Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 20, 2016 6:45 pm Hi guys, First time posting on this forum and need some good advise on what to do and choose about our new build. We haven't signed anything and haven't paid anything to anyone yet. After doing quite amount of research over last few months by meeting some volume builders like Carlisle, Metricon etc. it was clear that how the construction goes depends a lot on site supervisor. If your SS is not organised or whatever than unfortunately build suffers and there are issues post build. As we didn't wanted to try our pot luck, we turned to small builders. We have met couple of small builders over last few days and seems that we going to end up with some small builder. We are aiming to build around 40sqm double storey home on 434sqm lot. One of the small builder we met gave below standard inclusions. We are unsure if they're OK, good or bad in terms of quality. We are not looking for cheapest but something reasonable and durable. Also we are not focusing on fancy looking things but rather more from structural and resale value point too. Kitchen • Laminated benchtops and pre-laminated doors and panels from builder’s general range • Base cupboards with melamine finish • Tile splashback in kitchen 700mm high from builder’s general range • Flick mixer tap on sink • Walk in pantry with 3 x 300mm melamine shelves • Provisions for future dishwasher including connections • 1 and ¾ bowl sink single drainer Bathroom & Ensuite • Laminated vanity and top from builder’s general range • China hand basin with mixer tap • Polymarble 900mm x 900mm Shower base • Wall and floor tiling to wet areas from builder’s general range • Showerheads and hot and cold taps from builder’s general range • Toilet roll holders and towel rings for bath and ensuite • Tiled areas with 100mm tiled skirting • Semi frameless shower screen up to 1950 high from builder’s general range • A7crylic bathtub with 3 piece tap set Powder Room • Laminate Matt Finish Cabinet With Laminate Top • Tile Splashback From Builder’s General Range • Floor Tiles To Wet Areas • China Hand Basin With Mixer Tap • Tiled Areas With 100mm Tiled Skirting • 1 Toilet Suite • 1 Exhaust Fan Heating • Ducted gas heating (ceiling ducts) with manual thermostat Tiling • Wall and floor tiling to wet areas from builder’s general range • 100mm tiled skirting to wet tiled areas Electrical • Double power points throughout the house from builder’s general range • 2 TV point with one outlet • Telephone point with one outlet • smoke detectors are fitted and located as required by regulations • showers are fitted with exhaust fan units • batten holders with energy efficient globes throughout the house • light switches and cover plates from builder’s general range • 2 Data points Appliances • 600mm gas stainless steel cook top • 600mm stainless steel vented canopy range hood • 600mm Oven Insulation • As required to meet 6 star energy rating requirements Windows • Powder coated aluminium sliding windows (fitted with keyed locks) • Lightweight infill above all side windows • Galvanised steel lintels to facade only Paint • Exterior timber, cladding and metalwork with acrylic finish • Gloss finish to internal woodwork and doors • Low Sheen acrylic to internal walls • Ceilings to be white (or colour to match walls) • Low Sheen to external downpipes and woodwork Note: Colorbond fascia and gutter • Entrance door with gloss finish Framing • Pine framing to walls and roof as per design guidelines and Australian standards. Roofing & Ceiling • Bristile curve roof tiles from builders general range • Ceiling height 2440 throughout the house (single storeys) Services • Connection of services (water, gas, electricity, sewer, telephone conduit & roof storm water). Does not include telephone connection costs and all consumer account opening fees. Garage • The garage is fitted with an Automatic panel door with 3 remote control from builder’s general range • Pedestrian access to the rear • Plaster lined side walls and ceiling • Structural concrete floor Laundry • 45L metal trough with a cabinet included • Tiled splashback from builder’s general range • Tiled skirting in wet tiled areas • 2 taps for washing machine( 1xhot, 1xcold) Footings • Concrete waffle slab, class – M included (slab costs according to founding conditions) Bricks/Polystyrene Cladding • Designer face bricks or Polystyrene cladding from builder’s general range Internal & External fixing • Flush internal doors • Doorstops included throughout the house • Flush panel doors to robes with white melamine shelf and hanging rail • Tiled skirting to wet tiled areas • Architraves (MDF 67mm) and skirting (42mm) in the joinery • Front entry door from builders general range (style of choice) • Lever Handle lockset to front entry door • Flush panel Garage door (according to the design) Stairs • MDF Board Stairs with Carpet Covering. We have already asked for refrigerated cooling/heating, fireplace provision (we will provide fireplace itself), increased ceiling height for both ground and first floor, double vanity, wooden stairs instead of carpet, NBN cabling, 900mm kitchen appliances, stone bench tops in kitchen and bathroom, glass splashback in kitchen, balcony, LED lighting through out, better quality aluminium alfresco door etc. Can now someone with good building knowledge advise what is odd or not so good quality and durable inclusion?? We are also unsure about Lightweight infill above all side windows and Galvanised steel lintels to facade only What are these things? Is there anything from above where we can push our builder more?? Looking to build a home in VIC. Land titled in November 