New House Build. Help/Suggestions please(HVAC, Cinema, Electrics, Cladding, Timber etc)

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › New House Build. Help/Suggestions please(HVAC, Cinema, Electrics, Cladding, Timber etc)

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#1411425 22-Oct-2015 21:53

Not a lot of oven cooking in our house. Current oven is only used 3 ~ 4 times a month making pizzas, wedges or chicken. 90% of cooking is done on the cook top.

Do whatever you want to do man.

Swanny

107 posts

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#1411478 23-Oct-2015 04:20

I wanted to put the bread maker, toaster and kettle in the walk in pantry.

Realised later that those things don't go well with wanting a cool dry place to store things. We have a load of power points in there that are hardly used.

billgates

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#1439456 2-Dec-2015 18:46

Been a while since I updated the progress. We had been presented with a final cost estimation in October that came out really high. Like really really high. The house plan had only grown bigger by 24sqm from the first estimation cost that was presented in June. Without going into too much detail, there was confusion within the building company's team with first estimate and plan size that was presented. They admitted their mistake and made a small reduction in cost which I refused. Had a meeting yesterday and they have offered a reduction which is close to what I was initially expecting from them. It's still over my budget but it's almost half of extra $$$ that we saw in the final estimate. I am still confident in the team and happy that they accepted their fault straight away and have been honest about the mistake.

Below is the final kitchen design which we are happy with. I have requested to change the stone from Primestone (China 10 year warranty) to Eurostone (Germany 15 year warranty) for both kitchen and scullery and reduce the scullery benchtop from 40mm to 20mm. This should hopefully offset my request as Eurostone is slightly more expensive.

Click on the links below for enlarged photos.

https://i.imgur.com/fM8uy1I.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/r2akBmo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/22uYyLt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/45hZNuh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DldRM73.jpg

Do whatever you want to do man.

sudo

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1440252 4-Dec-2015 07:01

Wonder if they were "trying it on" to get some extra revenue.
Wouldn't be the first time this sort of thing happens, and they are probably accustomed to clients going overboard with variances
to keep their margin up.

bfginger

1269 posts

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#1441467 6-Dec-2015 18:15

sudo: Wonder if they were "trying it on" to get some extra revenue.
Wouldn't be the first time this sort of thing happens, and they are probably accustomed to clients going overboard with variances
to keep their margin up.

Many builders make their profits from variations.

What heating and ventilation systems did you decide on?

billgates

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#1441494 6-Dec-2015 19:44

Still undecided. Got a quote from SmartVent for their new Synergy Plus system which I detailed here . The price is $30k and this includes 2 units. A 5kW for upstairs and 7kW for downstairs. As you can see in the detailed link post, there are only 2 stale air outlets on both floors with nothing in Kitchen and bathrooms. I am not sure if it's right plan setup or not for getting moisture out?

Also in the quote it mentions that an additional heat source might be required for adequate heating. So I spend $30k and there is no guarantee that heating output from the units will be enough...

The other worry I have is that it's only a 5kW and 7kW unit for entire house where as normally you get a 5kW or even higher unit for an entire family room or living room and a small 2.5kW for a bedroom. So will this be enough to heat and cool the entire house? It will run 24/7 however and maintain temperature automatically at a good guess.

I would love to do under floor heating. I have a quote for both ground and first floor @ $24k for a John Guest system BUT then I need a ventilation at very least for the cinema room (Need whole house) and need cooling solution on top of that. Ventilation + cooling solution on their own won't be cheap or for $6k putting underfloor heating solution setup out of my budget.

I don't know what to do yet. SmartVent says that Synergy Plus is a brand new system and they have not had a chance to install it yet for any customers so it's unproven and I can't call for references. SimX does provide good solutions over all though which sells SmartVent in NZ. The solution utilizes 150mm ducting which is good compared to 400mm ~ 500mm ducting required for Mitsubishi Lossany or Daikin ducting solutions which will be a pain for midfloor and first floor ceiling runs without careful planning. Can't find any dealers in Hamilton for a ducting solution from Mitsubishi or Daikin or even Fujitsu. They all just want to push and sell mini splits (wall units) for a double storey house.

Do whatever you want to do man.

mentalinc

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#1441579 6-Dec-2015 21:51

See if they can do you a deal to be a reference/test site for the new product?

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billgates

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#1441607 6-Dec-2015 22:29

Will try my luck with SmartVent regarding a special deal. Thanks. Here is what is included in the Kitchen/Scullery design. I am going to get the Primestone changed to Eurostone and make scullery bench top thinner from 40mm to 30mm or 20mm. The material will be 18mm thick instead of 16mm by the my Kitchen starts as promised by company due to them getting free upgrades by their material supplier for future sales.

Do whatever you want to do man.

Nikoftime

103 posts

Master Geek

#1442100 7-Dec-2015 15:26

The house you plan to build looks amazing.
I think you would have to admit it's pretty "top end"

Wouldn't it be a shame to economise on the heating and ventilation and end up with an inferior solution that doesn't really provide the luxury your house deserves?

