Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 30, 2010 5:43 pm Just interested hearing from those building from the Allegra range.. what have your experiences been so far? Building with the Big M, Sandarra Settlement July 16 Site Scrape Sep 22 Slab Oct 12 Framing commenced Oct 13 Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=39517 Re: Allegra, anyone? 2Jan 30, 2010 8:41 pm Hi! Nice to see someone else on here! We're in Vic, and just about to start building a Nova with some additions/amendments... I've learnt anything is upgradeable... as long as you have $$ to do it.. Expect very basic inclusions for fittings and fixtures... Spend the $500 and do a tile appointment at Beaumonts if you want anything beyond really basic tile selections.. We had that expectation going in though, so we knew to get what we wanted it was going to be +$50 here, +$200 there... Service from M compared to our last builder has been ace though, they've been responsive and helpful mostly - can't knock it. Re: Allegra, anyone? 3Jan 31, 2010 5:57 pm cool - that's very reassuring to know (being in Vic as well) - they look like they know what they are doing - i've upgraded to all-get-out, but i figure i'm still getting the upgrades for what the average bathroom/kitchen costs to rennovate, so moving forward with fingers crossed - feels big!.. they seem to have a good eye for detail too, which helps.. ..your previous experience sounds like a bit of a nightmare Building with the Big M, Sandarra Settlement July 16 Site Scrape Sep 22 Slab Oct 12 Framing commenced Oct 13 Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=39517 Re: Allegra, anyone? 4Jan 31, 2010 6:46 pm Hi, yeah compared to them, M have been a dream.. they return phone calls, emails..shocking I know, ha ha!! It was a bit of a leap of faith to build a house we haven't walked through, so here's hoping the end result is what we're wanting and we didn't stuff up too many things along the way.. We chose M's Nova basically for the shape of the house ... we have a tiny block (which was committed to with the prev builder) and finding a house which fulfilled some of our other requirements - 3 beds, double gge.. was quite difficult.. so we didn't have many options!! And so we've just about bought half the price again in upgrades, but it will be worth it. As DP is somewhat in the trade there will be other stuff done after they've completed (alfresco, new custom front door, re-do some of the tiling) in order to get it to where we want it but that'll give him something to do to stay out of my hair so all good What are you building?? Re: Allegra, anyone? 5Jan 31, 2010 10:31 pm omigosh - u have someone who has a few building skills - lucky you! i want one of those... (esp. carpentry + electrics - that would be a perfect triple whammy) mind you, i get the impression the tiling will be spot on, so i reckon you might not need to be too worried about that (sounds like your partner is gonna be busy! ) I'm building the Serenity, and like you, am buying sight unseen, so it's a bit of a leap of faith - on a tiny (well, I think it is, in comparison to some of the McMansions) block. There weren't too many designs which had the living space at the back - most have the master bedrooms at the front of the house (and near the street traffic). My living room and master bedroom both face the backyard (I've got a golf course behind me), and i've put timber sliding doors for each. There are these new model simple timber sliding doors which look great and 1/3 cost of the bi-folds (saw someone trying to open and close bi-folds the other day - a bit of a struggle, bordering on hernia - and the retractable fly-screens could be a bit of a nightmare $$). Sooo glad I went simple. The facade has a kind of rectangle (I call it The Stargate ) which isn't rendered, since i've bought the runt of the litter . However, I'm thinking brick - nice and simple - might work in my favour after all. Sheesh, who knows - might be good with a creeper over it! You're right in thinking about the front door issue - i went for a corinthian Infinity 4 with merbau stain + whizz bang door furniture, plus timber entry, and gotta say, i think it's gonna be a more cost effective option now than doing it later. Will put stained glass in the side glass of the entry later. No rose design, however, you'll be pleased to know I have a sort of an alfresco - a verandah really - they were kind enough to extend the roofline a smidge, so at least there will be somewhere to park the spa - outside the bedroom - future