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Our Top Tips for Building your Modern Queensland Home
A bit of background around the 7 Stars.
The 2022 National Construction Code (NCC) will require all new Australian houses and apartments to meet a minimum energy efficiency rating of 7 stars under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). Equivalent increases exist for other NCC compliance pathways: Deemed-to-Satisfy elemental provisions; and the Reference Building Verification Method. There will be allowances for 6 and 6.5 star houses with a compliant outdoor living area in NCC climate zones 1 and 2.
See Section S42C2 of Volume Two for more details, https://ncc.abcb.gov.au.
OUR TOP TIPS TO GETTING YOUR QUEENSLAND HOME TO 7 STARS
Get the NatHERS assessor involved early.
The most important first step is engaging our NatHERS assessor early in the design phase. Our
design & construction process actively promotes and
accommodates the expertise of NatHERS accredited assessors. These professionals are extensively trained to improve the energy efficiency of your home and offer tailored solutions to achieve your 7-star rating.
Your Queensland homes orientation is key.
Our modern Queensland homes are designed to suit the local climate of subtropical and warm temperate regions. Each home maximises shade and solar access based on your location. The living room is positioned with a northern orientation, while low-use rooms are placed to the west for added convenience & functionality.
Optimise window design on your beautiful Queensland home.
Ensure optimal window design by considering sizing, placement, and shading based on the local climate. Minimise east and west facing windows to reduce heat gain and prioritise good ventilation with well positioned openings. Utilise wide eaves and awnings to shade the house in summer and allow winter sun penetration. Use high-performance glazing on sun-exposed windows where necessary.
Increase zoning.
By including more internal doors in the design, mechanical heating and cooling estimates in NatHERS can be applied more accurately. Places to include doors may be at the end of corridors, the bottom of stairs or to close off occasionally used rooms, like media and rumpus rooms.
Insulate, insulate, insulate!
The R value of wall, floor and ceiling insulation has been increased. Ratings can be improved by extending insulation to new areas eg: underfloor insulation, the garage wall and internal walls. Care must be taken to not increase condensation risk.
We’re a FAN of Fans!
Specifying ceiling fans in all rooms will not only improve your NatHERS rating but the homeowners’ comfort.
Let’s talk colours.
Discover the power of colour. By lightening external roof and wall colours you can achieve rating improvements. Don’t underestimate the impact of adjusting window frame colours for a refreshing change. We can collaborate with you and our design partners to create your desired home.
Lightbulb moment!
Look at lighting. NatHERS favours homes with fewer ceiling penetrations with higher ratings. Our modern queensland designs consider IC-4 rated downlights, consuming 80% less electricity and allowing insulation coverage. This is the most important factor but efficient lighting switches and lighting controls help reduce household energy consumption by providing lighting only when necessary. We’re here to support you through these requirements and make sure you get the Queensland home you’ve always wanted.
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If you have any questions or would like to schedule an onsite meeting, please feel free to email us using the form below.
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Keep reading..
A bit of background around the 7 Stars.
You may have heard us mention that we are custom home builders…but what does that mean exactly?
Labour shortages, price rises, scheduling delays…GASP! These things all sound bad, really bad. At Shelton Homes, we want to be fully transparent with you and believe that total disclosure is the only way we can build a relationship of trust.
It all begins at the crack of dawn, a day in the life of a chippy.
Should you choose a local builder in your quest to build your dream home? Spoiler alert - The answer is YES!
Standard cookie cutter home design? No thanks. Just throw it together without worrying about finer details? We’ll pass. No changes can be made to the base designs? Big no.
Maybe you're struggling for kitchen ideas? Look no further, our Kitchen Inspiration gallery showcases just some of our best kitchens. Ready to get inspired by beautiful kitchens?
