Construction
Don’t Just Leave It To The Independent Inspector!
It is quite common for people getting a new house built to get an Independent Building Inspector. I don’t think that means that you should just leave is all to someone else. For instance if you see some dodgy looking…
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Don’t Just Wait For PCI
I have sold almost 2,000 copies of my PCI Guide and as a result get a fair bit of feedback. One thing that I have noticed is that a number or people only buy the Guide a day or two before…
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Roman Bricks
Do you like the look of the brickwork in this photograph? It’s known as Roman brickwork as it gives a similar look to the brickwork that was used in Roman Times. The look also emphasises the horizontal lines in a structure. A…
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Concrete – Importance of Vibration
Have you ever seen concrete that looks like this on a vertical face? Its called ‘Honey combed’ Sometimes its in large areas like this, sometimes in smaller patches. This concrete is obviously weaker and more porous than dense concrete. The…
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Regulations Failing Public
Over the last couple of months there have been a couple of separate News Items, which are really connected. Excavation Collapse Puts House On Edge! The photo shows a house hanging over the edge of an excavation in a Melbourne suburb….
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Protecting the Footpath
An issue that can result in grief from the Local Council and additional costs to you is damage to the footpath. Legally The last time I built any damage was covered by the Clause which says “The Builder must indemnify the…
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Reinforcement In Slabs
I regularly hear the question “Where should the reinforcement mesh go in slabs?” Well here is some advice. . . . Understanding The Materials Concrete – Strong in Compression, but weak in Tension. Steel Reinforcement– Strong in Tension, and strong in…
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Electrical Abbrevations
Looking at an electrical plan, or reading an electrical specification, and wondering what all the abbreviations are? Well here are some of the more common ones you may encounter, many with links to other posts: 3ph – Three Phase Power…
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Water Bills
I hear a lot of complaints about Water Bills . . . . . but Town Water is one of the ‘Great Bargains’ of our age! Don’t Believe Me? Well lets look at the facts. Typical Water Charges Well I…
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Efflorecence
What’s that white powdery stuff that can appear on brickwork? Well the technical name is Efflorecence It can also appear on concrete! What Is Efflorescence, & How Is It Caused? Basically it is caused by water soluble salts contained in either…
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