What is an Owner Builder?  = SAVINGS

An Owner Builder is one who either performs, and/or coordinates sub contractors to complete building work on their own property. Homefab has been supplying to Owner Builders for many years, and over the years our clients have given us feedback to help us continually develop our products.

How to become an Owner Builder

To become an owner builder, the first thing you need to know is the estimated value of the building work. "Value of building work" is defined by the Queensland Building Services Authority (QBSA) Act as, "an amount representing the reasonable cost to a consumer of having the work carried out by a licensed contractor on the basis that all building materials are to be supplied by the contractor (whether or not the work is in fact carried out by a contractor on that basis). This means when you calculate the estimated value of building work you must include the cost of materials and the cost a licensed contractor would charge you for the work." QBSA (2002).

Under the Building Services Authority Act 1991, you must obtain an Owner-Builder permit from the BSA to carry out or coordinate building work on your property.

If the estimated value of building work including GST, that the owner builder wishes to perform exceeds eleven thousand dollars ($11,000) he/she must complete a Building Services Authority approved course.

Click here to view Owner Builder Fact Sheet.

Courses for Owner Builder Permits, in the Cairns region are held regularly by the Peach Institute, who also offer courses by correspondence, see contact details below. Otherwise check the BSA website.

Owner building you own house is very rewarding and satisfying, and will save you money.

The Types of Owner Builders

There are generally three options for owner builder methods.

The Builder Role
You take the role of the builder. You stand the framing and build your home with the help of family and friends. You will save the most amount of money with this method of owner building by comparison to building your house through a contractor, although you will need to consider how much spare time you have to do it. 

The Builder to Lockup Stage
With the help of sub-contractors you will oversee the Project through to Lock Up Stage or Completion. You will schedule the builder, electrician, plumber, plasterer, tiler, etc. This option will also save you money and you will see your home materialise faster.

The Project Manager
You are the Project Manager. You co-ordinate all the materials and contractors (including the builder) to create your home. This option is most suitable for people who work full time - you can supervise on weekends, do inspections on lunch breaks and after work. In terms of saving dollars, you will still save a considerable amount. Compare Owner Building with having your house built through a Builder, you are not paying for the Builder's mark-up on the sub-contractor's bills, you are paying the sub-contractors direct.

Courses

If you need to do an Owner Builder Course and you live in the Cairns, Townsville, Mackay or Rockhampton areas, Homefab recommends The Peach Institute, where Queensland Building Services Authority Approved Courses are conducted.

Bryan Peach, the founder and teacher for The Peach Institute is:

• A Master of the Institute of Building Consultants
• An Associate of the Institute or Arbitrators and Mediators Australia
• An Appointed Mediator of the Queensland Building Tribunal
• A Member of the Queensland Master Builders Association
• An Assessor for Construction Training Queensland
• A Private Provider of Owner Builder Course CNB 1007
• Indemnity Insured
• A Builder with 30 years experience (QBSA licence number 5109)

See the website to register www.peachinstitute.com or contact Bryan on phone 07) 40341846 or by email: info@peachinstitute.com

Owner Building with Homefab

Homefab strives to help Owner Builders by making the on-site stage of the building process as simple as possible, by value-adding. All our building components are made of steel, are pre-fabricated, and come with a detailed construction manual, so on site, the components can be put together like a puzzle with instructions on how to do it!

We have standard house designs available, but we specialise in custom designed homes. Please fax, post or email your design to our office for a quote.

Easy Transportation

Homefab’s prefabricated house components can be easily transported to your site with no road escort requirements. Loading and packaging techniques adopted by Homefab eliminate the risk of damage which may occur on unsealed roads within our market area. Homefab’s building components are flat packed, which makes the kit easier to transport.

Easy Construction

Homefab’s quality control system ensures that all components arrive on site at the same time, and are clearly labelled for identification. We also offer an option to receive the building component in stages as required to decrease the chance of goods being stolen. All Homefab’s steel building components are colour or number coded for ease of construction on site. This coding is matched with our detailed house construction manual, which is posted prior to delivery of your kit.

Because Homefab’s steel building components are prefabricated, colour coded and numbered considerable savings in site construction time is achieved. The pre fabrication process, comprehensive site instruction manual, detailed on site instruction plans, delivery check list form an integral part of the kit to cater for users with minimal formal training.

Value adding within the steel frames such as the inclusion of pre pre-punched holes for the truss tie down, bottom plate to sub floor tie down, plunge bath or shower recess noggins, pre-bracing of both internal and external walls, pre punched studs for ease of plumbing and electrical cables and pipes installation and Homefab’s design registered truss brackets all contribute to on site savings. Before and during the on site process Homefab will carry out any number of site visits to supervise and provide assistance in training where necessary or as required by the client.

The Homefab system is easy to use, and requires no formal training, which is why owner builders use Homefab. The Owner Builder process with Homefab is clear, simple and easy...

• You complete the Building Services Authority approved course
• Select or design a plan for your new home/renovation/extension
• Fax, e-mail or post it to Homefab, or come in to our Mareeba office
• Homefab will contact you to get the full details of your request
• Homefab will furnish you with a free estimate on your design and contact you to let you know the estimated cost
• You approve the right price and the right design
• Homefab manufactures the kit and packs all the items included in your estimate 
• Homefab organises delivery to your job site
• Homefab offers a 24hour advice and help phone number
• Any after sales service is also taken care of by Homefab
• Homefab lends owner builders tools such as nail guns, screw guns, scaffolding, bearer stands, etc at no extra expense.

Durable Products

Homefab’s use of steel as the preferred structural component in all domestic and commercial buildings allows for a wide range of floor and or deck sheeting, internal wall lining, external wall cladding and roof sheet products.

Again utilising products that have maintenance free properties is an essential part of the overall design technique. Clients have the choice of using plastic composite decking timber in lieu of general hardwood that are available. There is a choice of Scyon Flooring (compressed Fibre Cement) in lieu of plywood for living and wet areas. Please view the Scyon Flooring Video below.

Internal wall lining recommendations include the use of Villaboard in all wet areas, Gyprock where building damage from residents is minimal and or the use of Craft Wood or Ply lining for areas with a high maintenance factor must be adopted.

External products specified include the use of Colorbond Claddings, James Hardie Products integrated with the use of Aircell insulation form part of Homefab’s recommended product list.

Roof cladding such as Colorbond integrated with insulation is our preferred roofing product in remote areas due to the products durability and ability to flat pack throughout the transit process.