Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 01, 2010 2:32 pm Hi All, I have been a lurker on here for afew months and have read with great interest people's blogs and threads. So now I am in the process of building I thought it might be about time I started my own thread. We have a vacant half acre block that we are wanting to turn into a beautiful and productive homestead. Our vision is to have a sustained way of life still within half an hour of Perth city. We want the whole lot; chooks, veges, fruit trees, aquaponics and all the fun our little hobby farm has to offer. Our ideal in this consumer driven society is to be near self sufficient or at least to learn enough to one day fulfill our dream of doing this..What more of a lifestyle could our young ones want for than homegrown food and outdoor lifestyle..exciting!! We are blessed enough to be building next door to our lovely family who will be sharing this entire process with us. They have the half acre next door to us and have similar visions for their land too. We both have young children and really want them to experience nature and growing up eating produce straight from the land. I'm sure they will all have a wonderful childhood with this choice we have made, and what more could a parent ask for? Mucky happy little monsters. We have bought a subdivisiable 1 acre block with my brother and his wife in Greenmount and will be building 2 houses on it then seperating the titles. My hubbie and I are on half the acre and they are on the other. We have both decided to build a pole home with Total Home Frames. We are buiilding 2 story custom design and they are building a queenslander type single. We decided on a pole home as the the earthwork quotes were ridiculous (try 80k) as it has a slight slope and some clay activity. With this pole home company the prices you see are what you get...no added earthworks... so went happily with them as also really loved their designs. We have just signed our building contracts and plans have just been put into council. We hope to have them out of council in 7 weeks. Build takes about 12 weeks for a pole home. Hoping to be in the house by January 2011...but hey we'll see. This is a 2 story reverse living home. Our main living is on the 2nd floor to take in the full valley views all day and night long. The kids are all down stairs with their own kitchenette and living area. Please refer to my blog http://ourgreenmounthillpolehome.blogspot.com/ for pics of plan etc as I can't work out how to put them in. This is the AREA of house build GROUND FLOOR: 94.71M PORICO: 3M DECKING: 21:05M UPPER FLOOR: 108M VERANDAH: 29.11 TOTAL 256M The story so far: Saw plans through Total Home Frames and decided on the 'Colonial' but with afew tweaks. We raise the roof to be a Cathedral ceiling on the top floor to allow floor to ceiling windows for the views. All up from the time we approached them to when we signed the contract was about 4 months. Alot of that was waiting for the drafty to redo plan ect and work out what house design we could put on the block with out having to do any retaining and not being over height. We are really happy with what they have come back with and now that plans are in council, we are hoping not too long tbough. We have had to organise our own cut into the land quotes which will be about .5 mtrs. We've also had to organise our own septic and subfloor drainage works. We are using an earthworks company called Joyce Earthworks they seem to be the best in the area. We will commence these works once building plans are approved. The company building Total Home Frames will be building both homes at the same time on the block. http://ourgreenmounthillpolehome.blogspot.com my homeone building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36586 Signed plans July 2010 Council Approval Oct 2010 Build Start 14 Nov 2010 Expected Movin Feb 2011 Building with Total Home Frames a 2 storey pole home in Greenmount Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 2Aug 01, 2010 7:47 pm Hi there Will watch your thread with interest. We too are building on a slope and keep changing out minds whether to stick with traditional double brick on a slab, or build a THF house on stumps. There are 4 THF houses built in our estate to date 1 x 2 storey house, 1 Roofline and 2 x Queenslanders (built next door to each other - however different colour schemes and finishes ). What sort of cladding have you gone for? Really like what you have done with the plan. It is one of our favourites, but I worry about my dogs getting up and down the stairs (sad I know ). Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 3Aug 01, 2010 7:56 pm Hi Maya_Papaya, Thanks for your interest in my building thread! We are going with Deep Ocean Colourbond cladding so we never have to worry about painting it. What area are you in? Funny there are so many THF houses built in your area as they only build about 45-55 houses a year. There is a at THF house built next to us also and it looks lovley. We wanted something that was modern country as to fit in with the hills landscape. We decided to build the two story to take in the full views, we hope to have glimpes of the city as well. I would be interested also if you had a blog or thread, I know I have seen your replies on here alot..not sure if you have one. All the best with the decsions, let me know if you have any questions at all with my build...happy to help with whatever. http://ourgreenmounthillpolehome.blogspot.com my homeone building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36586 Signed plans July 2010 Council Approval Oct 2010 Build Start 14 Nov 2010 Expected Movin Feb 2011 Building with Total Home Frames a 2 storey pole home in Greenmount Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 4Aug 01, 2010 8:50 pm The colorbond cladding is a good idea. My OH would like to build two storey and I said yes, but how would you paint it? His answer, "With a paint brush." - sigh men I'm going to have to call them up for the pack of plans and prices again. I did have it, then threw it all out as I thought we had decided on a builder. But after getting the quote for site works, building on stumps is looking more and more attractive Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 5Aug 01, 2010 9:56 pm Yeah that's why we went with them for the earthworks not being a big extra. It was hard to fathom spending $80k with out even the home starting...that would be before anything. So we can put more dollars into the home and landscaping we went with them. Good luck with all your decisions, I am sure you will find them helpful...they are nice to deal with. http://ourgreenmounthillpolehome.blogspot.com my homeone building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36586 Signed plans July 2010 Council Approval Oct 2010 Build Start 14 Nov 2010 Expected Movin Feb 2011 Building with Total Home Frames a 2 storey pole home in Greenmount Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 6Aug 03, 2010 9:52 pm OK I think I have worked out how to upload photos through photobucket, hope the come out.... Any thoughts are welcome...as we have more photos I will add. Plans hopefully out of council in 6 weeks (fingers crossed) then clearing the block begins. GROUND FLOOR PLAN [url]http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx194/butterfly6262/HOUSEPLANGROUND.jpg[/url] TOP FLOOR PLAN [url]http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx194/butterfly6262/HOUSEPLANTOP.jpg[/url] ELEVATION OF HOME [url]http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx194/butterfly6262/HOUSEPLANELEVATION.jpg[/url] VIEW OF BLOCK FROM THE TOP TO PERTH [url]http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx194/butterfly6262/SWANVIEW002.jpg[/url] VIEW FROM BACK OF BLOCK TO ROAD [url]http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx194/butterfly6262/SWANVIEW006.jpg[/url] Hope the photos turned out OK... http://ourgreenmounthillpolehome.blogspot.com my homeone building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36586 Signed plans July 2010 Council Approval Oct 2010 Build Start 14 Nov 2010 Expected Movin Feb 2011 Building with Total Home Frames a 2 storey pole home in Greenmount Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 7Aug 16, 2010 7:36 pm Plans have been approved in planning department...very quick...hoping building will be as fast.... Yeah... http://ourgreenmounthillpolehome.blogspot.com my homeone building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36586 Signed plans July 2010 Council Approval Oct 2010 Build Start 14 Nov 2010 Expected Movin Feb 2011 Building with Total Home Frames a 2 storey pole home in Greenmount Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 8Sep 13, 2010 11:30 am Hi Cleopatra and Maya Papaya, Maya - where in Chittering are the THF houses as we'd like to see a few kinds of them from the road. We're looking at building a "Dunsborough" on our 13 acres up near Clackline but they don't have any on display... Cheers v Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 10Sep 13, 2010 1:02 pm Very nice! I was going to ask why your washing machine was in your living room (labelled WM REC) then I saw the laundry downstairs as well... what is the upstairs one? Built 3br house in Glenorchy, Tas in 2001 * * * Built 5br courtyard house in Lenah Valley, Tas in 2011 - Homeone thread / Blog Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 11Sep 13, 2010 8:36 pm vegemate