We chose our builder this week and our land settled today. Our block is very flat and sandy soil, so waiting for the results of soil test and I need to get a bushfire hazard assessment, although we have already decided to have the level 1 requirements of steel mesh flyscreens and leaf guard guttering.
I've been reading a lot of threads and blogs and couldn't register when i had some questions as we were choosing between builders but got notification today that the problem was resolved and very keen to jump on here now. I've found it so great as most of my questions had been answered in other people's threads or blogs so far too.
Reading the threads and blogs is great as I loved some of the "if we did it again we would move X,Y,Z" has been fantastic for things I would not have considered. So thank you we will be having ceiling fans in the western bedrooms and rumpus
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Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Fernyhouse Just starting Memphis 2Nov 27, 2009 5:00 pm Hi Ferny, nice to see you have started a thread  if we were getting fans i would be looking into reversible ones (i have no idea on prices, it may be out of budget) Basically, normal fans only rotate one way, pushing the air down. Reversible fans can also go the other way - pulling the air up. This is great for heating and cooling purposes as you have a choice where the hot air goes. I don't know much else about them, and like i said, i have no idea on price difference, but it might be worth looking into I just thought you might be interested, considering you changed your house plan to get more morning sun. Anyway, i'm looking forward to following your blog, Your house sounds lovely and i'm sure you're excited about starting soon. plan,block,contract:8-9/2009 Land settle & FHOG$:15/2/2010 Site start:19/5 Slab:4/6 Frames&Trusses:11/6 Roof,windows:24/6 Bricks:1-5/7 Gyprock:14-16/7 Kitchen!,garage door:5/8 Driveway,verandah,tank:2/9 Paint:17-23/9 Tiles!!:15-20/10 Kitchen&bathroom appliances,blinds:22/10 Carpet:8/11My blog: http://buildingbug.blogspot.com  20 Nov 2009 406 NSW Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse BASIX 3Jan 28, 2010 7:11 pm We signed our contract recently and started our first PCV on that day.
Today we got our second PCV. It's things as a result of basix, the majority are things we planned to do after handover (whirlybird and clothesline) Then there is a window size reduction for 2 windows, I'm waiting for them to get back to me about a credit for the reduced size (our contact person didn't think it would be much as she explained the variation in size is only a few millimetres, but when I researched what ASW 21-27 and ASW 21-24 were it means it's 300mm width variation so we are now thinking perhaps to change the windows in the rumpus to high placed 600mm height windows instead of the 2100 height windows, which means both windows will reduce not just the one that was required for the basix. My husband is quite keen on this as it will then have more of the home theatre look instead of the rumpus room look and he hadn't thought about this until after we signed the contract. Then to the meals area I want both windows reduced and not just the one required. I just think the room would look odd having two windows that are different sizes. So I'll find out tomorrow hopefully if we can do those changes and what the costs will be for that. Also hoping that as it's a variation required anyway that we don't have to pay extra for redrawing the plans or variation fee. The PCV we received doesn't include a redraw fee as it is, the only extra expense is the whirlybird. The clotheslines will be done by us anyway. 20 Nov 2009 406 NSW Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse Basix and plans 4Jan 28, 2010 7:33 pm Here's our plans The variations not in it is the diagonal wall to the study/main is starting at 200mm into the room instead, a water point to the fridge space and swapped the air con and water tank positions, plus adding cavity slider door to WIR This is without the PCV changes required for basix Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 20 Nov 2009 406 NSW Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse BASIX and plans 5Jan 30, 2010 7:33 am Our contact person got back to us about BASIX and it has gone in with dark roof tiles so we are fine with making our selections and not having to worry about that now. Very thankful for that. I wish it had been more clear as the reference to colours changing the BASIX's scared me. Still waiting on the window changes but I expect we should be able to get them sorted within the next few days Re: Fernyhouse BASIX and plans 6Jan 30, 2010 8:59 am Hi Ferny - Congratulations on joining the rollercoaster of building! Remember the golden rule - get everything in writting and you will be fine. Rgds Leonard. 20 Nov 2009 406 NSW Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse colour selections done! What do you think? 7Feb 04, 2010 9:48 am Colour selections was a long and tiring process with a few indecisions and disagreements with the other half so lots of negotiations.
