For digging holes you should use a spade, not a shovel. To loosen up the soil you could use a mattock. If you can borrow a jackhammer that will help…

Thanks all. If you want to read more about or build we are having our build featured by Style Curator.
Our first post is now up and available at http://stylecurator.com.au/introducing-first-time-home-builders-katie-mitch

Thanks Balbriggan. We are ecstatic with the result! Looking forward to following your build progress.

Apologies for the lack of updates.
It has been a very busy period since moving in.
Good news is the builder got some professional photos. Thought I'd drop them into this thread.

Kitchen cabinets are in
Staircase - Victorian Ash open tread
The timber flooring has been laid

Tiling is also happening

I don't think there are maximum floor areas stipulated in the small lot code. So yes, theoretically you could build approximately 2x the site cover ratio, provided you comply with…

As defined in the BCC 2014 plan -
The proportion of the site covered by a building(s), structure(s) attached to the building(s) and carport(s), calculated to the outermost projections of…

Garage looking towards the street
Front entry, looking at the stairwell and through to the living/dining area
Study
Kitchen/Laundry/Dining/Back Deck
Out to the back deck
Main bedroom french doors to balcony
Front facade

Yeah, the builders haven't messed around at all. The most difficult part to manage has maintaining access to the site. When neighbours park their cars in front it makes it…

We started our build mid-year and are now nearing completion - about 3-4 weeks away from moving in. I was always meaning to create a thread - especially because there…

The roof! As well as windows, external doors & the start of cladding.

Front entry
Living & dining windows
Sliding doors to deck
Start of weatherboard cladding
Back of the house
Mandatory dunny pic

Hi all,
I thought I would create a new thread documenting our Brisbane build with a custom builder.
Back in January 2013 we found a vacant block in Norman Park -…

The only other thing I could think of is perhaps it is an interest payment in advance.
I would get a copy of the settlement statement from your solicitor if…

I'm thinking it could be a fee for registration/discharge of mortgage or maybe default interest if you were late to settle.

Framing complete & scaffold up
Upper storey wall frames up
Roof frame complete and scaffold up

The back deck

Some of our selections -
Kitchen:
Cabinetry - Laminex 'Charcoal' narual finish
Benchtop - 20mm Caesarstone Clamshell
Splashback - Matte white 300x100 brick bond tiling
Mixer - Abey SK5 pull out mixer
Sink - Abey…

I'll be following your build with interest, your design looks great!

Suspended slab and first floor particleboard flooring.

Site works & poles going in.

As our block is located in an older established suburb of Brisbane, our design was required to comply with the Brisbane City Council Character Code. This meant the use of…