Author Archive: Brian Ashworth
Concrete – Pavement Joints 1
I have previously talked about Concrete Cracking …….but how do you stop random cracking across your driveway concrete? Well the best way is to control cracking by making sure it cracks where you want it to and the cracks are…
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Curtain Fail
OK, plenty of people put sheets on their windows when they first move in. I have even done it myself. The reason why I highlighted this house is because this is a top end, custom built, massive house and these sheets…
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Rainwater Tank – Inlet Improvements
In Understanding Tank Water Quality I explained that most tank inlets mix the dirtier incoming water with the cleanest water at the top of the tank. So what can you do? Its not as simple as just extending the inlet…
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Tips for Building an Outdoor Kitchen
Post sponsored by homesales.com.au There’s nothing like cooking in the great outdoors, whether you are camping in the woods or sitting on your own patio at home. Two of the hottest trends in new home construction today are island kitchens and backyard…
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Door Bell – Fail
I walked up to this door last week and pressed the door bell……Nothing! After trying again I looked down and saw a 2nd Bell push…. Next to my feet! When I pressed it …….It rang! Now I’m just wondering why…
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Pre-Start (Selection) Meeting
Some builders call it Selection, some call it Pre-Start, if you are having a custom built new house it will be Detailed Design. Whatever it’s called this is the stage of the pre-construction planning when the basic floor plan and…
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Understanding Tank Water Quality
The drawing on the right shows a fairly typical rainwater tank layout. I have seen lots of tanks set up like this and have also seen this layout in tank supplier’s brochures. The set up is probably OK for garden…
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Modern Bird House
Just moved into your new modern house and would like to encourage birds in your garden? Think all the bird houses look old fashioned? How about this? It’s called Camera Shutter. Or this? It’s called Right Angle. These bird…
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Should You Use Yor Own Building Inspector?
Although I give lots of opinions on all aspects of building a house, including checking quality, I would never say “Don’t employ your own Building Inspector.” I’m very experienced in the construction industry and have done lots of research so…
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Pebble Gardens
Stone Mulches, Dry River Bed, Desert Gardens, they are all variations in having a garden covered with stones rather than having soil or an organic mulch. It’s popular as a low maintenance finish to your new house garden. I have…
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