Choosing a Block
Beware of Blocks Below The Road
On a summers day, during a period of dry weather, I came across these recently built houses with lines of sandbags! You would think that the houses must have fronted a river! Not much chance of getting a car in…
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Base Plan has 6 Star Energy Rating
But What Does it Mean? If you think it means is that your house will have a 6 Star Energy Rating you could be wrong! You could be up for thousands of dollars of upgrades to meet the required standards….
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Which Way Is North?
Don’t rely on a compass! Or a mobile phone either! There are different Norths True North Grid North Magnetic North The difference can be more than 10 degrees which can affect your view and the solar performance of your house…
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Overflowing Drains
Its not unusual to see local flooding around a house, or on streets, during exceptionally heavy rainfall. If you are unlucky you might even see a manhole ‘Pop It’s Top!’ like this one! This is because the council drains don’t have the…
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Tiger Tails
Buy a block near overhead electrical cables and you may need ‘Tiger Tails’ during the build. These are plastic tubes that fit over the cables and provide mechanical protection and visual warning on power lines and conductors. Getting ‘Tiger Tails’ installed isn’t…
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Chinese Lucky, and Unlucky, Numbers
I see from the papers that a significant number of properties are bought by Chinese Investors. Also I have noticed many visits to my web site are referred from Australian based Chinese language website oursteps.com.au So for all my fellow Gweilos’ (Ghost…
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NEIGHBOURS
Would you worry if you saw this guy (from Jim’s Jihad?) mowing the lawn next door? Unlikely. . . but it does illustrate the fact that neighbours can have a big effect on your enjoyment, or otherwise, of your house. In…
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Reasons to Re-Build
Knock Down and Rebuild, or Renovate? It may be the only house you can find in the area you like is dilapidated, like this one. You may already live in the house but it no longer suits your family’s needs….
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6 Reasons To Have A Pool
I recently posted on 6 Reasons Why I Won’t Have a Pool and got some comments back. . . . . . so here are some Alternative Views. Heat Relief – Dive in to cool off on a sweltering day. One…
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Small Strata Developments
A small strata development is a way of retaining an existing house and providing a rear Block. It is an alternative to a Battle Axe Block. This plan shows a typical Small Strata Development. With this type of development there…
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