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| 6 Jun 2013 Shower Floors – Slope
Tiling in Shower Recesses The minimum standard required for wet areas in residential buildings is contained in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and AS3740 – Waterproofing of wet areas in residential buildings. This includes tiling and gradients of bathroom floors including shower recesses. The recommended ratio of fall within showers is between 1:60 and […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Recycling
Many building products can be recycled in Western Australia, some of which are listed below. Remember that this list does not reflect the ease of recycling material on every job. It is important for you to investigate the opportunities available for recycling in your local area and consider opportunities for recycling specifically for your project. […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Renovation and other checks
If you are uncertain as to the condition of the building’s foundations or the general soundness of the house, it may be worthwhile to call in an inspector or engineer for a professional opinion. You should find, however, that if you borrow funds for your extensions, the lender will have their own inspectors check that […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Roof Carpenters
There is no system of trade licensing in Western Australia, so it’s an “open market” for roof carpenters. Word of mouth, referral from friends or advertisements in the local community newspaper or the Yellow Pages are the main sources of supply. In terms of checking a “tradie’s” credentials, you could seek verification of formal trade […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Smart Planning Your Home and Garden
Smart planning your garden With smart palnning your garden can help control the temperature of your home. Plants and trees moderate temperature, keeping your hosue cool in summer, and sheltering it from the cold in winter. By choosing deciduous trees that shed leaves in autumn, you can still let in the warmth of the winter […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Preliminary Agreements
A Preliminary Agreement (PA), or Preparation of Plans Agreement, is a common document used by builders dealing with clients in the early stages of building a new home. These agreements do not involve building work and are preparatory to entering a building contract. Some common features are: the consumer is committed to paying a “deposit”, […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Decking
As the general public and builders become more environmentally aware, the pressure is on suppliers to meet their needs. Selecting environmentally friendly construction timbers is one area where the builder has an increasing amount of choices. ‘Eco’ timber is the common name given to timbers that are harvested with the community in mind; […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Electricity Planning
Good electrical design and fitout is often underrated in its importance to the ”liveability” of your new home. Like most things planning is important. An omission during the construction stage can be much more expensive to rectify after your house is completed particularly if you have restricted roof cavity space. Some questions to consider include: […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Electricity Connections and Headworks Charges
WA Electrical requirements provide for a standard supply up to: 63 Amps single phase (Perth and major towns) 32 Amps single phase (rural areas and small towns) 32 Amps per phase for multiphase (all areas) Consumer mains size of 35mm² (all areas) A large house with air-conditioning, pool and many appliances is likely to require […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Energy Efficiency
As of May 1 2007, new energy provisions of the Building Code of Australia came into effect in WA, setting minimum standards for energy consumption in new homes. This includes provision for glazing, insulation, ventilation and so on. The objective of the BCA is that the building fabric must meet minimum energy efficiency requirements. The […]
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