2017. Construction started in February 2018. Double storey 37sq. Re: Advise us on our new build 2Mar 20, 2016 7:21 pm Hi, Make sure you liked things from the Builders standard range as sometimes their standard selections are from the 1980's and can be expensive to upgrade. You may want to upgrade your architraves & skirting as the ones selected are quite narrow (maybe compare size at display homes). The tiling to your wet areas is very small with 100mm skirting. Most builders include tiling to a certain height behind toilet, around bath, vanity etc. Electricals can also be expensive, you will likely need more light points, powerpoints, additional phone point upstairs etc than what is provided. Your pantry doesn't have many shelves. Just some thoughts. Lightweight infill above windows are due to increased ceiling height, you will not have bricks above your windows, except on the front of your house as the lintels support the weight of the bricks above your windows. Good luck Never argue with an idiot they drag you down to their level & then beat you with experience - Dilbert View Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=19733 Contract signed 14Sept Slab 30Sept Bricks laid 1Dec Lock up 26Feb Keys 10Jun Re: Advise us on our new build 3Mar 20, 2016 8:21 pm Thank you for your response Mrs. Rose. We will look into suggested inclusions. Also yes tiling in wet areas is less so will include that too. If anyone can spot anything else that needs further look let me know please. There are sooo many things to look for and is difficult to write and remember before signing. Also builder advised us about full rendering on the facade. This would mean no bricks visible on the front. Anyone can comment on it? Hopefully in few weeks time we can decide on which one to choose. Thanks again. Looking to build a home in VIC. Land titled in November 2017. Construction started in February 2018. Double storey 37sq. Re: Advise us on our new build 4Mar 20, 2016 8:47 pm I think you can get brick infill above windows even with higher ceilings, though you pay more for brick infills in any case. Are you getting the windows set higher too? I suggest you read the thread (sticky) that covers things people forget in their build. Re: Advise us on our new build 5Mar 21, 2016 7:13 am I always double the number of power point locations over the builders standard provision rather than just make all the builders standards double. For a couple of thousand more it makes everything more convenient once you move in. There are a lot more electrical hints at this link: http://anewhouse.com.au/2012/02/electri ... g-general/ The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Advise us on our new build 6Mar 21, 2016 6:01 pm Yes that's good advise bashworth. Will look into it. Simply so many things to look into to get the contract right. Joynz we just asked for higher ceiling height. Not sure if windows will be higher due to this. I will look into sticky thread. Looking to build a home in VIC. Land titled in November 2017. Construction started in February 2018. Double storey 37sq. Re: Advise us on our new build 7Mar 21, 2016 6:04 pm Anyone can advise on rendering? Is it good idea to go for full front rendering? Just not sure how will it look? Looking to build a home in VIC. Land titled in November 2017. Construction started in February 2018. Double storey 37sq. Re: Advise us on our new build 8May 24, 2016 12:13 am Hi, Need advice for our exterior color selection. This is what we are thinking Bricks: Whitsunday orpheus Render Wall: Taubman's Gemini silver and Taubman's Light Pewter Roof: Boral Gunmetal Gutter and downpipes: Basalt/Monument Fascia: surfmist window, sliding door: black Garage: Surfmist Cladding: Taubman's Gemini Silver We are confused with our selection, please advice. Thanks.. Re: Advise us on our new build 9May 24, 2016 10:19 am I like full render to house. But - that's me. Agree with BW - always have more PPs - especially in ensuite - either end of bench. We have had some placed strategically at either end of our kitchen bench - on sides. We use them all the time. AND always have a double - not single. I hate having power boards everywhere. They are much cheaper to do before ... As we get a few bugs some nights I had a few PPs in the ceiling of our alfresco area - diagonally opposite - in addition to normal outside PPs. I hung my zappers next to them and they plug in very nicely. Looks so much better than cords everywhere. Also have security lights outside. Quite cheap - and again - cheaper than after. A novel idea is to get a fan with a light in it. We did this in a couple of our bedrooms. A mistake we made was not having the powder room toilet situated just right. It is too far to the wall. You can sit down OK - but we had the room to just bring it along another 3-400cms. Would have made it much better. Many people just accept this room as they won't use it. But it needs some thought too. I hate bending so moved MW from under bench. Put in a 900 oven into a column with MW above. This not only gave us 2 huge drawers below - for pots etc - but also a great cupboard above. AND - more room under sink. Our fridge is plumbed in too - so they did this little "alcove" (?) behind the fridge for the tap and pp. I was very impressed when I saw what they did. So no tap or plug sticking out. I am looking for someone who might have tackled a similar issue as me. I have a few rendered interior walls, the surface condition is hardly flat. I can see all the bumps… 0 7967 "Losers" "humanity" "off time" "your" "top notch" "love symbol" Sounds like ponzo is done using other people's toilets 36 23920 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 17628 |