Author Archive: Brian
Builder’s Bankruptcy – Finance
So the builder has become insolvent and the house is half built…………..what are the financial implications? To finish a partially built project using another builder is going to cost more than if your original builder finished the project. For an…
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Bankrupt Builder – Will The Insurance Be Enough?
I have previously talked about dealing with the mess when a builder goes bust. To make the financial aspects clearer a worked example follows: This is based on a contract for a house to be built for $300,000. A typical…
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Door Lock Fail
I thought this photo was worth showing on this site to emphasise thinking about door handles! Its from the Epic Fail website. Well worth a look if you have time to spare. or more Fails and Unusual houses go to What…
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Brickwork – 45 Degree Corners
One of the things that really annoys me as I walk around is 45 degree bends in brick fences like this photo. Bricks are meant to be laid so that they fully interlocked and this is a long way short…
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High Ceilings – Unexpected Effects
Quite a lot of people go for Higher Rooms because it does give a more impressive interior effect. Something to bear in mind is that it can effect the external appearance of the house by making the windows look small. This…
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West Facing Solar Hot Water System?
If you are committed to sustainability then space on the North facing roof is at premium. One option may be to look at putting the solar hot water system on a West facing roof. This will mean you can maximise…
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Want a Flat Roof ?
When thinking about a flat roof for your new home my advice is…..a roof can be: Flat. Inexpensive. Have a long leak free life. PICK ANY TWO! Sounds harsh but my experience, and others I have talked to, confirms this…
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Green Roof
How would you like to be mowing the roof of this house? This is a ‘Green Roof’ something which is quite common in many Northern Hemisphere Countries but not so common in Australia. They can work well in keeping a…
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Contracts – Contract Period
In your house building contract it will quote a Building Period. This starts when the contractor actually starts work (Site Clearance) The period will be in days. (Calendar days not working days) The time should allow for any expected loss…
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Solar Hot Water
With the current emphasis on building efficiency solar hot water systems are pretty much a standard option if not automatically included. These systems incorporate either gas or electricity boosting for cloudy days. Here are a few thoughts on the options…
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