It can be a daunting task we know; it is not just about choosing a shiny house design from a website, you are investing in a new home for you and your family. Your place in the world where you can work, play, entertain and unwind after a long day. A home that will make you smile when you drive up to it. We get it. Shelton Homes are award winning Queenslander home builders, and for the last 20 years have been building stunning, superior quality Queenslander homes in Toowoomba, Darling Downs and the surrounding regions. You can meet a few of our delighted clients here. We would love to build your dream home too, so put together a little article, eight reasons why you'll love working with Shelton Homes: 1. Award Winning Queenslander Homes The right home design can truly mean the difference between a house that does not quite 'fit', and having a home that feels like it is made exclusively for you and your family. Shelton Homes are unlike larger building companies, we are custom home builders in every sense of the word, working your needs and catering to every option, to ensure your new home perfectly compliments your lifestyle now, and in the exciting years to come. 2. A Home Built For Your Unique Land Queenslander homes truly reflect Australia’s natural beauty; our homes are designed to showcase and embrace your unique property and views, be it an urban block, sloping block or a large rural property. We never treat two properties the same, because they never are! Our team know the sustainability options for the Toowoomba and Darling Downs regions too, including those with healthy Queensland government rebates. Be sure to chat with us about solar, water tanks, waste disposal, and even introducing gorgeous gardens and native plants in and around your gorgeous new home. 3. Priced To Make Your Dream Home A Reality Shelton Homes are committed to building timeless Queenslander homes that exceed our client's expectations, but we also know what it is like to manage a budget. That is why we strive to provide each client with the utmost value for their dollar. Working within your budget, we will build your new Queenslander home that is a true statement of our commitment to superior quality craftsmanship. No matter what size home or budget you are working with, rest assured our team provide exceptional value. 4. A Local Toowoomba And Darling Downs Team At Shelton Homes, we proudly work where we live and have a lot riding on our reputation and strong community ties. For example, our kids attend local schools and play in Toowoomba and Darling Downs sports teams. We are locals too. That is why we are passionate about quality and customer care, not simply making a sale and moving on like many larger building companies sadly do. If you would like to know more about us, or even come in and meet the Shelton Homes team for a coffee, please feel free to get in touch with us. 5. An Easy, Stress-Free Building Process A respected builder should put you at ease from the very beginning. They should be open and honest and take the time to listen and discuss all of your ideas, opinions and concerns to make your home building experience enjoyable and stress-free. You can read more about our building process here if you like, a process we’ve created to ensure you'll love looking back and chatting about the beginnings of your beautiful new home, a great opener when entertaining guests. 6. No Question Is A Silly Question Larger companies are famous for their poor communication and support skills, like internet providers or health insurance companies where you will be waiting in line, talking to people whose only job is to answer phones, etc. Larger building companies can also be like this, and you might not even be able to talk to the builder and tradespeople actually building your home, not good. Shelton Homes however, provide a real personal approach where we actively invite you to come out and see our team building your home and ask questions, and no question is a silly question in our eyes! You can meet the Shelton Homes team if you like, and always feel free to ask us a questions if it is on your mind. 7. Quality That Lasts A Lifetime With impeccable craftsmanship and a 100% guarantee on our work, we only use the best local tradespeople around; labourers, landscapers, painters, decorators and suppliers who take great pride in their work. Our tradespeople know that attention to detail matters when it comes to building your dream home, and we do not cut corners for the sake of increasing profit margins because we know that doesn’t work. Our superior results, we believe, reflects our approach to quality first. 8. We Are A Passionate, Friendly Team At Shelton Homes, we love what we do, designing and building beautiful Queenslander homes that exceed our client's expectations, and we would like to work with you too! We were even thinking about calling this article 8 Reasons Shelton Homes Would Love To Work With You. If you are interested in chatting further about your dream Queenslander home, please just get in touch with the friendly team at Shelton Homes today.
Home inclusions can be a labyrinth if you are not prepared to evaluate them. For example, some builders include high-end kitchen appliances as part of their inclusions, others the most basic, and the list of differences goes on, and on. At Shelton Homes, we actually do not offer set inclusion packages or upgrades, instead, we ask you what you want. This just seems more personal and logical to us. So while we approach things a little differently, it is worth talking about 'home inclusions' if you are also considering another building company, especially a Brisbane mega home company. These big guys can get sneaky, and many larger builders will try to up-sell you after you have got a base home price, and remarkably even after you have signed a contract! Home Inclusions, What You Must Know Custom builders like Shelton Homes have allowances so you can choose your own inclusion brands if you like. But one thing to note with any builder, is that it is always best to buy from the builder’s recommended suppliers. Why? From our 20+ years experience, nightmares can occur if you buy online or outside of the Toowoomba/Brisbane region. Delivery costs increase, delays set in with the overall build schedule, and repairs and replacements are not covered under your builder’s warranty when you source your own inclusions. If you work with Shelton Homes, we will take the time to chat about the inclusions you want, and then build this into your fixed price contract so there are no surprises. Again, it comes down to caring we think, and if you are researching Shelton Homes, please feel free to see what our clients say about our approach here. What Are Standard Home Inclusions? Inclusions generally speaking, do not include items such as landscaping and gardens, footpaths or fencing, window furnishings like shutters, or removal of excess soil after excavation. Aside from that, everything else might be included in your inclusions. It varies significantly from builder to builder. Confusing? You bet. A good rule of thumb to combat these variations from other building companies, is to allow for several additions and upgrades. Again while Shelton Homes does not work this way, we would recommend that 75% goes towards the base price of your new home, and the other 25% is reserved for upgrades. Here Is Why: A display home often is not the home you are actually buying. They usually have a bunch of upgrades, such as nicer carpeting, higher quality light fittings, extra power points, better kitchen fittings (you name it). You will need to allow for the inclusions you want. If you do end up researching larger building companies, please put aside a few days to research and compare what inclusions are included. Why Do Different Builders Have Different Inclusions? In essence, different builders target different buyers and demographics. Some builders target singles, others families, others retirees. Many larger building companies even have ‘sub-brands’ with a different image to help sell more homes, like those that are marketed towards first home buyers. It really is a maze when you start diving into it, and that is another reason we do not offer set inclusion packages. We believe building your home should be a simple, enjoyable and transparent experience. Want To Know More About Inclusions? If you are looking to build a beautiful new Queenslander home in the Toowoomba or Darling Downs region that is designed around your lifestyle (including the inclusions you want), then please feel free to get in touch and contact our Shelton Homes team today.
