When we were at Clarendon for the meeting to consider Tender and estimates of costs, we were presented with the geotechnical report on our block of land. This determines what kind of slab is required for your house. Clarendon gives as standard a M class slab but in most cases this needs to be upgraded to a H class slab due to soil condition and trees and so on.
When I read through our report it stated that our block had grasses and numerous trees. but our block was recently mown by myself and had one solitary wattle tree about 2m high in the middle. So I rang the geotech to ask about it.
The difference between a Class P and Class H site:-
He informed me that the Class P which is what my block was rated indicated to the Clarendon engineer that there were things on the block that had to be checked, whereas a class H would not require checking by the engineer.
OK, so where were the numerous trees? He told me that i should take photos and email them to him. And further that a site classification is effected by having trees within 30 meters which could even be saplings and up to 30m high trees.
So I went back to my block to take pictures and found no bore holes for the soil testing that should have taken place. But on the block next door there were the bore holes. THEY HAD BORED THE WRONG BLOCK!
That's why you read carefully and check everything.
Of course now with the block next door having lots of grass and saplings it influences my classification. Clarendon nor the geotech company do not know how long the site next door will be left before being built upon nor if they will keep some of the trees and have 6m trees in their garden. I will still get a Class H slab because the soil type is the major influence. And anyway I want peering under the slab so as to minimise movement.
But what if someone had begun to build on the wrong site!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Step 2 Discuss your new home Tender
On Thursday 17th Sept we met with our salesman at Heyward Bay to discuss our Tender and the accurate estimates so far for the changes we asked for.
It was a constructive discussion and we learnt much.
1 We found that the $13,100 for the grand Alfresco does not include the Slab which costs a further $3530
2. The extension to the garage from 5.6m to 6.0m ( most councils - well common sense suggests a miimimum of 5.8m so you can open car5 doors once two cars in garage ) costs an additional $3300 which allows for extra bricks, frame and roof and tiles.
3. Additional "Council" costs roughly given at Step 1 of our process as $10,000 and includes the upgrade from M type slab to H slab - required in the majority of sites came in at $8700
What is interesting and worth noting at this stage are the following:
The Client is responsible for and to pay if damage occurs by clarendon to any existing fences / pipes.
Clarendon may say that roof pitch may need to go down from 28degrees to 22.5degrees saying this due to council pitch mx of 8.0 m but it's actually a mx of 8.5m I believe.
Even though we paid for the Chic upgrade, this doesn't include changing the standard wardrobe from glass sliding doors to normal doors, that costs extra.
We also received a copy of the geotechnical report on the land.
We signed the paperwork and signed a cheque for $4000 to proceed.
It was a constructive discussion and we learnt much.
1 We found that the $13,100 for the grand Alfresco does not include the Slab which costs a further $3530
2. The extension to the garage from 5.6m to 6.0m ( most councils - well common sense suggests a miimimum of 5.8m so you can open car5 doors once two cars in garage ) costs an additional $3300 which allows for extra bricks, frame and roof and tiles.
3. Additional "Council" costs roughly given at Step 1 of our process as $10,000 and includes the upgrade from M type slab to H slab - required in the majority of sites came in at $8700
What is interesting and worth noting at this stage are the following:
The Client is responsible for and to pay if damage occurs by clarendon to any existing fences / pipes.
Clarendon may say that roof pitch may need to go down from 28degrees to 22.5degrees saying this due to council pitch mx of 8.0 m but it's actually a mx of 8.5m I believe.
Even though we paid for the Chic upgrade, this doesn't include changing the standard wardrobe from glass sliding doors to normal doors, that costs extra.
We also received a copy of the geotechnical report on the land.
We signed the paperwork and signed a cheque for $4000 to proceed.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Grand Alfresco
We visited Camden Claredon display centre on the weekend and looked at the alfresco on the display homes there. They are quite impressive, so if you want you can get a grand alfresco outside "patio" with ceiling and roof for an extra $13000. This is a 7m x 3.7m section with two pillars, not with all the extras as on the display homes. And it doesn't include the wood bi-fold doors which go along two edges of the alfresco for the display homes, they cost as extra $13,000.
Oh wouldn't it be good to have the money.
It's been 3 weeks now and Clarendon still haven't got back to us about our second meeting where we Ok the plans and accept the estimate for $4000.
There weren't all that many changes and certainly not what you would call structural so I don't know why drawing up plans takes so long. We only added a downstairs shower and moved one bedroom wall - an internal wall, 60cm.
Oh wouldn't it be good to have the money.
It's been 3 weeks now and Clarendon still haven't got back to us about our second meeting where we Ok the plans and accept the estimate for $4000.
There weren't all that many changes and certainly not what you would call structural so I don't know why drawing up plans takes so long. We only added a downstairs shower and moved one bedroom wall - an internal wall, 60cm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)