Comma Projects

Comma Projects High-end design & development made relatable

06/09/2026

“Just let the men deal with this.”

Yes, it was said as a joke.

But if you're building or renovating, you already know why a comment like that can hit a nerve.

Especially when you've spent months trying to understand decisions, coordinate trades, protect the budget and keep an entire project moving.

Patty said something in this conversation that I loved.
“You’re thinking about your one trade. I’m thinking about the other thirty.”

That is exactly it.

Asking questions isn’t about pretending you know more than the person doing the work.

Sometimes it is literally the opposite. It is saying, I don't understand this yet. Explain it to me.

And the best people in this industry have absolutely no issue with that.

In Patty’s experience, those conversations often ended up creating the strongest working relationships of all.

Ever had to have that conversation on your build?

The full conversation with Patty is on YouTube now, link in bio 🤍

03/09/2026

One of the biggest things it taught me?

Get comfortable asking questions.

There will always be someone who has been building houses longer than you.

Someone who knows more about their trade than you ever will.

That’s exactly why they’re there.

But expertise doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask why.

I’ve learned far more on construction sites by being curious than I ever would have by pretending I knew everything.

And sometimes that one question completely changes the outcome.

Follow for more real life women on site stories.

03/09/2026

You don’t have to prove that you know everything.

You don’t have to understand every construction term the first time you hear it.

And you definitely don’t have to pretend you understand something because everyone else around you seems to.

Ask the question.

Ask them to show you.

Ask why it’s being done that way.

Ask what the other options are.

Some of the best decisions I’ve made on site have come from asking a question that I almost didn’t ask because I thought I should already know the answer.

Follow for more real life women on site stories.

03/09/2026

The prettiest part of building a home is not the part you need to learn first.

Tiles. Tapware. Stone. Lighting. Paint colours.

I LOVE all of it.

But before that comes a whole layer of decisions nobody really posts about.

Documentation.

Allowances.

Setouts.

Services.

Electrical.

Window schedules.

Door swings.

Blocking.

Waterproofing.

Construction sequencing.

Who is responsible for what.

And what needs to be decided BEFORE a trade arrives on site.

You don’t need to become an expert in all of this.

But knowing enough to recognise the decisions coming your way can completely change how you experience your build.

Pretty is important.

But understanding how pretty actually gets built?

That’s the bit I want more homeowners to know.

Share this with someone at the beginning of their build.

Follow for more building tips, construction literacy and the things I wish every homeowner knew before building.

03/09/2026

“I thought that was included.”

Four words you really don’t want to be saying halfway through a build.

Before signing a building contract, don’t only look at the total price.

Understand what sits underneath it.

What is included?

What is excluded?

What has an allowance?

What is a provisional sum?

What selections haven’t been made yet?

Are the fixtures you actually want covered by the allowance?

Is that beautiful detail from the architectural drawings actually included in the builder’s scope?

And if something matters to you, don’t rely on everyone remembering a conversation from six months ago.

Get it documented.

Because “I assumed” and “I thought” can become very expensive sentences once construction starts.

Send this to someone currently comparing builder quotes.

Follow Jenn Sinclair | Build Advisor for Women for more building tips to help you understand your build before it gets built.

03/09/2026

You are allowed to ask questions.

You are allowed to ask someone to explain something again.

You don’t need to know construction terminology to notice something doesn’t feel right.

A conversation with your designer doesn’t necessarily mean the decision made it onto the construction drawings.

“Allowance” doesn’t mean you can choose whatever you want later without affecting the price.

“TBC” is something you want resolved, not ignored.

Small decisions become much harder once trades are standing on site waiting for an answer.

And PLEASE don’t wait until something is installed to look closely at it.

You don’t need to become a builder.

You just want enough construction literacy to understand what’s happening, what decisions are coming and what questions you should be asking.

Send this to the woman in your life who’s building or renovating.

Follow for more building tips before your plans become your house.

03/09/2026

And I don’t mean knowing every construction symbol or suddenly becoming an architect.

I mean being able to look at your plans and understand:

What has actually been decided?

What is still TBC?

What is an allowance?

Where are the power points?

Which windows actually open?

Where does your lighting meet your joinery?

What details are being left to work out on site?

You have professionals for a reason. But understanding the basics helps you ask better questions and actually participate in decisions about the home you’re paying to build.

We teach people how to choose tiles.

We should probably teach them how to understand the documents their entire house is being built from too.

Send this to someone about to build.

Follow for more building tips.

Address

Gold Coast, QLD

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Comma Projects posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Comma Projects:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category