Building my first home

I recently purchased a house and land package for my first home. I'm finding the whole process to be a daunting but enjoyable experience so far.

Has anyone had any experience building their home? Hopefully your experience was problem free, but horror stories are definetely welcome!

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Comments

ProjectPete

I've built a home before. Loved the experience although it wasn't entirely smooth and I don't think it ever could be.

What stage are you at? Do you plan to make many variations to your plan?

Importantly,do you and your partner agree on colours. Styles, etc? Haha

maknilsin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/61#Comment_61

I have just finalised contracts, so all my variations are in. Haven't really made any changes to the structure just added in a few quality finishes as the standard inclusions were fairly woeful.

Luckily for me there is no partner in this equation. Although it means if I hate anything in the house when it's completed that I only have myself to blame.

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/62408#Comment_62408

It's a good feeling when you've got the (majority of the) paperwork out the way. Now on to (hopefully not) see how little your builder delivers on their promises.

Are you planning to have an independent qualified inspection complet d at each key stage? I highly.recommend it. You might set you back a grand but it's money well spent. They're trained and paid to spot flaws in workmanship or deviations from the plan/speck and they'll quickly call it out.

Regardless it's a great idea to schedule several sites visits and also drop some surprise ones on them too just to keep them on their toes.

Also keep an eye on what they're chucking on the rubbish pile...for one reason, I saved above 250-300 papers and about 150 building bricks from my pile which meant I extended some paving and built a Brock BBQ (at my other house) essentially free - I mean I'd paid for it but it was going to be thrown out.

Hope those tips help with this next phase for you 🙂

Baretta11

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/93688#Comment_93688

@maknilsin,
I have started a discussion called "From Scratch" not sure if it will help you in any way but hubby and I are building entirely ourselves, so we did not have the benefit of a home designer who might otherwise have spotted some design flaws for example but ultimately, we are happy with the plan I drew up and are now up to lockup stage, or pretty close.
There are photo's and a story on my profile page.
Things I might suggest to be sure of are:
#1. Make sure you have outdoor taps, something often forgotten but more expensive to put into place once the excavator or trencher are gone.
#2. If you have a dog, he/she will need a bath and I have a hot and cold tap fitted beside the HWS if you have it on the ground and if it works, you can have a duckboard nearby where with a hose, you can wash the dog OUTSIDE using warm water, or alternately if you have the HWS on the roof, you can still have a hot and cold water tap fitted outside your laundry on the wall.
#3.Consider an outside power point for vaccing the car for example or if like me, you perhaps clip your dog if you have one, it will be handy to do it outdoors of course.
#4. Allow for a furniture move in the bedrooms or lounge for example, so if you decide to move the bed or lounge suite from one position to another, the only power points you have in the room, aren't blocked by furniture. I have in the bedrooms for example, power points on the two walls that the bed can be placed on and then an extra power that is specifically for vaccing near the door. Also have plenty of power points for a computer, printer, etc... if you have one like I have for our business. I have had 4 double points fitted in the office nd I hve also had a couple of points fitted in the laundry to use as a charging station for a torch etc...as I'm on a farm so this is sort of a must. A point inside the broom closet if you have a rechargable vac for exmple that will hang there.
#5. Be mindful that too many floor to ceiling windows can prevent adequate places for furniture to sit and can be unnecessary, so I have kept my windows off the floor a little without loosing plenty of light.
#6. Hubby and I are in the over 50's bracket and so we decided to build this home, our last home, invalid friendly, so we have a wider passage way, stepless shower and invalid access toilet and room for a wheelchair to move around the island bench. We have also had a ramp built outside for both wheelchair and pram access.
#7. Consider aluminium windows for low maintenence and I have gone a step further, as all my external doors are hinged aluminium doors and we are very happy with how they look. A lovely timber door would have been nice but the maintenence is NOT NICE.
#8. We have a veranda around the perimeter of the home, so we have timber fascia's and again to eliminate maintenence, we had the fascia's covered with colourbond steel so they well never be exposed to the weather, hence neve need painting or changing.
I could go on with plenty of other stuff but perhaps none of this is relevant to you but being older, I have past the stage of wanting to be painting, repairing or climbing stairs!!!
Good luck with your build experience and I will be very interested to see progress photo's.
cheers,
Barbara

Brad

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/113344#Comment_113344

Ok @Baretta11 spit it out!

"my external doors are hinged aluminium doors"

I take it your not refering to just securiety doors so what and where did you get them?

Baretta11

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/124242#Comment_124242

@Brad,

Hi Brad,

Ok I'm spitting it out, ha-ha!!

I got my windows and doors from Avista Windows in Moolap, Geelong.

My contact Eric, was an outstanding rep, couldn't have been more helpful and patient with our sometimes protracted delays and part orders.

I don't have screen doors yet but they too will come from Avista.

I couldn't reccomend Avista more highly, a smallish show to look at, no fancy front of shop so to speak and all the staff were considerate, approachable and down to earth.

