Building in Sydney - Updated 18/05/08

dna · Dec 02, 2007 12:01 am

Following on from my other thread in "Michelle's Interior Decorating Lounge" http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=4141, I want to share our building experience. We're building in Sydney with a custom builder and so far I'd say it has been a positive experience. Compared to some of the other houses being built ours would be on the small side of things as it'll only be around 26 sq (not to mention the tiny land size, 270 m2

). However this suits us fine as there would be less maintenance

.

Here is the front elevation and colours

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/ignoramus1979/facade.jpg

dna · Dec 02, 2007 12:27 am

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/ignoramus1979/vacant_land.jpg

Work started on the site at the end of October and by the end of that week this is what we had.

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Lots of waffle pods :lol:

. As you could probably tell with the water, the soil is pretty much clay and as a result we have a H class slab.

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This is looking out from the lounge room

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Michelle · Dec 02, 2007 10:18 am

Wow....looking good dna!

build.my.dream.home · Dec 02, 2007 12:19 pm

wow..lookinh good, where about in Sydney you are building? how you found your DA process in your area? thanks.

cfham · Dec 02, 2007 2:06 pm

Good going... the builders are not waisting any time and looks like you wont have any neighbours to worry about for a while... make all the noise you want for the house warming.

Did the builder provide the landscape plan and did you came up with it yourself?

dna · Dec 02, 2007 9:28 pm

build.my.dream.home

wow..lookinh good, where about in Sydney you are building? how you found your DA process in your area? thanks.

We're building out in the western suburbs. As our land is in a master planned estate, we were provided with clear guidelines which IMO made things easier. Looking back, the time taken for the DA is only a small part of the planning process. It took exactly three months to the day from us submitting the plans to the developer (who approves the plans first prior to council) to receiving the DA. Compared to the prior 8 months spent to reach that stage. The floorplan is a design we came up ourselves, so I ensured that it fell within the council's guidelines and as a result we had minimal issues. I also think that building within an planned estate makes the DA process simpler compared to building in an established area.

cfham

Good going... the builders are not waisting any time and looks like you wont have any neighbours to worry about for a while... make all the noise you want for the house warming.

Did the builder provide the landscape plan and did you came up with it yourself?

So far we're the only people that have started on our side of the street but we've received notification of the DA's for 2 of our rear neighbours. If you look at the photo looking out to the front, you'll see one under construction across the road.

The landscape plan was done by a landscape designer organised through the builder. We provided some input to what we wanted such as plant selections but there is only so much we can do considering the limited area and council requirements (native plants only to the front garden).

dna · Jan 14, 2008 3:54 pm

I've realised that I haven't updated the progress recently so thought I'll put up some recent pictures. Unfortunately things did not go as plan and the roof did not go up til after Christmas. This was due to the wrong tiles being delivered onsite :evil:

and we had to wait til after the new year before they could deliver the correct ones. Luckily for us, they did not take too long of a break and they were back onsite last week and have managed to complete the roofing. I've been told that the brickwork should be completed by the end of the week and then the renderers would be in.

This is the current view from the master bedroom/balcony, not much there :wink:

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coljacqld · Jan 14, 2008 5:01 pm

dna - things are really moving along for you, must be exciting to see it all coming together.

Could I ask what tiles you are using?

Cookiemonster · Jan 14, 2008 5:10 pm

coljacqld

dna - things are really moving along for you, must be exciting to see it all coming together.

Could I ask what tiles you are using?

They look like what we're going to use.. Boral Linea roof tiles.

coljacqld · Jan 14, 2008 5:14 pm

Thanks Cookie, I thought maybe they were Boral Striata but wanted to check.

Is either of us right dna?

dna · Jan 14, 2008 7:07 pm

coljacqld

Thanks Cookie, I thought maybe they were Boral Striata but wanted to check.

Is either of us right dna?

You're right, it's Boral Striata in Gunmetal. It's a bit of a shame that you don't actually see the tiles from the front facade though.

Cookiemonster · Jan 14, 2008 7:12 pm

dna

coljacqld

Thanks Cookie, I thought maybe they were Boral Striata but wanted to check.

Is either of us right dna?

You're right, it's Boral Striata in Gunmetal. It's a bit of a shame that you don't actually see the tiles from the front facade though.

They look great.
Here's the two types of tiles..
http://www.boral.com.au/Article/Roofing_Grange_Profile_NSW.asp?AUD=homeGarden_Rooftiles
They're very close but the Striata have a more textured surface.

VJ · Jan 14, 2008 7:57 pm

dna,

your house is looking good..
great progress!
can't wait to see our house on that stage!

we also used the same roof tiles - Boral Striata in Charcoal Grey (colour through). the colour is required by the estate.

coljacqld · Jan 14, 2008 9:24 pm

You're right, Cookie they are very similar.

We are using Boral Striata in Blue Dusk (QLD colour). Considered Linea but the sarking was compulsory but only recommended on Striata. We have ended up with sarking anyway at no cost due to a Big M stuff up. (Pays to read your contract) :lol:

DNA - I am sure that there will plenty of other things that look fantastic on the front facade.

Look forward to watching it all come together for you

Anne[/quote]

jamiet · Jan 15, 2008 1:57 pm

dna,

Is that Pemulwuy? I thought I recognised that hill from the long distance shot. If so, nice estate. I think the landscaper won an award for the landscaping throughout the estate.

I grew up about 5 minutes away and used to drive to work past the estate each day while it was being developed initially over 3 years ago.

Cheers,
Jamie

dna · Jan 19, 2008 7:16 pm

jamiet

dna,

Is that Pemulwuy? I thought I recognised that hill from the long distance shot. If so, nice estate. I think the landscaper won an award for the landscaping throughout the estate.

I grew up about 5 minutes away and used to drive to work past the estate each day while it was being developed initially over 3 years ago.

Cheers,
Jamie

You must know your hills well to recognise it :lol:

But yes you are correct, I don't know about any awards though.

Mrs B · Jan 19, 2008 7:25 pm

Hi Dna,

Your house looks great and your builder appears to be full steam ahead. I like your outside colours. Have you selected colours for the inside yet?

Mrs B

dna · Jan 19, 2008 8:13 pm

Mrs B

Hi Dna,

Your house looks great and your builder appears to be full steam ahead. I like your outside colours. Have you selected colours for the inside yet?

Mrs B

Thanks

Interior colours have yet to be finalised, but we are slowly working through them.

For the bathroom and ensuite, we will be having brown floor tiles with white wall tiles and some glass mosaic tiles as a feature. Vanity in Peruvian Clay (thanks to Michelle) and benchtop in Caesarstone Ice Snow.

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We have decided on an all white polyurethane kitchen with Ice Snow for the benchtop but we still need to decide on the exact "white" and whether to go glossy or satin. Splashback would probably be in a white/soft green.

So the major outstanding items is the interior paint colours and the cabinet colours for the laundry and powder room. For bit more info/background you should read this thread http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=4702

I think our difficulty stems from the fact that we really have a blank canvas as we'll be purchasing nearly all our furniture in the coming months and there's just too many available choices.

dna · Jan 19, 2008 8:32 pm

Update, brickwork is nearly completed with only the balcony and windows sills to go which is a days work. I was told the renderer has made a start but I doubt too much progress has been made considering the weather we've been having the last few days in Sydney.

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PhoenixStar · Jan 19, 2008 8:42 pm

Hi dna, it's looking good!!!!

Love the staggered vertical windows to the 2nd floor on the right hand side of the house... Very nice!!!

Hey what colour is the tile that you have selected above???