Patio questions

cmooring · Sep 14, 2008 12:47 am

Hi All,

This is my very first post, so please excuse me if I am asking this in the wrong forum.

We are looking at building a gabled patio which is a little different to the standard gable design. It is a rather large patio at around 12m x 3m, and because it is a custom design, we have had several companies who just won't look at it, and others who will do it are quite expensive. Most quotes we've had are around $20K.

I am by no means a handy man, but I love to give it a go, and I am keen as mustard to get this patio done. I have a few friends who are tradies who would help me with the installation, but the problem I have is...I don't know where to start.

I haven't found a company that will do even a kit form of what we want, and therefore I was looking at taking on all the planning, design and installation myself. I just need some help getting started. Does anyone know who I should speak to regarding;
(1) Help getting plans done that will get council approval and ensure the structure is solid?
(2) Companies I could talk to to get the trusses welded (and possibly powdercoated)?
(3) Any recommendations on welding contractors?

I live in the Perth area (South of the river), so any recommendations for companies or people who might be able to help get me started would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Chris

P.S. -> I think I will become an avid user of this site over the next couple of years

Paula · Sep 14, 2008 9:08 am

HI cmooring,

Welcome to the forum!!

I think you have come to the right place for information, whilst I won't be much help

others here will.

But for your first question, My neighbor built something similar in size 12 x 12 and they went through a builder.

The plans were drawn up by a draftsman and had input from an engineer.

Maybe a draftsman is your first point of call?

Can you tradie friends suggest something for you?

cmooring · Sep 14, 2008 3:08 pm

Paula

...
Can you tradie friends suggest something for you?

Hi Paula,

Thanks for your post. I might take a look and see if I can find a draftsman in my area to get an idea of what it will cost to have the plans drawn up. Do draftsmen know about the structural limits of the materials they draw up or does that all still have to go through an engineer?

I will also ask my mates for some advice as well I think.

In the meantime, if anyone else has some ideas about people to speak to in the Perth area, I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks,
Chris

ausfatcat · Sep 14, 2008 4:07 pm

Definantly go the draftsman route it's reletively inexpensive $300 odd dollars probably depending on how complicated and wether he needs to call in a engineer, I had my extensions done by a draftsman and it was $500 all up.

cmooring · Sep 14, 2008 8:46 pm

ausfatcat

Definantly go the draftsman route it's reletively inexpensive $300 odd dollars probably depending on how complicated and wether he needs to call in a engineer, I had my extensions done by a draftsman and it was $500 all up.

Hi Ausfatcat,

Thanks for your reply. Are the plans you get from the draftsman suitable for submission to council? Are they detailed enough both for council to approve and for us to work from?

Thanks,
Chris

Adrian B · Sep 14, 2008 9:43 pm

Have you also checked with your local council re permits etc?

cmooring · Sep 15, 2008 12:39 am

Hi Adrian,

Yeah, I am aware that council approval is required. That is why I want to make sure that the plans are completely to code so that there is little for them to do and hopefully it will pass quickly.

On a side note, I just spoke to one of my mates who has built several patios before, and he is going to come around later this week to help sketch up some plans. He also has some very good contacts and is quite keen to help me build it. I wish I'd asked him for advice earlier

Once it all gets underway, I will post some before/after images so you can see how it turns out.

Thanks for all the replies.

Chris

ausfatcat · Sep 15, 2008 6:18 am

cmooring

Hi Ausfatcat,

Thanks for your reply. Are the plans you get from the draftsman suitable for submission to council? Are they detailed enough both for council to approve and for us to work from?

Thanks,
Chris

For a patio no probs.

To work from well thats anther questionand depends on your ability really hard one to answer, basically it's a drawing it's not a step by step instruction booklet.

Pat the draftie · Sep 16, 2008 2:16 pm

Chris,
As my name implies, Im a draftie, and do this sort of thing all the time. Im south of the river, but do stuff all over perth.
If you need some drafting power let me know by private message. Or if you have already lined someone up to do it, I could comment on what they are going to do for you, ensure they cover all bases for council, and comment on the quote they give you.
Regards,
pat the draftie.

jackie_frank · Sep 17, 2008 12:05 pm

Hi Cmooring,

I think i might be sort of in a similar situation to you.

I have been getting quotes for a patio at my house and all the quotes are coming in around the $18k mark.

So i am looking at trying to get it done myself (well not put it up myself) but get the material and council approval and just find someone to put it up.

I also live south of the river in perth.

Was just wondering if you have success with getting your patio completed if you can point me in the right direction?

As this is something that i am really wanting to have done for summer

dont like my chances though

lilian · Sep 18, 2008 2:21 am

This must be contagious ! I also am in Perth, South of the river and on the verge of starting the business of getting a new patio - just have no idea where to start, who needs to do what etc. Trials, tribulations and recommendations (or otherwise!) from those of you further underway with this would be much appreciated.

