Browse Forums Building A New House Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1182Mar 13, 2012 4:45 pm OK, so here are some frame pics! First one from last week (and a sneek peek of those lads I was talking about) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Photo from today (progress hasn't been as fast these past two days as they have needed more materials, and 2 hours of rain on Monday washed away their top floor chalkings - twice) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And DH measuring where the double sided gas fireplace will go (and whether we will have bi-folds or big single doors) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1184Mar 13, 2012 7:08 pm The view must be spectacular from up there. Loretta Built The Jenmark with Cavalier Homes Macarthur. http://camdenacres.blogspot.com/ Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17870 We are in - front landscaping begins Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1186Mar 14, 2012 9:02 am Woohoo! For the record, our little ol' shack is 24sq of living plus garage and alfresco areas.......so your doll's house seems fine to me! Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1187Mar 14, 2012 12:30 pm Newbie to your thread - I've managed to read quite a bit but not all!! Yur house is going to look fantastic. Very jealous of your beautiful views. Looking forward to watching the progression Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1188Mar 14, 2012 4:09 pm jodge - yeah, it's great being in the trees, particularly from the western TV room / views from the great room. Loretta - thanks, it's actually better than we imagined so we are pretty happy. gogo - thanks, yep, the kitchen is great. We love our window and space. Wondering a bit about privacy though - the whole fish bowl effect... Dee - well, size is relative! I am sticking with Dollshouse though. 29-30 squares of living still keeps me in that category I hope! greenfish - welcome to our thread! Meanwhile... not much (if at all) progress today. We were pre-warned though, as they are waiting on materials and the windows to be delivered, but still I am getting so excited I just want to it all up, up, up!! DH had lunch with builder today then walked around the site discussing a few small variations, none of which we are being charged for. I know with the other builder we were looking at (I am going to stop saying the company name from now on) we would have had $1K variation charges plus costs (including 20% margin) so we are pretty happy. Not major variations, but things like window positions, widening opening to the gas fireplace. But also adding insulation batts to the powder room (on Dee's advice about sound effects!). We already have internal insulation on 7 walls, so it is not adding much (in terms of costs to the builder), but we are happy we can add these little things with builder direct (not via whole admin department and site supervisor who has no power to grant such things). And there we were vowing not to make any changes. A little nervous about the builder going away for 10 days (as all our discussions are with him and communication is key to some of these 'on site' conversations), but fingers crossed... I have also been going through my checklist of "Things to Look Out For" (which I have learnt from the forum, such as different ceiling material to be used for the outdoor patio etc, bathroom ducting externally not in the roof etc.). The builder has said yes to them all (and was surprised we were asking actually, but then I think I am paranoid from this forum!), but the challenge now is keeping the list to make sure it actually happens! SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1189Mar 14, 2012 4:19 pm SunshineT I have also been going through my checklist of "Things to Look Out For" (which I have learnt from the forum, such as different ceiling material to be used for the outdoor patio etc, bathroom ducting externally not in the roof etc.). The builder has said yes to them all (and was surprised we were asking actually, but then I think I am paranoid from this forum!) You and me both. I turned up at prestart with a checklist, started the building process with a checklist, read through our contract with a checklist.....this forum is awesome for making things-to-look-out-for lists Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1190Mar 14, 2012 4:25 pm daveanddally - we are like minded! The challenge is finding the balance between sense and paranoia! Our builder is sooooo laid back it unnerves me sometimes (being a list and paperwork sort of person). So far so good though. Oh - gogo - I forgot to mention. I checked about our bathroom window (as I didn't want the white opaque - just translucent. Before seeing your place on Sunday I didn't realise the difference!). Turns out we have toughened glass for bush fire requirements (I didn't think we needed that, but apparently some of the windows did need them so Andrew decided just to do them all toughened glass). Anyway, because of that we can't have the glass tinted, only a film put on later. We are happy about the toughened glass (especially as we weren't charged any extra for it), but a film sounds flimsy. So we are raising the bathroom window 3 bricks for more privacy. May or may not work. Still need to get my head around all those tap things. I should just copy what you have as you have such good taste! SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1192Mar 14, 2012 6:14 pm Hey SunshineT, New member on here wondering about your experience with Zen homes? without reading all the posts it seems that you are happy? could you tell me di you use their tile range? are they open to people doing some of the work for them? Any advice would be great as I am unsure about Zen at the moment... Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1193Mar 14, 2012 6:30 pm Undecided Hey SunshineT, New member on here wondering about your experience with Zen homes? without reading all the posts it seems that you are happy? could you tell me di you use their tile range? are they open to people doing some of the work for them? Any advice would be great as I am unsure about Zen at the moment... Hi undecided. We aren't at tile stage yet. Where are you building? SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1194Mar 14, 2012 6:38 pm Hey T, LUV your pics, everything looks great So sorry I couldn't make it last Sunday, I'm running around trying to organise things, & oh boy, I don't know where to start!!! With regards to the film on the windows, would you believe WM charged us $300 for it....? Oh well, glad that's done & dusted now Keep those pics coming T. Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1195Mar 14, 2012 6:58 pm Hi SunshineT Have enjoyed reading through your thread - sometimes reads like a soap opera because of all the ups and downs! I have a couple of random questions after looking at your plans: - I noticed some 'powdercoated aluminium awnings' - I'm sure they have a purpose but I'm not sure exactly what or how they would look?? Can you enlighten me? - I also noticed you are planning to put sarking in the wall? - I'm only familiar with sarking in the roof? Is this the same stuff in your wall? Why have you put some in the wall? Looking forward to all your build updates! Building ??? with ??? Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1196Mar 14, 2012 8:04 pm buildingbee Hi SunshineT Have enjoyed reading through your thread - sometimes reads like a soap opera because of all the ups and downs! I have a couple of random questions after looking at your plans: - I noticed some 'powdercoated aluminium awnings' - I'm sure they have a purpose but I'm not sure exactly what or how they would look?? Can you enlighten me? - I also noticed you are planning to put sarking in the wall? - I'm only familiar with sarking in the roof? Is this the same stuff in your wall? Why have you put some in the wall? Looking forward to all your build updates! Hi buildingbee. Soap opera? Ah - you must have been reading about the four letter word that I dare not repeat, now buried deep in the earth. R.I.P. Great questions - Always love the chance to rave about how important sarking on the Western wall is. (We got advice from an environmental consultant friend, as we are trying to incorporate as many 'green' (or whatever you like to call it) design elements, such as northern orientation for passive solar, cross ventilation, not using merbau timber, etc). So the sarking - it is vital on the Western wall because that is the hottest wall in summer and can turn those rooms into ovens. Sarking is effective to reflect the radiant heat (I think I have that right? My DH is the expert). Powder coating awnings - two purposes. One is as a sun shield (as there are no eaves down there, obviously). So they have been designed to provide shade when the sun is a particular angle in the summer. The second reason was a Council requirement to break up the wall visually. (Rubbish requirement really as no-one will see that wall except for us). But we like them. Zen do their own fabrication so they were not expensive. Masterton were charging us $2,200 for them. I love that you have been studying our plans in such detail! springtime - $300 for the window film!?!??! We aren't being charged any extra. But that is WM for you. So happy you are about to move in! We missed you on Sunday. SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1197Mar 15, 2012 7:52 am [quote="SunshineT"]Great questions - Always love the chance to rave about how important sarking on the Western wall is. (We got advice from an environmental consultant friend, as we are trying to incorporate as many 'green' (or whatever you like to call it) design elements, such as northern orientation for passive solar, cross ventilation, not using merbau timber, etc). So the sarking - it is vital on the Western wall because that is the hottest wall in summer and can turn those rooms into ovens. Sarking is effective to reflect the radiant heat (I think I have that right? My DH is the expert). quote] I wish I had known this before we built - we have a very hot wall when the afternoon sun hits it ... we are going to put a pergola on that side of the house with a shadecloth roof so we can still have plants out there .. looking forward to the shade though as it can get very hot in Adelaide .... it's great how much we learn from each other isn;it it? T, made me laugh to read about your lists .. I had an A3 spreadsheet with everything on it and I still missed the powerpoint outside for the water tanks For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1198Mar 16, 2012 10:44 am Hi Annette - yeah, sarking is one of the cheapest but most effective things to include in house design to reduce the oven effect! We have just decided to put batts in all our internal walls too (we had some of them insulated before). Meanwhile... I think I need to take some of my own advice (which I gave to gogo) - to just be patient. Today is a cracker of a day but alas no-one on site... I don't work Fridays, so of course I was eager to rock up and watch some action. I also thought the windows were coming today and would be good timing to make sure the adjustments were correct. Not to be. Some extra frames were delivered yesterday, but not installed. All the roof frames are up except for the tricky raked ceiling. There might be a good reason why they aren't on site, but knowing there is rain coming I just want every sunny day to be utilised! Impatient, yes probably. There are bigger problems in the world and I should take my own advice about the end completion date and not fuss over the duration of each and every little stage... Andrew is flying to Thailand today, so I am just hoping that doesn't mean things will slow down ... SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1199Mar 16, 2012 10:52 am [quote="SunshineT"] I should take my own advice about the end completion date and not fuss over the duration of each and every little stage... quote] You can't help it ... it's natural to want things to keep moving .. our build was slow to start and then there was a lull before the last burst when everything seemed to be happening at once ... as you say, over time it will all work out it's just very painful having to wait .... For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: SunshineT's Dollshouse: frames going up, up, up ... 1200Mar 16, 2012 10:59 am T, you're not impatient, seeing things delivered without being installed is such a let down, but as you said, there probably is a very good reason why no one is onsite today, especially on a day like this, you feel like getting tools yourself & taking over ....If only we all did a construction course or were apprentices before we took this building project on! Fig Landscapes has produced an e-book and native plant index, available for purchase from their website. It's a great resource, full of inspiration and tips. Another… 1 12298 Our Bondi Greenwall was impressive from day one with advanced lush plants to provide a wow factor to this recently renovated living area. The boundary was less than 1… 0 15691 |