Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Jun 13, 2008 10:15 pm 8 weeks ago I accepted a quote and paid a deposit to a roofing company to install/supply boral concrete tiles for our house (boral preferred supplier)
after 4 weeks, we started ringing every week only to be told definitely next week... blah blah blah. when I rang this morning I was told they were in the process of hiring another roof tiler to do our job...huh? what about the roof tilers you already employ, I ask oh no, says they, they are far too busy me thinking wtf? I rang boral, of course they couldnt help so during the course of the day I line up another roofing company, as I already had the quote. they can do the job in approx 2-3 weeks I also sent a fax to the first co. cancelling our arrangement and requesting my deposit refunded. so the first roofing company rang me at 4.45 pm this evening they say " we will definitely have safety rails and tiles there on mon morning and a tiler there on tues, we are/have hiring a new roof tiler" that would not have happened if I hadn`t threatened to take my business elsewhere...and we have had another 8 weeks delay due to this company shheeesh I just hope our frame/trusses/windows have not had too much exposure to the elements owner builders are last on the priority for companies like this...no repeat business I rang the 2nd company and told them to put my quote acceptance in the pending file which they have done. anyone considering a new tradie career...try roof tiling oh and now that I have thought about it some more, they are employing 1 roof tiler...hmmmm roof tilers normally work in gangs, with apprentices, and guys on the ground running around loading the conveyors with tiles...2 days or so..in and out...what is them hiring 1 roof tiler going to achieve? anyway ...vent over I am writing this so that it might help any one in the same position fortunately my DH friends son is a roof tiler, our plans are going to him over the w/end, he reckons he can have the roof up in 2 weeks so HOPEFULLY, i will be able to post pics of my new roof in a week or 2 Jo Re: owner/builder woes 2Jun 14, 2008 7:45 am We're also going to be owner building in Melbourne. However we are going to subcontract building the house to lock up in one contract, with penalty clauses. Hopefully we will then be less likely to suffer experiences such as your unfortunate one....
Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: owner/builder woes 4Jun 14, 2008 10:32 am I am owner building at the moment. Yes you are the last person on the list for the reasons you had stated. I have also experienced this, especially in the early days. Thank god for myself my partner became involved in the building process for my house after the frame stage. He runs a carpentry business with staff, works for a number of builders who do their own developmental projects (i.e. x2 sites on the go consisting of 3 architectually designed townhouses on each site). Unfortunatley as he was doing the frames for such jobs as above, I was unable to get him to do my frame unless I was willing to wait 8 months, which I was not.
The builders who have become his friends now have given me contacts for services and have managed to get me better prices on things I require as they build houses non stop thus are repeat business to their suppliers. My partner handing over his business card as a builder has made some suppliers bend over backwards to accommodate us. Another thing I have noticed as an owner builder is the fear that some trades have in taking on work. They have experienced the side from owner builders who are inexperienced with building in general and often fail to pay. As a registered builder, trades who are emplyed by the builder are covered by various acts that are enforced if the builder wishes to remain a registered builder. To be honest my partner avoids taking on work for an owner builder unless he knows the person. In the past he has and has found the process fustrating mainly due to their lack of knowledge and ability. When the owner builder is unable to take on the role as a builder due to lack of compentency, my partner loses time, and when he loses time he loses money. Then the owner builder expects him to give his time to fix these issues for nothing. A few owner builders have also expects him to take on the role of a builder by organising the next trade etc. I am not saying that I am describing you, I am simply explaining some issues that my partner has faced and as a result declines working for owner builders. Oh and as for the roof tilers, I can tell you it is not a great job and nor does it pay well. One of my colleague's husband used to be a roofie with his father. The roof trade is controlled by the companies who make the product i.e Boral, Austral etc. They are the ones who employ the tilers. Anyways he got out of the roofing business as it was simply not making him money. I have spoken to her husband and he told me unless roofies are able to find their own customers (like a bricklayer who then gets the bricks for the customer) they will always struggle. I'm sorry to hear of your experience and I hope that they rectify the issue for you asap and the rest of your building process goes well. Re: owner/builder woes 5Jun 14, 2008 12:17 pm I am not an owner builder, but it is great to hear the other side of the story sometimes as well. Thanks Minx, very informative. Re: owner/builder woes 6Jun 14, 2008 9:37 pm thanks for the informative reply minx and you are absolutely not describing me!
