Author Archive: Brian Ashworth
Insulation Basics – ‘R’ and ‘U’ Value
R Value R1.5 Batts, R2.0 Batts……. all the way up to R6.0 Batts, but what does it all mean? The R value is a measure of the thermal resistance of the component of the material. In other word how hard…
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Being A Good Neighbour – Noise
Somethings that can spoil you life in a new home is falling out with the neighbours! One way to reduce the chance of arguments is to make sure you show consideration to your new neighbours with regard to Noise. What is…
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12 Industry Interior Decorating Secrets
Guest Post By Emma Williams Some people have a natural eye for interior design. If you’re not one of them, it’s good to have an interior designer on speed dial. Planning to undertake some renovations on your home? Here are…
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Comparing House Sizes
Since 1988 SI, or metric units, have been the sole legal units of measurement in Australia. However many builders and real estate agents still quote property in squares, which is an Imperial measurement. Are they trying to confuse you or…
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Bedroom Makeover: The Best Bedding Materials for Each Season
Guest Post by Dennis Hamming Part of building a new home or renovating an existing home is getting the chance to decorate the bedroom of your dreams. While it is fun to pick out new colors for your walls and other…
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Wood Wall Disaster
I recently saw this photo on the Home Design Library It’s a reminder that tall retaining walls are a serious matter with significant loads. Also its a warning that materials like timber might seem OK initially but over time can…
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Asphalt vs. Concrete Driveway: What It Costs to Repair and How They’re Best Fixed
Guest Post by Andrea Estrada Driveway repairs aren’t a simple DIY unless you are familiar with the necessary tools and are capable of hard physical labour. We explore what it would cost you to hire a professional who won’t sacrifice quality…
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Twin Basins – Is It Worth It?
When we first came to Australia and started looking at display houses we often saw En-Suites with two wash basins. We thought it looked fairly classy so that’s what we got in our first Australian new house. Ever since we…
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5 Surprising things that can affect the value of your home
Guest Post by Aaron Campbell The value of a home depends on several factors. Some of the common factors include location, bathroom size, number of the bedrooms, and parking size. These obvious factors are not the only determinants of your…
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How Much Garage Do You Need
The trend these days seems to be for double garages……… but how many of them have two cars in them. . . . My guess would be about 10% and quite a few never have a car in them at…
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