External colour selections are Roof tile Barramundi Render - kidskin (bristol colonial p196-N4) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Feature render - loft (on the front posts) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Front door - loft Gutter and downpipes - monument Windows black Garage door, fascia, portico beams, posts and pergola - Dune Driveway pavers - peppercorn Internal colours - upgraded to the 3 coat living proof silk Walls - Mosaico Skirting and architrave - elusive white We will do feature walls after handover Kitchen colours are waiting on the caesarstone and polyurethane quotes to determine if we will go with those or stick to the formica - roman marble squareform benchtop and snowdrift gloss finish for doors Bathroom and ensuite top is pure calcite natural finish and cabinets white natural finish Toilet Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Basin mixers Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Showers and bath mixer Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Kitchen and laundry mixer (pull out vegie sprayer) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Shower rose/rail Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Fernyhouse colour selections done! What do you think? 8Feb 04, 2010 2:16 pm I really like all of your tap selections Did it cost more for you to get mixers in the bathroom instead of 'normal' taps? I would really love to get mixers for bath, shower, vanity and the handheld shower head (but not on a rail). I think they make the bathroom look modern and uncluttered. Very nice choices plan,block,contract:8-9/2009 Land settle & FHOG$:15/2/2010 Site start:19/5 Slab:4/6 Frames&Trusses:11/6 Roof,windows:24/6 Bricks:1-5/7 Gyprock:14-16/7 Kitchen!,garage door:5/8 Driveway,verandah,tank:2/9 Paint:17-23/9 Tiles!!:15-20/10 Kitchen&bathroom appliances,blinds:22/10 Carpet:8/11My blog: http://buildingbug.blogspot.com 20 Nov 2009 406 NSW Gold Member 29 Aug 2008 142 Senior Member Re: Fernyhouse colour selections done! What do you think? 10Feb 06, 2010 8:31 pm The negotiation process is alot of fun! Your colour choices look great! We also upgraded to the three coat paint system hoping that it will be a bit more hard wearing with our kids. Hope you do better than we did with your kitchen upgrades, at least you can always do it after handover if it works out more reasonable. The doors look great too, as we have the same front door, and similar doors in the hallway. Did you go with the sidelight to the front door as well? Cheers, CMET 14 Dec 2009 537 Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse colour selections done! What do you think? 11Feb 06, 2010 9:01 pm Congrats on your colours doing well and I think you have made beautiful selections RHI - BALDIVIS PERTH 2005 Bought/Finished WA Housing Centre Home 2010 Building the Benchmark with REDINK Homes in The Avalon 2013 Building the Michigan with Cont3nt Living In Highbury Estate! 19 Apr 2009 779 Point Cook Vic Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse colour selections done! What do you think? 12Feb 06, 2010 9:38 pm Love the toilet style. NO EXPECTATIONS, NO DISAPPOINTMENTS! Build Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27441 Landscaping Thread: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=43969 20 Nov 2009 406 NSW Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse amost into council 14Feb 11, 2010 5:37 pm Our CSO is super eager and sent us an email today to say the plans have been submitted to council. It gave me a minor heart attack as it needs to go to the developer first. Plus we are still waiting on a quote for a window change, been waiting more than a week for that now, not very happy about that but obviously the elevations will be wrong if we go ahead with that change (which we will just want to know the cost before we go with it). Plus the bushfire assessment report that I did has to be included with the plans to council. I didn't do all that work for it to be forgotten. CSO is back on track now thankfully. I'll be emailing tomorrow to make sure our window change happens before council gets the plans 20 Nov 2009 406 NSW Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse Almost into council! 