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Below 265 SQ/FT TwoBytes Stuff

All workspaces below 265 squarefeet.
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TwoBytes

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Mar 14, 2014
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Location
Canberra, 'Stralia
I'm having some fun with my latest project, so I thought it might be time to start my own thread.

It's been slow progress, and there's not actually any building going on yet, but I'll be able to get started on that soon hopefully.

After landscaping my backyard a few years ago, and building a storage shed down the side, the next step is to put a pergola over the paved area.

I've had the design in my head since we bought the place in 2012, and had it in mind when I planned the landscaping.

I had a perfect mental picture of what I want to build, but no matter how much I scribbled on scraps of paper, and stood in the backyard waving my arms around and pointing, my wife couldn't understand what I was talking about.

That gave me a good excuse to get back into 3D CAD to help visualise my ideas. So I've been having lots of fun with AutoDesk Fusion 360 (thanks to dozerbuilder01 for the recommendation).

Here's a current photo of the place for reference...
View media item 62492
And here's the 3D model I've built in Fusion 360, showing the proposed pergola addition hanging off the back there...
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I've also discovered that Fusion 360 will let me share the model online, so you can twirl it around and have a proper look. Here's the link if you're interested...

http://a360.co/2b0uQWV

The first person walkthrough view, and "explode model" options are particularly impressive...

Notice the dogleg posts, they are to keep the paved area open and free from posts. They look a little odd, but I think it works OK visually, in a strange sort of way.

The reason I've had so much time to play around with designing and modelling it, rather than building it, is because it requires both Development and Building Approval from the local government. That means I also need to get an Owner Builders licence, and to get that I need a Construction Industry "White Card" to show I've done the appropriate OH&S training to work in the construction industry... and engage a building certifier, pay lots of fees, etc. etc.

Lots of bureacracy, but I'll leave that for another post.
 
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TwoBytes

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Canberra, 'Stralia
View media item 62521
picturephp


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Terrick down Under

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Jul 2, 2015
Messages
1,904
Location
Royalla, NSW, Aust.
Gee, you have done a fair bit of work there. Have you thought of just taking the pergolas roof all the way out to the end of the retaining wall, and put a 600mm eave to reduce your water on the pavers. That would make it easier to hang those clear blinds for winter.
 
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Lyndon

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Aug 11, 2014
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Location
Sydney, Australia
TwoBytes

I don't know how I missed your earlier post, but that all looks fantastic. You are doing some great work.

The idea to put a raised roof, rather than a flat one, over your outdoor area is perfect. I don't know if you read on a post I did somewhere, but I used to be the National Logistics Manager for Suntuf, and I can preach the benefits of that roof all day. Just make sure you don't put a clear polycarbonate on it, otherwise it will be unusable in Summer...... And I like the idea of the dogleg posts, but check the engineering strength of those. :thumbup:

I also like that you had your young son out there helping. My daughters were about as interested in that sort of stuff as I was in costume play (bleh)! :lol_hitti

Oh, and thanks for thinking of me with the bottle of wine..... (I think). :dunno:

Lyndon
Getting busier with all these threads! :rocker:
 
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TwoBytes

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Messages
789
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Canberra, 'Stralia
Aaron, Terrick and Lyndon, thanks for the kind words!

I don't feel like I'm making fast progress. Everything above has been done over a few years, but when I put it all together like that it doesn't look too bad!

Everything takes a LOT longer when the kids want to "help" with everything. As evidenced by the picture with my son hanging of the arm that isn't holding the jackhammer. We did that for hours. I was very sore that night.

I'm in awe of the amount of work some of you guys get through (1/2 Cup especially), but I'll keep chipping away at my To Do list slowly. (I'm still laughing about your To Do list Lyndon, I'm going to print that out and hang it up at work.

Terrick, I agree that it would be nice to put an eave around it and take it all the way out to the fence and the retaining wall, but there's a few reasons why I've designed it that way.

I'm in a townhouse with a Body Corporate (I think it's called a Home Owners Association in the US), so I needed to make it inconspicuous enough that I would get the owners of the other 7 units to agree to approve it.

I wanted to keep it away from the retaining wall so I don't hit my head coming down the stairs to the back gate!