Project X - , a barbie and contained eating area - so that works. If you have a bbq that connects to a gas main, consider getting M to put in a gas outlet to the alfresco - they'll do that - just a thought - I don't like the gas bottle sagas. Thought of decking, but the upkeep will never happen in my lifetime and I have seen many decks turn into splinter nightmares in a very short time... love the look of sandstone.. but concrete will have to do for now, i guess. What did you do about lights? I'm sure by now you are over the shock of the light un-inclusions (without bulbs!!) - and i'm in a bit of an anti-downlight phase (for lots of reasons) - so while I think oyster lights are going to be the way to go, can't find any that aren't really really really ugly. Any tips would be great.... whereabouts in Vic are you guys building and what stage are you at? Building with the Big M, Sandarra Settlement July 16 Site Scrape Sep 22 Slab Oct 12 Framing commenced Oct 13 Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=39517 Re: Allegra, anyone? 6Mar 26, 2010 10:33 pm Hi! I just signed with M and decided to go with their allegra range. It's the best way for me since want to upgrade the house after construction. I am planning to have it rendered, install evaporative cooling and add downlights after the construction. To those who have built under these M category, would you be able to share you're experiences? Re: Allegra, anyone? 7Apr 03, 2010 10:24 am heya - interested in why you've gone with the 'upgrade later' option - guess you know a heap of tradies? Lu-cky! Be aware though, that it seems to me you have to pick your upgrade battles - when I got evap cooling (decided during the hottest week in Jan), I noticed the trusses were upgraded automatically to suit, and the price was very competitive with what's out there - if not less... think about if it's going to cost you more later... at least get the upgrade price for comparison. Not sure if this is still the case, but there is a rendering deal going on for Allegra that also might suit - haven't heard good things about rendering (i.e. it eventually chips/falls off), so am avoiding it - but also like the texture of brick - you will no doubt know more about all that than me.. Not sure if you're saving with the downlight story either, really... I shopped around heaps and found it to be comparative/competitive when all said and done - also didn't want the insulation fiddled with to accommodate them. Went to lots of lighting specialist shops which all gave me the 'let us show you why we don't like downlights' rant ... very convincing - but hey, if you're hooked on the look... So I guess the main message is to be wary of false economy.. (just a general note - you've might have all this sorted), but have noticed with the Big M that whilst it's tempting to roll our eyes at figures on paper, getting as much done as you can now will prevent the feeling of a constant renovation when you move in, tradesmanship looks great, blah blah.. You could do it all later but hey, tomorrow never comes.... Building with the Big M, Sandarra Settlement July 16 Site Scrape Sep 22 Slab Oct 12 Framing commenced Oct 13 Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=39517 Re: Allegra, anyone? 8Apr 04, 2010 9:32 pm Hi Flame On! I've read on the forum here that it is cheaper to have the evaporative cooling done after construction. Basically, having it done later will give you a more powerful cooling unit for the same brand with more ducts installed for the same price. I confirmed this with 2 supplier. With the render, the same thing, still cheaper having it done after and they charge you less. For the quality, they are normally done by the same tradie that works for the builder so I don't see any problem with it. With the downlights, I might just add it as upgrade after all the discussion with a sparkie =) this is for some safety reason.. I'm building a Delta 24 and have already exceeded my 30k budget for my upgrades that is why I am considering having it done after construction. What model are you building? Re: Allegra, anyone? 