Another +1 for Ed @ EcoClassic. I'm owner building in Melbourne now & have specified EcoClassic windows - the walls are going up now so windows are very close…

Thanks guys, great info.

Thanks, that system looks perfect!

Our designer has specified "no penetrations" for the lighting in a couple of rooms as we are a little obsessed with energy efficiency (flat roofs, not much ceiling space). But…

More info required - what frame types - timber, aluminium, uPVC? Thermal break? Standard or semi-commercial frames? etc.
18mm air gap seems a bit large - consensus of optimum…

Not sure what a silt barrier is - just using it on the fence to give the neighbours some privacy. I have no idea what it costs at Bunnings;…

Wow, that's expensive! Shop around, I'm sure you can find cheaper.
We have 44m of fencing plus 20m of screening which is costing us $800 total for 6-9 months (some…

Don't know about temp power pole - neighbours are graciously giving us power until our permanent meter is hooked up.
Temp fence - depends. Our rear fence will come down…

Hi Alex,
If you cannot be onsite then I wouldn't recommend it. I'm owner building right now & it has been much harder & time consuming than expected. We did…

Thanks Hitchy & others. As an update we decided to ditch the basement plan long ago - after digesting the replies here & doing more research I woke up…

Hi Art,
We're OBing as well & have done most of the main costings.
Not sure how sandy soil rates, but definitely get a soil report done first. This can make a…

While I personally wouldn't spend $2 mill for a townhouse with no land, no parking for friends, in a crazy busy location like Richmond etc, some folk will undoubtably stump…

You shouldn't judge a photoshopped picture from your compute chair!
It is most definitely Sycon Matrix - I know because I visited the house while researching facade options for our house.…

Ed, I believe what you are saying & aren't trying to prove otherwise - my point is that the WERS site can be misleading & extremely difficult to determine what…

Thanks Ed, been a little busy of late hadn't gotten around to replying to your helpful post.
While I agree with your analysis, it seems that about 50 companies can claim…

Ed, can you please state what qualifiers you are using to claim number one position? Using WERS for VIC, aluminium & double glazing you aren't even in the top 50…

Wow, hadn't seen those bricks before - R8, nice! I'm annoyed that you posted the link though - another thing to research & consider!

I can't say how I know, but I do know the company is finding it difficult to sell this system. Read into that what you will.
To me it seems overly…

Another option may be Dincel (http://www.dincelconstructionsystem.com). Lightweight waterproof formwork, just add some reo & pour conrete.
From reading their website & PDFs, appears easy enough to DIY. They are…

Thanks kyton & Pulpo. That drop in wine cellar is pretty clever - I'd wish I was into wine; it would be cheaper than a basement for movies/pinball! …

Our current plans are now getting close to being finalised & a massive 58 square metre basement (inc stairs & WC) is incorporated into the design beautifully. Pure basement, not…

As bashworth said drafties/designers won't draw plans based upon someone elses copyrighted plans. Just grab some graph paper & do a rough mud map of what you desire. …

Great plan & good luck OBing!
I'd also think about making the kids rooms larger - now that you've added an extra WC you've lost the WIR in Bed…

Did you manage to speak with James hounslow? Unfortunately for your timing he's just left for a one month overseas holiday, so not sure how contactable he will be.

This is a great question - as an OB it is so difficult to get a handle on what things should cost. Like others have said it probably won't…

I can highly recommend a BDAV member building designer based in Yarraville. I'd class him as an architect without those formal qualifications & price tag. Still he is…

Agreed as well - amazing build thread, totally inspiring. Thanks for sharing the journey. We will also be OBing (in the 'burbs with no view) sometime soonish &…

Definitely stick with your townhouse plans. Traffic in the west is becoming a nightmare; actually most of Melbourne is, but the west in particular. I grew up in &…

Definitely happy with it, no complaints after a few weeks. Particularly love how you can set the finish time (eg. 4 hours from now).
There are heaps of different settings…

I've just recently finished doing a bunch of research on this exact thing - ended up paying for a Choice online subscription so I could read their report & read…

I'm also keen to hear people's opinions on this - we are building in Melbourne (inner-west) & will be having polished concrete slab.
Keep changing our minds on it - consensus…