Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Jan 26, 2014 3:47 am Howdy, We purchased a steel kit home off gumtree still in its wrappers with all fasteners for $20K ,Retail is about $35k guy bought it and his plans changed sadly We also purchased a flood free 2067m2 block in Urangan Hervey Bay for $100K, watched this block for a year it was ugly overgrown battle axe block , Im excited as Im trying to do a slab on ground with purchase of block and build for under $200k, My wife has severe rheumatoid and our house has steps and it is difficult for her, I am owner Building I have built before it is one of the basic Shed Homes 4 bed horizontal clad jobs trying to make it as friendly to her as possible I always had high ideals of building an enviro friendly mud brick or strawbale type house, Im realistically happy to be able to keep my family under 1 roof after renting a slab on ground shoebox for the last year in a mid density neighbourhood it will be nice to have a bit of bush space The block needs work Ive spent the last week mowing and clearing putting up a star picket fence it backs onto a koala reserve and it looks a million dollars out of the 2067m2 about 1200 is usable for building on 800 is lost in driveway and the rear has a sewer line running through but a 1200m2 block of dirt in Hervey Bay is a windfall and one without flooding history is even better after building my first house 18 years ago I have bought a few and living in a rental for 12 months is hard to get used to again, old mate next door likes to watch everyone and know everyones business and rings the council for noise pollution if you fart to loud , cant wait to be back in our own property again .... Just the buzz of cleaning it up, knowing Ill be watching my younger children grow up there with room to play cricket its a good feeling. The house is the Aussie Retreat from wide span and it will do for a start can always add on to a steel kit building easier enoughCheers Pat I'm just the imagination of my figment's Building a cheapo Aussie Retreat Hervey Bay Re: New Build Good Score 2Jan 26, 2014 9:39 am Good work. And hope it all goes well. B/axe blocks can be quite good if done the right way - ie with space. Re: New Build Good Score 3Jan 26, 2014 10:12 am im putting in swales around the fence line on connecting blocks and using the fill to compact a pad , this way any run off will go towards the permaculture we plan on it is an M soil and we are still umming and aaahing on wether to build on stumps with a ramp or a slab (the slab was the original intention) just waiting on engineering and cost I'm just the imagination of my figment's Building a cheapo Aussie Retreat Hervey Bay Re: New Build Good Score 5Jan 26, 2014 12:51 pm When you picked up the kit, how sure were you that everything was there? The packing list would be hard to verify without unpacking everything? Are you going to put up a blow by blow showcase of how the build proceeds similar to this thread? There are many of us who would be interested to see it. Quite a few have mentioned interest in the Wide Span kits over time. Re: New Build Good Score 6Jan 26, 2014 3:36 pm qebtel When you picked up the kit, how sure were you that everything was there? The packing list would be hard to verify without unpacking everything? Are you going to put up a blow by blow showcase of how the build proceeds similar to this thread? There are many of us who would be interested to see it. Quite a few have mentioned interest in the Wide Span kits over time. Yes ... 25,000 screws - 2cm, 25,000 screws 1 cm, 275 bolts ...... Please count all material and advise if any is missing .... Re: New Build Good Score 7Jan 26, 2014 8:34 pm Saint Mike qebtel When you picked up the kit, how sure were you that everything was there? The packing list would be hard to verify without unpacking everything? Are you going to put up a blow by blow showcase of how the build proceeds similar to this thread? There are many of us who would be interested to see it. Quite a few have mentioned interest in the Wide Span kits over time. Yes ... 