I'm using a solid roof (Structural Insulated Panels), so I'm going to block a fair bit of light from the back windows of the house. This size seemed like a good compromise to still let a bit of light in.

Lyndon said:
The idea to put a raised roof, rather than a flat one, over your outdoor area is perfect. I don't know if you read on a post I did somewhere, but I used to be the National Logistics Manager for Suntuf, and I can preach the benefits of that roof all day. Just make sure you don't put a clear polycarbonate on it, otherwise it will be unusable in Summer...... And I like the idea of the dogleg posts, but check the engineering strength of those. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thanks mate, I do remember that you used to work for Suntuf. I'm actually going with Structural Insulated Panels for the roofing, to try and keep the heat down (and maybe keep it a bit warmer in winter too)...
http://versiclad.com.au/roofing/spacemaker/

I've got to get an engineer to look at the plans before I can get building approval. I'm going through that process at the moment. I think I've designed it to be plenty strong (I have a tendency to over-engineer things), but I guess I'll find out when the real engineer has a look.

Lyndon said:
I also like that you had your young son out there helping. My daughters were about as interested in that sort of stuff as I was in costume play (bleh)! :lol_hitti
Click to expand...

My daughter seems very keen to hang out in the garage with me and my son too, which is kind of cool. She's only 18 months old though, so I'll have to wait and see if that continues.

I've seen that picture of you in the bath (you can't "un-see" that). It shouldn't be too big a step to get dressed up as your favourite super hero
:lol:

Lyndon said:
Oh, and thanks for thinking of me with the bottle of wine..... (I think). :dunno:
Click to expand...

You're very welcome (it was meant as a compliment - it shows I've been paying attention to your thread)
:bounce:
 
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TwoBytes

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Mar 14, 2014
Messages
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Location
Canberra, 'Stralia
Fine tuning on the shed.

I had some issues with water getting in.

The design with the existing house gutter running through the middle of the shed made it hard to keep it watertight.

I had some perforated colourbond steel folded up to act as a leaf guard for the gutter, but that was causing water to pool and run down the outside face of the gutter inside the shed...

View media item 62555
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I tried putting sealant in the gap, which you can see in the first photo, but it still wasn't watertight.

I ended up ditching the gutter guard altogether and covering the gap between the shed roof and the inside of the gutter with some of this stuff...
https://www.bunnings.com.au/consolidated-alloys-50mm-x-10m-weatherproof-byute-flash-flashing-tape_p1100470

View media item 62556
View media item 62557
That did the trick.

Water was also getting under the door, so I added a rubber weather strip to the inside...

View media item 62827
Which drags on the ground a bit and makes it hard to get the door open, so I added a door handle (I used to just pull on the key, which wasn't going to be very good for the lock long term)...
View media item 62828
 
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TwoBytes

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Mar 14, 2014
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Location
Canberra, 'Stralia
Coming in from the backyard, here's some stuff that's a bit more garage related.

I've posted some of these pics before in various threads, but I thought I'd get everything in one spot...

I inherited a monster of a BBQ that my grandfather built a few years ago. He was a cabinet maker, and didn't do things by halves, so it's very well built (and weighs a ton).

It wasn't a great BBQ though, and all the BBQ bits were getting pretty old, so I decided to ditch the BBQ bits and turn it into a workbench...
View media item 62839
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Next steps are:
- round the front edge of the timber over to match the profile of the stainless sides
- stain all the timber
- build a drawer to go in the gap where the BBQ burners used to live
 
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TwoBytes

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Joined
Mar 14, 2014
Messages
789
Location
Canberra, 'Stralia
This happened today...

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:(

Poor old girl is 16 years old with 230,000ks and starting to get a little tired. Still great fun to drive, and in fantastic condition for her age, but little things are starting to go wrong.

I pulled up at work this morning and clouds of steam came out from around the bonnet and there was a large green puddle forming under the front of the car.

NRMA roadside assistance, cooling system pressure test failed (no surprise). We had a quick look but couldn't figure out where the leak was.

Free tow to my regular mechanic - new radiator hose fitted for $75!

Big win!

Should be good for another 16 years now.