I've attached a few pics, the first is our double front doors in the colour, Stone Beige or its equivelant is Colourbond Paperbark.
The cost of this combination was $2,140 with dimensions being 2100 x1800

The large window is what I call my viewing window, as it looks out on the garden and it was $1,500 and dimensions of it are 2980 x 1560 and the last pic, our laundry door was $1,300 and 2100 x 904.

Based on my research at the time we first started looking for windows and hinged aluminium doors 2 years ago, Avista was the best price.

What do you think?

Cheers,

Barbara

Front Doors #1.JPG

New Dining Window.JPG

New Laundry Door.JPG

Brad

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/131531#Comment_131531

Hi @Baretta11

I like them Barbara.

Nice that you can choose a colour that matches the house so well.

First set of double hinged doors I have seen in alum suitable for a house.

I like that the laundry door is wider than the off the shelf 820mm standard.

I think you found a balance between the cheaper take it as it is and a quaility product that looks good.

Now if they would just open an Adelaide branch.

Baretta11

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/135974#Comment_135974

Hi Brad,

Thank you for your kind words.

The actual laundry door is 820mm, so still standard, the measurement I gave you are OD but I did get a larger door in the master bedroom at 870mm.

Didn't realize that 904mm wasn't the actual size but once I did know I made sure that the door in the mater was bigger.

I don't think there would be any reason why any of your window places in Adelaide couldn't make a hinged door like I had made in whatever size and colour normally availble.

If they can make windows, they can make doors.

Best get back to work, looking to cut the holes for the downlights in one finished plasterd room, then I can put the insulation in the roof there, such fun putting in insulation, NOT. Have to dress up like an eskimo with mask, plastic pants, plastic jacket, gloves and beenie to avoid the glass debris.

Cheers,

Barbara

maknilsin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139032#Comment_139032

Just a quick update for everyone, after an extremely long wait I have finally been moved to site! Concrete pouring is happening next week so fingers crossed for some good weather. Once everything really starts to ramp up I'm going to go be posting countless photos. So get excited for that.

I can't wait to share my building journey with everyone and hopefully it can inspire some others to share their own building joys and woes as well.

maknilsin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141087#Comment_141087

Oh and I should probably mention that even though the wait has been excruciatingly long (it's been exactly a year since I put my deposit down), Porter Davis have been absolutely fantastic the entire time, answering and all of my queries which has made the wait far less stressful.

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141087#Comment_141087

@maknilsin, I'm really excited, & for you too.

Before our build got started, we were told that a Uni student had approached our builder asking if she could follow the build as part of her assignment thingie. We were happy to let her do it, as I was doing a lot of country work (so not home much) over that period, & were looking forward to seeing her finished project. Thing was, she gave up on it part way through, & didn't let us know, so consequently we have no progress pics. 🙁

Dad knew a builder from his working days, & he put us onto him, he wasn't high profile or flashy, but he had a good solid reputation, & had been around for a long time. Any bumps that came up got sorted without us being hassled, & things just got done. '75 when we built was at the height inflation, material shortages & work outages, but our build process was a delight.

If you've done your homework, or lucked onto a good builder, your build should be an enjoyable experience too. 🙂

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142621#Comment_142621

@maknilsin, great news that you have a communicative builder & that they're showing their worth already, that's a very good sign, so I'm rapt for you. 😀

By the way, rain shouldn't be a problem for your foundation pour if the site's been prepared with drainage in mind.

All good mate.

BIM_Engineer

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141087#Comment_141087

Hi maknilsin
Thanks for the up-date
From an Engineers perspective make sure the photos include the reinforcement arrangement/placement before the concrete is poured,
Remember once it's placed repairs can be very expensive or impossible thereafter.
I can't tell you how many times I've inspected concrete reinforcement only to find the re-entrant bars weren't supplied or incorrectly tied/placed and I've had to run down to bunnings to get a few extra length.
Thus eliminating "o woe is me" future potentual floor tile cracking

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142625#Comment_142625

@BIM_Engineer, thanks for you expertise, & I extend to you, a very warm welcome to the Workshop community. 🙂

If I may, could I ask if you could help another Workshopper?

In the "Worst DIY jobs you've had to do" thread, @Brad has a problematic internal wall that has cracking issues. I've gone as far as I can trying to help, but wonder if you may have more insight into what the cause might be.

maknilsin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/142625#Comment_142625

Great advice @BIM_Engineer - I'll make sure that Porter Davis passes on the photos you suggested before they pour.

BIM_Engineer

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143712#Comment_143712

Hey Andy
Thanks for the welcome
I can't stress (excuse the pun..LOL bad joke for an engineer that does structural repairs) how important it is to use the correct Data,Information,Material, engineering..blah,blah blah. I think you get the gist.. always try to avoid potential problems as the repairs can cost 5-10 times the initial cost.

