A family in Brisbane needed a ‘tiny house’ for a grown-up daughter still happily living-at-home, yet there was no space available in the yard behind the house. Our challenge was to come up with a backyard pod design that would fit neatly into the property’s driveway-width side lawn area. After viewing the property via Google Satellite, and a site visit by the designated superhero ‘podmaster’ (installer) for the Brisbane area, we started working for ‘free’ on a design layout based on a pod kit no larger than 3m-wide x 10m in length.
The driveway-width corridor of lawn belongs to the home on the right.
The final design would contain an open plan living/dining area with kitchenette and main entry on the side wall of the pod (facing toward the street); a separate bedroom with 2m-wide built-in wardrobe and another glass sliding door leading onto a private deck area; and an ensuite with laundry tub, washing machine, and utility/linen cupboard. The ‘podmaster’, also an expert in decks and pergolas, would come up with a custom deck/veranda to accommodate the main entry/porch, with a walkway leading around to the more private deck area (off the bedroom) and access to the main property’s rear entertainment area and clothesline.
SITUATION:
The 20-year-old daughter in a family at Redcliffe, a suburb of Brisbane, wished for more personal space and independence while enjoying the economy, security, and camaraderie of having her own Backyard Pod on the family property. The family enthusiastically agreed! Finance would be sought based on a ballpark budget.
CHALLENGE:
Existing rear extensions and decks attached to the main house, and a large tree, meant there was no available space in the backyard for a pod of any significant size.
SOLUTION:
The local installer who would undertake the project confirmed that the corridor-like lawn area down the side of the property would accommodate a backyard pod up to 3m x 10m plus custom-built external walkways and deck areas linking the pod’s separate environment with the entertainment areas of the main house. The design/layout was refined and agreed; the project was estimated for budgeting purposes; finance was approved; technical drawings for regulatory compliance were prepared. The 3m x 10m backyard pod kit in Colorbond® ‘Evening Haze’ was ordered in January 2018.
TESTIMONIAL:
BUDGET GUIDE:
BASIC BACKYARD POD KIT
- 3m x 10m Backyard Pod kit in Colorbond® ‘Evening Haze’ with standard Zincalume® skillion roof plus 10x standard 600mm foundation piers
Prices @ Jan-2018
$8,585.00
- Delivery of flat-pack Backyard Pod kit via crane-truck to site address in Redcliffe (Brisbane) QLD
$1,450.00
WINDOWS & DOORS
- To be sourced locally by home-owner or installer
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If chosen from our range of energy-efficient, eco-friendly windows/doors now available to order through us, click-and-collect from your local Bunnings Warehouse:
- 2x Polar-Eco View double-glazed sliding doors 2145mm-high x 1800mm-wide + locks/keys + fins/reveals + 2x matching sliding flyscreen doors
$2,647.00
- 2x Polar-Eco View double-glazed awning-style windows 600mm-high x 1545mm-wide + locks/keys + fins/reveals + 2x matching hinged flyscreens
$813.44
- 1x Polar-Eco View double-glazed awning-style window 600mm-high x 600mm-wide + locks/keys + fins/reveals + matching hinged flyscreen + frosting
$314.55
INSTALLATION TO LOCK-UP STAGE
We don’t do installations – this estimate was provided to our customer by an independent local installer:
- Excavate ground (other than rock or plant matter) for 10x holes for piers; place 10x foundation piers in concrete; assemble and install flooring system/flooring, walls, and roof; install windows/doors (estimated 4x, extra door was requested later); enclosed/lockable structure
$9,020.00
ESTIMATED TOTAL COST TO LOCK-UP STAGE
Not including any variations to original scope, nor cost of drawings/fees in relation to regulatory compliance
$23,000 ($766 per sqm) approx.
Still to come…
- Wall insulation wool; additional roof insulation wool; plasterboard lining of walls/ceiling; floating floorboards or floor coverings; partition walls; internal doors; kitchenette cabinets and fittings; bathroom/laundry cabinets and fittings; built-in wardrobe; light fittings, internal wiring, power points; connection of plumbing and electricity; curtains/blinds – initial ballpark budget estimate $1,100 per sqm to completion ($33,000) + estimated 10% contingency. Will it finish more or less than estimates? Watch this space!
ESTIMATED TOTAL BUDGET TO COMPLETION
$33,000-$36,300 approx.
