Metricon Cedar 32 - Modified Design Timeline

Although site works commenced on 10 September 2012, we thought it worthwhile to summarise our experiences thus far and some of the key design changes we made to the standard Metricon Cedar 32.

Our discussions with the Metricon sales consultant began back in May 2011 and progressed in accordance with the following timeline:

• June 2011 - purchased post war home in East Brisbane on 630m²;
• June 2011 - flew down to Melbourne, Point cook display village to view the Addison design;
• June 2011 - completed New Home Contract Forms to get the process started;
• July 2011 - settled on the Cedar 32 design given it fitted on the 16m frontage allowing side access for caravan or boat, etc.;
• September 2011 - demolished post war home after arranging demolition permit, capping sewer connection and abolishing power supply;
• July - November 2011 - progressed the design process through Preliminary to Final Contract stages with the following design changes:
• Allowances for site works and connections;
• 5,000L steel water tank;
• 1.5kW solar panels;
• Garage workshop option;
• Deleted outdoor verandah and added a 6.8 x 4.0m outdoor room to rear of house;
• Upgraded face bricks and part rendered home.  This was changed to a full render with a feature brick on front portico piers;
• Colourbond roofing with sarking;
• Upgraded staircase to cantilevered wood with glass ballustrades (as per Burleigh display);
• Included glass balustrade on first floor balcony; 
• Added shower cubicle to powder room;
• Made provision for tiling upgrade to porcelain - Made provision for timber flooring on first floor, which was later removed and replaced with carpet;
• Additional electrical allowance;
• Full insulation (walls and roof);
• Solar hot water system;
• Ducted airconditioning.
• December - March 2012 - placed process "On Hold" due to personal circumstances;
• April - September 2012 - finalised design, StudioM selections and included the following additional design changes:
• Reconfigured island kitchen bench.  All benches upgraded to include drawers, 40mm caesarstone, 2-PAC cupboards, walkway between island bench and pantry, window splashback and owner supplied appliances;
• Reconfigured enuite - removed bath, extended shower (double) and relocated basins;
• Made provision for cavity sliders (doors) in study, pantry, passage to main living area and ensuite;
• Upgraded doors (wood with glass) to powder room, laundry, linen cupboards on ground floor and at top of stairs;
• Extended bi-fold doors to outdoor room from 3.0m to 4.8m wide by 2.4m high;
• Added ceiling fans to all bedrooms and living areas, additional exhaust fans and extra data cabling (HDMI) with pre-wiring for sound in the outdoor/living room and intercom system;
• All bathrooms tiled to ceiling;
• Additional insulation to outdoor room ceiling with acoustic insulation in Powder Room and Media Room on first floor;
• Made provision for piped bottled gas to the outdoor room (BBQ) and living room (future indoor heater).

In general, the additional major costs (indicative only) to the base price included the following:

• Additional site costs due to slope and soil testing - $16,000
• Rainwater tank - $5,000
• Outdoor room and garage workshop - $19,000
• Window height (2.4m) upgrade - $2,000
• Aluminium bi-fold door (2.4m x 4,8m) to living room - $2,000
• Upgraded staircase - $10,000
• Full render - $18,500
• Shower to Powder Room - $5,000
• Upgraded internal doors, cavity sliders - $15,000
• Upgraded tiling (porcelain) - $12,000
• Upgraded electrical/data - $12,500
• Ducted airconditioning - $14,500
• Glass balustrade to balcony - $1,500
• Kitchen/bathroom upgrades (2-PAC, etc.) - $8,000