Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 29, 2008 7:01 pm We’re building our dream home with Perrys but we have added complications as we’re going through this process whilst currently living in Hong Kong.
I discovered this amazing website/forum whilst trying to source some information and am incredible excited about how informative and helpful everyone is and am hoping that I’ll be able to get as much help/advice as people can give me! Plans have been submitted for our home (Bayview 284, prestige façade) and we’re building on acreage on sunshine coast. Our land is cut and contracts are signed off. We’re now at what should be the ‘fun’ stage of colour selection but being overseas means we don’t have the benefit of the colour appointment and all the help/assistance you get from that and being shown samples/brochures and being helped complete all the relevant associated paperwork. It’s incredibly stressful and overwhelming (my husband works long hours and I have a toddler and am trying to do course work) trying to source everything yourself (can’t even get Dulux sample pots over here!). I’m having to use a lot of imagination trying to envisage what things will look like from online images and tiny pictures/swatches. So I have the following queries which I hope you guys will be able to help / advice on: ROOF: we’re going with Boral Tiles (colourbond was an extra $7000!) profile Macquarie colour Ebony black. We’re in QLD so I guess the BASIX doesn’t apply officially however we’re aware that ebony will be ‘dark’ shade and be liable to an energy efficiency re-assessment. Please advise what problems if any, you’ve encountered and costs involved with the re-assessment and if you’ve had to make changes to comply with the energy efficiency regulations. COLOURS: THIS QUERY IS URGENT as we need to submit our colour selection forms urgently! We’re looking at Wheaten white Dulux shade for the rendered finish to the exterior of the house (one storey home which we’ve extended by making the existing double garage the rumpus room and added another double garage next to it). Our thinking is Wheaten white render and fascia and downpipes, Black roof, gutter, garage door and front double door for a smart and classic look. Does anybody have any photos 2 share of that or a similar shade as it’s so hard to imagine a large surface area from a small colour chart! DRIVEWAY: We’re thinking tarmac/bitumen as our neighbour used this and his looks great. He’s had a van parked on it and never had any sinking problems despite the QLD heat. Does anyone know of approx cost for a 12 metre long slightly curved driveway (our neighbour can’t remember). Is there a huge cost difference between that and using paving bricks? We are arranging this ourselves not through the builders. CARPETS: Any recommendations on suppliers, we were stuffed around by Hirns so not keen on them but are sourcing this ourselves too. Any personal recommendations would be appreciated. I’m sure during course of this build I will be constantly referring to this site and of course posting photos, so thanks in advance for your help! I’ve already made a number of decisions (choosing 2 Pak instead of vinyl wrap) based on what I’ve read here so thanks. Re: HELP PLEASE!! 2May 29, 2008 8:21 pm Brisvegas…..any chance you can provide an elevation of your home?
I will need to see the style of the home as well as the layout. So elevation and floor plan would be good. Or you could try this https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=5366 I don’t do this…..sell myself like this, but if you need a full rundown I am willing to help you. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: HELP PLEASE!! 3May 29, 2008 8:31 pm Hmmm..... by the sounds of it you've got plenty on your hands already Brisvagas? It might be just what you need, a professional like Mish, to assist you with these decisions???
Great Idea Mish!!!! Re: HELP PLEASE!! 4May 29, 2008 8:35 pm **Phoenix** Hmmm..... by the sounds of it you've got plenty on your hands already Brisvagas? It might be just what you need, a professional like Mish, to assist you with these decisions??? Great Idea Mish!!!! I couldn’t think of any thing worse….than living overseas, and trying to build a home here! Hats off to brisvegas for even attempting it! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: HELP PLEASE!! 5May 29, 2008 8:51 pm I don't envy you doing this from overseas. We're building with the same builder and live about 2 hours from the site and that's been hard enough.
