Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Obscure windows 3Feb 05, 2019 10:25 pm Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Obscure windows 5Feb 06, 2019 12:41 am Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Obscure windows 14Feb 06, 2019 11:21 am blackcat20 Our council says you only have to obscure if the building permit for the adjacent block is already approved. None for our neighbour as yet but I couldn't be bothered pushing it. They may end up having film on their windows. It’s usually done at the end. That’s what they did with some of ours. viewtopic.php?t=86597 Re: Obscure windows 15Feb 06, 2019 11:22 am Oh I mean there's no permit for next door yet. Still a vacant block, so we could have had that window changed. Re: Obscure windows 16Feb 06, 2019 11:25 am blackcat20 Oh I mean there's no permit for next door yet. Still a vacant block, so we could have had that window changed. Oh ok. I thought you meant all your neighbours lol. Sorry my misunderstanding. viewtopic.php?t=86597 Re: Obscure windows 17Feb 06, 2019 8:03 pm Just to help everyone understand what the regulations are regarding overlooking. Taken from the VBA regulations 2018 A habitable room window or raised open space of a building on an allotment must not provide a direct line of sight into a habitable room window or on to a secluded private open space of an existing dwelling on an adjoining allotment. secluded private open space" means any part of private open space on an allotment— (a) which is screened for at least 90% of its perimeter by a wall, fence or other barrier that is at least 1·5 m high and that has no more than 25% of its area open; and (b) which is primarily intended for outdoor recreation activities. So a back yard is covered by the overlooking requirements. You can complain that something is unfair but the requirements are there to make sure that developments are sympathetic to all. There are plenty of design options that mean you don't have to have obscured glazing on the whole window, it's just a matter of a little bit of prior thought. Windows facing the street or your own back yard are a basic thing to do to limit the overlooking issue. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Obscure windows 18Feb 06, 2019 9:24 pm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We did this with a couple of our bedroom windows. They overlook the roof of the house next door but they had massive privacy concerns so this was the end result. I actually like it better than the other room that doesn’t have the obscured panel as the sky and tree tops are a much nicer view without the roof. Re: Obscure windows 19Feb 06, 2019 9:40 pm chippy Just to help everyone understand what the regulations are regarding overlooking. Taken from the VBA regulations 2018 A habitable room window or raised open space of a building on an allotment must not provide a direct line of sight into a habitable room window or on to a secluded private open space of an existing dwelling on an adjoining allotment. secluded private open space" means any part of private open space on an allotment— (a) which is screened for at least 90% of its perimeter by a wall, fence or other barrier that is at least 1·5 m high and that has no more than 25% of its area open; and (b) which is primarily intended for outdoor recreation activities. So a back yard is covered by the overlooking requirements. You can complain that something is unfair but the requirements are there to make sure that developments are sympathetic to all. There are plenty of design options that mean you don't have to have obscured glazing on the whole window, it's just a matter of a little bit of prior thought. Windows facing the street or your own back yard are a basic thing to do to limit the overlooking issue. Isn't there a rule if it's 9 meters away then it's fine? Re: Obscure windows 20Feb 06, 2019 9:45 pm Correct. That's why windows facing the street and the backyard are normally fine. It's the side windows that are often only a couple of metres from the boundary that need to comply. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Depends... Brick veneer required the window to be attached to the house frame, this is usually achieved by screwing through the timber reveal into the frame. There are… 1 7441 There is evidence of water on the head reveals. That could have happened during the build, or may be happening currently. There are water stains above a couple of windows… 2 3775 Personally, considering your layout (study/work desks in bedrooms), I don't think you have any other option but to leave NW windows and make them as big as possible e.g.… 7 10415 |