25,000 screws - 2cm, 25,000 screws 1 cm, 275 bolts ...... Please count all material and advise if any is missing .... for every screw I count do I get a beer I am going to start a blog soon am still in honeymoon phase for $20k if something is missing I am sure a friend or myself could work out what it is and replace from the best of knowledge and a lot is trust is the kit has been packed and stored since purchase its roughly $15-17k cheaper than retail its a risk ill have to take I'm just the imagination of my figment's Building a cheapo Aussie Retreat Hervey Bay The fun begins 8Jan 27, 2014 6:07 am I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS BLOCK OF LAND in Hervey Bay FOR A YEAR , it had been on the market forever , it backs onto a koala reserve and is a battle axe block, I watched offered a small amount roughly worked out what it would cost to make it useable a few trees gone some earth works on the drive way , its privacy is what I liked , I am pretty handy and don't mind getting dirty even though at 45 now the elbows are sore, My wife developed Rheumatoid arthritis about 3 years ago and we were living rural in our own home but it was becoming to much stress driving, so we decided to move back to the bay and rent a slab on ground shoebox and make it easier for her but we missed being in our own place I also bought a 2nd hand unused Aussie Retreat kit off of gumtree for about $15k cheaper than retail its cream with blue trim ????? but hey the price was right 10 years time when the qld sun fades it ill spray it I have also been reading through here about people being interested in these kits from wide span I am waiting on the soil test to work out wether it would best suit a slab or on piers, I am leaning to wards piers with a ramp from carport for SWMBO , there is a creek at back of block and even though its flood free I asked for due diligence searches subject to contract , so im thinking to build a pad to push any water away (in case of a king tide and freaky weather) and sitting it on piers/stumps but its a cost thing as well I have mates that crete and would do a mates rate .. I have been lucky so far, I love the position, the block was cheap (still more than I paid for my first house many years ago in Redcliffe) Im not a pro builder I have industry experience So I hope to write up my little journey as I go and try to put as much info on these kits as I can .. and any mistakes I make on the way be a learning experience for others Its not the ideal kit for my situation but it is 4 bed and I can afford it at moment, I thought if I strike it lucky I can always extend it or the like , I would love to have the champagne on the beer budget , but reality gets in the way I have 3 kids under 15 at home 15 6 and 3 I need 4 bedrooms and a place for them to run safely , its off st Im not worried about cars ... anyway in the last week we have mowed the block and set about putting up a star picket fence along back boundary with 2 big gates so we still have rear access and it has come up a million bucks , I plan on digging in some swales between us an the properties beside so any run off is directed away from all properties and planting shrubs for privacy. using the cut to raise where I want to put the pad / piers to slope any water away towards the swales which will then auto water any shrubs we plant .. (so Im trying to use enviro friendly principals) to offset my guilt at buying a steel building though it is recycled in a sense My mate Jeff is a photographer and I love this Pic I call it anxiety and bought the only Print it will be going on my wall I'm just the imagination of my figment's Building a cheapo Aussie Retreat Hervey Bay Re: New Build, Good Score OB an Aussie retreat steel kit 11Jan 27, 2014 2:26 pm Will be watching this one. All the best with your build adventure. Re: New Build Good Score 12Jan 28, 2014 11:26 am Saint Mike Yes ... 25,000 screws - 2cm, 25,000 screws 1 cm, 275 bolts ...... Please count all material and advise if any is missing .... Duhh...obviously was not referring to screws that can be easily bought afterwards. Was talking about main items of the kit. They come bundled together and are hard to quantitise I believe. But maybe you count a pack of screws when you shop at Bunnings, who knows... The Aussie Retreat Kit 4:169m² is listed for $32,900 on the wide Span website currently. But a kit home for 20K, if eveything is there, is a good pickup for sure. Will follow keenly if you keep us updated on your project. Re: New Build, Good Score OB an Aussie retreat steel kit 13Jan 28, 2014 7:30 pm Have to have faith sometimes I guess, I am hoping its all there it is still factory packed I'm just the imagination of my figment's Building a cheapo Aussie Retreat Hervey Bay Re: New Build, Good Score OB an Aussie retreat steel kit 14Jan 28, 2014 9:00 pm Have you worked out an estimate on the final build cost? I would imagine once you add insulation, gyprock, ceilings, windows, doors, bathroom fittings and fixtures it would be pretty close to an owner built timber & brick veneer home? Will definitely be an interesting build though, nothing like DIYing to ensure it gets done properly! Re: New Build, Good Score OB an Aussie retreat steel kit 15Jan 29, 2014 12:08 pm I have not financed any part of the build yet , has all been cash so far Im at around $131K including land purchase kit and windows I am hoping to bring it home