Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Sep 03, 2008 4:44 pm Well, here it comes - the first large payments for my O-B project and the point of no return. Tomorrow I'm seeing the structural engineer to pick up the plans for submission to the Council. Immediately afterwards I'll need to pay the Surveyors for pegging the boundaries and the subdivision and send in the deposit for the windows, followed by the payments for the sewage headworks and power connection. I'm excited and scared by the bumpy ride ahead of me and my DW. The next year will be most certainly an interesting one. I hope that neither our money, nor our patience will run out. Wish us well, we'll need all the luck.....
Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: About to step off the edge...... 3Sep 03, 2008 8:07 pm kristofw the deposit for the windows Who did you end up going with for the windows? Goodluck with it all...you're braver than we are, we couldn't face the idea of owner building. 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: About to step off the edge...... 5Sep 03, 2008 10:57 pm Hi 'Chelle,
Quote: Who did you end up going with for the windows? Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: About to step off the edge...... 6Sep 03, 2008 11:53 pm Chris, I am right here with you on this one!! I know exactly how you feel - so far we have spent over $21k and it was not easy letting the money go knowing we have a long long way to go!!
All the best, lets try and help each other out as much as possible!! Cheers Ruth Ruth -Bought house in Melbourne inner burbs, knocked it down & now...we are owner builders! Completed OB project and moved in to our new home with our new baby in May 2009! Re: About to step off the edge...... 7Sep 04, 2008 10:51 pm Thank you all for the kind words! I'll start posting pics and updates shortly, as soon as things begin to happen.
It's good to know that one isn't alone in the Owner-Builder wilderness Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: About to step off the edge...... 9Sep 17, 2008 5:00 pm Things're happening at last. The engineers delivered the plans for the building licence application. One week late, with one lintel missing and one wall in the wrong material. Will harass them to correct, but the building licence app will be delayed even more . On Friday the surveyors're coming, to re-peg the lot.
Even though we're in the middle of suburbia, 1/2 of our block is bush, with a couple of huge old trees and lotsa bushes and such. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I and DW hacked about two hectares of greenery over the weekend, to clear the field for surveyors and there's a 2 m tall pile of branches and leaves in the middle of the backyard. The birds were really ** off and screamed at us all the time. We're steeling ourselves for the first huge bills about to arrive and waiting for the quotes for clearing and preparing the plot. Considering the size and number of trees and the old, disconnected septic wells and such, lurking under the grass, it's sure going to be a shocker Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: About to step off the edge...... 11Sep 17, 2008 5:55 pm Quote: How big is the shock likely to be Chris? The block looks pretty big...what size? We've budgeted $8.5K, but have been told that we'll be lucky to do it for 10, most likely up to 12 . With everything gone up since we did the costing it's, well, shocking.... The whole block isn't that large, just 676m2. It's quite narrow, but luckily runs E-W, good for passive solar. We'll have approx 400 of that for the new house on the battle-axe at the rear. Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: About to step off the edge...... 12Oct 01, 2008 10:16 pm There's been some progress - I and DW cleared some more greenery Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ . Apart from that not much's happening. Mainly because the people I'm contacting about clearing the large trees and the earthworks don't bother to call back. Or promise a quote and never deliver. Or promise to show up and have a look and never do. I'm personally very conciencious and punctual and would never make an empty promise, so it's annoying like hell to me . Maybe I should be as prompt with payments when the job is done.
Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: About to step off the edge...... 13Oct 02, 2008 10:27 am kristofw There's been some progress - I and DW cleared some more greenery Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ . Apart from that not much's happening. Mainly because the people I'm contacting about clearing the large trees and the earthworks don't bother to call back. Or promise a quote and never deliver. Or promise to show up and have a look and never do. I'm personally very conciencious and punctual and would never make an empty promise, so it's annoying like hell to me . Maybe I should be as prompt with payments when the job is done. Chris Hi Chris. Sorry to hear your difficulties at getting quotes. At the beginning of my build I faced the same issues when I wanted to do it alone and be in control. Now I have accepted my partners help and use my partners contacts or the contacts his builders use. This way I was aware of their workmanship and they were not reluctant to do the job for me. I also managed to score the builders prices in some areas (from some of the more expereinced and busier builders my partner is a subby for). I would advise you not to withhold payment just to be a smart alec. I have heard many horror stories of subbies not being paid for their work and the consequences of such actions. Also be aware that in the building industry everyone knows everyone and you will have trouble finding subbies that will be willing to work for you thereafter. Re: About to step off the edge...... 14Oct 02, 2008 11:37 am Minx,
you should count your blessings in having a partner working in building industry. I and DW aren't so lucky, we have no access to the network and we have to do it the hard way. I wish my father (he was a builder) was still alive and living here. I was kidding about witholding the payments, to vent my frustration. It would be hitting back the wrong people anyway. Anyway, we were hoping to have the slab in before silly season starts in Dec, but it looks increasingly unlikely Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: About to step off the edge...... 15Oct 07, 2008 8:01 pm Quote: How big is the shock likely to be Chris? Ouch! The shock is really shocking, far more than we've expected. The first quote for clearing and earthworks is just in and it's a WHOPPER at over 19K more than twice what we've budgeted. I'm calling a few more people about quotes, hoping that theirs will be closer to what we've planned. Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: About to step off the edge...... 16Oct 18, 2008 11:57 pm Here's another hurdle! Got a fax from the local council demanding explanation of the roof structure. The drafties put the general timber construction AS 1684 against the roof layout, instead of AS 4440 for the trusses. They want it in writing too. Additionally, they seem to be strangely curious about frame to slab anchors, even though there's a paragraph about them in the structural drawings. Until I explain, the licence's on ice. Ah well, the pen pushers must have their fun, but my schedule slips again......
Got the problem with the glazing and ventilation spreadsheet too. For the PVC double glazed windows, with their wide frames, one of the bedrooms doesn't get a tick off, not enough ventilation, but I can't increase the window sizes because of the privacy rules. Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: About to step off the edge...... 17Oct 19, 2008 12:08 am kristofw Here's another hurdle! Got a fax from the local council demanding explanation of the roof structure. The drafties put the general timber construction AS 1684 against the roof layout, instead of AS 4440 for the trusses. They want it in writing too. Additionally, they seem to be strangely curious about frame to slab anchors, even though there's a paragraph about them in the structural drawings. Until I explain, the licence's on ice. Ah well, the pen pushers must have their fun, but my schedule slips again...... Got the problem with the glazing and ventilation spreadsheet too. For the PVC double glazed windows, with their wide frames, one of the bedrooms doesn't get a tick off, not enough ventilation, but I can't increase the window sizes because of the privacy rules. Chris wow its so much easier building in the bush we must have the best council in australia or the slackest either way it was an easy process. ss hun hope everything is ok Re: About to step off the edge...... 18Oct 19, 2008 1:01 am kristofw Here's another hurdle! Got a fax from the local council demanding explanation of the roof structure. The drafties put the general timber construction AS 1684 against the roof layout, instead of AS 4440 for the trusses. They want it in writing too. Additionally, they seem to be strangely curious about frame to slab anchors, even though there's a paragraph about them in the structural drawings. Until I explain, the licence's on ice. Ah well, the pen pushers must have their fun, but my schedule slips again...... Got the problem with the glazing and ventilation spreadsheet too. For the PVC double glazed windows, with their wide frames, one of the bedrooms doesn't get a tick off, not enough ventilation, but I can't increase the window sizes because of the privacy rules. Chris Jesus Chris... it's just been one drama after another for you. Good luck with it. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: About to step off the edge...... 19Oct 19, 2008 3:24 pm Quote: Chris... it's just been one drama after another for you. Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: About to step off the edge...... 20Oct 29, 2008 5:13 pm Yippeeeee! The council's issuing our building licence . I must give them credit, it took them only 1 day, after I sent in the corrections. But they still seem to be somewhat clueless - they demanded the details of my indemnity insurance ?! but finally accepted that I'd need that only if I sell in the next 6 years.
So we're ready to roll!! Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying the step up is 30mm and wanting it to be flat . how much does the concrete have to be lowered .we plan on removing bath and lenghten shower and adding seat. the old bath… 0 11794 Do I need to concern about this pattern of crack? Is this crack showing some signs of bigger problems? Thanks for any suggestions! 1 1897 Take a pick with a level sittingo n the slab and a pick with a level sitting on the sill please. This will help us diagnose the issue and therefore a solution. RE,… 8 9362 |