Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 2Aug 04, 2015 10:15 am I've been reading the forum for a while now and thought I'd finally sign up and post about our build. It's been exactly one year since we put an offer in on our block and it went under contract. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ It's crazy to think we have been at this for year already!! We originally were going to go with another builder but after they didn't return our calls it was pretty clear they didn't want our business. We then walked into GJ and wow, their customer service was fantastic and we were sold. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 3Aug 04, 2015 12:59 pm So now we had the builder, we had to get to work on the plans. We picked out the Bridgewater 203 from GJ's standard plans. It ticked all the boxes. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We then added a split to the house due to the fall on the block and also swapped the garage and bed 1/ ensuite. The plans were drawn up and sent back with the new tender but the price was over what we wanted to spend. This was due to the length of the house, cut and fill and the amount of extra brick work needed. So we went back to the drawing board, we deleted the activity room and added more space to the kids rooms. We also widen the house by adding the lounge to the front and also moving bed 3 . Over all we are pretty happy. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Here is also a pic of what the front will look like Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Anyone else out there building in the southern highlands? Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 4Aug 05, 2015 11:54 am Here are some of our colour selections Carpet and floating floor which is Blackbutt in the Largo range Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And here are our bathroom and ensuite tiles Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Here is another pic which makes the floor tile look lighter Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The bluestone hexagon will go in the niches and we are using the same floor tile for laundry and toilet Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 6Aug 05, 2015 1:10 pm Hi RDR thanks for the reply. I'm so nervous with how it's all going to turn out but I'm hoping it's going to look good. I'm not sure how much the tiles where a sheet but GJ have charged us $170 for 2x niches (600mm (w)x 300m (h). Not sure if that helps you at all. Are you currently building? Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 7Aug 05, 2015 7:33 pm Time for the kitchen selections . Oven, cooktop, range hood and dishwasher are all smeg. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Here are our kitchen handles Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We are having polar white polytec sheen for all cupboards/ drawers Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Tiled backsplash Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And we are having 20mm caesarstone bench tops with waterfalls Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We have also added one set of pot drawers, moved microwave space from above the bench to under the island with a drawer underneath. Think that pretty much sums up our kitchen. Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 8Aug 05, 2015 7:41 pm Hi Kezham, Love the hexagonal tiles for your bathroom niche. I wanted something similar but lost that battle with OH. Your selections look great. Looking forward to watching the progress. 11/11/13- dep paid 4/4/14- settlement Feb '15- DA app 6/8/15- CC site works begin 19/8/15- Formwork 25/8/15- slab 3/9/15- elect. appt 13/10/15 - frame started 19/10- bricks started 31/10 - roof done Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 9Aug 06, 2015 7:52 pm caff Hi Kezham, Love the hexagonal tiles for your bathroom niche. I wanted something similar but lost that battle with OH. Your selections look great. Looking forward to watching the progress. Hi caff Thank you. Oh no I'm lucky that hubby likes them as much as I do. I really need to started posting more on my build. Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 10Aug 10, 2015 5:25 pm Here are some of our external colour choices Colourbond roof - monument Gutter/ down pipe/ fascia - monument Windows/ fly screens - monument Eaves - surf mist Cladding - kanga (wattyl) ( we have a small amount of cladding in the roof line) Front door - subtle hint (wattyl) Bricks - engage by austral Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 11Aug 10, 2015 5:47 pm Now to get up to speed with the build. After what seemed like forever our block finally had the site cut on the 16th July. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ On the 28th the fencing turned up and the loo was delivered a couple of days before that Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ On the 28th July the had startedwork on the piers and the next day they were concreted. Hubby called the SS and he thinks we went over by 16m ( he was driving so couldn't check the paper work) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ In the past week internal drainage has been completed. Also form work for the slab began and I think they finished it on Saturday. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I'm really hoping the slab gets poured tomorrow. Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 12Aug 10, 2015 6:18 pm KezHam, I really like your colour selections. I love monument for roof colour - we are having that too. Fingers crossed for slab for you tomorrow. 11/11/13- dep paid 4/4/14- settlement Feb '15- DA app 6/8/15- CC site works begin 19/8/15- Formwork 25/8/15- slab 3/9/15- elect. appt 13/10/15 - frame started 19/10- bricks started 31/10 - roof done Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 13Aug 10, 2015 9:32 pm Hi KezHam, yes I'm building our first home with my fiancé. Sorry i took so long to reply back - our land just settled today and we had a few communication problems with our conveyancer. Loving the handles youve picked and the stone benchtop. I was thinking of doing smartstone naxos for my stone but am getting cold feet. So many people just do white tops Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 14Aug 11, 2015 1:01 pm Thanks caff. I feel like we went a little monument crazy but should look good. Congratulations on the land settlement RDR!!! Where are you building? I just googled the smartstone you are thinking of choosing and it's beautiful. We were originally going to do an all white kitchen but I happy I went with the Caesar concrete. So we got an email this morning that the slab was poured!!!!! I knew I should have taken the kids to school this morning instead of putting them on the bus. We literally live 30secs from our block. I drive past it multiple times a day just to get anywhere haha. We also received the invoice for the slab before midday too. I'm going to take some pictures this afternoon. YAY!! Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 15Aug 11, 2015 2:02 pm We are building in Willowdale, South West Sydney. I wish i lived closer but for me its a 40min drive on a good day. Decided to move as my partner works 10minutes away from there so less travel time means more family time. Can't wait to see slab pics! I dont think anyone who isnt building understands how exciting that first stage is and oh my wait until the frame stage! Then we will truly realize our dream coming to life Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 18Aug 11, 2015 10:48 pm Yay for slab! I was ridiculously excited yesterday over a portaloo so can't imagine what a slab will feel like:) 11/11/13- dep paid 4/4/14- settlement Feb '15- DA app 6/8/15- CC site works begin 19/8/15- Formwork 25/8/15- slab 3/9/15- elect. appt 13/10/15 - frame started 19/10- bricks started 31/10 - roof done Re: Building in the Southern Highlands 19Aug 11, 2015 11:14 pm Congrats that's exciting!! We are building with gj Gardner in tassie though, love your selections. We are building the bridgewater 186, and have gone with monument for the fascia and garage ( although wishing we went with monument for the roof also as we had originally decided ) excited to see your build come along Building in the Southern Highlands 20Aug 13, 2015 1:06 pm Thanks RDR. Ill def put up some more selections. Yay for the portaloo Caff!! Who are you building with? And where abouts? Hi nat_luke1!! Yay another GJ build. Has your build started yet?? So organised the progress payment paperwork yesterday and got it faxed off to the bank. Fingers crossed the bank pays it quickly. Also paid for the extra 16lm of piering :S In Qld it is a requirement that a builder must have a cost breakdown, for building a home to the same specification, with the same inclusions and the same finish. So ask… 1 1766 Thanks for your reply. I will just wait and see I guess. Trying to get some more information from our builder. 9 30235 |