Our builder is back on deck today completing the last bit of the driveway and footpath concreting. We are about 2 weeks away from handover.
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Browse Forums Building A New House  23 Feb 2021 169 Bronze Member Re: Custom Build, New Pics - Blinds 10/1/2024 85Jan 24, 2024 9:34 am  KnockItDownWindow coverings installed yesterday. Went with a mix of single and double roller blinds combining a sunscreen and a blockout. Very happy with the result. Some of the blinds are motorised via a solar panel strip / recharable battery motor. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Theres a floor to ceiling sheer curtain yet to be installed over these blockouts Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Heres a link to the Staircase blind in action https://youtube.com/shorts/_3aXwj09KWw?feature=share Your house looks great, a question for you, you stated "Theres a floor to ceiling sheer curtain yet to be installed over these blockouts", do you mean the track for sheer will be mounted to the ceiling? I see you have cornice there, I was told by the curtain people that I cannot have the track mounted to the ceiling due to the cornice, it has to be on the wall just lower the cornice. 24 Feb 2021 127 Senior Member Re: Custom Build, New Pics - Blinds 10/1/2024 86Jan 24, 2024 9:58 am  Flamingo KnockItDownWindow coverings installed yesterday. Went with a mix of single and double roller blinds combining a sunscreen and a blockout. Very happy with the result. Some of the blinds are motorised via a solar panel strip / recharable battery motor. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Theres a floor to ceiling sheer curtain yet to be installed over these blockouts Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Heres a link to the Staircase blind in action https://youtube.com/shorts/_3aXwj09KWw?feature=share Your house looks great, a question for you, you stated "Theres a floor to ceiling sheer curtain yet to be installed over these blockouts", do you mean the track for sheer will be mounted to the ceiling? I see you have cornice there, I was told by the curtain people that I cannot have the track mounted to the ceiling due to the cornice, it has to be on the wall just lower the cornice. We have ceiling-mounted sheers with a cornice. They can do this where the sheers do not need to track all the way to the side wall. If they need to go all the way to the side wall, then they fix on the wall under the cornice as you note. We actually have both methods in our place, and both look good. Photos: 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: Custom Build - Tender Presentation 24th Jan 88Jan 25, 2024 12:45 pm KnockItDownHi Colin, I did the original designs of the house which I drew myself based on what we wanted. I then approached a number of builders to see if they could build to my design. As expected, a number of builders weren't interested due to the slope (2.5 metre fall over the build envelope). I started along the initial sketch / site layout process with 2 builders and then settled on the one that could meet our needs and could also build what we wanted to the budget we had. That builder is presenting their formal tender to us on Monday. All things going well we will progress from there. Can I just say - thank you SO much for sharing your timeline and experience! I have found it a bit hard to find adequate information on each step that occurs (and a general timeframe or details of what happens) BEFORE you get to starting the actual 'building the house' part. I find so much advice out there skims right over the very important initial ' how to get finance sorted, find a builder, get quote/s' stage, and talks more about each stage during the house construction. Your blog has given me a nice insight into what can happen from the very beginning. Something I think I will also share when I get to that stage, because I have been frustrated with the lack of explanation of so many aspects of building a home!! 18 Jan 2024 3 New Poster Re: Custom Build, New Pics - Temp fence down and PC, 23/1/20 90Jan 26, 2024 8:29 pm Just caught up on this thread and it's amazing to see the results from start to (almost) finish. There's always going to be challenges working with any builder. Is there any advice you'd give around keeping the SS (and his team) accountable to what they promised to deliver? Should I be showing up to the site quite regularly? What kinds of questions do you tend to ask if you're not happy with the end result? Looking forward to seeing the finished product! Re: Custom Build, New Pics - Temp fence down and PC, 23/1/20 91Jan 28, 2024 8:59 am JamassavJust caught up on this thread and it's amazing to see the results from start to (almost) finish. There's always going to be challenges working with any builder. Is there any advice you'd give around keeping the SS (and his team) accountable to what they promised to deliver? Should I be showing up to the site quite regularly? What kinds of questions do you tend to ask if you're not happy with the end result? Looking forward to seeing the finished product! Cheers thanks, yes we are almost there. In answer to your questions, starting off on the right foot with your SS is critical. Have a discusion and agree on what each other expects from the releationship of SS and Customer. My SS usually rang or at least texted most Friday's or Monday's as to what was completed or planned and a rough timeframe for that item. Those weekly timelines are subject to change so dont expect your SS to advise you that for examle, the vanties that were suposed to be installed on Monday this week hasnt happened until Wednesday. Dont sweat the small stuff like this. Pinging your SS over this type of stuff will erode your releationship wit hthem very quickly. Visiting the site: The official line is you're not suposed to during the build. In reality, we all do it. My best advice is - Dont run site tours with extended family, friends, or large groups. Dont go in if there are trades