Our house is almost finished (didn't find this site until after building had started so we made a few mistakes) but, on the whole, it's been a fairly painless process. Can't comment on the colours you've chosen (a little stark in Queensland's sun perhaps?) but might be able to offer a few tips on the energy efficiency side. We used Blue Dusk tiles. Not black but fairly dark. We did have some issues with energy efficiency but they turned out to be more in the mind of the salespeople than real issues. The building code only lays down some fairly basic parameters, e.g., 40% of the light fittings you use must be energy efficient fluorescents (which Perry Homes designs meet easily). However, the energy efficiency report is nothing more than somebody pumping some numbers through a software program. When we did it (earlier this year) the program had not been updated so we were initially told that we had to put ceiling fans in every room to meet the requirements. This was despite the fact that we had increased the roof insulation and also added batts to all the exterior walls, plus were installing gas appliances etc, etc. Seeing as we're also putting in an 8-zone ducted air (after handover) the last thing I wanted was a dozen ceiling fans so I just said 'no way' and they did it again (on a later program with another certifier) and it was fine. I later discovered that the problem arises from the number and size of the windows and sliding doors in the house. But even with black tiles you should have no problem as long as you makes sure most of your lights are energy efficient. Another good way around it is to use tinted glass. As for the colour selection process -- that is not fun at all. It should be but it's a disaster in my view. I gather most builders operate the same way; they give you a fairly short time to make these major decisions and they want answers NOW. Problem is when you actually do your colour selection is a helluva long way (weeks, if not months) from when the builder actually orders the materials so there's much more time than they imply. They could do that a lot better IMO. The design consultant is not all that helpful either. How can they be? You have just 2 hours with them and they're trying to advise you on house plans they've never seen before. If I were doing it again I'd just tell them I wasn't going to the colour selection appointment until I had done my own research and chosen everything I wanted. Then I'd rock up there with a list and just fill in the blanks. What are they going to do? Cancel the contract? Doubt it. We actually did that with things like tiles, sinks and vanities, tapware and bathroom fittings, light fittings (we supplied our own) and granite etc. What we didn't look at before going to the colour selection was cupboard handles etc and things like soap holders/shower fittings (actually, they were so awful we just told them to leave them out and we'd fit our own later). Don't know how you would do that from Hong Kong though! We found the pre-contract tender/plan experience and the colour selection both stressful and very long-winded (we started this process more than a year ago) but once we got past that and they actually started building have been pretty impressed with their quality and efficiency. Just one tip. If you plan on having natural stone benchtops, make sure you: a) physically choose the pieces you actually want, b) get a QUOTE, not a provisional sum, and c) make absolutely certain that the builder either orders or pays a holding deposit on the slabs so that you can be quite certain they'll still be there (at the same price) when they're actually needed. I won't go in to the saga we went through on that. Re: HELP PLEASE!! 7May 29, 2008 10:52 pm Wow, just got back to my PC thanks so much for all the replies so far. I'm attaching floor plan, as I've already scanned that in and the Bayview is not yet on Perry's website. I'm not sure if I've scanned in the elevation yet, it all kind of blurs into one....!
Cheers I just tried to attach files and it doesn't accept jpeg, what should I do? Re: HELP PLEASE!! 8May 29, 2008 11:05 pm Ancient Mariner I don't envy you doing this from overseas. We're building with the same builder and live about 2 hours from the site and that's been hard enough. Our house is almost finished (didn't find this site until after building had started so we made a few mistakes) but, on the whole, it's been a fairly painless process. Can't comment on the colours you've chosen (a little stark in Queensland's sun perhaps?) but might be able to offer a few tips on the energy efficiency side. We used Blue Dusk tiles. Not black but fairly dark. We did have some issues with energy efficiency but they turned out to be more in the mind of the salespeople than real issues. The building code only lays down some fairly basic parameters, e.g., 40% of the light fittings you use must be energy efficient fluorescents (which Perry Homes designs meet easily). However, the energy efficiency report is nothing more than somebody pumping some numbers through a software program. When we did it (earlier this year) the program had not been updated so we were initially told that we had to put ceiling fans in every room to meet the requirements. This was despite the fact that we had increased the roof insulation and also added batts to all the exterior walls, plus were installing gas appliances etc, etc. Seeing as we're also putting in an 8-zone ducted air (after handover) the last thing I wanted was a dozen ceiling fans so I just said 'no way' and they did it again (on a later program with another certifier) and it was fine. I later discovered that the problem arises from the number and size of the windows and sliding doors in the house. But even with black tiles you should have no problem as long as you makes sure most of your lights are energy efficient. Another good way around it is to use tinted glass. As for the colour selection process -- that is not fun at all. It should be but it's a disaster in my view. I gather most builders operate the same way; they give you a fairly short time to make these major decisions and they want answers NOW. Problem is when you actually do your colour selection is a helluva long way (weeks, if not months) from when the builder actually orders the materials so there's much more time than they imply. They could do that a lot better IMO. The design consultant is not all that helpful either. How can they be? You have just 2 hours with them and they're trying to advise you on house plans they've never seen before. If I were doing it again I'd just tell them I wasn't going to the colour selection appointment until I had done my own research and chosen everything I wanted. Then I'd rock up there with a list and just fill in the blanks. What are they going to do? Cancel the contract? Doubt it. We actually did that with things like tiles, sinks and vanities, tapware and bathroom fittings, light fittings (we supplied our own) and granite etc. What we didn't look at before going to