Things you forget - summary page 32

If you have under bench microwave and young children get an extra on/off switch put onto the powerpoint above it (or the closest powerpoint). That way you don't have to reach in behind the microwave to switch the powerpoint off to stop children turning the microwave on.

We did the same for the dishwasher.

Just somethings off the top of my head and maybe a few double ups:

- Extra power conduits EVERYWHERE! (I must have put at least 10 extra points in )

- Nib walls for the gap between your shower and vanity. Definately worthwhile if not standard as it eliminates the unsightly, dust gathering gap there and gives you an extra ledge for your toiletries

- Ask about the cost for a longer/wider bath than standard. In my case it only cost an extra $100 for an extra 150mm longer and is totally worth it with me being 6' 6" tall

- banjo top for above the bath. gives extra storage and/or can be decorated to look nice

- Extra tile course for the showers including raising the height of the screen and the shower head (see height issue earlier mentioned )

- Wider or taller mirror. Cost next to nicks for a lot of extra me viewing

- As I had a storage area added to my garage, I had hot & cold plumbing provisions added to it so that I could either add a sink after hand over or relocate the laundry into the garage (yet to decide)

- If you can't afford to have a door added to WIR, Ensuite, Theatre, Hallway etc... at prestart you should at least have an fastwall lintel install so that when you install a door later on it will be easier and cheaper

- I paid extra to have a double shower in the ensuite and also extend the vanity and make it a double sink arrangement.

- Added drawers to extended vanity. I have run into a little trouble though as the top drawer (they are located between the 2 sinks) will not fit so will have to have a half size drawer

- Added power to the kitchen island. Got this included with adding a microwave nook and pot drawer.

- 3 phase power. Not entirely necessary, but as I intend to have a spa installed at some point as well as run quite a bit of tech gear it will pay off

- Had to add a pipe under the driveway as part of the covenance for the estate (reticulation) and the builder didn't remember so just as well I pointed it out. Really pays to check with them. Also had to have another PVC pipe put under the driveway for the soakwell system and again, they didn't think to bring it up (remembered just in time too!!)

- Double rebated front entry door ($50 only)

- I paid extra to have a border on my driveway. Can be standard with more expensive builds, but was worth it.

- Also paid a considerable amount extra to change from Hacienda roff tiles to Monier Horizon roof tiles in Oyster. Again, totally worth it (don't like colorbond roofs, but just a personal thing)

- Paid extra for Double BIR's with sliding doors.

That about covers what I did extra, along with a few minor tweaks otherwise. Can't wait to have my slab down soon

Cheers
Rob

PS: the extras came to a snip over $13000. Money well spent, even if it means beans on toast for the next 6 months

bump..wish i had seen it earlier

Hi 16paws & welcome to the forum (love the username btw- I'm guessing you have 4 pets? ),

I had my bricky leave out a couple of bricks in a wall and put a grate in instead for future provision of a cat door. So in future all I'll have to do is cut a hole in the plaster and put a door on.

Here's a pic from the inside; it's since had plaster put over the opening so you can't tell the difference from the inside (sorry it's a bit old but I haven't uploaded pics for a while)

Hi grom40, thanks and yes 4 cats. The cat door idea and pic is a great idea but unfortunately too late as the brickies have finished now. We were thinking of cutting the glass or adding a door somewhere through to an outdoor enclosure. Spent more time researching cubby houses to enclosures. Hindsight..... Would have been good to find this site earlier but still excellent stuff.

We are still quite a way off building but this is going to be a very handy thread when the time comes

One i thought off today & have to ask about

Making sure your elfresco ceiling is high enough if you would like to install outdoor fans!

Not sure if these have been said but... A few things we did:
- a light switch in the garage that turns the hallway lights on just inside from the access door so if you come home late and the house is dark you're not scrambling for a light switch
- we built this house for our future family and with kids in mind we put the stair lighting in the rear hallway between the kids/guest bedrooms and the toilet so they can be used as night lights
- extra tv point for the future kids play room
- network points in kids bedrooms for future desks/computers during homework years
- outdoor power points
- extra outdoor floodlights
- we intentionally left doors off the rumpus (future kids playroom) so we can see them when they're young and no fingers to slam in doors... But will be installing later on when they're a bit more independant
- power points: on island bench, on the blank wall in laundry for iron, I elected to have our bathroom/ensuite power points inside the vanity so you can't see the electric toothbrush or shaver charging
- privacy locks on toilet, powder and bathroom doors

I think that's it for now (well that's all I can remember at the moment) hope we have been able to help

One thing we are very happy we paid extra to do was raise the height of the garage door, from memory it was about $500 all up but if you have a 4wd or a hatch back you will the glad you did it.

Cheers Lou