TomCat's new digs!

[QF WP]

AAh, aggregate driveways - be careful in the wet and be sure to send Tom out to pressure clean it regularly to ensure no mould etc grows in the cracks or on the stones. Does your driveway slope to the street, or is it flat?

 

[blackcat20]

AAh, aggregate driveways - be careful in the wet and be sure to send Tom out to pressure clean it regularly to ensure no mould etc grows in the cracks or on the stones. Does your driveway slope to the street, or is it flat?

We're actually looking pretty flat; just a very minor slope from right to left (a few cm at most). I was actually keen on aggregate but had disregarded it due to cost. Turns out we didnt have a choice.... I think it will look great with the colours we've picked for the house. And luckily we do own a pressure washer so that will be an easy job.

 

[Pushka]

Budget and building a house is one of the world's best contradictions.

 

[Quickstatus]

Saturday morning saw us spend four hours at the studio with an interior designer selecting everything for the house. We went in with most things already decided so I hate to think how long it would take if you hadn't done your homework.

Driveway:
View attachment 103009

A little surprise when we discovered that a concrete driveway is prohibited by our estate so we had to blow the budget on this (admittedly gorgeous) exposed aggregate driveway and front path.

I hate aggregate driveways. They can get very slippery in the wet. My grandmother broke her ankle on one.

 

[RAM]

Saturday morning saw us spend four hours at the studio with an interior designer selecting everything for the house. We went in with most things already decided so I hate to think how long it would take if you hadn't done your homework.

Bricks:
View attachment 103006

Exterior colours:
View attachment 103007

Top left is the colourbond room, left is the window (black), centre top is the upstairs render, centre bottom is the render to the portico, and right is the garage door and front door).

Interior colours:
View attachment 103008

Top left is ceiling, trims and doors, bottom left is walls. Centre top is the tile for the kitchen splashback, centre is kitchen bench, centre bottom is the kitchen cabinets. Top right is bathroom/laundry benches, bottom right is bathroom/laundry cabinets.

Driveway:
View attachment 103009

A little surprise when we discovered that a concrete driveway is prohibited by our estate so we had to blow the budget on this (admittedly gorgeous) exposed aggregate driveway and front path.

Not that I'm a cynic (possibly when in coma?) but does the builder you are dealing with own the estate?

Concrete is generally several parts aggregate/stones to several parts sand to one or more parts cement. After our renovations we were presented with a "We're ready to fix your driveway and back apron it will cost $XX,xx_."

Shy and retiring as always I countered (emulating JM) "You cannot be serious?"

They were, so I said thanks but no thanks and decided to do it ourselves. Doing some figurative digging I discovered that there can be a huge range in the size and type of stone content in 'concrete'.

https://www.concreteinstitute.com.a... aggregate&searchmode=anyword&searchfilter=0;

In the end in true "I don't really know what I'm biting off" mode we did it totally ourselves and got a truckload of aggregate (10-15mm stones), a tonne of sand and a stack of 40kg cement bags.

If you increase the ratio of stones slightly - it has a noticeable effect.

The image you showed is one with an incredibly high ratio, we went for a lower ratio and with a much lower range of colour and size. Too small sizes seemed an invitation to slide and too large to tripping.

With ours, it took some months before the stones were noticeable everywhere as the grains thick coating of sand/cement on top of them gradually wore off to reveal probably about half the density shown in your picture.

Perhaps talk to an uninterested party (aka 2nd opinion from another driveway provider) that you sound out on basis we're thinking of having...

Ours turned out well, and I wished I had bought that concrete mixer instead of the two large wheel barrows....

No cracks or movement but it sure works up a sweat mixing 15 barrows worth in one sitting.

 

[cove]

The picture of the rich dark earth is very encouraging if you are planning to grow a garden.

 

[love_the_life]

Good colour choices there BC & TV. With title expected in November do you have a start and finish timeline for the build?

 

[blackcat20]

Not that I'm a cynic (possibly when in coma?) but does the builder you are dealing with own the estate?

Concrete is generally several parts aggregate/stones to several parts sand to one or more parts cement. After our renovations we were presented with a "We're ready to fix your driveway and back apron it will cost $XX,xx_."

Shy and retiring as always I countered (emulating JM) "You cannot be serious?"

They were, so I said thanks but no thanks and decided to do it ourselves. Doing some figurative digging I discovered that there can be a huge range in the size and type of stone content in 'concrete'.

https://www.concreteinstitute.com.a... aggregate&searchmode=anyword&searchfilter=0;

In the end in true "I don't really know what I'm biting off" mode we did it totally ourselves and got a truckload of aggregate (10-15mm stones), a tonne of sand and a stack of 40kg cement bags.

If you increase the ratio of stones slightly - it has a noticeable effect.

The image you showed is one with an incredibly high ratio, we went for a lower ratio and with a much lower range of colour and size. Too small sizes seemed an invitation to slide and too large to tripping.