we decided to owner build cause DH is a bricklayer(and a good one) with many aquaintances through mirvac.. my son is an apprentice carpenter. DH did glen waverley and is now working at waterways my DH also has played darts for the last 20 years or so and has many social contacts. so we started with friends brother, surveyor another friend levelled the site. DH work contact for slab, plumber nephew...sales rep for bowens, really good price for frame, trusses and aluminium windows. good friends friend is sparky. DH, son and friend erected frame,truss and installed windows. DH doing bricklaying ongoing. next stage...use a company with no contacts, as we were not to concerned about the roof, just needed it DONE so the first time we used a company with no contact , we are very dissatisfied. once our roof is on, DH and my son will install the ducted vac, install the insulation. brother in law to plaster, render, this is his profession. long term darts mate to paint, (choice of 3 painters that we have known for a long time) DH best friends friend is a concretor another nephew is glazier and in the flat pack industry. so he will sort out our laundry, kitchen bathrooms DH to install all tiling DH has contact through mirvac for heat/cooling so the only other thing that we have to deal with with no contact is carpets. oh and my sister in law is 2IC in a curtain /blind company, so thats covered as well and now I know what a noggin is and a lintel as well Jo Re: owner/builder woes 7Jun 14, 2008 11:48 pm Err....zonk...need some new acquaintances.....you have a very useful circle of friends....note to self take up darts.
Hey...there's a thought blow dart the tiler.... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: owner/builder woes 8Jun 15, 2008 9:07 am Hi Zonk
Sorry to hear or your woes. The roof was our sticking point as well. Have done OB before for a reno and had the same sort of problems. Anything hubby didn't so himself we had problems with Hopefully Monday will bring you good news Anne Grandview 36 on Beautiful Bribie Site Start Dec 5th 2007 Projected completion May 12th 2008 NOPE Handover 24th June 2008 Moved in 11th July 2008 Wating on one final thing - Still - Oct 2009 Re: owner/builder woes 9Jun 15, 2008 7:53 pm Hi Zonk, you sound like you have it all set up like me
I'm glad that it wasn't you that I have described but you would be amazed at the amount of people that owner build and have no construction experience what so ever. It really turns into disaster. By trying to save money, they end up spending more. I have heard all the horror owner builder stories. Good luck with the rest of your house. I have learned so many valuable lessons along the way. The biggest lesson I learned was that I got ripped off or scammed should I say and it cost me 15 grand. What you are experiencing with your roof, I had worse with my stair maker. After 8 months he still had not started my Jarrah staircase. My partner and I went to his factory and ended up in a screaming match with him. Deposit was paid and upon closer inspection of his files, my job was second last with at least 6 others before me. His excuse was that my stairs were architectual designed and he was unsure. Mind you every time I phoned (at least 4 occasions) I got the whole i'll be starting them in two weeks. He never did. He made a smaller set of stairs and my partner was trying to tell him that one of the stringers was bowed and it needed to be fixed. It took over an hour to explain this problem. He refused to come out to look as he said he was so busy he didn't have time. It would of been quicker for him to come out, than the time we spent going through all the drama there. He then pulled out the "what do you want to do about it". At that point my partner lost the plot and was saying do i have to tell you how to do your job. I kid you not he was telling him to use this saw, that saw, this chisell to fix it etc. Could you believe he tried to get my partner to fix the stringer. In the end my partner told him you BETTER be on site on this day and that time, no excuses with a new stringer. Sure enough he came out and fixed it. It wasn't so hard when he got out there and did it. I ended up getting another guy to do my main stairs. He and his business partner finished making it in a week and took a day to install it. Might I add that this was all for stairs only. I'm getting stainless steel ballustrades so they didn't have to worry about that. For getting ripped off 15k and the whole stair thing happening, at those times I wish I had a builder doing my job. Re: owner/builder woes 10Jun 16, 2008 6:24 pm I am yet to start my ob project and am finding it difficult just to get quotes, most dont reply and others i cant get hold of and dont return my calls, Is it that busy out there that the tradies just dont want the work? My house is not small by any means so its not exactly chump change for them.
