Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 27, 2016 12:44 pm Hi everyone, Long time lurker, first time poster. My husband and I bought an acre block in Jimboomba at the end of last year (just over 4000m2). Upgrading from a 480m2 block at Meadowbrook. We had to wait for the block to settle and then we had to sell our house and move into a rental (yay...) to free up the funds needed to put a new house on the land. We began looking at a range of builders last year and early this year. We got quotes and extra's brochures and flyers on current offers, talked to a lot of people who were building or had built previously. We found that generally speaking a lot of builders were offering similar style acreage home designs and inclusions or extras and not one builder had ONLY positive reviews - we would speak to someone who had an amazing build and then the next person would never build with them again. After much deliberation, and pro and con list making, we decided to build with Stroud homes. I thought it would be a good idea to start this blog for others building in the area, so that they could see how we went with everything and also I couldn't find any blogs on Stroud homes, so I wanted to give other people thinking of building with them an idea of how they are as well (if there are any please point me in that direction). We chose the Kentucky 304 design, which will be plenty big enough for the two of us and our dog (no kiddleywinks yet) and still leave lots of room to run around. Hubby fancies himself a bit of a gardener as well so there's plenty of space to potter around. We are currently at the covenant approval and council approval stage of the LONG paperwork process. Hoping that this will all be done by the end of July, so that we can begin the build in early August. That may just be wishful thinking though haha. BUILD TIMELINE SO FAR: Timeline isn't accurate down to the day, mostly it's what we've found on a Saturday or Sunday each week! 24th September - site scrape done (week 1) 1st October - boxed up for slab (week 2) 6th October - slab invoice (week 2) 8th October - frame delivered, tap installed (week 3) 20th October - frame begins going up (week 4) 27th October - frame invoice (week 5) 27th October - gutters on, roof sheets delivered (week5) 3rd November - roof invoice (week 6) 4th November - house wrapped, bricks and Windows delivered (week 6) 9th November - cavity door frames done, bath frame done, Windows in, electrical and plumbing rough in done. (Week 7) Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 2Jun 27, 2016 1:10 pm I really love their designs. Congratulations exciting times ahead. Builders are builders. I think getting a building inspector for each stage will help alleviate anxieties. Which we didn't do but wish we did. Overall the quality is good but there's a few touch ups for us that I wish I had noticed at PCI. It sounds like you're talking heaps which is great. Talk to everyone. I didn't till after the build. viewtopic.php?t=81752 Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 3Jun 27, 2016 1:29 pm As already suggested, get a building inspector to go through at each stage to ensure that everything is done properly, or rectified before costs/time blowouts occur later on which will delay you moving in. I assume you are already on the Jimboomba Woods facebook group? (assuming you are in Jimboomba Woods like myself). Because the area is still really brand new, you need to keep an eye on erosion issues, both from your property and your neighbours or the street itself. Take a look at the thread that talks about things you forget, as anything later on will cost you a lot more from your builder. Edit: also if not too late, you should consider the location on the block your house is going to be... I see many in this estate located close to the street... if suitable, putting your house up towards the back of your block might make your block feel larger than the rest. It also gives you a bit more privacy as well. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 4Jun 28, 2016 12:51 pm kyliebsmith I really love their designs. Congratulations exciting times ahead. Builders are builders. I think getting a building inspector for each stage will help alleviate anxieties. Which we didn't do but wish we did. Overall the quality is good but there's a few touch ups for us that I wish I had noticed at PCI. It sounds like you're talking heaps which is great. Talk to everyone. I didn't till after the build. viewtopic.php?t=81752 Yeah, we really love their designs as well - but more so it was the mountain facade that made us choose them. Hubby is all about the street appeal and thinks that it will best suit his 'garden vibe'. And we have def been talking to anyone and everyone that will listen! haha, I like to get as much information as possible about things like this before making a decision. I'm thinking we will hire an independent inspector, at least for some of the key stages of the build. Seems like most people have advised this and the ones who didn't have one, as you say, wish they had. Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 5Jun 28, 2016 12:55 pm bpratt As already suggested, get a building inspector to go through at each stage to ensure that everything is done properly, or rectified before costs/time blowouts occur later on which will delay you moving in. I assume you are already on the Jimboomba Woods facebook group? (assuming you are in Jimboomba Woods like myself). Because the area is still really brand new, you need to keep an eye on erosion issues, both from your property and your neighbours or the street itself. Take a look at the thread that talks about things you forget, as anything later on will cost you a lot more from your builder. Edit: also if not too late, you should consider the location on the block your house is going to be... I see many in this estate located close to the street... if suitable, putting your house up towards the back of your block might make your block feel larger than the rest. It also gives you a bit more privacy as well. HaHa! Yep, we are members of the Jimboomba Woods Facebook group aka lost dog page! Our soil report etc came back saying we would need a H1 slab - so that's been a lovely extra cost already. Better to put the right slab down though than have the house cracking and falling down around us in a few years. As for the location of the house, the front of our block is actually a slop and then it tends to flatten out say.. 15 meters in? I believe we are having it placed around 20 meters from the front, so it will hopefully be situated nicely on top of our little hill. Means we have had to pay extra for connections, driveway etc but at least we don't have to have excessive earthworks or retaining walls. Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 6Jun 28, 2016 12:59 pm Here is the house plans from the Stroud website. We haven't changed anything structurally from this plan, it's all staying the same. Have added a lot of variations with smaller things though, will post about them in a bit! Oh and our colour selections. We asked lots of people what they added to their homes and of course read the 'things you forget' post on here to try and make sure we didn't forget anything. Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 8Jun 28, 2016 4:18 pm Jord_13 HaHa! Yep, we are members of the Jimboomba Woods Facebook group aka lost dog page! Our soil report etc came back saying we would need a H1 slab - so that's been a lovely extra cost already. Better to put the right slab down though than have the house cracking and falling down around us in a few years. As for the location of the house, the front of our block is actually a slop and then it tends to flatten out say.. 15 meters in? I believe we are having it placed around 20 meters from the front, so it will hopefully be situated nicely on top of our little hill. Means we have had to pay extra for connections, driveway etc but at least we don't have to have excessive earthworks or retaining walls. Hehehe the lost dog page ! that's what happens in a acreage estate, people are used to blocks with suburban fences, and don't realise the rural'ish fences can be easily escaped from. Not surprised with the H1 slab determination, ours was H1 as well. As far as house cracking up, take a look at the Slab Heave topics on this forum. Very interesting, and have a number of things to keep in mind, such as temporary downpipes to take the water away from the house when the roof goes on, and to ensure that water does not pool on the ground near the house. In the greater scheme of things, paying that bit extra for service delivery is "three fiftheenths of bugger all". we are around 95m from the road here, and to get the power on cost us around $3000 for single phase connection. A 3 phase connection (which you will need if you get ducted a/c), would be at least double that due to the extra copper or aluminium cabling. Enjoy your build, and feel free to keep on asking questions on your biggest investment in life. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 9Jun 28, 2016 9:04 pm Love the layout of the WIR in master bedroom. Love to see your selections GJ Gardner Modified Coolum 277 viewtopic.php?t=83643 Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 10Jun 29, 2016 12:42 pm charlibear Love the layout of the WIR in master bedroom. Love to see your selections GJ Gardner Modified Coolum 277 viewtopic.php?t=83643 Ha ha! It's funny you say that because originally, the master bedroom layout was the only thing I didnt like about the plan! I thought having it that way made the wardrobe too small etc. So we went out to another of the Stroud displays that has that master bedroom layout in it to get a feel for it. I realised then that the layout was actually a lot better than the Kentucky 348 display at Jimboomba at the moment - the size up has larger robe/ensuite - BUT the shower is in the middle of the ensuite so as soon as you walk into the bedroom and you look to the right you get shower in the face and if anyone is in there you'd see their whole kit and kaboodale. At least with our one the ensuite is a little more private and a little less in your face. Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 11Jun 29, 2016 12:59 pm As I mentioned earlier, we didn't make any structural changes to the design but we did add quiet a few variations and upgrades. Stroud have quiet good standard inclusions, I believe, but after reading the 'things you forget' list on this forum we had quiet a few things that we wanted to add. Getting them all on a quote took some time - lots of back and forth emails and such. The admin dude was very patient, prompt with answering emails and generally very easy to talk too. I'm sure he was sick of me by the end of it questioning everything and changing things left right and center but we finally had a quote that had everything which included: * 5 kw solar system * Ducted air conditioning throughout the house * Extended the kitchen bench to 1.2 m width * Added a concrete path from laundry door to clothesline * Added bulkheads to the butlers pantry * Upgraded interior doors * Added security screens to windows and sliding doors * Gutter cut out * Heap of additional double power points, USB power points, Data points and TV antenna points. * Added fans to all the bedrooms * Upgraded lights/exhaust in both bathrooms * Upgraded to smart waste squares in bathrooms * Added shower niche to ensuite * Added overhead cupboards in laundry * Soft close to all draws and cupboards in kitchen/butler pantry * Splashback in kitchen * Recessed sliding doors to living space * Tiles to alfresco that match interior tiles - just no slip version * Added LED downlights to living areas and pendant lights to kitchen * Extra power points and garden taps outside * Upgraded the bath so it was a bit bigger * Upgraded all the wardrobes to include shelving and draws as well as rails That's about the bulk of it, there were a few other bits and pieces as well - we chose non standard ceaser stone and garage door colours etc during colour selection for example. I realise that there are things on this list which we could probably do post handover cheaper - however - when we bought our first house we said we would add a TV antenna point to the master bedroom and four years later when we sold that house.. there still wasn't an antenna installed - clearly we are the type of people where if it's not done during the build, it likely wont get done after - at least where the interior of the house is concerned and especially since there will be so much to do landscaping wise. Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 12Jun 29, 2016 4:56 pm Alright here is the mountain facade we are having Ours will end up looking quiet similar to this I believe. We chose monument as the roof, gutter and window frame colour. Then the cladding around the front door will be this colour: Then the render will be this colour: Downpipes will be painted (hopefully) to match either the render or the cladding depending on what they are up against. Heres the three colours working together: Still it was very hard to imagine what it's actually going to look like. The front door, gable above the garage and garage door will all be stained this colour, the darker half of the picture And... front door will be two of these bad boys (top one with the smaller slices of glass) Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 13Jun 29, 2016 5:01 pm Then we have the interior tile and carpet colours: We chose quiet dark colours for the flooring and then the walls will be much lighter by comparison. Most of the colours in the house are dark grey or light grey actually We decided to keep it all very neutral so that we could add colour with the furniture/art. Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 14Jul 01, 2016 10:38 am Next we have some kitchen selections. Originally I wanted a black bench, white bottom cupboards, black splash back and then darker upper cupboards with all black handles and tap ware.. But... that would have meant upgrading pretty much everything and it probably would have been way too dark with our dark grey floor tile. So we went with a dark bench, but the cupboards etc are all lighter shades of grey and the handles etc are just going to be standard silver. The dark stone tile is the bench colour, the larger tile is going to be the colour of the glass splash back. The upper cupboards will have that grainy look, and the bottom ones will be the matt colour. I'm hoping that when it all comes together it looks good.... haha Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 15Jul 01, 2016 10:44 am Then we have the bathroom colours.... Again, they are very similar to the kitchen colours. We are having the same colour caesarstone throughout the whole house - kitchen, bathrooms, laundry. The only thing that will change is the tile colour and the cupboard colours. The darker colour (strata grey) will be used in the ensuite for the cupboards, the lighter one (stone grey) will be used in the other bathroom and laundry. The tiles on the right hand side will be used for the feature strip in the main shower and in the shower niche in the ensuite. Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 16Jul 01, 2016 10:48 am Were heading out to our block this weekend to meet up with one of our side neighbours to discuss fencing. I will take a photo of the block then to post I must say this stage of the 'building process' has got to be the most trying on my patience. It feels like nothing is happening and yet behind the scenes things are being submitted to council and the covenant and supplies are being ordered and drawings are being done... Cannot wait until we get to the - all approved and we will be starting on x date. Luckily for us, there is another Kentucky currently being built in our section, they are currently up to the bricking stage, so we have been watching that go up each week and living vicariously Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 17Jul 04, 2016 12:30 pm Here is some photos of our lovely block!! Standing from across the street looking at the block, too wide couldn't fit the whole block in the shot As you can see we have quiet a slope at the front, and the house will be placed up on top of the hill where the block flattens out. Close up shot of the sold sign and the Stroud sign. This one Im standing up on the top of the hill part, sort of off to the side. The two red marks show our back fence boundaries (back neighbours have already built and moved in - lucky) Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 18Jul 05, 2016 3:41 pm On you inclusions list, the only thing after reading your reasons, is to really look at doing solar after handover, not only will it be cheaper, you will have better control of what inverter and panels that get installed. With your block, I'd be sorely looking at doing some erosion mitigation as soon as you can. If your block is close to where I think it is, there's been a lot of run off washing the top soil down on the to the road, which you will only have to replace after you move in. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 19Jul 11, 2016 1:39 pm Well another week of waiting has gone by... We got the pricing on the variations we made during our colour selection back, thankfully they weren't too bad, so we have passed these onto the bank and hopefully we will be able to sort out the financial approval in the coming week. Also have signed and submitted the covenant approval forms, so hopefully we will hear from them whether or not our house design is approved. Fingers crossed. Then it's just council and what not. Very frustrating being so close to starting.. and yet so far! I really hope that this waiting time doesn't blow out into months and months and months like I have read on other peoples blogs. Waiting is not a strength of mine. We have been monitoring the other Kentucky build closely though, living vicariously. This past weekend when we went out they had their house rendering done and it looked like the internal plaster works was done. They had their site cut 9 weeks ago, so I THINK their build is running on schedule. Hopefully ours will as well!!! Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes Re: Acreage Build: Jimboomba - Stroud Homes - Kentucky 304 20Jul 12, 2016 12:44 pm Yay! This morning I received word from the covenant peeps that our dwelling had been approved! One down... Two to go. Bring on council and financial approval! Our acreage build: Queensland: Stroud Homes 1 4581 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 17591 3 48360 |