:rocker:
 
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TwoBytes

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Messages
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Location
Canberra, 'Stralia
I wrote a big long post on 1/2 Cups thread, but decided it was bordering on a thread hijack, so I cut it down a bit.

I thought I'd post the whole thing here, because this is my thread, and I can do whatever I want here!

---
Denwood said:
My guess is that you've read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainance". Many of your projects reflect an unusual commitment to quality...it's refreshing :)
Click to expand...

1/2 Cup said:
Dennis, I have never read that at all, perhaps I should..:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I've read it... it's a great book, I think you'd like it, but it's hard going!

It has a lot of discussion about what the pursuit of "quality" and what "quality" actually means.

I've tried to read it a few times, and gotten all the way to end at least once.

The way I remember it, the first half is easy to read, and very enjoyable. As you get further into the second half, it gets deeper into philosophy, and harder to follow.

It might be time to pick it up and have another go.

Some great quotes from the book:

“The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.”

“When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called a Religion.”

I don't want to get religious, but I think this is pretty cool too...

View media item 63464
The version I've got is pretty old (it was written in 1974). I think the old cover is cooler than the newer versions...

View media item 63465
 
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TwoBytes

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Mar 14, 2014
Messages
789
Location
Canberra, 'Stralia
Pergola update.

A bit of background on the bureaucracy...

The local government here has two different approval types that are required for construction work, Development Approval (DA) and Building Approval (BA). They are done by different areas of the government with completely separate processes.

I was hoping that I would be exempt from both, but it turns out that I don't quite meet the criteria, so I need to go through the process...

---
The development is exempt from building approval provided that:
- it has no walls (tick)
- the floor level is not more than 1m above ground (tick)
- the roof (including a sail or sail-like element) plan area is not more than 25m2 (tick)
- it is not more than 3m above ground (highest point is 3,350, doh!)
- the frame does not have an unsupported span (including any cantilever) of more than 4m (nope, two spans longer than 4,000, one at 4,490, one at 5,845)
---

So I guess I need building approval (which means I also need to get an owner builders licence and all the **** that goes along with that).

I am also in a townhouse complex with a Body Corporate (I think that's called a "Home Owner's Association" in the US), so I needed to get their approval before I could seek Building Approval.

When I went in to the planning office to talk about the process for Building Approval, I asked them to confirm that it would be exempt from Development Approval...

---
In general, the development is exempt from needing development approval provided:
- the roof plan area is not more than 50m2 (tick)
- there are walls on not more than 2 of the sides (tick)
- it is not more than 3m above natural ground level
(the structure can be as high as 4 metres above ground level if no part is higher than a 30o plane - see picture) (tick)
- if it has a floor, the height of the finished floor level is not more than 0.4m above natural ground level for any part within 1.5m of a side or rear boundary and 1m above finished ground level in any other case (no floor, tick)
- it is behind the building line. (this is where it gets interesting)
---

So it turns out that what I thought was the "back" of my house, where I want to build the pergola, is actually the "front"!

Our place faces an access road, but the government never formally recognised this road, so our address is the main road, not the small access road.

Because of this, they consider this to be the "back"...
View media item 63468
And this is the "front"...
View media item 63467
So when another unit in the complex built a pergola that is very similar in design, they didn't need a DA, because their "back" is at the "back". My "back" is at the "front"...
View media item 63466
Aaaaarrrrggghhh!

The bloke I was talking to was actually pretty good about it, and had a good sense of humour. He said "I know it ***** mate, but it's not our fault you built your house backwards"

:lol_hitti
 
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TwoBytes

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Canberra, 'Stralia
The next step was to apply for access to the Development Approval portal, so I can submit my Development Application.

I found a local draftsman to help me write up a "statement of compliance" against all of the relevant town planning acts, which is the main part of the DA process. He also fancied up my plans and made them look nice, and helped me with some of the other plans I need to submit for the DA...
- Elevations from multiple directions
- Site Plan
- Floor Plan
- Engineering Drawings

I was granted access to the portal after a couple of weeks, and created my application online. When I went to submit it, I had the option to choose to apply for a "Development Application", or a "Pre-Application Meeting"

I chose "Pre-Application Meeting", as I've never done this before, and thought it would be a good idea to make sure I'd gotten it right, as there are fines for submitting incomplete applications.