BIM_Engineer

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/144533#Comment_144533

Hey Maknilsin
As long as someone responsible takes photos...and things are rectified before the pour..why?
1. Photos are proof of whats been done
2.These can be used as evidence should things go wrong at a later date
3. Photos should match the engineering & Construction details..if not why not?
4. Photos, Building Information Modelling (BIM), big data, simulations and the internet of things (IOT) are revolutionising the way we Design,Engineer Analyse and build ... more to follow

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145137#Comment_145137

Great advice that you've given @maknilsin, @BIM_Engineer, I've heard of contractors removing steel to save them a buck, or others helping themselves. 😤 I hope it's not all that common, but photos sent to the engineer just prior to the pour would stomp on it, saving a lot of misery & expense down the track.

BIM_Engineer

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145606#Comment_145606

As I always say to the battlers and punters " No-one is going to look after your investment/interests more than you"

maknilsin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/145969#Comment_145969

So after the greatest deluge of rain ever seen in September for Victoria we have some progress on the house! Managed to head out to the property a few weeks ago to see if any progress had been made - hadn't heard from the builder since the rain settled in and I wasn't expecting to see much progress. But as I rolled up to the property I was met with the wonderful site of formwork strewn across the block.

This was great great progress considering I was expecting the block to still be bare due to the rain. It was also the first time that I could get a sense of how big the house would actually be and I'm pleasantly surprised.

It did however highlight how small the backyard is going to be, but that's to be expected with a block this size. I have some plans for the backyard to try and make sense of the space.

BIM_Engineer

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/146267#Comment_146267

Hi maknilsin

Thanks for the update and photos but
I suggest you take more photos before the concrete is poured
you should have the geotech /engineering report and engineers details
please focus on the engineers details. Although wide shots show its a waffle slab with water ponding around the perimeters?... the devil is in the detail..so as to speak. HTH

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/146513#Comment_146513

@maknilsin, from the last photo, it appears that they've removed soil (maybe 30cm or more?) from that side in order to level the site for your build. It's hard to tell from the angle of the shot, but could it be higher than the finished slab?

I may be being over-cautious, but maybe down the track, a retaining wall & aggie drain system might be needed on that side, but @BIM_Engineer would definitely be the man to sort that, as I have zero experience in site gradients, retaining walls, & drainage.

Good luck with it all

maknilsin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/146721#Comment_146721

Thanks for the advice @Andy_Mann and @BIM_Engineer, however things have already escalated quite quickly. A day after I went out to check the formwork I was informed that the slab had been poured which was good news as it meant we were finally progressing into the actual build.

Things have gone even quicker since then as a week after that the Frame has gone up! So I was finally able to have a bit of a walk around and actually see how the house is actually going to look and feel. It's definetely a lot bigger than what I was expecting. It's only a 17sq house but now that I can actually see all of the rooms it's definetely more than enough for me for the time being.

So slab and frame have all been completed and my site supervisor has advised me that fascia and guttering should be completed on Friday. Things are really ticking along.

I've also been given the go ahead to go onto site and run some AV cable between the wall of my living room and the linen press directly behind it. I've got plans to keep all of my media devices and a little server tucked away in the linen cupboard so my living room wall can be nice and simplistic with just a giant TV mounted to it.

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/146882#Comment_146882

@maknilsin, it's looking good, I thought there may've been a time-line difference in the your last post, going by the photos (I didn't see any framework on site). So yeh, the framework goes up in the blink of an eye, the windows will too, & Friday's look'n good for the fascia & gutters. 😀

Now that I've seen your photos taken from your street frontage, the site gradient from your neighbour, is way less than I'd thought, plus after I posted, I realised that your site slopes gently toward the street, so run off should be good.

I can't make it out from the photos, but is there an entry from the garage to the interior? We (I) didn't think of it for our build, but it'd be great for staying under cover while unloading the car, in bad weather.

Thanks for the updates, I'm really enjoying them, it's like reliving the dream.

maknilsin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/147019#Comment_147019

@Andy_Mann - had to get the entry from the garage added as an extra. The wall I've included in, is a retaining wall so had to also install a nice metal frame to make sure the door doesn't cause the house to collapse.

But I think it's going to be money well spent once I've moved in!

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/147121#Comment_147121

@maknilsin, money well spent indeed, not only for convenience, it will definitely lessen the risk of a slipping hazard.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/146882#Comment_146882

I'm enjoying the updates @maknilsin. Please keep them coming! It must be such an exciting time for you. Thanks for sharing.

Jason

maknilsin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/147020#Comment_147020

@Jason exciting and nerve wracking! Finally seeing the size of the place has made me realise how ill prepared I am to actually fill the place. The shopping list has exponentially grown since visiting the house.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/147122#Comment_147122

@maknilsin

Hope all is well. How's your build going? It would be great to see an update with some pictures.

Jason

maknilsin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/147228#Comment_147228

@Jason Ahh you've caught me out! I've been incredibly slack with my updates. Been caught up in the whirlwhind of settlement and moving in.

Will definetely be doing some update posts in the near future (waiting on my blinds to be installed to really showcase the finished product)

I've also got a few projects to get my hands dirty with now that I've moved in and will be documenting their progress once they are underway.

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