Lessons Learned - Building a House

[Punk Rooster]

What was everyones footings price, I went to 7 builders and there was up to a $5K difference.

Hard to decided who to go with

Ask each of them how many cubic meters of concrete they are calculating on using. If they all answer the same figure, ask them what grade of conrete, mesh & steel they are using- if all answer the same, I would suggest that you will get the same result either way, some may have bigger overheads/profit requirements hence the 5K increase.

[heater31]

What was everyones footings price, I went to 7 builders and there was up to a $5K difference.

Hard to decided who to go with

Ask each of them how many cubic meters of concrete they are calculating on using. If they all answer the same figure, ask them what grade of conrete, mesh & steel they are using- if all answer the same, I would suggest that you will get the same result either way, some may have bigger overheads/profit requirements hence the 5K increase.

yeah, some are more careful with latent ground conditons and removal of wastage. if they use differnet strength concrete, size/grade of steel than the engineer designed for then he is very dodgy

[dont think do]

[
You guys are saying the septic is in?

do i have to organise this?
already done?[/quote]

Depends on where you are building, we have no mains sewerage, could have done the septic ourselves (around $11,000) but found it just as easy for the builder to do it and add it to the cost of the house.

[RustyCage]

If anyone can help me here, it would be great. Got another question:

We are now down to just Rossdale and G and J Gardner, because the cost for these two and inclusions was a lot les then others but we are not sure which one to go for. We are heading towards G and J Gardner because they have a guaranteed 16 week build time. They said if we start building now, it will be built by end of October which is good for us. Has anyone been through these guys though? so do we add 40-50% on top of the house for the stuff that we have to do after also? or 40-50% altogether? as in does this include, flooring, connections, landscaping, etc.? G and J Gardner have said that it will probably cost 300k for house and land and this will include everything we need to do after but our house quote is 270k. Does this sound right or should we be allowing more?

[Squawk]

If anyone can help me here, it would be great. Got another question:

We are now down to just Rossdale and G and J Gardner, because the cost for these two and inclusions was a lot les then others but we are not sure which one to go for. We are heading towards G and J Gardner because they have a guaranteed 16 week build time. They said if we start building now, it will be built by end of October which is good for us. Has anyone been through these guys though? so do we add 40-50% on top of the house for the stuff that we have to do after also? or 40-50% altogether? as in does this include, flooring, connections, landscaping, etc.? G and J Gardner have said that it will probably cost 300k for house and land and this will include everything we need to do after but our house quote is 270k. Does this sound right or should we be allowing more?

I cant say I would be in a hurry to recommend Rossdale. 13 months stuck in their administrative bureaucracy now and still no start on site. Another friend of mine had her chosen block in a development sold out from under her by Rossdale because the salesman had a buyer for two blocks that were side by side. She hadn't paid a deposit but hadn't been requested to, just asked to confirm her desire for her chosen block. Next day - he sold it.

If you dont want to wait till the end of 2008, and this is your prime decision making consideration, dont go for Rossdale. The extra 40% plus is for extras on the build only, and covers things like council wind and stormwater requirements, landscaping, a/c, heating, decent insulation and electricals etc.

[Punk Rooster]

who would want to build....

[tazz]

Hey Tazz,

I just signed a contract to build end Jan, I think we should have a race
.[/b]

alright but we havent even signed a contract yet.
Contemplating a modified Seaford floor plan with Fairmont.
Thankfully we dont have a deadline and no real rush to get it started and completed.
Of course the sooner the better so we can start earning rent from our current home.

[Squawk]

April 16, cutting on site finally began!
2 days and 1000 tonne of soil later, they have hit rock with another 500mm to go down yet. Karma then came to the fore as we have a fixed price contract so it wont cost us anything more. What goes around, comes around, hey! The rock cutter is moving in next Monday.

[Spot]

You are lucky, well after all the problems with footings, the first quote I got has just gone up by $8k due to a tree 6 mtres away from the house, that I have been told I must water to stop damage to the house. Shame its in the next door neighbours property and it is the skinnyest tree that I have seen. Looks like I am now back to square one....Was told by the builder that they would lay a double slab and flexi fittings due to the bad soil calay and tree....
Shame I am only bulding a small house, it appears the footings are going to be the problem. Looking at another block now....

[heater31]

Guys I had the pleasure of supervising my first slab pour solo today............. and what a headache . The Client stood over us like a hawk all day and the trucks were at least 45 mins late and almost running out of concrete when nearly finished.

Pysber's pet hate of holes in the DPM reared its ugly head on occasions and at the fault of the Pump operators pining their stands to hold up the pipe over the string lines and boards. Wanted to say something sooooooo bad but bit my tongue

[CENTURION]

Well, I am building in Rostrevor & my builder started on the 21st of November 2006 & I will have handover in about 12 days from now. 5 months with christmas in between is fantastic & the house is first class as well.

[Squawk]

Well, I am building in Rostrevor & my builder started on the 21st of November 2006 & I will have handover in about 12 days from now. 5 months with christmas in between is fantastic & the house is first class as well.

Is your real surname Hansen or Yuncken? Cant believe 5 months, sure it isn't a cubby house?
All I can say is, you're a very lucky son of a gun.

[Dutchy]

well visited our block tonight and the timber and bricks have all arrived ready to roll!!!

[Squawk]

Rock breakers at work this week.

[Dutchy]

good to see some movement at the station Squawk.

Our frame commenced yesterday and should be complete by the weeks end, will post a pic then...great to see it heading vertical!!!

[dont think do]

Hello all, we have our frame up. Does any one know about the requirement for the frame being attached to the slab?
I have heard that it is meant to be dyna bolted every 900mm.

[Kaiser Chief]

Our place is flying along, brickie about 1/3 a way finished. Sparky has first fixed, as has the plumber.
Pity rain didn;t hold off for another week, to give brickie chance to finish, once he is done, no one is will be held up becuase of rain.

[Dutchy]

Nice DTD, looks like a nice big house...how many m2?

OUr frame started Tuesday and of course the drought broke and hasnt seen any action since....now see the forecast for next week aint good either!!!

[Squawk]

I plan to check our place tomorrow. I fear I will find an olympic sized swimming pool complete with ducks and fish.
Must take the camera.

We need the rain so badly I feel guilty contemplating complaining even if we have waited so long to get to the starting blocks.

[smac]

Perfect time to remind you all to clear the slab daily - this weather will create a mess on the slab and the trades will all appreciate it being clean to start their day. Remember that a happy tradesman is your friend.

Great progress guys, good stuff!