How Do We Know That Our Builder Is A “GREEN BUILDER”?

Many builders do courses or accreditations and while this is good, a true “green builder” will be passionate about what they build. They will NOT merely make a project home green by adding solar hot water systems or rainwater tanks – which are required anyway in some areas to meet counsel requirements. The true green builder will live, breathe and sleep environmental building. They may not have dreadlocked hair but will have a good grasp of solar passive design, green materials and even if they have not done something before, they will be pro active in their approach. As a rule of thumb – the “small family builders” will be able to assist you with your desires and ideas far better than any project builder can. If they can talk to you about Permaculture and Organic growing of plants, understand that family time is not just a room with a TV and sound system, a kitchen is the central part of a home and encourage you to be involved in all aspects of the design and building then you are on your way to having a “Green Builder”.

How Do We Know If Our Builder Is Licensed?

This is a simple question and a very simple answer! Ask. Then ask for their licence card issued by the relevant state regulatory body. This means in Victoria a Building Practitioner Licence or in NSW a Department Of Fair Trading Contractor Licence. Each of those relevant agencies have online licence search engines which allow you to verify the validity of a builders claims. Here at Sustainabylt we are proud of our licenses and clean track record and encourage each client to search for themselves for our licence. But for those who like fine print – keep reading!

In Victoria a fully registered builder will have a DBU or Domestic Builder Unlimited for residential work projects or may have a DBL or Domestic Builder Limited which limits them to either a scope of work – like brickwork or carpentry or a dollar amount. Commercially it is the same – a CBU or Commercial Builder Unlimited and CBL or Commercial Builder Limited to a scope or floor area of work. Here at Sustainabylt Sam has the DBU and Alex has the CBL.

New South Wales is different – Each trading entity will have a contractor licence and then the qualified builder will have a supervisor licence which allows them to supervise the work being carried out.

In our case – Both Sam and Alex each have qualified supervisor licenses and this allows both to supervise residential building work. Commercial work requires no licence in NSW. What is required of each sub-contractor is a contractor licence, so a carpenter or brickie will need to be individually licensed to work over a certain dollar value.

What should we expect on the first meeting with a builder?

You’ve finally come to the decision to build your dream home or renovate your existing place and now the time has come to meet with potential builders. The relationship with the builder you choose, like any new friendship, takes time to develop. If you feel uncomfortable or on edge it’s not a good sign - but if the builder is casual and puts you at ease you are on the way to finding a good builder. Remember, the first meeting is as much about you finding out if the builder is suitable to you and your project as it is for them feeling comfortable with you. Like all journeys – building can and does have bumps and stresses – so we here at Sustainabylt like the first meeting to be either at our client’s house or land. This way the meeting is not overly formal but rather a relaxed chat about your dreams and what we can do to help achieve them. If you have a good relationship or even a friendship with your builder – any difficulties along the will be easily resolved. Trust is an important thing – especially where money is involved. We are very proud to say that all of our clients become our friends and we view the project as a journey together that is based on team work and friendship. A good builder will realize that building skills are not the only thing needed – people and life skills are just as important. We place high importance on respect for the job, client, self and the team and foster that in all our sub-contractors and suppliers. So enjoy the first meeting and get to know your builder on a personal level – it really does make the job run much smoother. We feel that the personal touch of a small family business will give not just a house but a home for your family now – and long into the future.

There are several industry associations, and each have benefits to the builder and you the client. The HIA (Housing Industry Association) and MBA (Master Builders Association) are the 2 main ones that most builders have membership with. The association is designed to keep builders up to date with new products, new legislation and currant trends. They produce contracts, give legal advice, assist with advertising, help with OH&S matters, give technical advice, issue training to help builders gain and maintain licenses and are generally there to protect the building industry and the reputation of builders and the public.

Most have watched show about “dodgy builders”. If one of these was found out to be a member of either HIA or the MBA chances are they would be disciplined and removed from the association because they are a disgrace to all good builders.

Here at Sustainabylt we are proud members of the HIA and MBA in both NSW and Vic. We are kept up to date with issues in both the housing and commercial fields with this membership. We use the contracts and variation pads from both associations and have a close working relationship with both regional offices in Wodonga. This allows us to help you the client to have total peace of mind when dealing with us, as we are not just licensed but also members of both industry associations.

Ethics have been described as moral capacity so a builder that is ethical, builds not just sensitive to the environment but cares for the community, suppliers and staff. Here is an example – a certain supply company may have a long standing legal battle and displays a casual attitude to it moral obligation to care for errors from the past and despite having great building products an ethical builder will only use these products as a VERY LAST RESORT as its not showing a commitment to moral obligations. On the other hand there may be a timber supply company, that while some of their pine framing is slightly more expensive, they have chain of custody for their timber and can demonstrate their commitment to the environment and staff.

Here at Sustainabylt we demonstrate our commitment to green building but also our ethical side by our approach. Here are a few examples – our hardware suppliers are generally smaller family businesses that give back to the local community, our staff/sub contractors are chosen from all walks of life – most have families and are small businesses themselves, we give back to the community by helping on community projects at cost price where possible, being active as volunteers in various fields, supporting like-minded businesses and charities and above all trying to educate people as to what being green and ethical is all about. After all if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, but TEACH him to fish and you help him for life.

Why can’t my builder give me a price per building square?

This is a question best answered by looking at the difference between custom designed and off the plan “project” homes. A custom designed home allows ability to change, modify and create as you go along. A per square meter price is a figure that is worked out on set plans, set appliances and set site conditions.

Here at Sustainabylt we can’t give you a price like this unless we have plans and full specifications to price. However most of our clients homes are not standard homes and many help with labor or second hand materials so the price is always different.

Be warned that a square meter price that is low can sometimes mean that the quality suffers or ANY chance from standard or ANY extra will be charged at a much higher rate. As the old saying goes – you get nothing for nothing in this world.

We suggest a small family building business to help you on your journey as the up front cost may be higher but generally the overall cost is lower. Most small builders won’t charge you a premium to move a few things around, will include all site works necessary for you to move in, include TV aerials, driveways and clothes lines. This should to be taken into account with all bottom line costs.

What makes Sustainabylt green?

Green washing is a term that’s is regularly thrown around these days. We will start this question off by saying that we are fierce fighters against businesses that “Greenwash”. So what makes us green? Here is a small list that’s not by any stretch of the imagination comprehensive.

#Our lifestyle – the way we live, eat and sleep.
#The products we personally use at home, be it by making our own soap to wearing natural fibers
#Our vehicles we drive – fuel efficient, recyclable and from ethical sources
#Our environmental impact – we are gardeners and recycle everything
#Our office environment – we recycle, use green paper, use e-mail instead of mail, work outside in natural light where possible and encourage our suppliers to e-mail
#Our conversations – we talk green and encourage everybody else to do likewise
#Our projects – we avoid working with clients unless they share a passion for the environment or are committed to lessen their impact