Building experiences & knowledge?

**yod** · 20th June 2013, 16:26

Just out for any and all advice, be it good, bad or otherwise.....the Yods are considering building so interested to hear from those in the trade or others who have gone through it....

good/bad products/materials? good/bad design decisions/options? let's have it.....

**BMWST?** · 20th June 2013, 16:37

stick to a traditional house shape with a decent roof pitch and good overhangs and get the most insulation you can get.if you can afford some solar water heating or even some pv panels thats good,but even so get a house design that is as energy efficient as poss.I reckon this will be money in the bank in the future

**yod** · 20th June 2013, 16:40

Originally Posted by BMWST?

stick to a traditional house shape with a decent roof pitch and good overhangs and get the most insulation you can get.if you can afford some solar water heating or even some pv panels thats good,but even so get a house design that is as energy efficient as poss.I reckon this will be money in the bank in the future

yes, must look into solar and what we can achieve there, probably not too hard to retrofit if the budget doesn't stretch quite that far yet....i noticed the house on the section next to the one we're looking at has a panel on the roof

**BMWST?** · 20th June 2013, 16:49

Originally Posted by yod

yes, must look into solar and what we can achieve there, probably not too hard to retrofit if the budget doesn't stretch quite that far yet....i noticed the house on the section next to the one we're looking at has a panel on the roof

it will always be cheaper to fit it when building but if careful can allow for retro fitting i guess.As i say careful design for energy effeicincy is a great start,minimize heating in winter and cooling for summer.obviously efficent floor plans can save floor area cos every sq metre costs money

**scissorhands** · 20th June 2013, 17:27

Homes have not changed much like cars, bikes, education, everything

Do something different as the future will be upside down from now. But make it simple, no architects orgasms that are expensive to build. A sloping flat roof with high side to the north

Read up on passive solar design, make your south wall almost windowless, design a heat sink in your living area to collect the warmth of the day, a large conservatory with glasshouse attached to the living area, draw in heat from ceilings

With the cost of utilities maybe look to get off the grid and collect your own water

**Maha** · 20th June 2013, 17:40

Don't buy any shit of TM and expect a tradesman to be happy about fitting it.

**mashman** · 20th June 2013, 18:15

Originally Posted by yod

Just out for any and all advice, be it good, bad or otherwise.....the Yods are considering building so interested to hear from those in the trade or others who have gone through it....

good/bad products/materials? good/bad design decisions/options? let's have it.....

How big is yer plot? Got any hills you can build into for insulation? yadda yadda yadda

Edit: and Cat 5 the house with a port in each room.

**Gremlin** · 20th June 2013, 18:28

Like any project, know and scope what you want from the outset. Altering along the way or retrofitting can be costly. Building from scratch is an excellent way to incorporate all the little things you want, and it's cheaper than trying to renovate an older house etc.

Touching on what Maha said, and just like motorbikes, you can get the good brands and then you get the cheap brands. Why do we avoid the cheap chinese bikes? They're crap. Same thing with building products (and everything else). Get a reputable builder, and find out what kind of warranty you can expect, should things go wrong. Document all communication (shouldn't need to be said, but there you go... make sure).

Don't try cutting corners, but you'd be surprised what some have found. Friends of my brother bought a house that turned out to be built by asian builders (not first owners). Found they'd used low grade wiring, overloaded the circuits instead of spreading the load out, so now things trip, and the network wiring was the bare minimum for connection, ie, not a whole cable to each port. Just mentioning this sort of stuff so you know it DOES happen... don't want to be one.

As others have said, don't go for some architects dream. Keep it simple and solid, and you shouldn't have too many issues. Remember to maintain...

**Laava** · 20th June 2013, 18:29

Originally Posted by Maha

Don't buy any shit of TM and expect a tradesman to be happy about fitting it.

Amen to that brother!
Look into going off grid, find out how expensive it is!
Be careful choosing claddings as well. I am currently helping a mate clad a house in No1 grade finger jointed pine 8" bevel back weatherboards. In this damp weather pattern they are turning to shit. Not impressed.
Double glazing will pay the biggest dividend in terms of keeping in the heat and keeping out the noise. It is now becoming much more mainstream and thus cost effective.

**Hitcher** · 20th June 2013, 18:38

Hire somebody extremely dodgy, let them sodomise you every which way, and then sell your story to reality television for megabucks.

**Maha** · 20th June 2013, 18:43

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Hire somebody extremely dodgy, let them sodomise you every which way, and then sell your story to reality television for megabucks.

Cowboys no longer lives in the area though.

**BMWST?** · 20th June 2013, 18:53

Originally Posted by Laava

Amen to that brother!
Look into going off grid, find out how expensive it is!
Be careful choosing claddings as well. I am currently helping a mate clad a house in No1 grade finger jointed pine 8" bevel back weatherboards. In this damp weather pattern they are turning to shit. Not impressed.
Double glazing will pay the biggest dividend in terms of keeping in the heat and keeping out the noise. It is now becoming much more mainstream and thus cost effective.

its more than mainstream in some localities it the only way to meet the building regulations for insulation