under $200K but that may be a pipe dream with the PCI's my wife wants, our main concern at moment is getting it to lock up and Imagine that being at around $160K as I will employ a mate or two on a cash basis to help me build stand and clad to get it up pronto my plumber will probally be around 10K and sparky around 8k so there is $180K kitchen will be a 2nd hand kitchen or one we build ourselves we haven't decided on using Gyprock as yet, The outside we aren't to fussed on colour we live under a carport in summer bbqing and inside in winter , more concerned with interior and I think the general consensus is the interior will be homely country style so that will be a long time finish and done over the next two years so I will exceed $200K but it will be done delicately My window quote came back today |$5560 with security and solartint so I sent an email back saying $5000 we have a deal see what happens I'm just the imagination of my figment's Building a cheapo Aussie Retreat Hervey Bay Re: New Build, Good Score OB an Aussie retreat steel kit 16Jan 29, 2014 12:15 pm also picked up a shed today 7x 7.5x2.7 for 2 grand and its the same colour as the house kit I have go remove it from the property but a couple mates a car trailer and ive saved another 5 grand keep your eye on things people its items like this that make us blow budgets A mate will do slab for me for about 3k for the shed so say 6k for a 53m2 shed is cheap the quotes I looked at were $5900 for a 6x6 just ridiculous someone is making a lot of money on steel Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The second pic is the front gate 1 x old power pole cut in 2 will also have another across the top when construction finishes and the sides will be timber rustic bush style left hand side of drive will be a drain and right side raised for driveway Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I'm just the imagination of my figment's Building a cheapo Aussie Retreat Hervey Bay Re: New Build, Good Score OB an Aussie retreat steel kit 17Jan 29, 2014 12:40 pm Please don't think I know what I am doing, It is taking all my might to be patient and let things come to me instead of wanting them now and pristine , but by being patient and thinking ahead I save in the long run, I only have a rough budget estimate in my head , I am trying to get it to a point where it is liveable lockable toilet shower so I can then finish interior at a slower pace , my main concern is to have wet areas sealed and functioning so we can loo and shower , electrics secure , then move in and not pay rent as we are and live on site while we do interior 1 room at a time I'm just the imagination of my figment's Building a cheapo Aussie Retreat Hervey Bay Re: New Build Good Score 18Jan 29, 2014 3:40 pm qebtel Saint Mike Yes ... 25,000 screws - 2cm, 25,000 screws 1 cm, 275 bolts ...... Please count all material and advise if any is missing .... Duhh...obviously was not referring to screws that can be easily bought afterwards. Was talking about main items of the kit. They come bundled together and are hard to quantitise I believe. But maybe you count a pack of screws when you shop at Bunnings, who knows... The Aussie Retreat Kit 4:169m² is listed for $32,900 on the wide Span website currently. But a kit home for 20K, if eveything is there, is a good pickup for sure. Will follow keenly if you keep us updated on your project. The kit I have is $32900 + $350 upgrade to N3 + $2900 for rear veranda = $36150 so I have saved $16 k and that's a big dint in a slab or a stumped floor system the floor system from the company is $8500 + piers + timbers Im looking on Par as Im thinking a slab depending on soil test is anywhere between 16-22K Plus it comes with engineering for 5 soil classes that saves money as well I'm just the imagination of my figment's Building a cheapo Aussie Retreat Hervey Bay Re: New Build, Good Score OB an Aussie retreat steel kit 19Jan 30, 2014 5:03 pm http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/carindal ... 1037591776 For anyone interested the above link is an Aussie Retreat completed and for sale near Warwick QLD I'm just the imagination of my figment's Building a cheapo Aussie Retreat Hervey Bay Re: New Build, Good Score OB an Aussie retreat steel kit 20Jan 30, 2014 8:53 pm Just jumping in here to follow along too. Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Hi I am wanting some opinions about the build of a steel shed I am going to get one about 4.5 x 2.5 m steel shed and the height will be about 2.3-2.4m high The one I am… 0 14442 I think I know the answer but just checking to see if anyone has had experience with it. I want to build a small 20 square metre retreat in my backyard, it will have a… 0 13890 9 24791 |