I met with a builder in the town where we want to build, and showed him the rough houseplan I mocked up in a paint program.
He advised that we could build it within our budget if we used a hipped roof, but not a skillion roof. He stated that skillion roofs are harder to construct than hipped roofs, use more materials, require a thicker slab, and cost more by about 10% of the total house cost (so, for us to build the same plan except for the change in roof would cost an additional 21k, not counting the windows).
This goes against what I know about US home construction (where I'm originally from). In the US, skillion roofs are cheaper than hip roofs, they use less materials, and they're considered simpler/easier to construct. I checked with an uncle in construction and he agreed.
This builder is also pushing hard for a brick veneer exterior but insisting any internal brick would be too heavy and (also) necessitate a thicker slab (my husband and I are considering options for additional thermal mass such as internal brick veneer on carefully selected walls). I would prefer to have vinyl cladding on the exterior and reserve thermal mass materials for the interior.
Are skillion roofs premium construction items choices in Australia and do they necessitate thicker slabs than a corresponding hip roof?
Also, if the slab will support exterior brick veneer around the entire house, shouldn't it support one or two interior brick walls if the exterior is cladded?
I'm not sure if he's fibbing to try to push us into a "one way fits all" plan, or these are legitimate issues I'm simply ignorant about. I do have queries in with other builders in the area but they're a bit slow to respond.
