Help! Contractor issue with Insurance - need advice
MR
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
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Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
7 years agoMDLN
7 years agoRelated Discussions
need help w/ kitchen layout (advice on sink/oven placement & function)
Comments (21)Our island is 900 depth, 2400 wide, with a sink in the middle (opposite the cooktop), which works well for us. Plenty of prep area either side of the sink (mind you, it's a single undermount sink, about 500mm wide, with no drainboard). If we were going to use the island for actual meals, ours is only deep enough for a person either side of the sink. So, if you're thinking of having the island as a dining area, go to the 1200 depth. Just walk around it to clean it. On the other hand, if the island is going to be for prep, and a place for guests to prop up a glass of wine and chat while you're getting dinner, 900 is fine. Our dishwasher is to the immediate left of the sink, and we have pull out waste bins underneath the sink. We have 1200 mm space from island to the wall side and the range top, and about the same to the other ends. Our fridge, which isn't huge, is in a 900 mm+ cavity which would be big enough for a deeper fridge. It's in relatively the same place your fridge is, and works fine there. Hinges are on the non-kitchen side of the door, so it opens into the kitchen. Cabinets beside it are a bit more in depth, so fridge and cabinets line up nicely. 850 for your fridge seems reasonable to me. I wouldn't put that study where you have it: I think you'll need all of that butler's pantry for butlering type storage. My 5 cents worth based on new house, new experience, absolutely no kids in the equation!...See MoreHome Owners Warranty Insurance (Home Building Compensation Scheme NSW)
Comments (5)Absolutely, 100% ;) .....interestingly with that homeowners/builder's warranty, it's arguably a big fat farce.. because if push ever comes to shove they have limits on how much will be paid out regardless of the job cost, and it's a ridiculously low blanket cap like $197K......apparently it's only rarely ever paid out to even that amount and it's only in the case of say a builder dying or going bankrupt with unfinished works....so it never ever covers the whole build costs even though it's based on the contract sum...how dodgy is that! - shows who's really making the money in this game ;) ........so siriuskey absolutely great/sound advice to have as much insurance in place as soon as the building is completed, so if it unfortunately burns to the ground at least it's covered by a home policy....but cross your fingers while it's in construction and hope for the best!!!...See MoreHelp! We need floor plan advice for our family home
Comments (33)Appreciate the thoughts and this may be a solid option elsewhere in the country but in my circumstances I don't plan to be moving from this property any time before the kids are 18. It is located in Sydney's inner west, and in a specific high school catchment I plan to take advantage of when the kids are older. Stamp duty to buy the property was close to $100k and if moving out even in ten years to a larger property; that averages $10k a year spent on stamp duty. I know 115m2 internal is tight, as is the fixed layout due to existing bedroom walls, ceiling heights, wet areas, and the like - but there has to be a way to make this work... I have read that 4 bedroom apartments should be 102m2 or bigger. I am willing to make compromises where possible but I really want to create that extra separate room "Multi-purpose room" which can double as a study/work area/kids play area/media room/ad-hoc sleeping accommodation". Paul Di Stefano: I don't think these changes essentially equate to 'rearranging a sock drawer' - this is my PPOR so I am not too concerned what other buyers want or resale value if I plan to hold the property for 10-20 years +... (any trends we design for now may well be outdated by then anyway). Many buyers highly value indoor-outdoor integration. By moving the kitchen to centre, it opens up the rear and creates indoor living->outdoor living link. If I get IKEA flatpack kitchen and DIY as much as possible - have a friend reroute the water/drainage/+his licenced electrical friend...hopefully this work would cost sub-$20k. Adding the sliding door to rear is $2.5k. Ensuite, bathroom and laundry I believe I can fitout for $10-15k all up- let's say 15k (again, tiling, raise flooring, showers/fixtures/flat pack laudnry cabinetry install all done in-house without tradies). The only thing I really need professionals for is to move the gas line in kitchen, BIR installs, stone benchtop, and maybe a few adhoc wall demo/construction/doorway moving - lets call that 10k. All up ballpark that is 47.5k? Sirius- If I go with your style plan then I lose the potential 4th bed space and have no where for relatives to stay, babysitter, nanny; etc :( Maybe it is a possibility that the main living space be used for lounge room and kitchen, we can always put dining table in the Multi-purpose room, then when that room is needed for sleeping accommodation, the dining table be moved to the side and kids can eat dinner on island bench bar; lounge or outside table... ? those doors to each side of the fireplace as you suggest - this space is very cramped outside (2.45m width) and potentially would be used to store trailer or garden shed, there is an old terrace built on zero-boundary there and they have a DA to go 2 storeys; which will shadow the whole area. This is why I planned to make the rear south corner a raised deck and try to channel house activity leading out the existing glass french door to that deck, or the rear sliding door. See photo-(my house is on the left, terrace zero boundary on right, and front on is a wooden dividing fence which on the opposite side is the driveway/1 car park and front street....See MoreHelp! Need advice on exterior paint schemes
Comments (19)There are so many variables , but I'll just throw a few ideas . Really , you'd need to know yojur personalities and tastes , the houses in your suburb , your budget and what you want to achieve , whether you want to live there for 20 years or sell in 8 , and 1000 other questions . To me , the roof looks great , and it looks like the fences are stained charcoal . So thats a great starting point , but it also means its difficult to go mid-century or beach chic . I'd keep away from greys or beiges , but keep it light -- I just looked at Dulux Australia , and if you want to go 'interesting' , something like Lexicon Half or My Chincilla are subtle but not too shy -- My Chincilla looks like a grey with a slight purple tinge ! Either of those two I'd do stark white window surrounds , and probably white aluminium windows , but then charcoal powdercoating would actually be great IMO , and add a bit of Wow . Obviously whites and offwhites are more logical , but then you'd pretty much have to go with black or charcoal windows , and white or off-white surrounds . BUT if you did that , heres what I would do -- that front eve and the 3 'tall' windows ( yes I know the glass is only about 1/3rd of the frame ) I would do in a light teal , and then continue that to the wrought iron , and then a really bright but not fluro teal for the front door . Now , you may continue the light teal onto other window surrounds ( personally , I'd do the ones on the veranda in stark white , and the 'rear side' one in light teal ) , and all the 'other lower stuff' you can see , like the terrace boards , the bottom 100-150mm across the front , etc ) in charcoal to visually 'ground' the house . From there , a narrow , low stone and rock garden across the front of your house would make it look a lot better , with a few grasses and cactuses and low leafy bushes and red leaved bushes etc . One other idea -- those front windows aren't too bad ( although you say high maintanence ) so if replacing them , maybe cover them with 12-15 vertical wooden battens -- I'd do nicely varnished natural timber 50mm square and around 2 1/2 metres tall each . They will add a natural wood look , add a bit of privacy , a bit of interest , without cutting out all the light . Obviously , that is a pretty budget once-over-lightly idea , but it will change the whole look and feel of your place for maybe $5k materials , whatever labour costs ( $10k ? ) and whatever windows cost ....See Morefreeoscar
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