I went in for my "Pre-Application Meeting" a couple of weeks later. The lady I met with said "oh, we don't normally do pre-meetings for Class 10 structures (carports, pergolas, sheds and the like), as they are very straightforward. This all looks fine, you are OK to submit".

Great!

There's no way to change the application from a "Pre-Application Meeting" to a "Development Approval" application, so I had to start from scratch and create another online application, which was annoying, but I got it done.

Submitting the application puts it in an initial status of "Undergoing Completeness Check", which is only supposed to take a day or two.

After hearing nothing for two weeks, I called them up. They said they'd been really busy, but they'd have a look for me.

The next day I got an email to tell me that my application had failed the completeness check!!!

Apparently I live in a "Mixed Commercial Zone" and my Statement of Compliance didn't state whether or not I comply with all the provisions in the "Commercial Zones Development Code".

The email also says that the fee for this first failure notice is $183, which would be automatically added to my DA fees - Subsequent failure notices are $547, $1,279 and $2,737!!

I rang them and asked how they could possibly fine me for having an incomplete application when I had a pre-application meeting and they said it looked fine.

The lady I spoke to said they would waive the fee this time (oh wow, so generous), and that she thinks I'm completely compliant with the commercial code anyway, so all I need to do is write "complies with Commercial Zones Development Code" on the bottom of the statement of compliance that I've already written and resubmit it.

FAGAHAGAFUGGAAA!!!
 
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TwoBytes

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Canberra, 'Stralia
So I have now passed the "Completeness Check", they waived the fine, and the DA has proceeded to the next step.

They have now sent me a letter to tell me that they have deemed the application as "Requiring Public Consultation". I have no idea what criteria made it require public consultation, but it means the public has two weeks to comment on it, and they can charge me an extra $286 (on top of the $225 for the Development Application fee).

In addition to making it available on the website for public comment, they sent letters to all my neighbours inviting them to comment on the proposed Development.

The same neighbours who are all part of the Body Corporate, who have already formally approved it when they got letters from the Body Corporate.

The same Body Corporate who sent me a letter saying they have formally approved it.

The same letter that had to be included in the Development Application!

It's red tape gone nuts.
 
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Lyndon

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Aug 11, 2014
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Location
Sydney, Australia
Mat

Got to love Government Departments mate! Of any level of Government...... :eyecrazy: :eyecrazy:

In the job I have I deal with several Federal Government Departments, one State one, and many Councils...... And the Councils are by far the hardest to deal with.......

We are currently battling one Council (via the Federal Department applicable) to give us a permit to let us carry 10 % higher mass so we can go to the farm 8% less per year, and do you think they can understand it. :dunno: :dunno: We'll be using the same trucks that currently do the run, just load them a tad heavier, and lower the effects on infrastructure and local traffic over a yearly period.

One of the joys of the job.

Lyndon
Yep, been there, done that. :willy_nil :lol: :eyecrazy:
 
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TwoBytes

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Canberra, 'Stralia
8%, 10%, hang on, that doesn't add up! What are you talking about?

Haha, I deal with the Government a lot in my day job too, so I should be used to it. It seems easier to put up with inefficiencies when they're paying me though. It's much harder to handle when I'm paying them!
 
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Lyndon

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Location
Sydney, Australia
Mat

It's got to do with the increase in delivered load. If we increase the total weight of the vehicle by adding 10% more product, it actually reduces the frequency of deliveries we need to do by 8%..... Clear as mud? :dunno: ;) :eyecrazy:

And yes, being paid to have this fun and games makes it much more enjoyable. :lol_hitti

Lyndon
Got me putting my thinking cap on there....
 
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TwoBytes

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Canberra, 'Stralia
Sorry Lyndon, I should've put "quotes" around that...

I know exactly what you meant, I was channeling the government muppet you've been dealing with.

"You want to do what? Sorry, I can't find that in my procedures manual" (says the gummint guy)

Makes perfect sense to me. Increase the volume per trip. Slight increase in fuel usage and wear and tear per trip, more than offset by a reduction in the total number of trips.

Sounds logical... so it will probably never get approved!
 
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