Hi guys
My husband and I have been voyeurs for quite a while. The information on this website is invaluable.
So our story is... We're looking at building either a Fowler Monte Carlo 33 or Masterton Santorini Mk2 and at this stage can't decide. Both these houses are double story and at least 34sq in size. We're doing a knockdown rebuild. Being newbs in the building world there are some questions that we have and hopefully your answers will help us decide which way to go. If you can also give reasons that would be appreciated.
1) Should the tiles be laid before or after the kitchen benches have been installed?
2) What is the best cupboard door, most durable and long lasting? One of the quotes is for Createc. Never heard of it until we went through the tender with a fine tooth comb.
3) We've been quoted Caesarstone for one builder and Quantum Quartz for the other for bench tops. From what I've read on this website, they are much the same. Is that so?
4) Is it worth the added expense to do a double brick home over brick veneer especially as where we live most of the houses are over 70 years old and double brick, with some new double storey houses being built in double brick.
5) Is the quality between bricks (and brick companies, PGH vs Austral) much the same and it's just purely a colour choice? Same with roof tiles or are the terracotta ones better quality than others?
6) Are all paint companies much the same?
7) Is $120 p/sqm a reasonable price for porcelain tiles laid? Speaking of porcelain, is it worth it to upgrade to vitrified? From what we've heard, ceramic tiles aren't the best quality and may chip easily compared to other types. Also, should glue or cement or something else be used on these two types of tiles?
Sorry if these questions have already been asked before but there is SO much to go through on this website and we may have missed that thread.
Our build looks like it will cost around half a mill and we're wondering if we should take that money and go to a builder and not use a project home company. Or will that blow out the figure heaps more?
Thanks heaps!!
S&H
EDIT: What's an ideal, or minimum, depth for a kitchen pantry?