Design
Height Above Ground
For the typical modern house with slab on ground base there are two minimum heights above ground level that need to be considered: Next to the building. Distance of 1m away. The reason for these minimums is to keep water…
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Rainfall Intensity
When most people think about rainfall they think about the amount of rainfall . . . . . . . . . but it’s just as important to understand how hard it can rain, the ‘Rainfall Intensity’. The ‘Rainfall Intensity’…
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Kitchen Drawer Fail
Have you ever wondered why kitchens with all the unit along a wall are so popular with builders?. . . . . and island units? Why are drawers without a large handle common? Well it stops mistakes like this happening!…
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Plumbing Acronyms
There are a lot of acronyms used on plumbing drawings so here are a few definitions: AG – Agricultural (Drains) B – Basin Bth – Bath BT – Boundary Trap DP – Down Pipe FW – Floor Waste HWS –…
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Underground Garage
Basement, or underground garages are becoming more popular. Its one way of getting a bigger house on a smaller inner suburban block. Before you make a decision to go for this solution its worth thinking about the cost, and the…
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Mind Your Head
I have mentioned several times about not getting a bigger house than you need . . . . . . . . But this could be going a bit too far! And how do you reach the controls? I certainly…
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Floor Space Ratio, or Plot Ratio
When you are buying a new house block it’s important you understand how much of the block you can build on! One way in which NSW councils prevent Over development is by prescribing a ‘Floor Space Ration’ (FSR). The same…
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Overlooking – Avoiding ‘Direct Lines of Sight’
When considering Overlooking you need to avoid having a ‘Direct Line of Sight’ into: A Habitable Room window. (The following link explains what a habitable room is: Habitable Room ) A Secluded Private Space – Area primarily intended for outdoor recreation activities…
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Overlooking – Direct Line of Sight
An important issue when building a new house is Overlooking . . . . . . you won’t want to be overlooked by your neighbours . . . . . . and you need to avoid overlooking them, otherwise they…
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Habitable Rooms
What is a Habitable Room? You see the phase in several planning and building documents with regard to things like Ceiling Height (see Room Height) and Overlooking. Well according to the Building Code of Australia (BCA) A Habitable Room is…
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