Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 09, 2012 3:19 am Hi all, We have finally got ourselves in a position where we can start working toward building on our lovely 5 acre lot in the Perth Hills. Its taken over 2 years to sell our current house, bushfires, babies, and a flat real estate market has all taken its toll and so we are looking more budget in our build than when we first bought the 5 acre block in 2009. However, rather than giving up on the dream, we've considered a staged project. Initially building/owner building a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom 'core'. With the ability to add a East and then later a West wing to accomodate us later as finances allow. I have discovered floorplanner.com and done a basic sketchup of the Stage 1 house here Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We'd love any feedback on the floorplan - its basic, but has the ability to extend I believe. Also opinions on the concept of a staged project given we cannot afford the house we had designed 2 years ago yet still want to live the lifestyle and as finances allow, extend the house. The Stage 1 house is approx 12.6m x 16.2metres. The final house may be 24.6m x 16.2m (essentially adding a 6 metre wing to the East, initially, and then a 6 metre wing to the West. I will do the other 2 drawings soon which detail the 'masterplan' if we end up doing the additions. It was a challenge to try and design a house that is a subunit of a greater whole but it seems to satisfy our needs, and is intended to be passive solar when complete. We intend using SIPS - structural insulated panels for external and some internal walls as well as earth (Formblock) walls in area of the house to add thermal mass. The roof I havent quite fixed on a style yet. We like the traditional Federation style with fairly high angle 30deg or so slope but a skillion or flat roof may make it easier to do add on extensions in the future. Let us know what you think. Hope the plan comes up otherwise will try again tomorrow. Re: Opinions on a floorplan of a staged build 2Feb 09, 2012 7:59 am Looks like a complete house now! A few concerns - the couch area will be very dark; Bed 1 will get the afternoon sun; maybe move the living room door or Bed 3 door to be not opposite each other. Bed 2 WIR - no robe in Bed 3 ?? not fair. Maybe WIR could be linen off hallway or more WIR for you. Fridge? freezer? Is the store off the laundry for anything particular becos maybe you could get a pantry in there. I suppose the space near the bathroom is for a door to the next stage, but I wonder if the bathroom could be changed so the WC is on an outside south wall. No shower? What's the niche at the front door for - pot plant? umbrellas? West wind will blow right in those double doors. Hope you got some sleep. I think there are kit homes that can be built in stages - see mags in newsagents. Re: Opinions on a floorplan of a staged build 3Feb 09, 2012 5:15 pm Thanks Planfan for your feedback. Any suggestions are welcome. I had a rearrangement of the original Stage 1 with some of your suggestions and improved I think some of the issues of lighting and privacy. By way of explanation - The nook at the front door would to be a doorway from the garage. See new plans. The Westerly winds blowing in the front door would actually be very welcome - as they would flush air through with coastal breezes in summer afternoons. I have now stencilled in what the final house may look like on floor plan if all 3 stages, Central, East and West were built - probably in that order. The intention was to build a house - probably owner build that could grow without too much disruption to preexisting building. The main changes as a new wing would be built is either removing, or adding doors. With SIPS I believe it is relatively easy to cut through the panels and construct a new door / window. The 3 stages Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ If anyone has suggestions regarding appropriate roof structures too that would be great - one consideration with the plan as a whole is also fire safety given it is in a semi-rural Also I am unsure about the practicalities of doing new slab on ground (SOG) foundations right beside the prexisting house - practical? possible? Certainly any comments or advice or experience with such a concept (staged development) would be appreciated. Hopefully the plans are self explanatory - I havent done a full render of the new wings to help differentiate old an new. The only thing I should add is the Bed 1 of the original plan would become a 'Theatre/Music room' and the doorway through the WIR would be sealed and another opening made from the new Master Bedroom. Cheers 1) I had requested R6 ceiling insualtion batts, however I noticed that on some areas there are huge gaps which will allow hot air to sweep in, and also noticed black/grey… 0 3585 2 6409 Thank you so much everyone. This all makes a lot of sense. I guess when you talk to a builder who butters up everything to look very polished, you get to start believing… 7 17518 |