Extending in Paradise & trying not to ruin it..

building-expert · Nov 20, 2015 10:50 am

I had the most beautiful human experience on Wednesday. My guests were an older couple in ther late seventies, over for a second time for a bit of recuperation after her back surgery. They were telling me how much they were enjoying relaxing and their beach walks. So later on at dusk I watched them go for a walk on the beach. There they were plodding along slowly, husband beside his wife holding her arm and she pushing her walking frame. I thought that was beautiful and I want to grow old like that with Ivanka.

Ponzu · Nov 20, 2015 12:49 pm

building-expert

I had the most beautiful human experience on Wednesday. My guests were an order couple in ther late seventies, over for a second time for a bit of recuperation after her back surgery. They were telling me how much they were enjoying relaxing and their beach walks. So later on at dusk I watched them go for a walk on the beach. There they were plodding along slowly, husband beside his wife holding her arm and she pushing her walking frame. I thought that was beautiful and I want to grow old like that with Ivanka.

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building-expert · Nov 27, 2015 8:51 am

building-expert · Nov 27, 2015 9:38 am

Forgot to mention, fishing at moonlight about 11PM I caught this beautiful gummy shark off the rocks in front of my house.
By then we had enough flathead in the bag so I let him go. We only take what we need.
http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/brankom10/IMG_5810_zpsfjzriptl.jpg

Joker · Dec 02, 2015 10:37 pm

Your views are breath taking, as good as you could ever see, and your brickwork matches the fantastic work done on my home, and got to love that as ive seen tons of poor bricking done on many homes , even seen good work spoiled by not caring about brick pattern, gives homes a real llook of quality when done well.

building-expert · Dec 03, 2015 6:05 am

Thanks Joker, yes the views are mesmerising.

I am very pleased with brickwork. I have been a builder for over 40 years and it's the first time brickie washed his own bricks and there I was worried where will I get brick cleaner. Nice bunch of blokes as well.

It all slows down now because I have run out of time. Cottage is almost all booked out until end of March 2016 and I can't carry on whilst I have guests staying. Now I can only work during small windows of time between bookings but its ok it will get done when it gets done, I will just go fishing or day tripping seeing Tasmania. There is so much to see.

building-expert · Dec 03, 2015 3:15 pm

Joker

Your views are breath taking, as good as you could ever see, and your brickwork matches the fantastic work done on my home, and got to love that as ive seen tons of poor bricking done on many homes , even seen good work spoiled by not caring about brick pattern, gives homes a real llook of quality when done well.

Spot on Joker, this was re inspection yesterday on $500K home(builder said they addressed issues after I recommended all brickwork be pulled down because it did not meet display home standard). Really?

http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/brankom10/IMG_6010_zpsmjrh4opy.jpg

building-expert · Dec 08, 2015 6:13 am

In planning the extension the intent all along was to add substantial extension to the cottage but with out ruining what was there and with minimum visual impact. So in design I made roof line slightly lower and demoted building line slightly except for the bathroom window. Together with very neutral colours I think the objective has been achieved. The original cottage is still the main visual outline.
http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/brankom10/IMG_6163_zpsmczzzgzi.jpg

Joker · Dec 08, 2015 7:56 am

The main reason I owner built WITH A TOP PROJECT MANAGER BUILDER was one, he had all the best quality trades and I didn't want to guess who was good and he got way better pricing than I ever could, basically he was a building expert and really honest, I did learn plenty from this forum , from people like building expert, and a big thanks to you.

building-expert · Dec 08, 2015 10:09 pm

Joker

The main reason I owner built WITH A TOP PROJECT MANAGER BUILDER was one, he had all the best quality trades and I didn't want to guess who was good and he got way better pricing than I ever could, basically he was a building expert and really honest, I did learn plenty from this forum , from people like building expert, and a big thanks to you.

Thanks for the recognition Joker, its a pleasure to be of service and the forum gives me opportunity to reach more people and in other states that otherwise physically I could not reach. Its also two way street, I learn a lot as well from sharing, mostly how to do better but equally importantly how not to do. Knowing how not to do is just as important as knowing how to do.

building-expert · Dec 12, 2015 9:39 am

Here is my new stone bath in position, just setting out tiles before grinding and preparing floor for tiling
http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/brankom10/2015-12-10%2011.50.12_zpswjrpchcv.jpg

and the vanity

http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/brankom10/2015-12-09%2011.59.05_zpsvs5ufrpq.jpg

and the view in from outside

http://i1321.photobucket.com/albums/u559/brankom10/2015-12-10%2013.22.32_zpsqsar9izv.jpg

I planted Norfolk pine before I planned extension, does anyone think I should have it removed from where it is?