Hi Cleopatra and Maya Papaya, Maya - where in Chittering are the THF houses as we'd like to see a few kinds of them from the road. We're looking at building a "Dunsborough" on our 13 acres up near Clackline but they don't have any on display... Cheers v Hi v In the Chittering Springs estate There are at least two Queenslanders, a two storey one and a Roofline I think Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 13Sep 16, 2010 7:41 pm Chuq Very nice! I was going to ask why your washing machine was in your living room (labelled WM REC) then I saw the laundry downstairs as well... what is the upstairs one? Hiya, Thanks for your interest in my build to answer your question... I didn't want to be dragging my laundry up and down the stairs and we wanted the availbility of having 2 seperate living contained quarters. This way kids have one laundry for their stuff and we do for us. I know kinda unusual but it's what will work work well for us. http://ourgreenmounthillpolehome.blogspot.com my homeone building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36586 Signed plans July 2010 Council Approval Oct 2010 Build Start 14 Nov 2010 Expected Movin Feb 2011 Building with Total Home Frames a 2 storey pole home in Greenmount Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 14Sep 16, 2010 7:47 pm vegemate Thanks Maya. Do you know of any "Dunsborough" homes around? THF doesn't have one on display and they are reluctant to give out addresses.... Hi Yes their Dunsborough does look like a lovely design. At their premises in Wangara you can make an appointment to see their displays there. While the exact Dunsborough is not there, the ones they do have offer some similar elements of it to give you the idea. We found that helpful in picking our design. Our roof is raised like the Dunsborough on our top floor and we incorporated that into our design. It actaully didn't cost that much extra to do. You would be more than welcome once ours gets underway to view it, I will ofcourse be putting up pics and updates. My brother is building a queenslander next door to us also. Cheers and thanks for your input into my build.... http://ourgreenmounthillpolehome.blogspot.com my homeone building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36586 Signed plans July 2010 Council Approval Oct 2010 Build Start 14 Nov 2010 Expected Movin Feb 2011 Building with Total Home Frames a 2 storey pole home in Greenmount Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 15Sep 16, 2010 8:30 pm cleopatra vegemate Thanks Maya. Do you know of any "Dunsborough" homes around? THF doesn't have one on display and they are reluctant to give out addresses.... Hi Yes their Dunsborough does look like a lovely design. At their premises in Wangara you can make an appointment to see their displays there. While the exact Dunsborough is not there, the ones they do have offer some similar elements of it to give you the idea. We found that helpful in picking our design. Our roof is raised like the Dunsborough on our top floor and we incorporated that into our design. It actaully didn't cost that much extra to do. You would be more than welcome once ours gets underway to view it, I will ofcourse be putting up pics and updates. My brother is building a queenslander next door to us also. Cheers and thanks for your input into my build.... Hi Cleopatra, Thanks for all of your information and for your kind offer to come and have a look once you get underway. We'd love to take you up on that because we'd really like to see more than the Queenslander which we know well from going to Wangara twice now. What I will probably do is start a thread myself in this forum asking for any more input about THF and more specifically info on the Dunsborough. By the way, can you give me an idea of how much more it cost to get colourbond cladding rather than having to paint it? Ta vegemate Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 16Sep 16, 2010 10:00 pm Hi Vegemate, The colourbond only cost and extra $3500 to put over the whole house cladding and it's two story too...so I didn't consider that to be much at all. My brother's house was less than that being smaller and single story. It's well worth the money as in opposed to painting it. I do know right now there's a THF build going on in Mundaring... just off Great Eastern Hwy, next to the Mahogany Inn. It's on the street that you turn into to get to the Inn pretty much next door. It's quite underway and looks like a queenslander type. Not sure if you are going near that in the future but worth a look. If you have any more questions don't hesistate to ask and all the best with your plans to build down the track.... http://ourgreenmounthillpolehome.blogspot.com my homeone