Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Sep 01, 2010 2:18 am After what seems like an eternity planning and sub-dividing our block, we are about to start building. I've got most of the trades lined up and will hopefully be able to stay within the estimate. Earthworks should hopefully be done at the end of next week, concrete for around the 23rd. Will post some pictures when I've got something to show. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 2Sep 01, 2010 8:23 am Hi chippy - good to see another Perthian starting. It does take forever finalising the paperwork, approvals and waiting . Nice plan you have there - are you doing it OB? Might be worth uploading a front elevation Preliminary agreement 23/11 Contract 22/03 Prestart 06/04 - finalised on 30/04 Unconditional approval 10/05 Demolition 05/07 Slab 26/08 Brickwork 13/09-06/10 Roof frame started 07/10 viewtopic.php?f=31&t=32292 Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 3Sep 01, 2010 10:48 am The whole planning and sub-division took a while but flowed along quite nicely. The hold up has been the renovations on our front house. I've just finished them off and the house sale settles on Monday. We will finally be cashed up and ready to start building. Good thing is we are ready to start as soon as we have the funds. It would be annoying renting somewhere while you wait 6 months for plans and approvals to go through before you even start to build. Because the house is on a 346m2 battle-ax block we don't have any street frontage. you drive down the driveway and do a right hand turn into the garage. We are going for a white house with a stone (not stack stone) blade wall and then timber feature cladding on the area over the garage. We have seen a house with similar colours and it looks nice and modern without being to stark. Internals aren't 100% finalised yet, but that is the beauty of OB' you don't have to have everything nailed down before you start. It can be somewhat of a moving feast. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 5Sep 01, 2010 1:55 pm Yeah, I suppose the void area could be seen as a waste of space, but we really like the fact that you walk through a nice open space as you walk through the house. It won't just feel like a corridor. I suppose it makes the entrance a bit more "grand". I'm having built in office desk and cupboards under the stairs so will pick up storage there. Initially the area along the upstairs passage that passes in front of the void was all storage but unfortunately we had to reduce it to put in the aircon penetrations. Anymore suggestions welcomed. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 6Sep 01, 2010 10:04 pm Looking good Chippy - I like the void! Would love to see your elevation stuff. We are coming in close to estimation. Some things cost more .... polished concrete ... but then of course it would, some things are coming in at less. I love this OB thing as I change my mind almost daily!!!! Have you got your appliances yet. I think Smeg are ahving a sale in Oct at their warehouse. What are you doing while you build ... we were caught in teh renting whilst waiting for approval trap ... ggggrrrrr. Kay Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 7Sep 01, 2010 11:04 pm Hi Kay, we arranged a rental this week. We will move in on Tuesday and earthworks start at the end of the week so fortunately no wasted time for us. I'm pretty sure we should save some decent money saved out of our estimate. I had the estimator include all the costs for carpentry so I know I've got a good chunk of cash there, plus I've got some very good and reasonable tradesmen lined up. The estimator only allowed $4000 for appliances though so am expecting to blow the budget there. Might check out the Smeg sale. Kay, where are your plans? I suppose I could swing by your site and have a look for myself. Last time I saw it Mr ONC was working his magic on a bare slab. I should pop by and have a look now you've got the second floor slab up. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 8Sep 02, 2010 12:35 am Second slab done ... but boy those formworkers created a mess from hell! Got to wait 3 weeks as it is such a big slab with so much steel. Should be three weeks for second stage of bricks and then the loft and roof ... and then the fun begins. OUr windows are currently en route from Poland so am feeling anxious about getting everything done asap. Our estimation was also very lean on appliances ... and tiling. I am hardly going to build a double storey and have a skirt of tiles, so budget blown there!!!! I will call Smeg tomorrow and find out about the sale and let you know. If you are in the market though have a brand new extractor and gas hob (changing to induction and an elica extractor) from smeg that I bought ... all still wrapped! We got a very very sexy dishwasher from them last year which is a massive twelve placer in a drawer. Fully intergrated! If you plan on popping down, let us know and we could meet you. There is another beautiful OB on our estate ... it is a masterpiece, albeit a bit out there!!!! Will be following your progress carefully! kay Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 9Sep 02, 2010 1:09 am Thanks for the offer on the cooker, but I'm going induction as well. The whole double glazing thing is a bit of a sore point. I would love to have double glazing but the cost is just prohibitive, sounds like you have found a way around that by importing them, has it been an easy process? I'll let you know if I'm going to go past your build for a look. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 10Sep 02, 2010 1:31 am We looked at double glazing as our entire West wall is 2 storeys of glass, but out builder has recommended something else that, whilst not as good, is cost effective and does a decent job. I looked at some double glazed windows on the weekend and thought the visibility through them wasn't as good, but maybe that was just my glasses. I don't want to risk the quality of my view though. I love the void. I wanted one in my own plan (actually it was on my list of MUST haves), but the builders and hubby talked me out of it and into more space that requires cleaning *sigh*. The only thing that stands out to me is opening doors on the linen closet, I'd go sliders to save on room, but then again I hate all opening double doors (my house has them in all the bedroms, they're just always in the way). I'd also remove the door to the powder room to open it up. Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 11Sep 02, 2010 12:00 pm Thanks Mrs Green. We love the void as well. It may not be efficient but you cant beat that feeling of spaciousness. The door on the upstairs powder room could probably go. We decided on having the separate vanity outside the powder room rather than just using the bathroom because we have 3 children (2 girls and 1 boy) and know that as they get older having a second vanity and mirror will solve some of the issues that will arise. I always just viewed it as almost a second bathroom (teeth brushing, makeup etc) so just thought a door made sense but I see lots don't worry with doors now days. The linen cupboard doors aren't a big issue with us. As you can see we have a mix of both swing and sliders. Having used both I can see the benefits to each. There is something nice about being able to open both doors and get good access to the inside of the cupboard. A swing door may get in the way if your getting something out and someone wants to use the toilet but I don't see that as being to much of a problem. They really only look to take up more space on a plan were they mark the swing. What glazing are you using? Comfortplus? Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 12Sep 02, 2010 2:32 pm HI there Chippy The beauty obout Obing as i have found out is the ability to change mind at any point!!!!! Hell I would have been up for a shed load of variations including my beloved concrete as I literally decided at the last minute!!!! Smeg are having their sale .. I called today. they just cant give a date but i will keep you informed!!!! Last year they had induction and I didnt get it!!!!!! gRrrr I want that and steam oven! And maybe a coffee machine! Kay Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 13Sep 02, 2010 7:17 pm MrsGreen We looked at double glazing as our entire West wall is 2 storeys of glass, but out builder has recommended something else that, whilst not as good, is cost effective and does a decent job. I looked at some double glazed windows on the weekend and thought the visibility through them wasn't as good, but maybe that was just my glasses. I don't want to risk the quality of my view though. I love the void. I wanted one in my own plan (actually it was on my list of MUST haves), but the builders and hubby talked me out of it and into more space that requires cleaning *sigh*. The only thing that stands out to me is opening doors on the linen closet, I'd go sliders to save on room, but then again I hate all opening double doors (my house has them in all the bedroms, they're just always in the way). I'd also remove the door to the powder room to open it up. We have gone DG and okay the windows arent here yet but in my experience there isnt any difference. What are you using instead of DG? We looked at other options but I got such a good deal on my windows that it wasnt worth it! Our windows came in cheaper than crappy single glazing! have you got views? We will have direct views of South Beach for a short while ... before we get built out! From the front we can see down to fishing boat harbour! Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 14Sep 02, 2010 9:00 pm Hi Chippy and welcome. It's nice to see other west Aussies building - eastern states houses seem to go up so quickly it's refreshing to know your not the only one with a slower build. Your plans are great - love the void should make things feel larger in the long run. Best wishes with the slab - I will watch this space with interest THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE IS 495 SQM OF BEACH SAND AND WEEDS! http://missvintageshouseofpain.blogspot.com/ Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 15Sep 02, 2010 11:47 pm HI Miss Vintage I check your blog every day .... I love it! Where are you building, I cant work it out from your pic. I gather it is donw Rockingham way ... but cant pin point it! We are building in South Freo and that new estate. Like you I am soooooo eager to be near the sea. I have to compliment you on your level of organisation. Mine is all by the seat of my pants and done in a very ad hoc manner! Has your building licence come through yet? Kay Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 16Sep 03, 2010 12:01 am Hi Miss Vintage. Thanks for the comments. I see you are building with Lorimer. I must say, I love the Lorimer designs. They were the one company that we seriously considered. In the end the owner builder option was one we just couldn't go past but I still really like Lorimer and they seem VERY well priced for what you get. Looks like you are building in Safety Bay just near Penguin Island, hows that for a guess? I see you had the same issue with your upstairs windows. Fortunately we don't have any views so we went for translucent glass on any low windows with the clear glass saved for the high light windows. This got around the overlooking issues. Our bedroom is far enough from the boundary that we can have standard windows. I'll be sure to check out your blog and check your progress. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 17Sep 03, 2010 10:10 am Chippy you are in the wrong profession!!!! From mere pictures you are able to identify exactly where people are building!!! this is exciting having our own perth thread!!!!! Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 18Sep 04, 2010 11:16 pm It's amazing what you can work out from just a few pictures. Seems like there are a few Perth folk building custom houses at the moment. Kay and Andy are blazing the trail for us OB's. I don't think our design is as flash as your's Kay or Miss vitages. Because ours is on a rear strata block the design tends to be more square so you have less design options. We tried to go for a nice blend of practical use of space combined with some nice design touches. It should come out quite nice in the end. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: About to start: double storey, Perth. 19Sep 05, 2010 9:24 am Oh my goodnes TWO new Perth people to talk to. Very exciting but you two are so much braver than me - owner building - I would love to do it but don't think I have the technical knowledge to actually get it right. I am going to avidly watch your topics because essentially I am very very jealous - you really are building your own house. Kay - I love south freo - very nice area and so close to the beach. I am off to find your topic now - it is nice to know someone reads my blog. It started off as a way for my husband to check progress and kind of grew from there. House is through shire but I have just made 87 slight changes so revisionscould take a while! THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE IS 495 SQM OF BEACH SAND AND WEEDS! http://missvintageshouseofpain.blogspot.com/ 1) I had requested R6 ceiling insualtion batts, however I noticed that on some areas there are huge gaps which will allow hot air to sweep in, and also noticed black/grey… 0 4122 My door tends to rub against the frame during winter and I'm looking to fix it so it closes smoothly. Looking online on Youtube I'm seeing methods to fix the alignment and… 0 710 interesting situation what happened after builder issued final invoice? did you list as defect or not does the building surveyor have any responsibility? ie. issuing… 13 47034 |