Building with Bluebird: Recent Episodes

Bluebird Design & Build

The podcast where we discuss all things construction, from design all the way through to construction

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Welcome to Episode 18 - Raise and Build - What’s involved.

 It's a pretty hot topic at the moment due to the recent floods that have occurred, and the introduction of the resilience program being introduced by the government with Houses needing to be raised above the flood levels. 

So we thought we would do an episode around what’s involved, how much it cost and things to keep in mind when thinking of undertaking a Raise and Build

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On Todays episode we have Sam Gardel from Gardel Electrical & Solar.

Gardel Electrical & Solar was founded by Sam Gardel in 2011 after he saw a niche for a quality solar company that both designs and installs residential and commercial systems. Queensland-owned and operated, the company improves the energy efficiency of homes, businesses, and farming properties.

We discuss ways to improve your homes enevery efficiency through Solar and the correct system for you and your family.

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Welcome to episode 14 of Building with Bluebird.

 On todays episode we will be discussing how to choose the right builder for your project.

Choosing a builder is one of the most critical decisions you'll make during your home building process. You want to ensure that you choose someone who is reliable, trustworthy, and has the necessary skills to bring your dream home to life.

In this episode, we'll discuss the factors you should consider when selecting a builder, including their experience, portfolio and references. We'll also talk about how to determine if a builder is a good fit for your personality and aligns with your values.

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On today's episode, we have a very special guest, James from the company Plunge.

Plunge is an award-winning pool company who specialize in premium precast concrete pools. 

The range of pools aren't just an innovative product solution, They're a revolutionary process solution that gives builders more control over there projects and Australians, a faster and easier solution to owning a premium concrete swimming pool. 

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In today’s episode we detail what should be in a build quote. A Build contract is the most important document for your project and a 2-3 page document is not sufficient for any project. A build quote & contract is a legal binding document that will be a set of rules for your build so it needs to be adequately in detail

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In today’s episode we outline what documents you require to set you up for a successful build. There are several key documents that are required for a build, however there is several items that seem to be missed. By having the correct plans from the beginning of the project you are setting yourself up for success.

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When to engage a builder? This a is a question we hear a lot and one that we believe is not done early enough. The Traditional model is generally going and finding an architect/ building designer whose style you like and then start the design phase before chatting to a builder generally. This commonly leads to designs not aligning with budget as the builder hasn’t been involved to provide feedback on costing or buildability.

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In todays episode we discuss one of the most asked about questions when clients start their journey with their project – To renovate or knockdown and start fresh. We compare the pro and cons of both processes and what’s right for your project.

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In today’s episode we have our first guest, James Foley from FOLAR Studio – Architecture & Interiors www.folar.com.au

Folar Studio is a Brisbane Architecture + Interiors firm focused on high-end single & multi-residential, retail, & commercial projects.

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Episode 6 is the final episode of the 4 phases of the build process, this last stage is construction. This is where the fun begins, and you get to see your project come to life. If you have done the previous 3 stages correctly this stage will be a breeze. We discuss variations, site meetings and the process throughout the build.

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In episode 05 we continue our journey on the 4 phases of the build process, with this episode about stage 03 which is costing and contracts. We discuss how detailed your quote should be, what should be included and what happens if your build quote comes in over budget.

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In todays episode we discuss the 4 phases of the build process. These 4 phases are critical in setting up correctly to ensure your project is a success.

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Stage 2 of the 4 phases of the build process is Design. This is normally the most exciting stage of the build as this is where your ideas and dreams are translated into documentation. Done correcetly this can set you up for success during the construction process.

  1. Engage the right architect or designer
    • Draftie/Building Designer/ Architect?
  2. Engage Building and Design consultant at the same time
  3. Designers and Architects are there to translate your wish list to a set of plans, they do work to cost constraints however they do not know the exact price of construction and noir should they, that’s what the builder is for.
  4. How much to allow for pre-construction
    • Draftie - 1-2% or $5-10k
    • Building Designer – 2-10%
    • Architect – Can vary largely 8% and up
  5. Budget drives the design
  6. Know your wish list
  7. Functionality
  8. finishes
  9. have you got carried away?
  10. has your designer managed your expectations?
  11. Reality vs dream – just because you want it does not mean you can have it
  12. Is your architect/designer designing for you or for them?

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Today we cover Stage 1 of the 4 phased of the build process. Stage 1 is Preliminary, what is driving the project.

  1. What is the goal of the project?
    1. Development?
    2. Family Home?
  2. Have you spoken to your financial provider?
  3. Do you know your budget?
  4. Is the project feasible?
  5. Are you over-capitalising?
  6. Reno or knockdown

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In todays episode we talk about who Bluebird Design & Build is as a company, the people behind it and why we went into business. We will also discuss what we hope to achieve with the podcast. We hope you enjoy.
If you have any topics you would like us to dicuss please contact us at info@bluebirddc.com.au