PAAL KIT HOMES, STEEL FRAME HOUSES IN KIT FORM FOR THE OWNER BUILDER & OWNER MANAGER
PAAL UPDATE
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Fire-resistant home arises from ashes
Their new Paal home, opposite the Kinglake National Park, is everything
Victor and Raelene Gill had hoped for.
After Victor and Raelene lost their home in the Victorian bushfires, they decided to rebuild from more durable materials. The couple chose a steel-framed home from Paal, clad it in aerated concrete Hebel panels and fitted double-glazed windows for further protection.
Their new four-bedroom home, set on twelve acres opposite the Kinglake National Park, is everything they had hoped for.
Raelene, Victor and their children had lived in their weatherboard house at Steels Creek for 15 years before escaping just minutes before it was engulfed by flames in February 2009.
When choosing a replacement, the Gills were attracted to the fire-resistant qualities of a Paal home. “As well, we liked the Darling design and the fact that Paal was very good at explaining the owner-building process,” Raelene said.
The four bedroom design was altered to extend the verandahs and to change the entranceway to provide direct access to the family living area.
Victor and Raelene employed a builder to erect the house to lock-up stage, then took control from then onwards, completing much of the interior work themselves.
“I did all the painting and Victor handled most of the joinery. He used to be a cabinet maker and I’m very proud of the standard of his work on the house,” Raelene said.
Contractors were employed for internal tasks such as hanging plaster sheets, corners, plumbing and electricals.
“If there were any hitches during building, we rang John at Paal. He’s a really nice guy and would follow through on our inquiries, keeping us informed,” she said.
The home is attractively finished in light grey with dark grey surrounds and a dark grey Colorbond roof. The bay window and other large windows provide views across the Kinglake National Park.
Part of the Gills’ destroyed property after the
Victorian bushfires.
“We went through a lot of trauma when we lost our home to the bushfires and it has taken a while for us to recover. It’s three years now and we feel a lot better about ourselves,” Raelene said.
Rendered Hebel panels, verandahs all around the house and double-glazed windows improve the home’s fire protection and also augment its insulation, helping keep the house cool in summer and warm in winter.
“The completed home is really nice. Our daughter loves it. Other people like it as well.”
Met-Kit: new brochure with new designs
Met-Kit, whose budget kit homes are being distributed by Paal, is proud to publish an updated brochure that includes new house designs, including a top-of-range five bedroom home.
The brochure launches the Hunter 3, a practical three-bedroom home with 144 square metres under roof.
Also in the brochure is the Daintree 5, a family-sized home with five bedrooms under a total roof area of 232 square metres. There’s a formal lounge/dining room in addition to the family area, and the master bedroom has an ensuite and walk-in robe.
The Met-Kit range of 2-5 bedroom homes employs the same proven, CSIRO-tested framing system that has made Paal Kit Homes such a success. Met-Kit is backed by Paal’s 40 years of reputable service.
The simple, bolt-together steel frame system is ideal for the owner builder who is looking for standardised designs at affordable prices.
To request a Met-Kit brochure, please click here. For more information, visit www.metkithomes.com.au
PAAL NEWSLETTER
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