Building a Home

[Pushka]

Double sinks are interesting. Right from the first house we built in the late '70's, we have had the double sink. My SIL who is just a couple of years younger, hates them and has never had one, even though with a kitchen reno a few years ago she could have installed a double but didn't.

I take it there is a lot of storage in the bench or do you have a butlers pantry in which case I am so

 

[samh004]

I take it there is a lot of storage in the bench or do you have a butlers pantry in which case I am so

Both, haha!

 

[samh004]

The driveway was poured today.

 

[love_the_life]

Double sinks are interesting. Right from the first house we built in the late '70's, we have had the double sink. My SIL who is just a couple of years younger, hates them and has never had one, even though with a kitchen reno a few years ago she could have installed a double but didn't.

I take it there is a lot of storage in the bench or do you have a butlers pantry in which case I am so

We removed the double sink in the new kitchen.

And also very green with envy at the butler’s pantry.

 

[Pushka]

We removed the double sink in the new kitchen.

And also very green with envy at the butler’s pantry.

That's interesting. I find I'm always using both. Maybe it's just a habit thing - use it because it's there but don't miss it if it isn't. They do take up a bit of benchtop space though.

 

[samh004]

That's interesting. I find I'm always using both. Maybe it's just a habit thing - use it because it's there but don't miss it if it isn't. They do take up a bit of benchtop space though.

My island is 1.1 by 2.8 so I'm not terribly bothered about the room the sink takes up. I think we just went with what was standard and tried to minimise changes as much as possible at the time. Looking back on it now, there's a ton of things I might've changed, but I don't know where I would have found the money to do so and the sink would have been lower on the list.

 

[jakeseven7]

My island is 1.1 by 2.8 so I'm not terribly bothered about the room the sink takes up. I think we just went with what was standard and tried to minimise changes as much as possible at the time. Looking back on it now, there's a ton of things I might've changed, but I don't know where I would have found the money to do so and the sink would have been lower on the list.

Exactly... you have to draw the line somewhere.

Double sinks are good obviously for resale in higher end properties where they are a ‘basic necessity’

 

[equus]

They do take up a bit of benchtop space though.

Whilst they do, there are also easy fixes. We have an Oliveri undermount double bowl, and they come with inserts (covers) stainless steel or wood (the wood eventually gives up), which allows you to use them as more bench space.

 

[Pushka]

Whilst they do, there are also easy fixes. We have an Oliveri undermount double bowl, and they come with inserts (covers) stainless steel or wood (the wood eventually gives up), which allows you to use them as more bench space.

Funny you say that. Yesterday I took apart a Kmart marble table I bought a couple of years ago and the diameter is the exact size of a second bowl. So now I have a cutting board right next to the other sink or I can shift it slightly and scrape into the same sink.

 

[love_the_life]

Funny you say that. Yesterday I took apart a Kmart marble table I bought a couple of years ago and the diameter is the exact size of a second bowl. So now I have a cutting board right next to the other sink or I can shift it slightly and scrape into the same sink.
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We didn't remove the double sink because of lack of bench space - but the second bowl was hardly ever used. Repaced it with an almost square black 'granite' one and again went against current convention and did not undermount it like the old one was as keeping the whole thing clean used to annoy me. The black is the same colour as the bench top so fits in well. I love it - much easier to keep looking good that SS. We do have a big deep sink in the laundry if needed.

To get back on topic - that driveway looks great and I love the colours in the kitchen.

 

[samh004]

Funny you say that.

My mother has double round sinks that do not connect like in your photos. She is getting the kitchen remodelled and one of the top reasons is the sink. Completely impractical if the tap is running, she more often than not floods the bench and floor as she swings the tap between the two bowls. This was a recent unit purchase, so not something she has been living with for long.

 

[Pushka]

My mother has double round sinks that do not connect like in your photos. She is getting the kitchen remodelled and one of the top reasons is the sink. Completely impractical if the tap is running, she more often than not floods the bench and floor as she swings the tap between the two bowls. This was a recent unit purchase, so not something she has been living with for long.