I realise it's possibly a long way down the design and planning road to make significant changes but could you consider reducing the size of the house slightly.
This would probably free up enough funds to allow a top quality heating and ventilation solution affordable.

I feel it's important that no matter where in the house you are you feel comfortable, not too hot, not too cold!!! and breathing fresh clean air without the worry of excessive ongoing power bills.

richms

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#1442104 7-Dec-2015 15:33

Kitchens can be changed easily, Ive never got the need for expense in that room either. A table with a place to plug the deepfryer in and a dishwasher and fridge are all I need ;)

Richard rich.ms

Coil

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#1442114 7-Dec-2015 15:38

Yeah uh thats a big house

billgates

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#1442325 7-Dec-2015 20:13

Spoke with SmartVent today regarding number of installs they have done and their word of caution regarding additional heating source required on top during 'demanding conditions'.

1. The system incorporates a ventilation system + a Panasonic heatpump in single box that sits in your roof space
2. They mentioned that because most people have the habit of turning ON and OFF their heat pumps, it reduces the efficiency of these systems by a lot and hence the additional heat source required wording but if you leave the system running 24/7, then there will be no need as system does its magic automatically.
3. They have installed the system in few houses now including 1 in Waikato but the houses are not completed yet with their build. The Synergy Plus system in only few months old out in the market.
4. They do not recommend extract out in bathroom or kitchens or near it because you don't want wet air enter your ceiling cavity through the ducts and they recommend good individual extract fans in bathroom and a good rangehood in the kitchen.

I think I will go with SmartVent. By the time my build starts in April hopefully next year, a house will hopefully be done and functional so I should be able to get that owner's opinion regarding this.

Had a 5 hour long marathon meeting with the builder today and went through all the documented changes we had written down last time and other structural changes to room sizes etc, changed in plumbing material and more and what we want. The changes should come back from Draughts Person before Christmas and I should get updated pricing by this year end.

Do whatever you want to do man.

bfginger

1269 posts

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#1448361 10-Dec-2015 19:59

Those heat pumps sound underpowered for the size of the house by classic measures.

Make sure the upstairs supply air intake isn't too close to the bathroom extractor vents.

Mounting a heat pump's compressor inside the house is unusual. I'd be concerned about how standard the solution is and how that would affect the replaceability of the heat pump in the future as they don't last forever. I'd guess replacing the ventilator unit or heat pump could require the replacement of the other.

A quote for a heat pump and a ventilation system ideally should say what ventilation system and heat pump models you're paying for and that page doesn't appear to do that as those numbers are what Simx is marketing them under and not the OEM names from Panasonic and probably Vent Axia.

HVAC is much more complicated in two storey houses. Heat will rise if you don't have doors to separate the stairwell off. Are the two systems going to shift air between floors?.

The Cleanaire website says larger ducting is quieter.

billgates

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#1448383 10-Dec-2015 20:44

Thanks bfginger for pointing out 'How will they replace the unit re: warranty repairs' or us getting a new unit later when it dies since they can only set this up for brand new homes and need Hiab to load the 200KG component above the ceilings which won't be possible for warranty replacement once house is completed. There will be an access hatch however on both ground floor and first floor. I will raise this question with them.

In regards to the low kW output of both units, SmartVent said that 5kW unit is actually over powered for the first floor. Their argument is that these units run 24/7. You never turn them OFF. It auto maintains the temperature depending on winter or summer. I will ask for first hand customer reviews once few houses are finished building where these have been deployed so far and what the owners think. Larger ducting does results in quiter solution overall but SmartVent will use acoustic ducting and also place sound dampners in rooms. In Cinema these will go inside my soffit which I will also double GIB with green glue.

Edit - I contacted Cleanaire and their ONLY Waikato installer was trying to talk me out of mono pitched roof design and still has not come back to me with any plans or pricing after 3 months since our last meeting. During the course of this whole building a new house experience, I have found pathetic customer service from a lot of companies and trades people. They are too busy, under staffed and don't have much time to spend with a client considering most of their work runs into several thousands.

Do whatever you want to do man.

billgates

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#1453478 19-Dec-2015 13:13

Got the 3rd changes on the plans back yesterday. Few minor things/mistakes. The only big concern for me is the entry hallway all the way to the kitchen is 1.650M wide instead of 2M wide I asked which will mean pushing house closer to the northern end of boundary. Not sure if 1.650M wide hallway for up to 13M long is good vs 2M all the way. 2M wide entry hallway then gets me a wider door. For the door, I have asked for thermally brokem, low-e glass with argon gas and double glazed glass covering entire door minus the frame.

The first couple of images are from 2nd plan and my poorly represented skills in MS Paint show what I have changed in new plan.

Old

New

Click links below for enlarged images.

https://i.imgur.com/3MFrIqX.png

https://i.imgur.com/JhufM8T.png

https://i.imgur.com/6YrrB8r.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/5mPmlMm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/q7EISLk.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/V2pLvaO.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Z0AzoEm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fqp61lI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/5kYbkxg.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Eojv7b9.jpg

Do whatever you want to do man.

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