With ours, it took some months before the stones were noticeable everywhere as the grains thick coating of sand/cement on top of them gradually wore off to reveal probably about half the density shown in your picture.

Perhaps talk to an uninterested party (aka 2nd opinion from another driveway provider) that you sound out on basis we're thinking of having...

Ours turned out well, and I wished I had bought that concrete mixer instead of the two large wheel barrows....

No cracks or movement but it sure works up a sweat mixing 15 barrows worth in one sitting.

No the builder does not own the estate. The estate guidelines form part of the contract for the land purchase so unfortunately exposed aggregate is compulsory. The driveway must also be in place for occupancy to be granted so we don't really have much option, plus I actually like it. It's done by a 3rd party too, not the builder.

Good colour choices there BC & TV. With title expected in November do you have a start and finish timeline for the build?

No dates yet. Assuming settlement happens quickly, I'm hoping they might get the slab down before christmas shutdown but who knows at this point.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

No the builder does not own the estate.....................

I'm hoping they might get the slab down before christmas shutdown but who knows at this point.

So is it a full concrete slab or a waffle cone slab ??

 

[blackcat20]

So is it a full concrete slab or a waffle cone slab ??

Waffle slab.

 

[love_the_life]

No dates yet. Assuming settlement happens quickly, I'm hoping they might get the slab down before christmas shutdown but who knows at this point.

Hopefully and then after shut down things should move reasonably quickly if the weather is good.

 

[blackcat20]

Hopefully and then after shut down things should move reasonably quickly if the weather is good.

Once the roof is on, things should move pretty well. And colorbond doesn't take long to install.

 

[RB]

Saturday morning saw us spend four hours at the studio with an interior designer selecting everything for the house. We went in with most things already decided so I hate to think how long it would take if you hadn't done your homework.
A little surprise when we discovered that a concrete driveway is prohibited by our estate so we had to blow the budget on this (admittedly gorgeous) exposed aggregate driveway and front path.

Looks good & it is an exciting time that as you say can take a lot of time.
Which colorbond is that?-we have found it pretty confusing at first trying to find what colours they pick up/what tinge comes through-we have ended up going basalt (changed our mind a few times).
We don't have to select the driveway until the finish & they have a great display (several sq m) of each one laid outside their depot so it should be easier to pick.
We haven't locked in exterior colours yet (rendering front & bagging the rest & painting boards) but draughtsman suggests we stick to 3 colours.
Interesting that one of the kitchen mobs here does their own stone mason work so we can get bathroom benches from them at the right price.

 

[blackcat20]

Looks good & it is an exciting time that as you say can take a lot of time.
Which colorbond is that?-we have found it pretty confusing at first trying to find what colours they pick up/what tinge comes through-we have ended up going basalt (changed our mind a few times).
We don't have to select the driveway until the finish & they have a great display (several sq m) of each one laid outside their depot so it should be easier to pick.
We haven't locked in exterior colours yet (rendering front & bagging the rest & painting boards) but draughtsman suggests we stick to 3 colours.
Interesting that one of the kitchen mobs here does their own stone mason work so we can get bathroom benches from them at the right price.

The roof is Monument (as well as gutters etc) and the garage door is Surfmist.

 

[TomVexille]

Budget and building a house is one of the world's best contradictions.

There were only one or two things that were more then expected, but we would have been pretty much spot on what we wanted to keep costs to if it wasn't for the driveway.

 

[RB]

There were only one or two things that were more then expected, but we would have been pretty much spot on what we wanted to keep costs to if it wasn't for the driveway.

Do you know if you will have to pay this? Was something we were not expecting What is the nbn™ New Development Charge? | Australia Broadband

 

[blackcat20]

Do you know if you will have to pay this? Was something we were not expecting What is the nbn™ New Development Charge? | Australia Broadband

I'm aware of the charge and assume we have to pay it.

 

[travelislife]

Your process sounds much more enjoyable! We knocked down our first house (never even slept in it!) and are building custom and it has been a nightmare having to deal with a lot of different people, not all of them good.

 

[Quickstatus]

Been waiting for someone to ask... Solar?. tesla?

 

[Quickstatus]

Not sure what happens in other states but here is an eye opener:
http://www.longservice.nsw.gov.au/bci/the-scheme/about-the-scheme/scheme-overview
That's right... any contractor, subbie, even building company directors are entitled. It's paid on 0.35% of the value of the construction as part of the DA fees.
So not only do the builders slam you for builders margins, they get their long service leave paid for as well.
Builders often have their own project on the side - over quantifying on customers projects so they get the extra to their private build and often using the same subbies who do work for free and charge the time to the customers build. Then add builders margins. Then live in their private build for 2 years. Sell at no tax because it's a primary residence, then take long service paid for by mugs like us