the colour selection was cupboard handles etc and things like soap holders/shower fittings (actually, they were so awful we just told them to leave them out and we'd fit our own later). Don't know how you would do that from Hong Kong though! We found the pre-contract tender/plan experience and the colour selection both stressful and very long-winded (we started this process more than a year ago) but once we got past that and they actually started building have been pretty impressed with their quality and efficiency. Just one tip. If you plan on having natural stone benchtops, make sure you: a) physically choose the pieces you actually want, b) get a QUOTE, not a provisional sum, and c) make absolutely certain that the builder either orders or pays a holding deposit on the slabs so that you can be quite certain they'll still be there (at the same price) when they're actually needed. I won't go in to the saga we went through on that. Hi ANcient Mariner, so you're building with Perrys too. I would really like to hear about all your experiences. What design are you building. We have also chosen a lot of our own items like undermount sinks, taps, all kitchen appliances and are having ceasarstone benchtops in the kitchen. For the benchtops and all the cupboards/drawers in kitchen and in the bathrooms the sums are provisional - we're having 2pak. I was told that until the carpenter/estimator is involved they would not be able to say exactly how much however I have been impressed that for the site costs we have been refunded nearly $6,500 as they brought in an 'old hand' who changed our slab rating and wind rating etc etc. Seeing as we have no idea about this type of thing and that we're not actually there to get a second opinion we were happy with that. The consultant we've been dealing with is very upfront and helpful and we asked around (friends of ours in NSW have built with them and know many other satisfied customers) so it also sounds now that the selection/tender/contract stage is over with for you - that you too are having a good experience. I don't know how to send a personal message on this site yet but if you don't want to go into detail on this post I'd be happy to get a pm. Whereabouts are you building if you don't mind me asking? Thanks again for your message. Re: HELP PLEASE!! 9May 29, 2008 11:55 pm If you want to PM just click on the PM icon below the post of the person you want to send a message to, so if you look at the image below if you want to PM Mish....and at some stage we will need her help....click on PM (circled) and you go into the PM "environment"
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff2/mikeb1968/PM.jpg PS Sent you a PM on posting photos so you can practice....in the top right corner of the screen there is a box called Discussion Tools and one of the entries will be "You have 1 message"....that'll be mine on photos.... Good luck with the "remote" building....forumites will help you as much as we can I'm sure... PPS If I'm underestimating your familiarity with the system - my apologies - I don't want the above to read as being patronising...... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: HELP PLEASE!! 10May 29, 2008 11:58 pm OK its been a LONGGGG day! Just seen the PM button underneath the message area, god how stupid do I feel?!!!
Michelle, I'll try and figure out a way to upload the elevation and floor plan. It's a modern design house, one level with a portico, they have produced a leaflet for the Bayview but its not on their website yet. Stop press! Mike has just kindly sent me a pm with info on how to do the photos so will do that tomorrow. Thanks all and g'nite! Re: HELP PLEASE!! 11May 30, 2008 12:03 am 'nite mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: HELP PLEASE!! 12May 30, 2008 5:56 pm brisvegas OK its been a LONGGGG day! Just seen the PM button underneath the message area, god how stupid do I feel?!!! Dont worry it took me three monts and over 1000 posts to learn about the 'quote' button Paula Re: HELP PLEASE!! 13May 30, 2008 8:13 pm brisvegas Hi ANcient Mariner, so you're building with Perrys too. I would really like to hear about all your experiences. Happy to answer any questions but going to be flat out until Sunday. I'll get back to you. BTW, we now have a 14 x 7 x 2 metre full 'swimming pool' right next to the house. Problem is it's supposed to be the hole for 2 x 10,000 gallon buried concrete water tanks. Why does it only ever rain when you dig holes or have concretors booked? Re: HELP PLEASE!! 14May 30, 2008 8:29 pm Ancient Mariner brisvegas Hi ANcient Mariner, so you're building with Perrys too. I would really like to hear about all your experiences. Happy to answer any questions but going to be flat out until Sunday. I'll get back to you. BTW, we now have a 14 x 7 x 2 metre full 'swimming pool' right next to the house. Problem is it's supposed to be the hole for 2 x 10,000 gallon buried concrete water tanks. Why does it only ever rain when you dig holes or have concretors booked? Shouldn't be a problem for an Ancient Mariner to bale...... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: HELP PLEASE!! 16May 31, 2008 11:18 pm Brisvegas...hope you don't mind....put them in with the IMG things to make it bigger rather than a link.
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn201/mbrisvegas_photo/Floorplan-1.jpg http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn201/mbrisvegas_photo/HouseElevations.jpg mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: HELP PLEASE!! 18May 31, 2008 11:36 pm I also feature heavily in a lot of schoolboy potty humour..... so don't look too hard mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: HELP PLEASE!! 19Jun 01, 2008 6:32 pm ROOF: Macquarie colour Ebony black.
Make sure you get your ceiling insulated!!!!! COLOURS: We’re looking at Wheaten white Dulux. “Wheaten White” is quite bright; I feel it will be too great a contrast with your Black roof tiles. My suggestion would be Dulux “Jodhpurs”….still in the yellow tones, but a with a deeper base. “Jodhpurs” with complement your roof tiles much better!! DRIVEWAY: tarmac/bitumen…this will blend with your roof tiles well. CARPETS:….Try Carpet Court I’ll keep your floor plan in case you ask questions about your interiors, thanks for sending them to me Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: HELP PLEASE!! 20Jun 01, 2008 6:40 pm to_do_list I also feature heavily in a lot of schoolboy potty humour..... so don't look too hard Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Thankyou so much 😀 I've decided on White on white for doors and trims, White on white 50% on ceiling and Mt buller for walls. Fingers crossed it will look OK 😀 2 7171 i had the my concreters concrete right up to the fence. I have pits all along my path, so the water tends to drain away from the house and into the pits. There's only one… 7 12794 All 3 items listed are defects and are of concern. Please seek qualified independent inspector and/or legal advice for your state. 1 8233 |