onsite doing stuff. You are 100% not covered or insured if you happen to hurt yourself or anyone else as a result of you being onsite breaching the contract conditon. How often you visit your site is up to you. I averaged 1-2 times per week depending on what was happening. Talking to Tradies - The tradies are there working for the builder not you. It's best not to ask them any sort of technical question about what or how they are doing something. Some tradies are more than willing to talk to you but just keep the conv light about generic subjects. Any questions re: quality of a particular trade needs to be directed to your SS and not via a conv with a tradie onsite as this tends to end badly for the customer. The biggest and most important thing to remember is building is not a perfect world and things go wrong all the time. The measure of a good builder is the manner in which they approach those things that go wrong and how transparent they are with you about them. 18 Jan 2024 3 New Poster Re: Custom Build, New Pics - Temp fence down and PC, 23/1/20 92Jan 29, 2024 1:59 pm KnockItDown JamassavJust caught up on this thread and it's amazing to see the results from start to (almost) finish. There's always going to be challenges working with any builder. Is there any advice you'd give around keeping the SS (and his team) accountable to what they promised to deliver? Should I be showing up to the site quite regularly? What kinds of questions do you tend to ask if you're not happy with the end result? Looking forward to seeing the finished product! Cheers thanks, yes we are almost there. In answer to your questions, starting off on the right foot with your SS is critical. Have a discusion and agree on what each other expects from the releationship of SS and Customer. My SS usually rang or at least texted most Friday's or Monday's as to what was completed or planned and a rough timeframe for that item. Those weekly timelines are subject to change so dont expect your SS to advise you that for examle, the vanties that were suposed to be installed on Monday this week hasnt happened until Wednesday. Dont sweat the small stuff like this. Pinging your SS over this type of stuff will erode your releationship wit hthem very quickly. Visiting the site: The official line is you're not suposed to during the build. In reality, we all do it. My best advice is - Dont run site tours with extended family, friends, or large groups. Dont go in if there are trades onsite doing stuff. You are 100% not covered or insured if you happen to hurt yourself or anyone else as a result of you being onsite breaching the contract conditon. How often you visit your site is up to you. I averaged 1-2 times per week depending on what was happening. Talking to Tradies - The tradies are there working for the builder not you. It's best not to ask them any sort of technical question about what or how they are doing something. Some tradies are more than willing to talk to you but just keep the conv light about generic subjects. Any questions re: quality of a particular trade needs to be directed to your SS and not via a conv with a tradie onsite as this tends to end badly for the customer. The biggest and most important thing to remember is building is not a perfect world and things go wrong all the time. The measure of a good builder is the manner in which they approach those things that go wrong and how transparent they are with you about them. Thank you so much for your advice. I figured the SS would play an important role. We met with GJ Gardner today and they said they will try to keep the same SS for the job but if they have to leave for another job then we'll get the director instead. Not sure what to make of it. All the best for the rest of your build! Re: Custom Build, New Pics - Temp fence down and PC, 23/1/20 93Feb 02, 2024 3:48 pm PC walkthrough conducted today and we did our defect and imperfections mark up with painters tape. Recevied the Occupancy Certificate this morning. Handover looking good for 13/14 - Feb. Re: Custom Build, New Pics - Retaining Wall - Phase 2 94Feb 07, 2024 8:32 am Phase 2 of the retaining wall has commenced. The wall is a 9.5m extension of the first wall down the side boundary and then across the width of the block to create a platform area where the pool is going. There was an exisitng gravity block wall across the block which was poorly constrcuted, no drainage, and wasn't even straight. This will all be rectified by the replacement wall and also create a nice sized usable back yard in the process. 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: Custom Build, New Pics - Retaining Wall done! 95Feb 09, 2024 2:32 pm Re: Custom Build, New Pics - Retaining Wall done! 96Feb 09, 2024 3:34 pm you are so close now! How exciting Architectural Homes & Duplexes - specialising in custom designing homes to your budget Get a Free Onsite Consultation Today or send a PM for information, questions or advice. Re: Custom Build, New Pics - Retaining Wall done! 97Feb 09, 2024 5:04 pm  Ashington HomesYep the big clean is happening Monday and then the house is clear to handover from Tuesday next week. Just aligning mine and the Mrs calendars to make it happen. Re: Custom Build, Pool progress pics 31/3/2024 100Mar 31, 2024 10:36 am Ideally the pool shell should have been done and then covered before the build. I'm fortunate enough to have 2.4m wide side access down the left hand side of the house. The pool excavation was going great until we hit an old septic tank. Had to arrange for a separate skip to dispose of it. After that is was smooth sailing with the dig, steel fixing, and plumbing now complete. Concrete booked for this coming Tuesday, 2/4/24. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Tradie may sit at home but will need to get house plastered as well or will you sit it out? 6 26252 I engaged my builder in December last year and we’ve been working on preliminary drawings for last couple of months. I got a call from the salesperson this morning… 0 12438 9 23313 |
