Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Jun 07, 2013 11:45 pm So glad we found this forum! We would love to share our journey... We are just about to start our owner-builder project in the Perth hills, Gidgegannup. We bought 80acres with my parents (yes we are crazy but we get along very well) and plan to build what is effectively two houses joined at the laundries. We are currently getting our plans drawn up after looking at them for two years (and altered them so many times!) Hubby is a site supervisor so knows all the in and outs of building and has access to some good trades but it is still hard work making sure we've thought of everything. Will post our prelim plan as soon as I work out how Our Owner-Build project... viewtopic.php?f=38&t=65301 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 3Jun 08, 2013 11:10 am Hi Memphis! We have been reading about your build. Realised we drive past your place all the time, have been watching your progress, looks great so far! We will go with handmades too but probably the caversham. We are in the swan shire too, have heard good and bad about them. Hoping they won't have an issue with our plans. Previously built (with a builder) in Morangup with Toodyay shire and they were easy. Will swap numbers of trades down the track if that's ok. Our Owner-Build project... viewtopic.php?f=38&t=65301 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 4Jun 08, 2013 4:22 pm Yeah we are in a bit of a promenant spot, and as its going up slow most locals know the house quite well. Everyone used to refer to "the little house on the corner" (granny flat), now its that huge half built house on the corner haha. We found Swan very easy to deal with, hopefully yours goes well too, however we dont get bin collection.. Happy to recommend (and not recommend) tradies, let me know what your chasing. Would also love to pick through your rolodex Interestingly I grew up in Morangup!. Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 5Jun 08, 2013 7:50 pm You are a long time local! Thats good to hear about Swan. If you need any trades let us know. Here is a photo of our blank canvas... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And heres our prelim plan, currently being drafted properly... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Its very practical, needed as much space as we could get for our money, which meant doing away with fancy roof lines, coffered ceilings etc but I didn't give up my freestanding bath! Our Owner-Build project... viewtopic.php?f=38&t=65301 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 6Jun 10, 2013 4:36 pm Hi D+G and memphis, very jealous of the size of the block, 80acres is huge! I built in Darlington on 0.5acre just a quick couple of things I like the design in terms of separating the areas for you and your parents and the orientation is pretty good, I have been working in residential energy efficiency and the thing that got me was the eaves and patios on the North side. This is the side that with well designed eaves can let an amazing amount of light and heat in in winter creating a cozy, light living areas but also keep it all out in summer to stay cool. By building large eaves and patios to the North you are robbing the house of free heat and it will be cold and need a lot of heating, it will also struggle to get 6 stars under the new energy efficiency requirements. You have some great glazing on the North side that would allow this light to heat up your living areas in winter but it is covered by the eaves/patio so instead of letting heat and light in they just let more heat escape. the patios would be best to the West, East or South or over areas to the North that aren't living areas or alternatively solar pergola/patios used to let the winter sun through but keep the summer sun out. The Northern eaves and homestead style (eaves all around) of house worked very well in times past because there was no ability to cool the house (A/C wasn't an option) so the aim was to shut as much heat out in summer, however in winter these places got quite cold, but they had a means of heating through wood fires and didn't they need them, fireplace in almost every room they built. The Properly Shaded Northern Glazing In our house has made the living area so light and comfortable that I usually walk around in shirt and shorts with no heating. I want people to experience it as well. Everything else looks pretty well planned and thought through and this would add a lot of comfort to a well designed home. If you want any info on this just message me, I will be happy to provide free advice Hope you have a great build My Build; viewtopic.php?f=38&t=62345&p=968369#p968369 http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_darlington/ Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 8Jul 22, 2013 6:18 pm How's the build going? That is going to be one amazing building! Do you have kids? Will be handy when the grandparents need to babysit! Looking forward to following this build! My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=64437 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 9Jul 29, 2013 12:07 am Hi Tracy, We are still waiting for our drawings . Have been back and forwards with the drafters trying to get it right (completely missed major details from the original drawing I sent them). Yes we have 3 kids. We tried to think ahead in terms of spaces for them in the future without spending a fortune. There won't be a lot glamour features in the house as we want to put our money into the size. Gem Our Owner-Build project... viewtopic.php?f=38&t=65301 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 10Aug 01, 2013 4:37 pm The paperwork is the most frustrating bit! My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=64437 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 11Aug 04, 2013 8:58 pm