Satisfaction of building own Paal kit home
Robert’s handyman skills helped to ensure a beautiful result
Robert Gledhill is a farmer who built one of Paal’s large country homes – and enjoyed the feeling of fulfilment he got from doing this.
Former mayor and now a councillor of the inland New South Wales town of Boorowa, Robert – and his wife Jeanne – chose the four bedroom Victorian-style Camden.
“Jeanne had saved a Paal advertisement from the back of The Land and when we were ready, she said ‘this is what I want’,” according to Robert.
The couple built on a hill crest that overlooks the town on one side and a big valley and mountain on the other. They added an extra verandah and mirror-reversed the plans to take full advantage of the views.
Robert erected the house with a local builder, hiring additional tradesmen to lay the sandstone exterior, finish the gyprocking, and install the plumbing and wiring.
“I’m a farmer and a capable handyman, but I had no building experience. Paal’s plans were so easy to follow. Anyone with reasonable handyman skills could manage,” he said.
The house kit contained everything. Robert’s builder had never constructed in steel before, but was ‘tickled pink’ with how it came together. He commented on the exceptionally high standard of the windows, doors and other fittings.
“The support we got from Paal was terrific. If I called them over anything at all, they were always ready with the right advice,” Robert said.