Your new house not big enough?
Why not just buy this town?
It’s only going to cost you around the same price as an Inner Melbourne Terraced House.
16 individual Queenslander homes plus three saw mills, and even an old school hall for only $750,000.
Mild steel is used a lot in construction as it is a, relatively inexpensive, strong structural material.
It does however have an issue in that it can be susceptible to corrosion in certain locations such as:
One way of protecting the steel is galvanising, which is the application of a layer of zinc over the steel.
Here are the galvanising options you may be offered:
When the section is removed a fairly thick layer of zinc encases the steel providing a durable corrosion resistant layer.
The appearance is of a dull grey material with a crystalline look.
This is an electoplating process where a layer of zinc is bonded to the steel.
The item is dipped in a saline zinc solution and an electrical current is passed through the solution into the steel.
Although it results in a thinner layer of zinc, than hot dipping, the bond between the zinc and the steel is stronger so the effectiveness is comparable.
Cold galvanising is the application of a zinc rich paint to the steel.
Although not as effective as true galvanising it is a better solution than paint alone.
One of the main uses is to provide complete zinc cover after site cutting, drilling, or welding of galvanised products.
Welding of galvanised steel is hazardous as the welding process releases toxic fumes. . . not a DIY exercise!
Did you know there are 105,000 people who are homeless in Australia . . . . WHAT THE …………?
44,000 of Australia’s homeless are young people aged under 25 years . . . . WHAT THE …………?
The average age a young person flees home escaping family violence is 10 years old. . . . . WHAT THE …………?
Young people experiencing homelessness are desperate to get a job. . . but the major reasons they can’t get one are because they don’t have the skills or education, and they can’t get work experience.
Something I do to help with this problem is deliver food 3 days a week for a Social Enterprise called STREAT
STREAT exists to train, and support, young troubled people in hospitality skills, so they can get experience, bring some stability to their lives, and improve their chance of getting a job.
To help STREAT get bigger, and support more young people at risk of homelessness why not support the Crowd Funding Campaign at chuffed.org/project/streat ?
Make a cash donation or take advantage of one of the great vouchers . . . every dollar will help to fight homelessness.
Photo courtesy of the Big Issue
I am showing my age now but I remember when there used to be a reasonable level of supervision. . . . this was how things were when I built my first house 25 years ago.
There used to be a foreman based on site to keep an eye on things.
Also the inspection of various aspects of the build was subject to independent inspections by local authority inspectors, electrical inspectors, and plumbing inspectors.
That’s not to say everything was always perfect but compare with the current situation!
A modern builder employs a Site Supervisor (SS) who may be responsible for the build of 10, or more, houses spread over several suburbs . . . . . . With travelling and office management how often does the SS visit? and how long does he spend?
The Building Inspector is engaged directly by the Builder to ensure compliance as an “Independant” Inspector . . . . . But with a builder directing ten of thousands of dollars to the “Independent” Inspector for 10’s if not 100’s of houses per year how independent are they going to be? . . . . and how thorough?
Electrical and plumbing quality is now measured by what is known as “Quality Assurance” . . . . What this means is:
All the above saves money . . . . but are you getting the quality you deserve?
Well by reading this Blog you are becoming better informed.
By researching, and spending some time on regularly visiting the site, and asking questions, you can demonstrate that you are interested in quality.
You could also consider spending a small proportion of the total build cost in getting your own inspector to check up on the build.
If you like the thought of ‘riding the tube’ this is the house for you.
It’s called the Shell House in Nagano, Japan by Artechnic.
Want to see more? . . . check out this link architizer.com
‘Rough In’ is the installation of the electrical cables, and conduits before the insulation and plasterboard are fixed.
It includes installing the mounting plates and boxes which will be used to fix the power outlets and light switches.
This is also a good time to install data cables.
Here are some things to look out for:
NB I am not an electrician so this may not be a complete list. . . . if you have any suggestions please leave a comment!
Guest post by George Z
An excellently designed outdoor space has a stunning effect on the general appearance of a home.
Here is a brief rundown of four tips that will come in handy in ensuring your outdoor space is not only breathtaking but also homely and practical.
Contrary to popular misconception a fireplace is not reserved for indoor décor but can be a great focal point for an outdoor space.
Based on preference you can either go for a portable or permanent fireplace.
A portable fireplace is a great option as it gives you the freedom to change location.
On the other hand, a permanent outdoor fireplace is also a viable option as it adds a touch of luxury to your outdoor space.
Let your outdoor space act as a gathering area with some furniture around it and it will act as a serene and beautiful place to converse or read a book.
Instead of boring walls make your outdoor space more lively and dramatic using plant walls.
Plants on walls not only beautify your outdoor space but also eliminate unsightly and boring blank walls.
The idea of plant walls is amazing as it equates to literally having a vertical gardening.
Based on your preference you can either go for annual plants, edibles or perennials.
For décor and style reasons it is better to choose plants that have varying textures and have different floral hues.
This will create a beautiful contrast that will make your outdoor space stand out.
Another option is to choose artificial plants.
