Building Info

THE BUILDING PROCESS:

  1. Initial consultation: 

    We gather all the necessary information  and we’ll discuss your needs and aspirations and the possibilities of your new home or development and explain our process in detail. If plans are already drawn we can then move on to the Quoting stage. 

  2. Design stage: 

    A site inspection will need to be conducted to make an assessment of the lands characteristics. A site survey, soil test,  planning report and the concept design plans drawn. These will need to be submitted to council for approval. Once approval from council has been granted the finalisation of the documentation which includes the architectural and engineering drawing plans. Then they can be submitted for a Building permit.

  3. Quoting stage:

    The quote will include a comprehensive schedule of what your construction materials, fixtures and finishes will be.

  4. Contract:

    A timeframe for completion, contract and specifications documentation will need to be signed by both parties, and then building can commence, provide and building permit has been approved by a building surveyor. 6 defining stages in the contract are listed below.
    1. Deposit (5%): Contract has been signed by both parties and are ready to start.
    2. Base Stage (10%):Site scrape takes place to remove all vegetation and depending on the heights of the structure and land a site cut would need to be performed to get the site ready for the footings. During this stage, the plumber and electrician will excavate trenches to complete all the necessary ground works. This includes the drainage and stormwater system, the electrical mains and telecommunications. Once this has been completed we will then follow the engineered design footing system to provide the foundation for your dwelling. Mandatory inspections takes place.
    3. Frame Stage (15%): At this point the concrete slab has been poured and the carpenters are on site to build the walls and intermediate floors and roof and also to complete all engineering details. During the frame stage, you will see the dwelling taking shape. Mandatory inspection takes place.
    4. Lockup Stage (35%): As the name suggests, its when the dwelling is able to be locked up. All exterior cladding, windows and roof are installed. All internal rough in work gets completed. This means the electrician runs all his electrical cabling and the plumber all gas and water pipes, other rough in work includes mechanical ventilation, alarms and telecommunications. Insulation is put into place and now we are ready for plastering.
    5. Fixing Stage (25%): This is when all the fixed items of the dwelling are installed, this includes plaster, joinery, doors, trims etc.
    6. Completion (10%): This is when the dwelling has been completed to the specifications and Final Occupancy has been granted and the dwelling can be handed over.

  5. Building: 

    Throughout the build you will be informed regularly with the progress of the build and we can organise regular onsite visits. During this period a lot of times there are things that have not been envisioned during the planning phase and if you happen to change your mind about something, we will work together to incorporate the changes that you would like. 

  6. Handover: 

    When construction is complete, we will make sure that you are satisfied with every aspect of the build and then we can hand the keys over to you. We will be there to attend any maintenance issues you may have after 3 months and 12 months after completion.

 

ESTIMATING INFO:

Each builder you engage will provide you with different levels of details and specifications for their quote layout. If you simply look at the final price and compare, you may be making a big mistake.

By looking at price only, you are assuming that each builder has covered the same scope and specifications and will be using the same products and finishes and does not have any hidden costs. Ultimately you need to compare like for like in regards to comparing building quotes.

It is very important to start the quoting process with finished detailed plans and specifications. The specifications will include the fixtures, fittings, floor coverings, etc.. The more information we have, the more accurate the final cost will be.

When we price we don’t want you to have any hidden costs. The only hidden cost is if we find rock during the excavation.

Exclusions, unless requested by client, would be landscaping, fencing and any works required outside of the property boundary. 

We suggest that you should communicate with several builders and qualifying a few that you feel comfortable with and then continue the quoting process with them. 

Asking for a price without plans is plagued with too many variables and in the same token, asking how much you charge per square metre on a custom build is like asking how long is a piece of string.

There are too many different elements in a construction build that can determine the final estimate. 

The only way to obtain a true estimate of your home build is to engage a builder to develop a comprehensive scope of works and specifications.

To create the most accurate estimate, we would require the following items:

Architectural Drawings

We need a copy of your full working house plans. This will include detailed information on your floor plan, elevations and site layout. 

Structural Drawings

An engineer will have structural plans drawn for your new home. This will include detailed information on the slab or foundations, load bearing walls and structural steel and bracing.

In a multi unit development an engineered drainage plan would also be a requirement.

Energy Reports

An Energy Rating Report that shows your proposed home meets all specifications under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). 

Planning Permit

Approved planning permit from council detailing requirements from council.

 

If you require an estimate and have all of the listed documentation please contact us, we would love to chat about your project.