Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 10, 2019 7:55 pm Hello everyone, I have been member of this forum for few years but I always have been a lurker going through some amazing house builds of members in Australia. There is not an active community in New Zealand for new house builds like homeone so I have been gathering ideas and tips from the homeone community for past few years from various beautiful homes community members here have documented on this forum.
We are now ready to build our own home here in New Zealand and thought it would give my neighbours across the ditch a perspective about a new home build in New Zealand. We bought the section in September 2018 from the subdivision developer and settled in November . During this one month gap, we gathered all our must haves, materials selection we had decided on and any wishlist to pass onto an architect that we hired to design us our dream home. After major issues at the local city council to get the consent plans approved and loads of $$ spent on engineering reports to supply to council, we finally got our approved building consent, 8 months after submitting it to council when at max it should take 20 working days. During the submission process of building consent to council, we had engaged 3 seperate independent building companies that are not franchises and only build bespoke homes to figure out who we would get with and their build price offer. This was a good experience as all three builders are good but we said no to one because their price came out quite high compared to other 2 builders. The winning difference between remaining two builders was that our chosen builder could start building for us quicker than the 2nd builder which we would have had to wait 5 months on for and our chosen builder works on cost + 8% basis so it is an open book contract where they supply me all the original invoices from their sub tradies and I pay them directly and pay the builder 8% margin on those sub tradies invoices. There are lot of tradies that we are going directly with that we are confident that we can project manage those easily to save the 8%. Below is what our final plans are. The work was meant to start today in terms of digging the land but it rained all day so that did not happen. Our move in month has been advised for mid March but we realistically think it will be mid April. Good news is that day light savings is ending this week so tradies will work longer most likely due to more daylight. The house is what you refer to in Australia in sq being 27sq where as in New Zealand we refer to it being in sqm which is 249sqm + 20sqm covered alfresco. Land size is 684sqm. One benefit you still see in New Zealand is bigger land size available although I have now seen 300sqm to 400sqm land in sub divisions now which are all filled with double storey houses. We are looking forward to keep this thread updated as the build progress happens with photos and our materials selection and hopefully get more ideas from this community and answer any queries regarding our build or New Zealand building code like double glazing in window and door joinery being mandatory for all new builds since 2009. 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 ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 2Sep 10, 2019 8:36 pm Tuned in. Good luck with the build. It looks a cracker design! Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 3Sep 10, 2019 9:32 pm Looks amazing! Can’t wait to see the real thing! Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 4Sep 12, 2019 1:04 pm Sand pad going down today. Plumbing and electrical conduits before concrete is poured on top of them will be completed by Monday and Tuesday has been booked for concrete pour and foundations. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 5Sep 14, 2019 2:38 pm Just came back from the site. Looks like they have levelled up the site with sand for boxing beginning from Monday. Plumber, gar fitter and little electrical will be done following that all week and week after will be concrete pour. Bad weather delayed work this week. The concrete pad size will be a biggie! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 7Sep 23, 2019 5:49 pm Plumbing started today. Looks like pipes already laid for both bathrooms, guest toilet and laundry. The 2 trailer loads of ribraft flooring panels arrived while I was at the site as well. Concrete pour is still scheduled for this Friday and framing starting next Wednesday. 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 ⋅ Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 8Sep 23, 2019 7:51 pm Never heard of rib raft. We call it waffle slab here in Australia. That explains the height of the formwork. Are you going to watch the slab pour? That was one of my highlights of my build. Happy slabbing Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 9Sep 23, 2019 9:04 pm Waffleslab is prob the correct word but here in NZ, there is one company (Firth) that introduced and made the product famous after the Christchurch earthquake under the name ribraft so it’s the defacto name everyone uses. I would love to be there for the concrete pour but will have to send my better half to go watch as I will be at work with me currently taking 4 days off starting today till Thursday to go sit with the tradies, pick colours, toilet model etc. I should have just taken the whole week off but I am needed back at work. Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 10Sep 25, 2019 2:32 pm Ribraft/waffleslab flooring has been installed along with the steel mesh. Council inspection tomorrow and if that passes then concrete pour on Friday! Our council inspection for the initial plumbing pipe passed ok as well. Horrible weather for last couple of days. Hopefully it comes alright by tomorrow. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 12Sep 27, 2019 5:17 pm We got slabbed today! The builder forgot to add a rebate for the kitchen sliding door which I did remind them about a day earlier when I visited the site. I have sent them the photo and asked for a clarification and whether they can easily fix it. I hope they can later cut into the concrete for the sliding door recess in that location. Very happy otherwise with the progress. The speed at which the work is being completed is very good. 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 ⋅ Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 13Sep 29, 2019 8:27 am The boxing around the concrete slab has been taken off either yesterday or early morning today and they have dropped steel around the perimeter of where the covered alfresco will be. Framing coming Wednesday. 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 ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 14Sep 30, 2019 3:19 pm Pretty exciting times! Can't wait to see the frame go up! Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 15Oct 02, 2019 5:27 pm Framing was delivered today and most of it has been put up today as well. Made us very happy as we were able now have a picture in our mind how big is every room and dimensions. 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 ⋅ 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 ⋅ Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 16Oct 02, 2019 5:47 pm Congratulations on the frame! It's super awesome to start visualising where everythings gonig to go haha! Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 17Oct 03, 2019 9:10 am Looking really good! Remember to take lots of photos of the frames in each room so when you move in you know where it all is - helpful for curtain rods, clocks etc Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 18Oct 05, 2019 1:02 pm Roof trusses for one side of the house have gone up. Scaffolding and safety nets have been setup as well. Have dates booked with plumber and electrician after 3 weeks to do a walkthrough at which height and which location we want the taps and power sockets. One mistake that we have spotted and have advised the builder of incorrect placement of the drainage plumbing pipe for kids bathroom vanity location. It is currently way off the mark and might even hit the bathroom entry door. The plumber will have to cut some concrete and redo that drainage pipe and redo the concrete again so hopefully not a major issue. 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 ⋅ Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 19Oct 05, 2019 1:29 pm Very nice!! Good thing you found the plumbing issue this early! Re: 100% Pure New Zealand. A Kiwi build journey 20Oct 05, 2019 5:35 pm The build is flying along! Great progress that most would be pleased with. Once the roof is on, the rest of the build will be less than 2 months by my guess. Any advice on how to ensure the kit home granny flat that im thinking of buying will get council approval. The kit home companys wont release plans without a deposit and… 0 7223 That sucks! Hope it all works out. Good to move away from steel anyway for all your reasons, but it's also thermally poor. 16 17895 As is per usual for many of the past failed RWH regulations, it is probably traceable to a bureaucrat who's ego overrode the need to seek the appropriate expert… 1 1029 |