Design
The Entertainer
“Just the thing for Entertainment” or something similar is a common theme in house builder’s brochures and estate agent descriptions. It’s really a way of trying to upsize you into a bigger (more expensive) house. Before you get sucked in…
Read more
Window Size
Building Code Rules on Size The Building Code of Australia requires you to have at least 10% of the floor area as windows with at least 5% of the floor area being able to be opened. If you go in…
Read more
Benchtops
There are a wide range of different benchtops around………. so which benchtop should you buy. Here are some thoughts about the options. Laminex/Formica Probably the most popular benchtop available in a wide range of colours and patterns and reasonably hardwearing….
Read more
House Style or Fashion Victim
Appearance is very much a matter of taste with different people liking different styles, there no right solution. If I put up a picture of something as the way to go than more people would think I was wrong, than…
Read more
How Big or Small Does a Home Need To Be?
Our first house was around 6 squares (approx 56m2). Two rooms downstairs and two rooms with a bathroom upstairs, and a single garage in the back garden. We lived happily in the house for 6 years including after my daughter…
Read more
Timber or Steel Frame
The most common frame for the standard brick veneer house uses timber. Steel frames however are becoming much more common. . . . So why should you choose one or the other? Advantages of Timber Well understood by builders; Cheaper;…
Read more
Thinking Of Copying Plans?
If you go around a display Home the builder’s representative will usually give you a brochure with a floor plan. If you look on the net you can often download their plans, or you can even copy them from a…
Read more
Accessible Design
Accessible design is making a house suitable to be lived in or visited by a disabled person. If you don’t think this is important remember that one in five Australians has a disability. So for instance: You might be fine…
Read more
Shading Northern Windows
In a post about Passive Solar I talked about shading North facing windows. That doesn’t mean installing roller shutters, or blinds that pull down over the window. Shutters and blinds tend to make the rooms very gloomy and depressing, and…
Read more
Building On Pipeline Easements (Or Close To)
Previous posts have talked about Sewer and Drain Easements but you build close to or over a pipe on an easement? Permission You must get permission from the owner of the easement to build on the easement. Some easement owners…
Read more