building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36586 Signed plans July 2010 Council Approval Oct 2010 Build Start 14 Nov 2010 Expected Movin Feb 2011 Building with Total Home Frames a 2 storey pole home in Greenmount Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 17Sep 16, 2010 11:40 pm cleopatra Hi Vegemate, The colourbond only cost and extra $3500 to put over the whole house cladding and it's two story too...so I didn't consider that to be much at all. My brother's house was less than that being smaller and single story. It's well worth the money as in opposed to painting it. I do know right now there's a THF build going on in Mundaring... just off Great Eastern Hwy, next to the Mahogany Inn. It's on the street that you turn into to get to the Inn pretty much next door. It's quite underway and looks like a queenslander type. Not sure if you are going near that in the future but worth a look. If you have any more questions don't hesistate to ask and all the best with your plans to build down the track.... Thanks Cleopatra, Well, we drive right by the Mahogany Inn on the way to our country getaway at Clackline so that'll be easy to have a peek at! Wow, that colourbond cladding is nearly cheaper than the paint so that's the way to go. All the best for your home building adventure and hope to meet you ( and your house ) some day. I really appreciate your help and opinions! Cheers vegemate Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 18Oct 03, 2010 11:14 pm cleopatra Hi Vegemate, The colourbond only cost and extra $3500 to put over the whole house cladding and it's two story too...so I didn't consider that to be much at all. My brother's house was less than that being smaller and single story. It's well worth the money as in opposed to painting it. I do know right now there's a THF build going on in Mundaring... just off Great Eastern Hwy, next to the Mahogany Inn. It's on the street that you turn into to get to the Inn pretty much next door. It's quite underway and looks like a queenslander type. Not sure if you are going near that in the future but worth a look. If you have any more questions don't hesistate to ask and all the best with your plans to build down the track.... Hi Cleopatra, Yeah, had a look at that Queenslander by the Mahogany Inn - looks great but we still want to see a "Dunsborough". EVERYONE I've talked to about Total Home Frames has said good stuff so I'm starting to think that they are a good builder. Let me know please...... We'd love to see how your upstairs "Dunsborough" design looks like..... Cheers vegemate Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 19Oct 10, 2010 9:58 am So in the last 6 weeks we have afew updates: We have water at the block now and our trenches have been dug! Amazing how exciting a hole can be, just feels like something is actually happening now after soo long of waiting and looking at this vacant block of land. We have cleared the block, gee that makes a huge difference to the slope to clear away mounds and rubble. It looks so workable now and so much bigger. Pics uploaded: http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx155/cleopatra6262/photo1B.jpg http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx155/cleopatra6262/photo1.jpg Well we have been told to expect our building approval next week! Just waiting for two signatures...You know how it is, either someone is on holiday or on a course or they only come in once a week!! But we have been assured everything is ready to go... Some dramas through council along the way which we seemed to iron out through thinking on our feet and making lots of suggestions and eventually the council came to the party.. Building should start in the next 2 weeks we hear....will update ASAP... So many more steps close to the dream.... http://ourgreenmounthillpolehome.blogspot.com my homeone building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36586 Signed plans July 2010 Council Approval Oct 2010 Build Start 14 Nov 2010 Expected Movin Feb 2011 Building with Total Home Frames a 2 storey pole home in Greenmount Re: Our Perth Hills Pole Home Thread.... 20Oct 10, 2010 11:59 am Starting soon Plan & block look really nice We just got a costing back on a plan similar to a Queenslander from them,sadly it was $60-000 over another plan from some-one else,they have beautiful homes & cant wait to see it all starting for you! Block bought 1st RBC X! 2nd Ventrua,Keeper! Pstart 18/7/11 Ethwks jan 2012 Slab Bricks- finished 7/6 Roof Trusses 15/6-cbond 21/7 viewtopic.php?f=31&t=41185 Hi Mrboh Just wondering if you have any BAL or flame zone issues on your block, as getting compliance with BAL requirements whilst doing bearers and joists is tough. Not… 1 8646 0 5177 |