I went to a couple of meetings and one with an accountant. We walked away feeling that it was a case of the blind leading the blind with some very smart person pulling the strings. Each question asked by the accountant and I was answered with a glib answer backed by little (if no) understanding of the reality or tax law. They came across as a very, very good selling organization for some smart business minded person. And if remember right the people running the meetings were volunteers.
My “take” is nobody gives away free money on a plate. Some one has to be paying for the plate, some where, some how and most often it will be you doing the paying.
That said they have a very good system working very well for them. (“them” being the operative word)
Mark

I was thinking that the actual Shed cost would end up being 1/3 of the finished cost of the building. As for shipping containers. around $6-7K for two. But it is not the cost of the container, the cost of the fitout. Being able to do the fitout in town then relocation it to the site will save a lot of labour cost and make for easy project management.
If you think about the cost of a tiled Bathroom would maybe be around $10-15K and the cost of a kitchen about the same. You would only need to save 20% by bulding it in the city to pay for the containers. As for the look, they can be finished in a clading to suit.
I love the idea of a shed. There was a great write up (with photos) in the Sydney Morning Hearld’s Domain a month ago about a Great Shed House. I kept it for a week or two. Maybe it still in the pile of cuttings.
Mark

RE: Painting over Wallpaper.
There IS a “Renoavtion God” out there and you will one day be praying to him for help. He Will take your painting over wallapper into account when you are praying for him(or Her) to help.

Stripping wallpaper after someone has painted it is the worst job, people who do it are “Bad [satan]People” just ask the poor person doing the stripping. In some cases you have to replaster the walls to really fix up the damage.

We/one of my workers “Matt” has just spent 2 months stripping walls and replastering a Bellevue Hill House with painted wallpaper just because the client (and his father) desided to save a few Bob last time the house was painted. Basicly doubled the cost of the job!

True story.

Scott, you are dead right!
The number of times I have told clients that and the only tears are from the ones who don’t listen. And it costs them more too.

Airless is the way to go if you are going to spray. But, spraying is not all good.
The quality of finish is much lower then “cutting-in and rolling”. The process of putting it on by hand works the paint on to the surface with more consistent finish.
The amount of paint you will use is about Double/200%. With airless between 1/5 and 1/3 is going to be waste/on the floor and a sticky mest. I find inside house’s is just not worth it, Units sometimes (2 or 3 in one go).
Paint cost is 18-20% of the professional cost of the job with a brush and roller.
Here is a cost example:
Repainting Room “A” (4mtr/4mtr)
• One Door and Frame (Sand 10 min, Undercoat 20min, Gloss 20min)
• Two Double hung Windows (Sand 20min, Undercoat 60min, Gloss 60min)
• Four Walls (per wall: Cut-in ceiling edge 10min, Brush-out sides and Skirting edge10min, Roll wall 10min X 2 coats)
• Ceiling with one light fitting (Cut-in cornice 40min, Roll 20min X2 coats)
• Skirting’s (Sand 20min, Undercoat 40min, cut-in Gloss 60min)
Total Time 8 ½ hours
Materials
• Oil base or Acrylic undercoat 2ltrs
• Ceiling Flat Acrylic 4-5ltrs
• Low-sheen Acrylic 6ltrs
• Gloss or Semi Enamel 1.5ltrs

Hint:
• Buy as much of the paint as you can in 15-20ltr tins. The per liter rate is much lower. Try and reduce the number of 4’s you need to buy and never buy 1’s. Buy the trade paint from the best brands. You may be able to get a better price if you call around the paint shops with a shopping list and ask for prices.

• At the beginning of the job go out and buy a Tradesmen Roller Frame (270mm not the 230mm), Skin and matching Tray. Pay $15+ for a good 75mm and 100mm brush. (75mm for the windows, doors and Glossing and 100mm for the rest)

These trade tools save SO much time. And get at least one good medium length (not too long if you have to work in hallways) Roller pole ($35).
• To save time have the house empty, do all the ceilings in one go, come back and do all the walls in one go, etc..

I hope you can use this
Mark

“Ut sementem feeceris”
“You reap what you sow”

We repaint 2+ houses per week and of those 80% would use the same colours.

Unit Interior: (low ceilings and small)
Ceilings – “White” Flat or “Antique White USA” (Dulux) Flat
Walls – “Antique White USA” (Dulux) Lowsheen to rent or Matt to Sell
Woodwork – “Antique White USA” (Dulux) Semi-gloss enamel

House Interior:
Ceilings – “Antique White USA” Flat
Walls – “Antique White USA” (Dulux) Lowsheen to rent or Matt to Sell
Woodwork – “Antique White USA” (Dulux) 200% OR White Semi-gloss enamel.

Exterior:
Walls – “Self Destruct” (Dulux)
Windows and Doors – Light or White or Black Gloss enamel.

Regards
Mark

“Ut sementem feeceris”
“You reap what you sow”

Hi Tanya,
This list is quite straight forward. Things that make the biggest difference to the timing are.
a, If you live there or not. (not is better)
b, If you use a builder or not (Builder is better)
c, If your builder is Good
d, Get him to commit to a finish date and a start date and then work towards the finish date from day one.
e, DO NOT move back in, until it is ALL finished. (trades hate working with owners in the house)
f, Check off his invoices with him and pay him the SAME day. Trades only work for you for your money, They try and like what they do, but at the end of the day they are only there for the money. The longer you make them wait (two days or two months) the more the other client who pays on the spot comes first.

AS this is what I spend my week doing here is my guess.
• New u-shaped kitchen = Plumb, Tile, Install, Granite, etc. 10 days
• New bathroom inc toilet = Plumb, Water proof, Tile, Install, etc. 14-21days
• New laundry inc toilet = 3 days
• Knock out 3 walls = 1-2 days+ make good
• Extension 4m x 4m to enlarge family room = Site work, Footings, floor, walls, Sparks, roof, wall & ceiling lining, windows, cladding, 21-28 days
• Erect wall
• Build-ins in 3 rooms = 1-2 days
• tiles in all wet areas, family, hall and kitchen = 3-4 days
• carpet in 3 bds and lounge/ home theatre = 1 day
• 5 windows
• paint through out = 3-6 days
• ducted RC A/C

Good Luck,
Mark

“Ut sementem feeceris”
“You reap what you sow”