15Feb 18, 2010 3:54 pm Plans are in at the developer and into council and we have a variation in the midst. We wanted to make the window change when we had to change windows for basix but it took quite some time for the CSO to get back to us with a price difference to then be told it wouldn't cost anythign to change them but may vary the basix because it reduces natural light. We opted for 900mm height by 2700 width windows for the theatre room, placed high on the wall. If we need more for basix then we will have a third on the northern wall as well. Hopefully this will go through without an issue. We had our flooring selections today and have chosen to remain with a grey tones, black, white and mushroom. Carpet is a mushroomy colour, wool/synthetic blend in the standard range Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Entry, hall, family, kitchen and meals is a stone ceramic tile int he standard range Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Wall tile to the ensuite is this gloss white. Within the upgrade selection Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I was talked out of the all white bathroom and we chose feature wall in the shower is this black tile with a gloss line highlight Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The floor tiles are the same in square The children's bathroom is this wavy white wall tile standard range Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ and floor tile from the standard range Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Kitchen splashback is Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ a mushroomy metallic feature tile. A lot of grout but I will seal the grout for here for sure and it will be a grey grout for this wall instead of white. 29 Aug 2008 142 Senior Member Re: Fernyhouse It's all in at council and flooring selections! 16Feb 18, 2010 9:57 pm Hi Fernyhouse, We also went for the standard carpet, as we know that we are going to be upgrading in a few years time with our kids! We did upgrade our underlay though, as this should stand the test of time. The tiles that you have chosen look great! I especially like the kitchen splashback tile, as this was a style that we where tossing up as well. Good luck with your Basix and council. Have you received your kitchen quote back as yet? Cheers, CMET 20 Nov 2009 406 NSW Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse It's all in at council and flooring selections! 17Feb 19, 2010 5:26 pm Yes we got the kitchen quote back and nearly died. So I convinced Dh not to go ahead. I really resent that the kitchen quote is about the same or more expensive as gettign it done by an external supplier. They basically provide no credit at all. So we decided to stick with standard and will upgrade in a few years most likely. This way we will have kitchen doors and a benchtop I can get cut and used for a studio in the garage workshop area. We will do a few of the kitchen upgrades but only around $3k worth (extra cabinets on the outside of the bench, pot drawers, fridge overhead cupboard. The quote for the library (in the dining room) was also exhorbitant. I can fit it out with ikea for half the price and I think I prefer the ability to take the library with us when we move as opposed to being fixed units to the wall. We also opted not to do the laundry with them as my external quote is mcuh more reasonable too. Oh and yes we upgraded the underlay too. I loved that idea I got from in here and I'm also getting them to quote double underlay. Now I'm looking forward to it all coming together. 20 Nov 2009 406 NSW Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse It's all in at council and flooring selections! 18Feb 25, 2010 9:10 pm Electrical selections was pretty easy. We knew what we wanted and we followed the budget pretty much. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ So only downlights in the family and kitchen. CFL downlights though, owner supply fans for the rumpus,alfresco and bedrooms. A few two way switches, several quad power points and some data points for firbe optic. 20 Nov 2009 406 NSW Gold Member Re: Fernyhouse Electrical selections 20Apr 11, 2010 9:31 am We got a call on Friday letting us know council will approve the plans, just awaiting the paperwork. We finally got all out PCV's from the builder so took them in for the bank loan. We should have our approval in the next few days. We own the land outright and paid the deposit so the loan is only for the build and landscaping I'm about to put down some Merbau. Is it necessary to oil underneath the boards before laying? 0 10232 Hey There. No problems re jumping in. My original question was "should I have waterproofed" the concrete slab before putting batons down. We have been told we should… 7 15095 As above, you will need to trim your sheet to land on the joist, also make sure you are running your length at right angles to the joists 2 10552  |
