Indoor Air
Home owners are starting to pay a lot more attention to indoor air quality when selecting building products. This is particularly the case where children, elderly, or sick are involved, as they are more vulnerable to toxins. It has been estimated that we spend 90% of our lives indoors, so it is no wonder that […]
Pool Maintenance
Pools will require circulation, filtering and measures to control algae and fungal growths. As a pool owner, you will need to find out how this all works to make sure you don’t end up with an infected green pond in your backyard! There are a number of different systems available for pools now including […]
Preventative Maintenance
The regular repainting of timber, sealing of joints, keeping vents and pipes clear, etc. can prevent damage occurring to a property. For example: Make sure that exterior underfloor vents are not covered or clogged up; Check underfloor ventilation and for pests in the underfloor spaces; Check that water drains away from the house after heavy […]
Painting
Giving your home a fresh coat of paint not only freshens and updates the look of your home, it also maintains the surfaces like exposed timber (veranda posts, timber windows and doors), metal and wall finishes externally and internally. Many people opt to DIY, but it you are looking to have painting work done by […]
Moisture Penetration of Walls / Damp-Proofing
Dampness on internal walls may be caused by: Condensation (kitchen, laundry, bathroom — improve ventilation by opening external doors or windows); Water penetration from above; Penetration across the wall cavity (accidental bridging of the cavity by mortar droppings or by an incorrectly installed wall tie or inadequate flashing around a window or door — difficult […]
Maintenance of Buildings
A stitch in time saves nine. With our time-poor, fast-paced, gadget-filled lives, what is it costing us to neglect our biggest asset? In one word. Thousands. We lock and leave our homes to pursue our work and social commitments every day and no-doubt do not need more items on the already over-loaded “to-do” list. But […]
Efflorescence on Bricks
The growth of white crystals on the surfaces of brickwork and blockwork is called efflorescence and is a common problem particularly in high rainfall areas. Efflorescence is caused by the presence of water-soluble salts which occur naturally in cement-water mixtures. The salts are brought to the surface of bricks or blocks as hydroxides when the […]
Concrete Slabs – Shrinkage
Curing is a process which takes place when a concrete slab is laid. As concrete is being poured, fresh concrete is converted into a solid mass when the cementeous materials hydrate. The action taken after the slab is laid to ensure hydration is called curing. Curing is the protection of fresh concrete from evaporation. When […]
Condensation
Condensation is at its maximum in new homes. When homes are built many gallons of water go into materials such as concrete, plaster, wallpaper, tile work and even some types of paint. This water evaporates; which explains the reason for a higher moisture content than usual in new homes. To aid the drying out process […]
Corrosion Protection Requirements
Our love of the ocean and urban creep along the coast means we are exposing ourselves to more than just proximity to the beach. The National Construction Code (NCC) requires corrosion protection is required for buildings constructed within 1km of breaking surf, and other exposure environments. Breaking surf means any area of salt water in […]