Yearly Archive: 2013
Bell Push – Fail
Over a week I would probably visit between 150 – 200 homes. That’s a lot of door bells pushed……..and if the bell doesn’t work it can be a lot of sore knuckles knocking. The bell push in the picture above,…
Read more
Re-Branding
Regular visitors to this blog will notice a few changes going on. A logo has appeared next to the title at the top of the page, and some of the other parts of the blog are looking different. My daughter,…
Read more
Retaining Walls – Sleeper Wall
Retaining walls are created to hold soil behind them. They can be made to control soil erosion due to hard rains, surround a garden, create a terraced yard, or retain soil along a highway. When designing a retaining wall, take…
Read more
Pre-Start / Selection Guide 2nd Edition
Available now the latest edition of the E-book PRE-START / SELECTION GUIDE This major revision, and expansion, of the Guide means you now get: 90 pages of information and advice 8 pages of checklists All aimed at making sure you…
Read more
Stuck On Decoration – Fail
I was walking through one of the Western Suburbs the other day and came to a sudden stop when I saw this facade with stuck on decoration. The owner must like it after all it would have cost them extra……………
Read more
Retaining Wall – Sleeper Walls
Although most people refer to these as Sleeper Walls the Technical term is ‘Post’ and ‘Whaling’ * Walls. The posts can be Galvanised Steel like the example on the right. Other alternatives are timber sleepers, like the example below, or…
Read more
Rainwater – Pump Size
One of the reasons why most rainwater systems use too much power is because because the pump is too big. For other reasons see Rainwater – Pump Issues Most pump suppliers and design charts will specify a larger pump than…
Read more
Spot the Garage
Can you see the garage? Not just one, but two! Perhaps this second photo helps This is a device called a Cardok which I hear is coming to Australia. Its quite expensive at around $60,000 each, but probably cheaper than having…
Read more
Contract Meeting Advice
It can seem like an age since you paid the initial deposit for your new house. You have spent ages going through everything at Selection. Surely you can just sign the contract and get started?………….That’s what the builder wants,………… but…
Read more
Types of Fill
You will often find a reference to ‘Fill’ in your Geotechnical Report. Your site may require ‘Cut and Fill’ to level the site. Here is a bit of information about the various types of fill: Ordinary Fill Ordinary fill is…
Read more