I feel project builders build sheds not homes and that there is an industry led push to prevent Owner Builders building their own homes!
This is why I am offering free advice to those brave enough to build their own home despite the bureaucratic hurdles placed in their way.
Having worked along side a number of owner builders and having built some of the most energy efficient homes in Australia as well as having decades of local and international experience in prefab and modular building projects I can provide free unbiased advice on most areas of your building project.
I'm new to this forum and happy to discuss my credentials with anyone who may have concerns.
I look forward to hearing your queries!
WatchingStarredHistory
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Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum  01 Feb 2016 35 QLD Junior Member Re: OFFERING FREE ADVICE TO OWNER BUILDERS ON LOW ENERGY AND 2Jul 23, 2018 9:15 pm I have planned (and tried) to be an owner builder in QLD but gave up after many months failing to locate honest and reliable suppliers. Most suppliers I spoke with and subsequently dealt with were unresponsive or lazy or uninterested or dishonest or unreliable or, in most cases, a mixture of all of these traits. These suppliers ranged from surveyors, civil contractors, house designers, window/door suppliers, plumbers, bushfire risk assessors, timber merchants, general hardware merchants, etc, etc. All of these suppliers were within Australia. Although I have not yet tried, if I could find all of the contractors and material suppliers from another country I'd give them ALL of my business and then advertise the shameful fact to the idiots here in Australia. My question for you Eco Ian is this: how does an owner builder find honest and decent suppliers in Australia or is the answer that I have to pay a builder to do the whole job and I forget the concept of owner/builder ? 22 Jul 2018 3 New Poster Re: OFFERING FREE ADVICE TO OWNER BUILDERS ON LOW ENERGY AND 3Jul 24, 2018 4:02 pm Hi Gommeqld I've had the pleasure of working on both east and west coasts, as well as mainland Europe, the UAE, UK and Ireland and there have been common issues where ever I have worked. Boom time makes getting good contractors harder (as you have discovered)! There are ways of making your life easier depending on the type of build you are undertaking. Can you give me a quick run down on what you hope to build? Cheers. 01 Feb 2016 35 QLD Junior Member Re: OFFERING FREE ADVICE TO OWNER BUILDERS ON LOW ENERGY AND 4Jul 24, 2018 4:24 pm Click on my name and you'll get a list of my posts. Read of few of those and you'll get a good idea of my background and intentions. Here's an extract from one of those posts which will give you a summary: Here are some questions relating to my new timber framed house I'm currently designing and planning to owner/build in central QLD. It's on the coast, remote site, steep slope (average pier height 2.4m), soil type S, wind rating C4, fire rating BAL19. The same issues existed in both boom and non boom times. Poor attitudes and terrible business practices remain no matter what the economic times. 23 Jul 2014 1,193 VIC Gold Member Re: OFFERING FREE ADVICE TO OWNER BUILDERS ON LOW ENERGY AND 5Feb 14, 2019 10:14 pm You can owner build with a project manager, saved more this way and ensured I got top trades, did lots of unskilled jobs myself, I interviewed project managers and picked best organized guy who loved best practices, checked several jobs he did and let him know I knew a bit and would sponge up more information as the build went along, went brilliant for me and ended up with great mutual respect. 15 Dec 2011 313 VIC Silver Member Re: OFFERING FREE ADVICE TO OWNER BUILDERS ON LOW ENERGY AND 6Feb 21, 2019 7:29 pm Totally agree with this. I am thinking of going this path as well. Any recommendation for a PM? I do feel that unless you have the time or you can wait, getting a project manager can save a lot of hassles. I do need some advice as this point as well since I am going to start the real work soon. 23 Jul 2014 1,193 VIC Gold Member Re: OFFERING FREE ADVICE TO OWNER BUILDERS ON LOW ENERGY AND 7Feb 21, 2019 7:47 pm I would start with recommendations from draftsman ,get at least 2-3 names,then check their builds,I'm in Geelong,so my pm doesn't do Melbourne,even try getting a name from draftsman you didn't use,then it's pick right guy,this is the most important step of the whole build,there are many ways to save big,having pm gives you time to come up with many. 15 Dec 2011 313 VIC Silver Member "About U values, yes these look good for low-e but as I say it’s only a reflector of radiant heat whereas double glazing really slows heat conduction. Add… 39 11624  Thanks all. I hadn't really considered either option. Lots to think about! 4 2506 Hello H1'ers Cast your eye over this design sketch, would appreciate any feedback, it is on a 10x50m block WNW facing - central East of Perth city. This is to house… 5 1113  |
So that makes things harder. I'm sure things will work out.
