: Panelift vs Panelmasta at Allcastle Homes 2Nov 19, 2009 6:46 pm Well today I called Bristol Bondi Junction and Taubmans in Alexandria (?) and both said Taubmans is the best brand among the PPG Architectural Coatings Group products. So maybe I shouldnt accept their Bristol substitution to the original tender brand of Taubmans. Re: Panelift vs Panelmasta at Allcastle Homes 3Nov 19, 2009 9:52 pm Keep this stuff coming I'm interested in what happens from all this. I bet someone more helpful than me will post up soon enough. Re: Panelift vs Panelmasta at Allcastle Homes 4Dec 03, 2009 3:50 pm Well today I got a phone call from the Allcastle director who said that they would prefer that I go with another builder. He promised to refund my drawing development fees of $3,500. This was after they were called by Office of Fair Trading about the Panelift-Panelmasta substitution.
I know that at least one other member of this forum who was building with Allcastle was treated similarly: supplying Panelmasta for what was supposedly Panelift as discussed. But also I pointed out to them that their substitution of Bristol for Taubmans (which is a standard inclusion for my house model) is another breach of fair trading laws. To force me to use Bristol, I got a variation quotation from Allcastle Representative that because I was insisting on Taubmans they could not guarantee an adequate coat, and if I needed an adequate coat I will be charged a further $990. The other thing was that I requested that they not nail the skirting boards to make it easier to remove when installing timber flooring. For this they said they would be tacking the skirting baords instead, and that incurs a charge of $504 per floor! Wasnt that absurd? Tacking costs more than nailing? The Allcastle director's explanation was that they are a project builder and they cannot do so many variations for clients. Which is probably why they substitute inferior products underhandedly? Re: Panelift vs Panelmasta at Allcastle Homes 5Dec 03, 2009 4:07 pm They sound like a hopeless project builder then... The project builders in Melbourne have no problem with variations and of course they will happily charge you for it Re: Panelift vs Panelmasta at Allcastle Homes 6Dec 04, 2009 2:29 pm Wow! I hope that you updated the office of fair trading about the phone call from allcastle... That is SO ***!! Sounds like you're better off not building with them. Re: Panelift vs Panelmasta at Allcastle Homes 7Mar 26, 2010 11:40 am We built a house with allcastle in Homebush area. To be honest I'm happy with them and I would build again with them in the future. There were few give and take but we worked out many issues together. When ever there was a ‘change’ they always compensated in some other way. It has been about 5 months since we moved in. No major dramas so far. We need to give them a list to fixes soon. I'll report back the outcome of it. Re: Panelift vs Panelmasta at Allcastle Homes 9Jun 08, 2010 9:29 pm Here is the list: Nothing biggy. General: 1. Cornice – crack in the corners around the house. 2. Hot water system stops working – need to go outside and restart once a month. Bed 5 Downstairs: 1. Window architrave on left window coming out. Bed 5 Ensuite: 1. Washbasin drain not draining properly. Family Room: 1. Leaking from upstairs ensuite bathroom. Bed 1 Ensuite: 1. Bath tub taps coming off. Kitchen: 1. Ceiling light hole too big – can be seen with our lighting fixture. 2. Ceiling paint is uneven Foyer: 1. Down light hole too big – incorrectly placed. Upstairs bathroom: 1. Drainage floor level not done properly – water stays and does not run into the drain. Laundry: 1. Taps: Water flow is not enough. 2. Drainage floor level not done properly – water stays and does not run into the drain. Re: Panelift vs Panelmasta at Allcastle Homes 11Jul 28, 2010 11:31 pm devank Here is the list: Nothing biggy. General: 1. Cornice – crack in the corners around the house. 2. Hot water system stops working – need to go outside and restart once a month. Bed 5 Downstairs: 1. Window architrave on left window coming out. Bed 5 Ensuite: 1. Washbasin drain not draining properly. Family Room: 1. Leaking from upstairs ensuite bathroom. Bed 1 Ensuite: 1. Bath tub taps coming off. Kitchen: 1. Ceiling light hole too big – can be seen with our lighting fixture. 2. Ceiling paint is uneven Foyer: 1. Down light hole too big – incorrectly placed. Upstairs bathroom: 1. Drainage floor level not done properly – water stays and does not run into the drain. Laundry: 1. Taps: Water flow is not enough. 2. Drainage floor level not done properly – water stays and does not run into the drain. Devank, how did you end up going with your repair list, whilst you commented that they were small issues, I would be a little concerned with some of your points with regards to the water flow and drainage, My contact with AllCastle has been less than favourable. Re: Panelift vs Panelmasta at Allcastle Homes 12Aug 03, 2010 11:55 am Nothing tangible happened so far. One general inspector turned up to ‘see’ the problems. I guess his job was to ‘reduce’ the work required. One of his comment was “I use a mob to clean the laundry & bathroom”. Well.. that is not the point! If water was poured then the spilled water should run to the drains smoothly. Plumber turned up. Fixed a leaking taps but it is still dropping very very slowly. One of the sink was filling up faster than the draining but he argued (and apparently showed) it wasn’t he case. Allcastle indeed called us to check on the progress though. Re: Panelift vs Panelmasta at Allcastle Homes 13Mar 13, 2011 10:05 pm devank did the builder fix all the problems you listed? we had a walkthrough 2 weeks ago, my inspector identified some problems, and they still haven't had all the problems fixed after two weeks. Hi we are looking to talk to people who have built with them recently. We have signed mid range built contract but identified that a lot of things are not included.… 0 645 Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 74688 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 105494 |