Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Oct 15, 2011 9:03 pm Hi All, I have just signed on for a new build in WA with Blueprint (Yay!!) and am hopefully starting in the build in the next couple of months. I have made a stack of changes to the house and so don't want to do too much more if I can avoid it, but have had one idea put to me recently about the house to make it worth more and feel bigger/a little more spacious. That is, the current design has an alfresco under the roofline at the back of the house, it would be about 3.5m x 3.5m and includes the ceiling being finished in the same way as the internal ceilings. It would seem to me, that the cost of change would have to only be to add 1 x 3.5m wall/extend the side wall. The other requirement would obviously be to move the existing wall/doors from between the living and the alfresco to the rear of the alfresco in order to 'brick' it into a room. Would this add value/be worth the cost outlay to change the alfresco to a living area or would an alfresco under the roofline add more value than adding what could be superfluous space? (This is based on the house already being 4 bed, with an open living dining and theatre room). I will add, if I were to convert the alfresco to a living space, I would add an alfresco at a later date to the backyard. The only problem is the backyard space is about 12m x 4m and has side yard space of 10m x 2m and 10m x 1.5m, so an alfresco eating into the space would in my opinion, make the yard that bit smaller again. Any thoughts appreciated. Cheers, Ness. Land Settled 02 Oct 11 Final Build contract Dec 11 Pre-Start 19 Jan 12 Construction Licence 25 Jan 12 Still waiting for final plans to go to slab list Blog @ http://nessieshouse.webs.com Re: What would you do - Alfresco or extra living? (WA) 2Oct 15, 2011 9:39 pm Personally I would prefer the alfresco area and additional backyard space. I assume you don't have an easement at the back of your block if you are considering having living option with alfresco 1m from your boundary. How will the living and alfresco affect the natural light into the back of your home? What adjoins your backyard is it another block with a two storey home? Do you need room to plant shrubs to provide a screen so neighbours are not visible? How long are you intending to live in the home? Or are you building it as an investment to rent? House - Lockup completed 23rd December 2011 - Painters are in!!! https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37261&start=0&hilit=Blaxland Re: What would you do - Alfresco or extra living? (WA) 3Oct 15, 2011 9:56 pm Hi, its a tough decision isn't it. If you definately will add the alfresco later anyway, then I guess id stick to the current plan, so you will have a little more backyard space. You should post your floor plan, but it sounds like you already will have a fair bit of living space?.. we are also building with blueprint and looking forward to things starting!. hope your build goes well!. Re: What would you do - Alfresco or extra living? (WA) 5Oct 15, 2011 10:17 pm if you know you will add the alfresco later then make it living space. Re: What would you do - Alfresco or extra living? (WA) 6Oct 15, 2011 10:55 pm Hmm... it is a tough one... @buildwest, My alfresco as it stands, is 1.5m and 4m away from the fence line... if I added the alfresco later (making the current alfresco living space) I would probably add a 6m x 3m alfresco which would take me within 1m of the back fence which the covenants allow if the total height is no more than 3m. I am lucky that I am on a corner block with the block being significantly elevated (the house behind will be just a roofline that hides behind my fence. So, essentially it is one neighbour. I don't want to block out the back view as I have ocean glimpses (hopefully will retain when all the houses go up). I am unsure about landscaping yet, but I shouldn't need shrubbery for privacy etc. I will need a landscaper to help with my vision when I am done as I really want a small area set up for a swim spa, as well as some nice gardens in the backyard but that is as far as those plans go so far! (Except a little courtyard with roses etc from the master bedroom , but thats a different story I am hoping this house is my 'forever' house, I have zero intention to sell a house again after selling my last one was a pain in the proverbial. I just want to make sure the value is retained/maximised in case anything happens. Let's face it, no one wants a loss or to overcapitalise @suzmic, Good luck with the build!!!!! Lol, I am still at a loss as to what to do though..... it all comes down to comfort for me (true) and value down the track... plus room if I end up growing a family As for plans.... I have totally forgotten how to add attachments, but I will give it a crack and hopefully have them on soon. Land Settled 02 Oct 11 Final Build contract Dec 11 Pre-Start 19 Jan 12 Construction Licence 25 Jan 12 Still waiting for final plans to go to slab list Blog @ http://nessieshouse.webs.com Re: What would you do - Alfresco or extra living? (WA) 7Oct 15, 2011 11:03 pm Anyone know how to add a PDF? Or an image from one? Land Settled 02 Oct 11 Final Build contract Dec 11 Pre-Start 19 Jan 12 Construction Licence 25 Jan 12 Still waiting for final plans to go to slab list Blog @ http://nessieshouse.webs.com Re: What would you do - Alfresco or extra living? (WA) 8Oct 16, 2011 7:11 am you cant add attachments. you need to upload to flicker or photobucket or imageshack etc then share the image here. See here for how to: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1272 if you have to do a print screen screen grab then load the captured jpeg to photo bucket and you can share your plans. when you click on each photo in your photobucket page it comes up with a set of popup information. you want the bottom one which starts with [/img] and then after the link finishes with [/img] If using something like facebook to store your pics You need the image location link. You add the [img]bit%20at%20the%20beginning%20if%20it%20doesn;t%20automatically%20add%20it%20and%20the[/img] either side of the location information. Re: What would you do - Alfresco or extra living? (WA) 9Oct 16, 2011 11:56 am hello Ness, i made my Alfresco area,living space....only added a window and a few more bricks...wasnt alot more money too give me alot more space inside my house... Re: What would you do - Alfresco or extra living? (WA) 10Nov 04, 2011 9:38 pm Thanks everyone for the advice and votes!!! I have made a decision to keep the alfresco however, I will after build, add one of the 'corner' designed french doors to the area and sort of enclose it, just to keep out extreme weather but keep it essentially as the alfresco, rather than enclosed living. This is the design anyway. Thank you all!!! Ness. http://s876.photobucket.com/albums/ab32 ... ROWN-1.jpg Land Settled 02 Oct 11 Final Build contract Dec 11 Pre-Start 19 Jan 12 Construction Licence 25 Jan 12 Still waiting for final plans to go to slab list Blog @ http://nessieshouse.webs.com thanks. the above one is white Mat tiles and have gripness so going for this Mat tiles for both indoor and outdoor. Beaumont told it can be used in both indoor and… 2 1700 Bought in Nov 21 at the height of the market (classic). Good area, atrocious floor plan. BUT has land out to the left-hand side that we can extend out on (see second… 0 8784 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! 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