youngy73

the louvres in the front are just wood. you can get cheaper louvres that dont seal. these ones have a rubber seal so when they are closed they seal for both air movement and noise. if someone wants to break in they will have to smash the louvres out so theres no difference between doing that and smashing a window. the louvres will be open for most of the time anyway. our prevailing wind comes towards the front of the property. this is why there are lots of louvres on the front to allow the maximum air flow through the property. council regulations dictated that we had to have atleast one full window at the front of the property hence the one full window in our bedroom.

Tiawamutu

Ok....what about mozzies and things?

moneypenny20

Not the mozzies that would worry me, it's the 'things' He's obviously a lot braver than me

Bix

He's building right in the middle of the rainforest too.
Probably get one or two grass snakes popping through them louvres.
They are only 20 foot long.

The snakes that is, not the louvres.

Tiawamutu

Spiders? Lizards? Snakes? Flying Cockroaches? (or just the bog standard ones)
have I missed anything?

Tiawamutu

...anything like this one?

http://britishexpats.com/forum/attac...4&d=1221134847

wannabauzzienurse

we had louvres in our last rental and they had fly screens same as any other window

youngy73

we will be having a mixture or fly screen and crimsafe. just fly screen over the louvres ( as they are as secure as any fixed window) and crimsafe over the opening windows. its getting to crunch time now and ive just added up all the pennies. so far we are at 1/2 a million. thats including deposits for a few things and the build as you see it. we are looking good for a total build cost of $670,000. we might even have some money for little treats like blinds and landscaping.

youngy73

if you get a big snake in the house just grab it by the tail, swing it around your head and launch it. snakes have yet to figure out centrifugal force

youngy73

well i must have tempted fate with all this talk of security screens. last night some low life theiving c^&* decided to burgal our build. i went to open the site this morning and noticed quite a few of my louvres missing. upon closer inspection they had been smashed in and once entry was gained they removed a few more and took them away. they also stole about $2000 worth of materials and tools. this means although we still dont have power i will be camping there until the build is finished. this is one of very few times in my life when i have felt physically sick. we have had the louvres replaced today but the galleries are stuffed. we could claim on insuranse but with the excess and the hassle its probably not worth it. i now have to disrupt my life and routine and live there for the next 8 or so weeks until we move in. this pretty much means the end of this thread. so i hope everyone has enjoyed reading it and i will put an update on once we are in but i doubt i will be posting regularly as i will effectively be camping at the site. im gutted but this is the world we live in. paradise, im not so sure.

youngy73

apologies for the language but im about as pissed off as i get right now

Geelong Gent

No need to apologiece for having low life do the dirty on you mate.

Hope the 8 weeks goes quickly with no more drama's


Now there is a use for all those stray snakes

Big box left with "Dont Touch" on outside - well thats enough warning for them

Wol

Sorry that you have to go through the trauma of burglary at this stage of the build. You are probably doing the right thing by staying in the place until it's finished - the cottage industry of theft from building sites reaches its most profitable phase when the kitchen and appliance fitting is done, and you are obviously in a vulnerable area.

Just about every build that I know around here has had supplies nicked, windows smashed, heating units go walkabouts and so on - we were very fortunate in not being taken - although one day we found the padlock on the fence gate wouldn't open with our key and we suspected it had been changed overnight with the intention of the perpetrators returning and letting themselves in with their own key.

Good luck.

moneypenny20

Bummer. Hope they stay away once you're camping. Don't go being a hero if any scum do come back though. Fingers crossed the rest of the build goes smoothly.

Sally Simpson

Barstewards:curse:

Sorry to hear of your bad luck. As MP says, just be careful staying there on your own.

Look forward to your completed house update!