As stated on BuildMat plant walls page, they “instantly add life and colour to any indoor or outdoor surface” and “their real power comes from their capacity to encourage healthy living”.
Add sculptures or beautiful statues that will make your garden more stylish and artsy.i
Depending on your taste go for sculptures with sentimental value such as your favourite animal or alternatively go for statues with historical significance such as Roman and Greek sculptures.
Also include other artistic elements such as intricately shaping the plants that are on walls or even mosaic pavers.
This will add personality and pizazz to your outdoor space.
Make use of artistic ornaments made from different materials ranging from metal and plastic to stone and ceramic.
Strategically place all artistic elements at locations where they stand out such as close to flowers with contrasting colours or alternatively make these artistic pieces a centrepiece in your outdoor space.
Enhance your outdoor space by adding a water feature, particularly if you want to bring your garden to life.
You can either design your own water feature as a DIY project or opt for a store bought manufactured one.
Keep in mind that you should choose an outdoor water feature that complements the décor of your outdoor garden.
These tips will help in transforming your outdoor space to an outdoor room that is an extension of your home and reflects your personal style.
This garden feature is really an underground beer fridge.
It was designed by a German beer enthusiast Peter Götting
It hold up to 30 bottles so enough for a decent session!
Guest post by Andre Smith
However, that trend is changing as people look for ways to be eco-friendlier in their daily lives.
If you’re ready to build your dream home, then consider a sustainable home.
In addition to featuring earth-friendly building materials, they’re also more energy efficient so that you can keep your utility bills down in the future.
Wood-framed houses are giving way to sustainable steel structures that go up faster, last longer, and are completely recyclable.
Steel buildings will never fall prey to insects like termites and ants.
They’re especially coated to prevent rot and ensure that your new structure lasts for generations to come.
With a great range of colours available, you can choose the perfect shade and avoid the hassle of painting your new home exterior.
Another great benefit of steel is the superior strength to weight ratio.
You can easily span greater distances using less material, and that results in a more aesthetically pleasing finish.
You’ll create a more open floor plan while saving a good deal of money on labour and supplies.
Finally, steel is 100% recyclable, so any scrap materials can be reclaimed and put to another use.
Rather than focusing on how a home looks, the sustainable builder focuses on how a home will work with the surrounding environment.
With passive design options, you can take advantage of the climate to reduce heating and cooling bills.
This is why you need to work with a team that will come out and survey your land.
When your home is oriented to the site based on prevalent breezes and the path of the sun, it’s easy to keep your property cool and comfortable without relying heavily on your air condition.
In addition to placing your home properly to take advantage of the sun in the winter, you can also have well shaded exterior windows and doors to easily keep everything cool in the summer.
Wood has a natural insulating factor, but that doesn’t mean that you should rely on it when building.
Steel homes use insulation to effectively minimise heat transfer.
Homes should also be effectively sealed to stop air leaks in a passiv manner to helps you lower energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.
Condensation can become a problem in some cases, but knowledgeable builders know how to keep the air circulating in your home so that this won’t be an issue for you.
The right structure will also keep a focus on building materials with higher thermal mass.
Wood doesn’t retain temperatures very well, but concrete, brick, tiles, and metal are all excellent at storing heat.
Their higher thermal mass helps you lower energy bills in a sustainable home.
The materials should be integrated as part of a passive design system, but your kit home will already take this into account.
Sustainable home designs in Australia look beyond the heating and cooling to look at water conservation.
Living in a dry climate, it’s important to be mindful of water usage.
With carefully planned kit homes, you can reduce the quantity of water consumed with improving the quality of storm and wastewater.
This is accomplished by including features such as:
One great benefit of living in Australia is that the regular sunshine can provide you with an alternate power source.
Modern sustainable kit homes make excellent use of solar power for appliances, lights, and even hot water.
Rather than relying on the traditional power grid, you can lower your energy bills drastically by turning to the sun for all of your power needs.
You can also choose wind systems for your kit home if you live in an area with enough open space.
This allows you to use renewable energy at night and during the rainy season.
The houses go up fast, and they last as long as traditional designs.
However, with some planning and passive additions, they can work with the local environment to provide you with a more enjoyable living space.
You may be asked “Do you want a Caveat” before you buy land for your new house.
I think it depends on what sort of land you are buying:
I would be very reluctant to get involved in any property that has a caveat lodged on it.
Caveat means beware, A caveat is a written warning on the ‘Title’ to anyone who wants to deal with the property that someone else’s interest already has priority.
The Caveator is the person having an interest in the property who must be notified of any attempted dealing in the property.
A Caveatable Interest allows you to lodge a caveat. The interest is acquired once a contract for purchase is signed.
Lodgement should be done as soon as possible.
I think that it’s best to use a lawyer to lodge a caveat to check whether:
It will depend on your lawyer/conveyoncers fees but I would expect that the costs will be around $500-$1000.
Well it may be difficult to complete a purchase due to the many reasons including the following three:
This is not a professional legal opinion and you should consult your legal representative before making any decisions.