Hi Guys, First time on the Forum so be gentle with me, We have 70 acres in Toodyay and are just starting our journey, So far we have our house planes for our Wide Span House and Shed, we have also jumped the first hurdle with the council and have planning permission. Next step is our 'Owner Builder' license, so here come the first query: Q: Looking at the application form how much info do they require when they ask you to "provide a statement summarizing how you plan to undertake the building project" Q: They also ask me to "provide a copy of the building plans" how many plans do they require I have about 30 pages that got sent from Wide Span Homes surely they don't require all of them. Cheers Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 12Aug 04, 2013 11:11 pm Hi YAMFAN, Congratulations getting it all through the shire! From experience, Toodyay shire is pretty easy to deal with, although that was a few years ago now. As with the owner builder form, we haven't submitted our form yet but I rang them with exactly the same questions. We filled in the space provided with numbered steps eg 1. Use earthwork contractor for site works. 2. Etc I think they want to see what you are doing yourself and what you'll get contractors to do. Best thing to do is give them (building commission) a call, they are really easy to talk to. And with the plans we intend to send a floor plan and a few elevations. Good luck with it all! Our Owner-Build project... viewtopic.php?f=38&t=65301 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 13Aug 07, 2013 9:09 am Thanks D+G I rang the Building Commission and to tell the truth they sounded a bit vague to me? Basically they wanted elevation and floor plans, not bothered with water tank or septic, they also preferred names, numbers and ABN's of contractors you intend using. So now I will have to delay the application and source quotes from structural surveyor/engineer, builder, electrician, plumber, etc etc: Does anyone have any recommendations? Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 14Aug 07, 2013 11:53 am Hi YAMFAN I don't think it is necessary to supply that much information. We didn't supply details of each individual trade, we just stated that we would use qualified trades throughout the project. We supplied a copy of the site plan, floor plans and elevations. I just detailed my experience in the construction industry and that I had copies of or access to all relevant legislation's, BCA and Australian Standards required to carry out the duties and responsibilities as an owner builder. I worked on the theory that if what I provided wasn't enough information, they would ask for more. We got our OB license without providing anything more. Hope this helps Nelso Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 15Aug 09, 2013 11:59 pm I agree Nelso. We will be submitting the basics. They just need you to demonstrate you kinda know what you're doing. Our Owner-Build project... viewtopic.php?f=38&t=65301 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 16Oct 16, 2013 12:27 am Yay, we have our plans, finally! Waiting on structural details now. Then we can submit to shire. Slowly getting somewhere! Our Owner-Build project... viewtopic.php?f=38&t=65301 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 17Oct 17, 2013 10:37 pm That's great! Have the plans changed much from the ones above? My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=64437 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 18Nov 22, 2013 1:18 pm Hi Tracy, Finally got around to working out how to post plans again. Not much has changed. We have discovered so many mistakes in the drawings. The major one being the roof had been drawn as a truss roof not a stick roof like we had originally requested. Didn't realise until I was talking to the drafter one day about something else and they happen to say 'no we can't do such and such because it is a truss roof'. The verandahs were also suppose to be exposed timbers, didn't realise until the end, but because of the work to change them we decided to go for lined) and also discovered all the doors were at 28c instead of 25c (would have meant alot of custom made doors!!!). Anyway after alot of checking and rechecking, we have finally close to getting structural details. Don't look too close, there are alot of things that aren't quite right but could not be bothered trying to get them fixed by the drafter. Still trying to work out how high we should make the kids bathroom window in house 1 so that the window sill is level with the bath hob. Don't want it too low that we have to cut too much out of the slab but don't want it too high that we have to put in a step! We also got our 6-star energy efficiency rating, all we had to do was put insulation in the kitchen walls of house 1. Happy with that! House 1 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ House 2 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Our Owner-Build project... viewtopic.php?f=38&t=65301 Re: Perth Hills, Gidgegannup - Our Owner-build Journey 19Nov 22, 2013 2:46 pm Hi D & G, Lovely looking block, I hear ya re the plans sometimes I think you spend so much time looking at the plans that you cease seeing them and see what you think is there (ie what you've told your drafter) and not what is actually there (whatever your drafter thinks of) lol <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Any advice on how to ensure the kit home granny flat that im thinking of buying will get council approval. The kit home companys wont release plans without a deposit and… 0 4074 Even if it's not being sub-divided and you want to keep it as Torrens title, you will still need to talk to a town planner or Council themselves, to see if they will allow… 1 6832 Thanks again Simeon for being so elaborate. Appreciate it. Its gives us a very idea. Kind Regards 4 1998 |