9Apr 05, 2010 9:52 am Hi angel w.. Yes, it all becomes very subjective, doesn't it. For those of us building in the Allegra range, our homes are often smaller than what is discussed on these forums.. so for example, going with anything over and above what the Big M offered in the way of evap cooling would have been overkill - there are only so many ducts you need! The BoNaire model I've got going in will have enough grunt for what I need as well (once again, my place isn't huge - neither is yours). Check with your suppliers that if you choose their products, will the roof trusses need to be upgraded to accommodate the roof unit ($$$!).... it's worth asking. Render may very well be cheaper - at the time of purchase, Big M were offering a Hekel deal... I haven't heard good things about the longevity of render as a product (regardless of who does it) - something else worth going into - but as also mentioned - give me brick anytime - render makes it a bit prison-y for me... I can see why the sparkie mentioned downlights best as an upgrade... I guess the trick is to also go easy on how many... And so yeah, I went full-on on the upgrades in some cases (nothing too nuts) = 40k approx, but still ended up - in myopinion - spending less than what some people spend to rennovate a bathroom or whatever. Mine is the Serenity... very similar to yours, but with the master bedroom at the back.. To give you an idea of scale (I don't think they've built an Allegra display yet), you might want to visit a similar sized home at Williams Landing (if you're in Vic) by Urbann Edge called the Yoki.. gives a good reality check. And overall, I figure when I move in I'm gonna have to find enough money for all the bits and pieces as it is - i.e. paving, landscaping, etc. - and raking together the money for 'things to do after' (evap = 4,000plus) could be frustrating... I still remember how long it took to save the deposit!! Good luck and best wishes with the build... Building with the Big M, Sandarra Settlement July 16 Site Scrape Sep 22 Slab Oct 12 Framing commenced Oct 13 Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=39517 Re: Allegra, anyone? 10Apr 05, 2010 10:35 pm flame_on Hi angel w.. Yes, it all becomes very subjective, doesn't it. For those of us building in the Allegra range, our homes are often smaller than what is discussed on these forums.. so for example, going with anything over and above what the Big M offered in the way of evap cooling would have been overkill - there are only so many ducts you need! The BoNaire model I've got going in will have enough grunt for what I need as well (once again, my place isn't huge - neither is yours). Check with your suppliers that if you choose their products, will the roof trusses need to be upgraded to accommodate the roof unit ($$$!).... it's worth asking. Render may very well be cheaper - at the time of purchase, Big M were offering a Hekel deal... I haven't heard good things about the longevity of render as a product (regardless of who does it) - something else worth going into - but as also mentioned - give me brick anytime - render makes it a bit prison-y for me... I can see why the sparkie mentioned downlights best as an upgrade... I guess the trick is to also go easy on how many... And so yeah, I went full-on on the upgrades in some cases (nothing too nuts) = 40k approx, but still ended up - in myopinion - spending less than what some people spend to rennovate a bathroom or whatever. Mine is the Serenity... very similar to yours, but with the master bedroom at the back.. To give you an idea of scale (I don't think they've built an Allegra display yet), you might want to visit a similar sized home at Williams Landing (if you're in Vic) by Urbann Edge called the Yoki.. gives a good reality check. And overall, I figure when I move in I'm gonna have to find enough money for all the bits and pieces as it is - i.e. paving, landscaping, etc. - and raking together the money for 'things to do after' (evap = 4,000plus) could be frustrating... I still remember how long it took to save the deposit!! Good luck and best wishes with the build... Thanks for your ideas Flame_on To be honest, I only have a little knowledge about cooling, electrical and other building stuff. Now that I'm building my own house, I need to learn the basics and the practicality of the individual upgrades. About the cooling, I agree with you, my house area is not so big hence the higher model for the evap cooling is not needed and the basic unit that M is offering is just right for the size. Also, I might be able to save around 500 aud by having it done later; however, the provision (upgrade the trusses) for the evap cooling is worth 500 as well so not worth doing it. By the way, you might want to visit the display house in Wyndham Vale (Werribee) for the allegra range. They have Delta and Lancaster on display. With the Delta 22, I think it is very similar with what your building (except for the masters bedroom location). With your