Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 Jan 26, 2011 3:35 pm Hi everyone. I decided to join up and get some feedback/advice on my new project. A little background on me/my situation. I recently sold an acreage on the Yarra River in Warburton after separation and to be closer to family and work. Before this I lived in Mt Martha and made quite a healthy profit as I purchased before the prices went silly. Anyway on returning I found the prices a little offensive on the Port Phillip bay side of the penninsula so began the hunt on the Western Port bay side of the penninsula for an area that was ready to get moving. I really wanted to leave enough income after mortgage repayments to buy an investment property in the next 24 months. With a tight budget of sub 300k, I wanted at least a 3 bedroom house and a 600m+ block under 3km to water I set off. After 2 months I found a pocket in Hastings that fit the bill. It's a place called West Park in Hastings. Still quite alot of public housing, unkept front lawns and graffiti but look a little deeper and it's somewhat of an oddity. It is surrounded by 400k+ new estates that isn't divided by huge fences, 800m to the waterfront and 1800m to the main st. Most of the houses are brick built for the navy in the 70's and very solid with hardwood floors. Reminds me alot of the back areas of main st Mornington when I first built and in hindsight I should have bought there when it was less desirable so this time I am diving in. Anyway all the houses look similar just different brick etc. My plan is to give the house a light simple feel that the bank will find attractive in 18-24 months so I can lever off it to buy another along with another deposit I am saving. The kitchen is done, and I am repainting inside good old Antique White USA. Semi gloss door/window frames, low sheen walls and flat ceiling. Carpet is going to be new, main lounge polished hardwood and the bathroom is old but clean. My main area to improve is outside. I have attached pics of before - and as you can see it was a mish mash of plants that were way too close to the house and a general feel of clutter. http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/hondacoupe9s/BARCOO%20ST%20HASTINGS/BARCOOST1.jpg http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/hondacoupe9s/BARCOO%20ST%20HASTINGS/BARCOOST5.jpg http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/hondacoupe9s/BARCOO%20ST%20HASTINGS/BARCOOST20.jpg http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/hondacoupe9s/BARCOO%20ST%20HASTINGS/BARCOOST18.jpg And just to really bring down the feel of the backyard and give it that crowded feel.........a caravan? http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb312/hondacoupe9s/BARCOO%20ST%20HASTINGS/BARCOOST15.jpg 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 2Jan 26, 2011 3:43 pm Now after 2 days, 3 mates a bobcat and a chainsaw we have a near clean slate. What we revealed was a really nice block (770m) on a corner fully fenced with some really interesting shape. The house however really has revealed it's Navy Marryquarter roots for all to see...... Front entrance Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Full view of front yard Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Front of house Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Front end of house Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Long view across front yard Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Across end of house to corner front yard Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 3Jan 26, 2011 3:55 pm The good part is that it came in well under my 300k budget. I paid 265k. So this leaves me some room to improve the house - but only enough so I don't over capitalise for the area as it's still an old part of town for now. I planned the following to update the outside colour wise what do you think? #Bag the brickwork, then paint it Dulux White Duck. #Paint the fence colourbond woodland grey (easy to repaint should graffiti pop up). #New gutters in woodland grey and paint the facia to match along with new down pipes. #Pave the front path/patio undecided colour. #Leave the aluminium windows raw as I hope with going White Duck for the exterior they will sort of tone them down? On the end of the house I was planning to run timber frame along the top of the window line from eave to eave and then fill in the gable created with stucco board to try and give the house some interest on the end rather than the slab sided brick look. Not sure if I should paint the stucco in a contrasting colour or white duck like the bagwork and then the timber frame created around it the same woodland grey as the facia. I think from what I can see would I be correct in seeing the White Duck colour as having a slight green in it? I feel it complements the woodland grey quite well. In all I think the place has good potential - I just want a nice clean fresh look that conveys a feel of space and updates the dreary facade. Feel free to suggest colours/shapes any structural ideas. Look forward to feedback. James. 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 4Jan 26, 2011 7:05 pm you seem to know what you are doing, I just want to follow this thread~ that is why I am posting! good luck, good job so far, well done. Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 5Jan 30, 2011 8:55 am hehe "seem to know" - thats what I tell my mates! 41 degrees today so I will take some measurements of the block and draw up the garden me thinks over a white wine and a BBQ this afternoon......... I just read in the local paper my paint shop I use had a stolen ute out through the front of it all to steal 24 cans of spray paint. Weird thing is it's a friend at works ute too! I dropped in for some sample pots while they were boarding up the windows poor guy. 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 6Feb 01, 2011 12:27 pm Great stuff, James! I really like your ideas for outside but not so sure exactly what you mean about the stucco. It looks like you already have an end 'feature' in the timber above the window. Do you mean cover this up? Also, though I love white duck I don't know that painting your house white will really enhance it. I would tempted to paint it light to mid grey or the ever-popular sandstone type colour and use white accents (fascia, gutters, etc). The silver windows would go better with the light grey version, of course. Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 7Feb 02, 2011 10:08 pm xquisite Great stuff, James! I really like your ideas for outside but not so sure exactly what you mean about the stucco. It looks like you already have an end 'feature' in the timber above the window. Do you mean cover this up? Also, though I love white duck I don't know that painting your house white will really enhance it. I would tempted to paint it light to mid grey or the ever-popular sandstone type colour and use white accents (fascia, gutters, etc). The silver windows would go better with the light grey version, of course. I did think about that colour combo funilly enough. Got any pics of what you had in mind? 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 8Jun 21, 2012 1:44 pm Well, Its been many months since I posted an update and work has been on and of. I have been somewhat busy with work so here is the update. I needed a place to work out of so that meant a garage. And you cant have a garage without a decent slab so I called in some mates and we got started. Main slab for garage Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And preparing the patio area. Pavers already there served as a solid base and the plan is to raise it up 200mm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Let the puoring begin Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Impressive driving to get a twin steer in there Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And all done for the day Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Next post I will put up the garage so I got somewhere to work out of! Thanks for looking, James. 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 9Jun 21, 2012 2:06 pm Ok. So the back patio has been serving as a makeshift work area and a pretty average one at that. But not anymore. Here is my garage I have put in. You may recognise it as begin made from coolroom panel. I like it as its easy to eret (this garage took 3 hours), lEasy to clad, great sound proofing and COOL in summer! Just to refresh everyones memory here is the old shack....... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Rally the troops after a morning brekky then straight into it Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Front in place Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Back wall going up Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Time for a roof Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Mission complete Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Not a bad size. The doors will work the same as bi fold doors on a spray booth - because thats pretty much what it is. I will also be putting another 100mm of cement in there now its up. This will raise the height of the floor well above the occasional downpours we get as the whole area is quite low. Cheers, James. 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 10Jun 21, 2012 2:12 pm 12 months ago I was pouring over colour charts and like most running in circles trying to decide. Well the fence is painted and it looks really good. I hired a spray unit from the paint shop and 2 days, 2 coats and 60 litres later of watyl solarguard in Colourbond Ironstone and this is the result. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The monkey was a gift from my mother..............Idon't see the resemblence between him and myself though! The colour was chosen after my best friend a roofer bought around a sample of tin for the roof. Against the red brick it looks great - thats right the red brick is staying. After cruising our 70's estate of identicat defence/govt housing it struck me that alot of the updated places were rendered and looked the same again! Acceptable if you have an ugly colour brick but my friend Sam really pushed hard for me to keepthem and I am glad I did. And it leaves more money in the budget for the rest of the project too! James. 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 11Jun 21, 2012 2:19 pm Time for a driveway! So, the shed is up, the cement is done and the fence looks good. But that backyard driveway is a disgrace! No problemo lets get it done. I called up Hans my friend who helped me at my old house in the Yarra Valley. That driveway way 100 ton and 2 days work so this should be a snap. The local quarry was great a lady suggested I just use what she called "quarry waste". She had the same problem at home and after compacted its as hard as nails! Good old Hans ready to roll! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Hans in action Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And a few hours later all done Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Now since this I have decided the gates will be replace with a sliding gate at the end of the year. And the drainage still is not the best. The whole estate suffers as the pipes are all old clay and collaps. I will be addresing that in the spring. 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 12Jun 21, 2012 2:28 pm So now I decided to get into my favourite prt - gardening. Starting with the back yard. Here is the corner where my carport/car trailer parking will be. In front I decided to raise the area and put in a small lawn under the large birch tree. Goo dplace to relax in summer - but today it was all work and it was HOT! Load it in Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Spread it out Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Mark out the garden Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Some grass, and Agaves I recyled from the front garden and we are done! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I used a few more sleepers for steps, and later on I will do a final top layer on the crushed rock to level it all up and set the drainage falls for less standing water. 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 13Jun 21, 2012 2:33 pm So, while I was at it I decided the fence along the drive neded to be covered up. The neighbor is a little "out there" and his ida of home improvments and mine are VASTLY different! So to block it out the order of the day was non invasive bamboo screening. 2 years and 4 meters later I will have a lush oasis instead of looking at his atempted shanty town lean too peeking over my fence................. Ready to plant out Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And a few hours later we have the makings of a nice natural screen ready to take off next spring. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ A few suffered in the heat, but I have since decided the last 5 or so near the gate will go to make way for a sliding gate so they can be transplanted to help the stragglers. Next, the front garden. Tahnks for looking! 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 14Jun 21, 2012 2:46 pm So the front garden. I had a vague idea of how it would go. The rest I just made up as I went. Worked out easier than I thought. Sleepers for the edging. Recycled hardwood. Hard as concrete and just as heavy. Had a long day ahead putting 40 of these in! Upside is if the ground is level, jst lay them down flat and instant edging - they wont move! