Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 29, 2012 8:32 am Hello all. After many years of dreaming, we are finally about to start a knock down rebuild in Melbourne. We will be building a 38 square custom design and as it is right at the top of our budget, I'm trying to work out where costs can be minimised. We have had a preliminary quote of $25,000 for ducted refrigerated air-con from the builder, which is too much. We're not big users of our current single split system unit and we think we'd be happy with ducted evaporative, but this apparently can't be done to the ground floor (?) so we would need split systems to the ground floor. The builder suggested this combination would cost approximately $18,000 if done through them. I understand we could save a significant amount by doing all/some of this after handover, but I am wondering what has to be done through the builder, and whether the saving would be enough to justify the extra inconvenience. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance. Re: Cooling options for double storey house 2Feb 29, 2012 8:49 am We also are building with a custom builder and he was quite happy for them to just get the ducting installed and leave it in the various roof spaces. I then have a number from the air con guy to install the rest of the stuff post handover. The cost to install the ducting was like 20-25% of the final number, and all of us agreed it was cheaper and easier to install before the gyprock went up (we actually then decided to install the in roof piece to simplify the installation afterwards even further.) Re: Cooling options for double storey house 3Feb 29, 2012 9:26 am Not sure why your builder is saying that you can't do ducted evap to downstairs....we are having it in our place $25K seems very overpriced but I might be a bit out of touch. Re: Cooling options for double storey house 4Feb 29, 2012 10:35 am Congratulations on starting your building journey! Just a thought, have you considered doing 1 or maybe 2 split systems and then ceiling fans? Forgetting the ducted altogether?? Just a thought if you are trying to cut costs. You said you are not big users of your split system (too cold or not enough hot days??) and maybe ceiling fans are a good option. Re: Cooling options for double storey house 5Feb 29, 2012 11:28 am Hi All, Ive done extensive homework on this (I should mention Im building double storey as well) and the price quoted is way too much. I have recieved quotes from 15 different places throughout Melbourne and have been quoted 12K - 15K fully installed Daikin 16KW system (that was 13 ducts with 3 zones). This is ducted upstairs and downstairs. I would strongly recommend getting quotes and ensuring the building contract allows for your own contractors to have access to the site to install. Most builders do not have an issue with this. I can confirm you can have evap cooling throughout double storey but would not recommend. I have heard of horror stories with Evap cooling in double storey homes. Hope this helps Cheers, Alpal Building PD Heathmont 40 BLOG: http://alpal-pd-heathmont40.blogspot.com/ Deposit paid 19/08/2011 Contract signing 3/10/2011 Site Start 10/11/2011 Slab 23/11/2011 Re: Cooling options for double storey house 6Feb 29, 2012 7:21 pm Thanks everyone. I wonder what the nightmare stories are about ducted evap in double storey homes. Maybe this is why our builder won't do it. I was pretty sure there was a large markup on the builders quotes. I do think we would like air on in the upstairs bedrooms although I would like ceiling fans too and envisage using them most of the time. Per-installing the ducting seems the bet way to go and might allow us to at least delay paying for the system. Re: Cooling options for double storey house 7Mar 01, 2012 1:42 pm $25k!! Is that with gold plated ducts? Cooling the top floor should be your priority, because that gets much hotter than the ground floor. We can passively cool our ground floor on all but the hottest summer days, but the upper floor gets ridiculously hot while the ground floor stays comfortable. Metricon Riva 33 - http://herlihy-riva.blogspot.com Site start 15/03/2010 - Handover 23/12/2010 9 months and 8 days (284 calendar days) from site start to handover Re: Cooling options for double storey house 8Mar 01, 2012 7:29 pm kjag We have had a preliminary quote of $25,000 for ducted refrigerated air-con from the builder, which is too much. Another option might be Multi-split refrigerated. I was originally quoted $20K+ for Daikin ducted (double storey 32sq). However, I learnt about the Multi-split refrigerated Daikin. With multi-split, I have 4 rooms upstairs but only having the aircon on 2 rooms. Also, downstairs I'm having the air-con in the lounge and 1 bedroom downstairs. Comes out to be $10K only. Multi-split aircon rough-in (hoses and electrical) installed at lockup stage (they worked the hoses into the frames). Indoor and outdoor units to be installed after handover. 13-08 Moved in 13-05 Build restart 13-04 VMIA compensation 12-08 Builder liquidation 12-03 Fixing 11-12 Lockup 11-11 Frame 11-09 Slab 11-09 Start 11-07 Contract 10-11 2K deposit 10-06 Titled land Hi Kristy Around $1.7-1.8m or around $4,600/sqm. if you PM me your email I will send you a break up in a spreadsheet so you can get an understanding of the costs for… 1 9952 1 4581 The price you're seeing for a high-spec 2-storey home in Perth sounds steep, but unfortunately, it's kind of the norm these… 8 7855 |