(And I thought it was just a matter of bunging up a few posts and laying on a few sheets of something!)

Pat the draftie · Sep 18, 2008 4:31 pm

Hi Lilian,
Its a bit more complicated than 'bunging up a few posts and laying on a few sheets of something'
First thing is design, will it be stand alone or integrated into the existing dwelling, and Will it need structural engineering?
Second thing is ensuring it is R-Code compliant and then getting it through local council.
Third thing is getting quotes from builders or patio manufacturers to build it, or alternatively going the owner builder route, arranging tradesmen, materials etc.
Its all good fun though, and can add considerable value to your home if done correctly.
Pat the draftie.

kexkez · Mar 22, 2009 6:20 pm

anyone had their patios finished yet? I'm keen to look at gable patios and patios with a gable integrated with flat patio areas eitehr side. there's a few photos on the net but would be keen to see what's out there for real. especially in WA since I'm here too. We are looking at a patio of around 11- 111/2 m long by 4m. considering going 3.5-4m flat then a gable then then3.5-4m flat again. with the gable equal distance from each end. Interested in something other than a standard flat patio really. what's out there?

cmooring · Mar 22, 2009 11:00 pm

kexkez

Interested in something other than a standard flat patio really. what's out there?

Hi Kexkez,

I'm not sure if this is the sort of thing you are after, but I know Stratco do that sort of thing. I think it's called the "Outback Gable" or "Outback Curved Roof" (for something a little different). Check out the following link;
<http://www.stratco.com.au/products/verandahs_patios_carports/verandahs_patios_carports_group_page.asp>

I hope that is of some use.

Chris
P.S. -> This isn't the style we are opting for and I have no association with Stratco. I've just done a LOT of browsing on patio styles over the last 6 years. I now vow to get the thing built before winter hits.

kexkez · Mar 23, 2009 7:10 am

Hi there. thanks for that. yes this is what we are considering. or at least a variation of it. saw a wood version one today where the middle gable bit came out about 1/2 METER in front of the flat bit. It really looked good. hadn't seen it done like this before.
HUbby is a bit worried it looked better because of the chunkiness of it ( being in wood). we've also seen very long patios done this way but ours will only be just over 11m in total length. we are both worried it might look a bit silly being a shorter length.

Would love to see what you put up if you get it done before this winter. We'll be looking at putting ours up over winter or next spring if we have enough $ to do it.

cmooring · Mar 24, 2009 12:07 am

kexkez

Would love to see what you put up if you get it done before this winter. We'll be looking at putting ours up over winter or next spring if we have enough $ to do it.

I honestly think a timber patio would look nicer in our situation too, but have been told that there is likely to be more purlins and rafters needed if it were built in wood.

We are settling for a much less complex design in order to get our patio built sooner rather than later. Also, we don't want to spend too much on it as we are likely to outgrow this house before too too long. The sort of design we are now looking at is something like the following image

performancepatios.com.au-dawson_al.jpg

I found this on performancepatios.com.au. While it is similar to what we are going to do, it isn't exactly the same. We will still have the purlins and rafters exposed rather than covering them in gyprock and ours will be attached to the fascia. It will have the gradient sloping back towards the house to make the most of the northern winter light.

I will keep you updated of our progress and take lots of pics to show the project as it progresses.

Talk to you later,
Chris Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅

cmooring · Apr 20, 2009 12:25 am

Hi All,

For what it's worth, I finally got my patio plans drawn up (friend of a friend) and submitted. They are now awaiting approval. With any luck, we should find out in 2 - 4 weeks. In the meantime we have some demolition work to do in order to get rid of the existing "structure"

Bye for now,
Chris

kexkez · Apr 20, 2009 9:08 am

Fingers crossed it all goes well for you. Would love to see some plans and photos once it is up. have you considered adding in a few roofing sheets to let some light in? we had a huge L shaped pagola that we had covered over at our last house. We added some of those translucent sheets on the wider back section in 2 separate bits of the roof to allow light in. ( this section of the patio/pagola faced north and was 5 x 8m so we swapped 2 of the colourbond sections for 2 full width panels equal distance from each end. )

cmooring · Apr 21, 2009 11:49 pm

We have thought about it. My wife is pretty keen to do that, but I am a little concerned that while it'll be lovely in winter, it could be pretty hot in summer. I know that some of the newer tinted sheets block lots of UV and heat...but I am still undecided. I will probably decide on the spot whilst ordering materials

kexkez · Apr 22, 2009 12:08 am

I didn't mean for you to replace all the sheets. Replace just one row/line of sheets with one of the laserlight type sheets not a clear . Or a single sheet row near each end if the patio is long enough.