You'll also have to find the right block of land if you don't have one already, and a trusted builder that can build within your budget, without any surprise add-ons along the way. It can quickly seem overwhelming, so to help, we've prepared an easy list to help you make sure your new home is on financial track. 1. Know Your Budget Inside Out This may seem obvious, but it's critical to know how much you have to spend now, and in 15-25 years time if you are taking out a mortgage. First, consider your current financial commitments and lifestyle, and look at some worst case scenarios, like what if you or your partner lost their job, what if you get sick, etc. Circumstances can quickly change and it's always best to be financially prepared, be it with insurances or savings to get you through any rough patches. Our recommendation is to do your research first, and then get advice from financial advisors or lenders. A mortgage advisor for example can tell you how much you can borrow, but they may tell you that you can afford more than suits your lifestyle, hence why doing your research first is important. 2. Choosing The Right Block Of Land Once you know your budget, you can start to look for vacant land in your desired location if you haven't bought land already. The type of block you choose will have a direct impact on the type of home designs that will be suitable. The factors that have the biggest bearing on costs include: - The size of your block - The slope of your block - The soil type You may also find that building costs will increase if your home requires complicated or reinforced foundations, or needs a unique design because of the slope of your land. Saying that though, Queenslander homes are perfect for sloping blocks. Other factors to consider are your local amenities, both the ones currently in your area and those that are planned for future development such as a hospital, schools, public transport and shops. Petrol and car maintenance is not cheap, so if you are going to have to spend a lot of time commuting, you need to take that into consideration too. 3. Write Down Your Ideas For Your Dream Home Whether you have a clear picture or just a few ideas of how you want your home to look, feel and function on the inside and out, it's always worth writing these down for discussions with your architect or builder. Your builder will be able to work through your list and flesh out your ideas with you, which means the end result will be your dream home, not the builders. Knowing what you want in your dream home is not always possible, but your wish list will set a perfect starting point to designing a home that’s within your budget. 4. Talk To Your Preferred Builder About Your Goals Choosing the right builder is one of the most important decisions you can make, and a decision that directly impacts your budget. By talking to your builder, you’ll find out what can be achieved within your budget, and what can't. A good builder will also help you focus on what’s important first, i.e. number of bedrooms or size of entertainment areas, and they can outline the benefits of sustainable living options such as water tanks, solar and energy efficient home designs. Try to think about the qualities you want in your builder and do some research to ensure other people have had great experiences with them already. Quality, trusted builders will have video testimonials and project galleries like these: Our Work 5. Start Contacting Builders For Quotes We've already touched on quotes above, but it needs to be stressed, take note of everything, including how long it takes the builders to provide the quote and their communication skills: - Are they asking the right questions? - How is their manner? - Do they seem relaxed and confident? - Are they working within your budget, or trying to push you? Use your gut instincts here too, because although we’re talking about budgets, the cheapest quote is not always the best option. Instead, consider choosing the builder that best suits your personality and has a proven record of building high-quality homes in your area. The cheapest option may end up costing you more in stress during the initial build, or be more expensive over the coming years if the quality level is not where it should be at. We hope that helps you on your home journey. Naturally if you would like to know more, especially about Queenslander homes, please feel free to get in touch with the friendly team at Shelton Homes today.
Wondering what incredible could look like?
QBCC Licence: 15265155