Please send in your questions. We are hoping to engage the services of a Registered Building Practioner who will answer any complex questions. If you wish to input your experiences please do. All entries go to forum@key2ownerbuilding.com.au.

Q: I have not yet received my Certificate of consent, can I put my council application in anyway?
A: Yes. Your application will usually take a while to process depending on your council. They will come back to you with a list of information they still require to complete your application. When you do receive your certificate of consent just lodge it with your council ASAP.

Q: My Council tells me it will take roughly 6 weeks for my application to process. Do I have any other options?
A: In Victoria you can use a RBP (Registered Building Practitioner), or any local Council. A Council on the other side of the state would be less likely to accept the job as it would logistically be difficult traveling across the state for inspections. If you use a RBP he does all the leg work for you, issues you with the permit and a copy is sent to your local council for records only. Ring around to see who can issue the permit the quickest, a local RBP may be the best bet, but find out how much he may charge for in between visits just incase you need some guidance during the construction.

Q: Which trades have to be registered?
A: Electricians, plumbers and roof tillers must be registered in Victoria.

Q: My existing house has smoke detectors; will the new extension need them?
A: Your RBP will indicate these on your plan if required. However go one step further and link any new ones with the existing. Therefore if your old smoke detector goes off, the new one will also alarm. You can also put them in the bedrooms as extras if you wish. Should be about $75 each if power is roughed in before the plaster goes in.

Q: Can you recommend any Owner Builder friendly estates out in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne?
A: not personnally but maybe someone out there thus. I do know that not all are owner builder friendly, perhaps this be a new section for this site. Have you checked out the local papers.

Q: Our new ensuite will be quite a distance away from the hot water service; can I put in a separate HW service?
A: Check this out with your plumber as he may suggest exactly that. If using gas you would have to run a gas pipe down there as well, this may start to become costly. Alternatively you might be able to install a tank for the water from the shower to go into which you might then be able to flush the toilet with so that offsets the extra water usage. Again your p[lumber would be the best person to discuss with, in some states you can not use grey water to flush the toilet, only water the garden. Check out the products section , Fido the water retreiver is the gadget for you.