upgrade, I think we're now on the same budget since my 30k still doesn't include electrical and color upgrade e.g. bricks, laminates etc. so I might able to get 40k mark as well By the way, below are my upgrades. Would you be able to share yours? benchtop extension to wall cooktop 900mm wide glass rangehood 900mm wide rangehood ducting kitchen overhead cupboards dishwasher cupboard cover glass splashback frosted glass to toilet window Tiled shower base to ensuite laminated raised serverey exhaust inside ensuite toilet exhaust above ensuite shower exhaust above shower bathroom WIR door frosted window glazing (ens &bath&toilet) sliding mirror robe doors (2 rms) 3 &4 privacy latches to 3 rooms open areas downlights ceramic floor tiles & Carpet (promo) front entry side glazing extra high Ceiling-2550m Door garage (internal) driveway and path remote controlled garage door Front eave extension Panel lift garage door Brick infills to garage window locks paint work, cat 3 dulux deadlock for 3 doors security alarm Re: Allegra, anyone? 11Apr 06, 2010 6:07 pm hey thanks for the display home tip angel w, checked it out today, and was very useful to do that The learning curve is really steep as you mention, but it's funny - now I can walk into a display home and immediately get the sense of what has been upgraded in the process - you'll become an expert in no time! My whole spend is $207k, because the big ticket items for me were structural changes: 1. Extending the roof line for an outdoor room/verandah, adding concrete below for paving to be added later, plus some concrete down the sides (anti-mud strategy). 2. Timber sliding doors from living room and master bedroom to out the back + timber windows in living/dining/kitchen + timber entry. Your upgrades are v similar to mine overall, though... 1. didn't go the glass rangehood because it seemed as if it might be a dust and grime magnet - going for the fish'n'chip shop look instead.. 2. Exhaust fans should just be inclusions, huh - yeah, had to get those 3. did the carpet and tile promo as well, but upgraded carpet and underlay (as you do) 4. cost of overhead cupboards freaked me out, but need them 5. added a skylight to entry 6. Swapped the drawers where a cupboard was (they are now next to fridge) so I could have an empty section near the dishwasher for a large pull-out kitchen bin - no charge 7. didn't worry about brick versus infills as I'm convinced I'll never notice them again... Your list has great ideas.. if you haven't already, maybe think about these structural items as well: 1. At least one tap to the back and one to the front (mine were mid-way) - no charge to move them at this stage 2. Check where your downpipes are placed - are they best-case scenario - I had one that would have splashed onto my outdoor room space - no charge to move 3. Think about outside/garden lighting and put in outside switches to accomm - or at least one and do a deal with the sparkie to add more when the time comes? 4. Look at where your outside hot water thing-y (v. technical) is - they are about 90cm wide - does it need to move to the other side of the house - mine did. I think you mentioned you're building the Delta - seems you'll be very happy with the choice seems like it has a great sense of space and design - whereabouts are you building? If you've posted it, I must have missed it... Building with the Big M, Sandarra Settlement July 16 Site Scrape Sep 22 Slab Oct 12 Framing commenced Oct 13 Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=39517 Re: Allegra, anyone? 12May 10, 2010 9:38 pm Just a note on the "include now or add later" regarding evaporative cooling. We have chosen to include provision for the system as part of our build, so we can add the unit later but have all the system in place to accomodate it. This includes a capped water point and 10-amp single power point in the roof cavity, as well as upgrade of the relevant roof trusses to accomodate an additional load of 80kg. Total cost is only $527. So when we decide to go ahead all the pre-installation work is already done - the unit just needs to be installed. Hope this info helps Re: Allegra, anyone? 13May 14, 2010 6:11 pm Hi flame_on I am so excited to be writing my first post as I am new here. We are building Delta 24 (Allegra) in Tarneit with Big M. Land is due to be titled in July so still at the color selection stage which is due next month. Glad to see some other ppl building Allegra range too ! Building: M3tr1c0n - Hayman 25 Where - The Reserve@Tarneit Re: Allegra, anyone? 