would I be likely to get a better quote for supply & install directly from the tiling company or through a tiler? also tiling rep tols me it would probably be cheaper for me to organise gutters etc through someone other than them. I'm going to give the concretor /brickie one last ring, you think for a $120k job just for concrete /brickwork he'd be a bit more motivated. Re: owner/builder woes 11Jun 16, 2008 9:14 pm hi all,
just a quick reply, more time t/row to reply at length...I would NEVER have agreed to owner build had we not had the extensive circle of family/friends/freinds of friends/ lined up. tdl...I will give your recommendation some serious thought . DH talked to main supervisor (mirvac) currently building waterways in melb today...supervisor said to DH, look over there... DH yes... supervisor "30 plus homes build being held up waiting for roof tilers" ok, so its not just us, its happening to mirvac too, If mirvac cant get roof tilers, how the hell will I? yikes! note to self....dont panic, its only a roof deep breaths now, Jo Re: owner/builder woes 13Jun 16, 2008 9:33 pm Thanks Paula,
I will post t/row regards todays dramas re: roof tiles I have had another glass of wine now... I am feeling very "whatever" but t/row I will be ready to do whatever it takes to get our roof on Jo Re: owner/builder woes 14Jun 17, 2008 9:13 pm My problems where with my house restumpers they where ment to finish the job mid FEB but they wouldn't turn up when they said they would.
so basicly a 6 week job took them 4 months to complete! My advice to anyone 'specically OB's is to put time penalties into your contracts so that things don't drag on... I had a quick drive by today 15Jun 17, 2008 10:54 pm and.....
yippee! roof tiles were being delivered I am now the proud owner of 388 m2 of boral striata (profile)colour on gunmetal grey roof tiles...or I will be when I pay the tiling company I half expected the tiling co to ring me today demanding progress payment, but they didnt. I rang DH , he went on site on the way home, half the house has had battens installed.safety rails are all up on the roof. DH brought me home 1 tile to make sure it was the correct profile and colour. so as the tiling co have now paid for the tiles (on account of course) 30 days? 60 days probably...maybe 90 who knows? they will now ask for progress payment (80%) yeah right. I would really like to see someone on the roof and someone on the ground with an elevator t/row then tiling co will get their 80 % on delivery its great to know the tiles are there, just need the roof tilers now tiling co would not have ordered tiles if they could not install phew....no more sleepless nights over roof tiles Jo.... hmmm what can I worry about now? Re: I had a quick drive by today 18Jun 18, 2008 7:56 am zonk phew....no more sleepless nights over roof tiles hmmm what can I worry about now? Tile thieves? Simon Building an architect designed home out of Insulated Concrete Forms on acreage in semi-rural SE Melbourne. Developer approval obtained, engineering complete, getting quotes Re: owner/builder woes 20Jun 18, 2008 8:50 pm Paula Ok so make sure DS wants to be a roof tiler. Will be in demand and will make a fortune!! On a serious note, hope it doesnt take too long for you. I've heard that roof tilers dont get paid much..so nobody want to be a roof tiler. The only way you will make money atm is to be your own boss and advertise for your own work Best Price Wardrobes Sliding door robes | Walk in robes Deco panel | Mirror | Melamine 26 to 28 Cottage lane Hackham M: 0402 927 376 http://www.bestpricewardrobes.com.au Trade welcome Hi VK, I am now retired however I have stood beside over 300 owner builders in the past 18 years that have successfully built their own homes. First of all a building… 10 22661 Hi all. Anyone know when the $11,000 limit was set in legislation for renovations in QLD? Ive been renovating for 5 years now and this was the limit back then. As we know,… 0 4240 |