Construction
Polished Concrete
So you like the idea of Polished Concrete. . . . but with costs ranging from $55/m2 to $120/m2 there are quite a few things to think about. Slab Design and Construction Quality of finish starts with the design and specification of the…
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Soil Heave – Protecting the Slab During Construction
There has been a lot of talk in the Melbourne papers recently about ‘Slab Heave’ when Building on Clay so I thought I would explain how to minimise the risk during construction. A key issue when building on clay is to…
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Window Abbreviations
When you are looking at builders plans it can be hard to understand what all the abbreviations mean! Here are some common window Abbreviations /Acronyms: AL – Aluminium (also Alum) AW – Awning Window CG – Clear Glass CLR.OPG –…
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Builders ‘Security’ Fence
These days all the builders provide, at our cost, a 1.8m high ‘Security Fence’ around the site. When you ask them “Why is it there? “. . . They say “Its for Occupational Health and Safety and/or to prevent theft. ” If…
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Placing Fill
Of so you want to place some fill. . . .perhaps behind a retaining wall to level a garden . . . So what do you need to understand? Here are some things to consider. Final Volume – Loose Volume Most people…
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Fixing Stage Inspections
This is the time when all plasterboard lining (or internal cladding) architraves, skirtings, doors, built in shelves, baths, basins, troughs, sinks, cabinets and cupboards of a home are fitted and fixed in position. The waterproofing of all wet areas will also…
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Avoiding Splitting Responsibility
I often come across people who want to exclude certain items of the work from a house building contract to save money. They may want to do the work themselves, use their own tradie (relative or friend) or use a different…
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Protect Your Block From Dumping
A regular problem with vacant new house blocks is they are used as a convenient dumping ground for other builders. It’s much cheaper to dump on a nearby site than haul the material to a tip and pay tip fees. If…
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Retaining Walls – Besser Blocks
If you want a rendered surface on your retaining wall one of the best ways of achieving this is by using ‘Besser Blocks’. These are hollow concrete blocks which are designed to incorporate steel reinforcement within the block. A few issues…
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How Many Construction Inspections?
Well I do my own inspections, so for my houses they have been at least once week. . . . . but if you are paying $4-500 an inspection for a professional you might want to consider the options below!…
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