14May 14, 2010 10:51 pm Welcome aboard! If the display home at Wyndam Vale is any indication, looks like the Delta is a great choice Did you go for any upgrades? Building with the Big M, Sandarra Settlement July 16 Site Scrape Sep 22 Slab Oct 12 Framing commenced Oct 13 Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=39517 Re: Allegra, anyone? 15May 17, 2010 1:05 pm The latest news is that I have actually changed my mind and am going with Hayman 25 in Freedom range as I found that some of the structural changes I requested couldn't be done. I love Hayman 25 by the way. There' also a good promotion going on with Freedom range so hope to take advantage of them !! Building: M3tr1c0n - Hayman 25 Where - The Reserve@Tarneit Re: Allegra, anyone? 16May 18, 2010 3:59 pm Hi everyone Building Allegra Nova in north east suburbs of Melbourne (our first home!!). Just finished 3hrs+ colour/fixtures appointment, so very excited and tired! Upgrades include double garage w/remote access, additional dbl-doors from living areas to outside, caesar stone benchtops in kitchen (Night Sky - just a little sparkle!) and bathrooms (Ice Snow), and a nice big butlers pantry. Land due to title end of May - hope it all goes smoothly, everything gets approved, and build can start asap Re: Allegra, anyone? 18May 18, 2010 6:30 pm Way to go, Gemma. Amazing combo - Night Sky is a real dazzler for sure - really strong feature, and pop a couple of downlights from your overhead cupboards to the splashback area (metallic splashbacks look incredible), and you've got a winner by the sounds of it. What's more, you've emerged from your colours selection meeting unscathed and in one piece brilliant - that's hard to do!! Good call on the pantry too, by the way. This is my first build as well - and having been an appartment dweller for most of my life, I'm slowly getting used to how each and every room needs specific attention - been looking at walk-in robe and laundry fitouts and trying to work out best-case scenario - I guess the challenges keep coming. Also due to title late May/early June, so looking forward to a prompt start date if possible as well - it's quite a process isn't it - I'm afraid I'm not doing 'patience' very well. Looking forward to following your build. Building with the Big M, Sandarra Settlement July 16 Site Scrape Sep 22 Slab Oct 12 Framing commenced Oct 13 Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=39517 Re: Allegra, anyone? 19May 21, 2010 7:23 pm Yah - seemingly endless decisions!?!? Know what you mean about transition from apartments to entire houses - all that space to consider! WIRs and laundry fitouts - sooo many options... I extended laundry benchtop along entire wall, and then could not resist going with Diamondgloss laminex in Blue Pearl Granite - so will be delighted every time I have to do washing. There are some amazing walk-in-robes out there. If you've got $$ to splash then check out the celebrity ones - they are AMAZING!!! Actually even if you don't have a massive budget they have brought in the best designers to fit theirs out, so should be able to get some great ideas! Re: Allegra, anyone? 20May 31, 2010 11:51 am Hi All, We are Building Lancaster in Northern NSW - contracts signed and all modifications and a few upgrades included... Our Sales guy is FANTASTIC Our upgrades were Garage door with remote Front Door Ceaserstone Kitchen Laundry bench 2 x stacker doors Bathroom basins Smart Tile floor waste Head height extra window in Main Bedroom Bath We have our colour /tile and electrical appointment in 2 weeks..... Customer Service on a few queries re upgrade prices were very slow! We ahver been for a visit previously and we dont feel we will upgrade anything else any more its just more colour selections We are relocating from Sydney so we need to fly for appointments and to see any process LUCKY we have family around the corner that can keep an eye on it and help out when needed. We didnt have any promotion but happy with the outcome of our price - doing carpets, tiling (except wet areas) wardrobes, mirrors and outdoor flooring ourselves so we will save more $$ there Huge experience but will be worth it in the end! Wish you all the best. Once you signed the contract, they will find millions excuses to charge you. And have seen their sites unfinished for a long time. 4 17291 As title suggests, looking at using the interlocking Pentablock stacked stone products to replace failing timber retaining… 0 11154 I am building in claymore NSW and this is shown in the building envelope plan. … 0 4991 |