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And this is the result after a long weekend in the garden Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The plant here is an Agonis Burgundy. Australian native grows to about 4 meters here in Vic. I have since planted a further 12 at every fence panel out front. Once grown the idea is they form a nice weeping privacy hege to the street. The green and burgundy foliage compliment red brick wonderfully. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And the front corner "courtyard" coming together Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 15Jun 21, 2012 3:03 pm And final update for today - a nice view of the fence from the street. I can happily report that not one piece of graffiti has appeared. The local rif raff have spottted the 6 security cameras hidden under the eaves and have avoided me like the plague Notice the plinth boards along the bottom. I used the last of the sleepers to lay them around the bottom to give the fence a nice finish and to ensure even after the plinth has long rotted the soil stays put. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Thats all the pictures for now. I hope you enjoyed looking over it. I have since planted out the entire garden with wild iris, rock correa, wild oregano, native grasses and a couple of olive trees. I will uplad pics and an update once the back patio area is finished being bagged ready for paint - and I will be sure to do it before another 12 months passes! On another note - a few things have happened since I moved into this area. 1#Bunnings is up and running which makes life easy. 2#The new estate I hoped would be approved at he end of my street is started. Look up http://www.kingscreek.com.au for the information. 3#Other public houses in my estate are starting to go to auction now. I went to an auction last week and it started at $160k and went to just over $180k. It did not make reserve but I think $220k would own it. It is VERY ROUGH with holes in every wall etc etc but $30k into it and it would be good as new. 600m block has potential to sub for 2 units later also. Across the street from me a near identical house to mine just 2 doors from the new houses going up is for sale and $255k would own it with tenants and all. Compare this to my block at 760m - then to the new estate 100m away in my street with the blocks averaging 450m to 550m with a package price of $375k and the value is there in these old places I think. They just need some TLC and elbow grease! 4# A new nature walk from my estate all the way to the waters edge has been started as part of the government initiative to beautify Hastings. Add this to the new estate having a huge nature reserve also as part of the approval and things are slowly turning around for this old estate tucked away in Hastings. James. 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 16Jun 21, 2012 3:45 pm cant speak...oh wow!! amazing amount of work completed, well done (who walked on the garage wall...I mean..please people!) i like the fence colour, perfect the whole place looks a zillion times better than 18 mths ago. good job, come do mine. Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 17Jun 21, 2012 4:10 pm Hi James - well done I really enjoyed following your journey as you made the various improvements and you realised that some things didn't need to be changed (bricks) ... it looks so easy when you just see a few pics but I know that a lot of hard work has gone into it. Sounds like you have picked a top spot too ... can't wait to see the next instalment ... For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 18Jun 21, 2012 7:29 pm You've done a brilliant job Can you please tell me where you got your bamboo and what type it is. Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 19Jun 21, 2012 9:37 pm Mclaren Hi James - well done I really enjoyed following your journey as you made the various improvements and you realised that some things didn't need to be changed (bricks) ... it looks so easy when you just see a few pics but I know that a lot of hard work has gone into it. Sounds like you have picked a top spot too ... can't wait to see the next instalment ... Thanks. Not a top spot..........yet. One thing I learned the hardway. Pick the old suburbs not so expensive. Look through te run down facade, and the marginal local characters and look to the future. Let capital growth, local infrastructure and time be you friend! Seriously - West Park is like Frankston North, or Doveton. Rough but will get there. My sister lives 1100m away and rents on the "nice side" of the street - literally. $465.00 pw! I have had 2 people buy here after seeing mine. A customers son first house and a work mate also. I walk behind the fence and I am home thats all that counts but the future looks bright! 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Re: First Metro Renovation Project HAstings Victoria 20Jun 21, 2012 9:43 pm catjim You've done a brilliant job Can you please tell me where you got your bamboo and what type it is. I think it was faragesia gracillias or something? It was from these guys -> http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-Bamboo-Gar ... 46006d3fe6 I got a style that tolerates sun and cold. And as they were smaller they were about $10.00 each from memory so good value. They grow so fast in spring its worth buying them smaller. They are gross feeders so lots of manure and water in the warm months and watch them go! I have finished scratch rendering the wall in the outdoor area. Now I need to wait before paint to let the lime or whatever get out. probably a month to be safe and its winter anyway rotten time to paint. More updates tomorrow along with the garden whick is a bit exciting..............if the rain goes away. Anybody know of a clear laquer for red blicks? I like them better when they are wet too! Much deeper red and shiny. 32 cubic metres of green waste removed..........where did it all come from??? Keen to hear from people in the area who have got KDRB done on whom they got the build from? Looking for recommendations. Thanks 0 21051 For reference, this is the Austlii reference. My take on this is, that they would be breaking the law denying access to a homeowner in Victoria, or their agent from having… 1 9068 Hey everyone Not for me or anyone I know, just generally interested. For a single allotment house, are you allowed to take the fence on both sides of your house and… 0 20876 |