Stewie D · Dec 12, 2015 11:18 am

Looks very nice so far but those NIP's get to be big trees and you will lose that wonderful view in only a few short years. Not only do they get tall but the bottom layer of branches on a 10m high tree will probably have a spread of around 4-5m. Can you move it to the left or right so you don't block the view of your bathroom window ( or any other window for that matter ). Failing that plant something else.

Stewie

SaveH2O · Dec 12, 2015 7:49 pm

building-expert

I planted Norfolk pine before I planned extension, does anyone think I should have it removed from where it is?

The pine caught my attention in the first photo and I had decided to comment before reading your query under the third photo.

Apart from agreeing with Stewie, I also add that in years to come, the pine will also impact on the quality of your harvested water that you require for potable use.

Also, if the tree will later cast your roof into a rain shadow from the usual direction of the weather, it will also affect your harvested yield.

building-expert · Dec 14, 2015 6:07 am

SaveH2O

building-expert

I planted Norfolk pine before I planned extension, does anyone think I should have it removed from where it is?

The pine caught my attention in the first photo and I had decided to comment before reading your query under the third photo.

Apart from agreeing with Stewie, I also add that in years to come, the pine will also impact on the quality of your harvested water that you require for potable use.

Also, if the tree will later cast your roof into a rain shadow from the usual direction of the weather, it will also affect your harvested yield.

Thanks guys, good points. When I clean up outside and landscape I will have the tree moved.

Joker · Dec 16, 2015 12:14 pm

That bathroom window is like a landscape picture
Only its like a 3d ultra high definition.
You must have a good draftsman , who are vital to get the right plan. We used a firm whom wife was draftsman and husband was architectect, got done by both in the end. Love the pictures you are putting up.

building-expert · Dec 26, 2015 10:11 am

After being very happy with my bricklayers work I had unpleasant experience when I got his invoice.
There it was 4.3K for laying 2400 bricks and based on so many hrs at so much an hr.
The problem was that this was not agreed. Before he started he had viewed the job and told me $1/brick plus extras such as cutting,sills lintels etc. all pretty well standard so I agreed.
When I questioned him he muffled on that it's cheaper that way and would have been more had it been worked out the way we agreed.
I knew that was BS and did my own count of bricks and cuts and after allowing for sills, lintels and brick cleaning it came to 3.5K.
So I confronted him saying that I am flying back and to challenge me or otherwise let me know what he wants to do.
He backed down and accepted my assessment, then I paid him making sure he signed off paid in full.
At my age I don't need this $hit
Moral of the story?
Great tradie, great job, $hit bloke to deal with, leaving bad taste.

gandn · Dec 26, 2015 11:06 am

Yep $1.80/ brick is a bit rich! Good on you for standing your ground on your agreed price.

building-expert · Dec 28, 2015 8:29 am

I had another problem, this time with window supplier.
At the time of purchase I wanted full size marine grade stainless steel security sliding doors to match what I already had on the cottage.
I showed rep what I had, no problem, extra $390 per door all done.
When sliding doors were delivered there was a horizontal bar (to spoil my view) second photo on my 27/11 post
When I complained there was run around: we don't do it that way, if we don't have a bar mesh will scrape against frame etc etc.
I had to threaten to take them to consumer affairs (and I still did not pay the balance by then) for them to come to their senses.
So I got a full credit back $2100 for two doors and now I have to get them done somewhere else (quoted $2350)
They make great windows and doors, just don't have technical ability outside the square.
And they supplied me with restricted awning winders (for 2 storey house) and now have to change them over

waxinggibbous · Dec 28, 2015 8:41 am

I have full sized metal security screen doors without a horizontal bar where I live and there is no issue at all with the mesh scraping against the frame. Probably spinning you a story to make you keep the existing ones.

building-expert · Dec 29, 2015 11:07 am

Yep, I do to and showed him exactly what I want But they could not deliver.