. I make a water ‘mess’ when they are joined anyway.

 

[samh004]

We were at the land yesterday as we were in the area. The large pile of rubbish outside perhaps shows how close they are to finishing (boxes from installed appliances) but also shows how unscrupulous neighbours can be when they see a skip with no one guarding it. There were certainly things in the pile that weren't from the build, but that's not my issue.



A quick peek in the windows reveals the floors have begun to be laid.

 

[love_the_life]

We were at the land yesterday as we were in the area. The large pile of rubbish outside perhaps shows how close they are to finishing (boxes from installed appliances) but also shows how unscrupulous neighbours can be when they see a skip with no one guarding it. There were certainly things in the pile that weren't from the build, but that's not my issue.

View attachment 238565

A quick peek in the windows reveals the floors have begun to be laid.

View attachment 238567

Oh Sam004, it's looking fabulous. I am very jealous though there is nothing wrong (really) with our apartment. Love the idea of a new build.

 

[blackcat20]

You’ll learn pretty quickly when you move in that you have lots to get rid of and those unlocked skips are very handy

 

[samh004]

You’ll learn pretty quickly when you move in that you have lots to get rid of and those unlocked skips are very handy

I guess that is true, we currently have plenty already in boxes or wrapped in plastic here, and when we get it there we'll simply have a heap of trash to dispose of. Luckily, nothing wrong with visiting the tip on multiple days, plenty of them within easy driving on the GC too.

I note that it is a Thursday and that usually means I get photos posted. Today is no different, being day 93. This update mainly shows off the floors, however bathroom glass has also gone in. From the external photos I note that we're still missing a fly screen door and an aerial but it looks like we're getting very close now to our final walk through where we'll need to go over things very carefully.

​

I'd like to ask for advice now on pre-handover inspections. Brighton (company) hand off to an independent inspection by handovers.com, but I'm sure they're not really all that independent. Is it worth spending a little extra to get a true third-party in to look over the completed build?

 

[Pushka]

I guess that is true, we currently have plenty already in boxes or wrapped in plastic here, and when we get it there we'll simply have a heap of trash to dispose of. Luckily, nothing wrong with visiting the tip on multiple days, plenty of them within easy driving on the GC too.

I note that it is a Thursday and that usually means I get photos posted. Today is no different, being day 93. This update mainly shows off the floors, however bathroom glass has also gone in. From the external photos I note that we're still missing a fly screen door and an aerial but it looks like we're getting very close now to our final walk through where we'll need to go over things very carefully.

View attachment 238655 View attachment 238653 View attachment 238660​

View attachment 238654

I'd like to ask for advice now on pre-handover inspections. Brighton (company) hand off to an independent inspection by handovers.com, but I'm sure they're not really all that independent. Is it worth spending a little extra to get a true third-party in to look over the completed build?

I would unless I knew all about building ins and outs. So many things to look at you might miss the detail for the mass 'wow'.

 

[chelzmalee]

.....I'd like to ask for advice now on pre-handover inspections. Brighton (company) hand off to an independent inspection by handovers.com, but I'm sure they're not really all that independent. Is it worth spending a little extra to get a true third-party in to look over the completed build?

I would. While I've never built a home myself, the organisation I work for is currently having 260 new properties built for community housing. We have our project manager attend pre-handover and make the list, then at handover he comes along with me and goes through the list again.

A common thing is when you/the builder "blue tape" defects, some painters and other trades will just take the tape off and not repair the defect. Having that list written at pre-handover means you can double check everything, not just check if tape is still there. There is also things the project manager picks up that I wouldn't know should be done, so having those "expert eyes" certainly helps. As a former property manager I pick up on paint defects, cleaning issues etc, but not the bigger build stuff.

 

[Drakecula]

It's looking great - so very exciting

 

[love_the_life]

It's looking great - so very exciting

as is your own build.