Design
Saline Ground Conditions
Salinity doesn’t have to be as bad as in this photograph to cause problems in new homes. It’s also quite common for land that has not got salinity issues to develop salinity over several years. Building Problems Due To Salinity Problems can…
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Under Slab Membranes
This photo shows a plastic membrane underneath a slab. . . . but what sort of membrane? Vapour Barrier The Building Code of Australia requires the installation of a Vapour Barrier with the following characteristics Medium Impact Resistant Polyethylene Film 0.2mm…
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More Storage Space . . . . or Too Much Stuff?
Read the House Magazines or watch TV Programs and you will often notice quotes like: “You can never have too much storage space.” Well I think that’s BULLDUST! If you think you need more storage space; then think about getting rid of some STUFF. Get…
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Solar Tube Options
Sometimes our homes are a little lacking in the light department. Even if there are lots of windows, if your property is overlooked at all, or faces the ‘wrong way’, you might find yourself craving that natural light. You may need to…
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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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Energy Through The Windows
Ever wondered how much actual benefit you get from the sun shining in? How The Sun’s Energy Warms Your Home. Basically when the suns energy (which includes both visible and invisible energy such as Infra Red and Ultra Violet [UV] radiation)…
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Brick Ties
Brick ties, although small, have an important part to play in the structural strength of your new home. In brick veneer construction, ties are used to pass all the sideways forces across the cavity (such as from wind) to the frame….
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Do You Need A Home Theatre?
I keep reading articles about issues with the affordability of Australian houses. . . . . but then find lot’s of you want a ‘Media Room’ in your new houses! So how much is a basic Home Theatre going to add to the cost of…
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Temporary Down Pipes
A great way to stop the building site from becoming water logged is for the builder to install temporary down pipes as soon as the roof has been covered. Although this is generally good practice it is really important if you are building…
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Big Window – Fail
I have previously talked about Good Orientation and Window Size in this Blog. It’s not as though this sort of information is secret knowledge. . . . . I would have thought all architects would be aware of the importance of these sort of…
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