-
| 6 Jun 2013 Concrete Cancer
Concrete cancer often occur in coastal areas where sea salt can cause unwelcome reactions in brickwork, mortar and concrete slabs. Efflorescence is a powdery white salt deposit that can form on cement-based products like bricks, mortar and sometimes concrete. It usually appears when dry, hot weather follows a period of cool wet weather. Evaporation of […]
-
| 6 Jun 2013 Construction Costs
Construction costs have risen strongly in recent years and it is important that your building is accurately valued at replacement cost for insurance purposes. If you have not reviewed the “sum insured” on your home recently, then you should do so. To give you a general guide as to recent trends in building costs, you can […]
-
| 6 Jun 2013 Construction Starting Date
Defining the length of a construction period is not such a simple matter as it might appear. It is critical that you read your building contract carefully as the construction period probably does not commence from the date of contract signing. In order to determine the construction period, you need to make sure that you […]
-
| 6 Jun 2013 Defects Liability
Under many building contracts, you have a contractual right to have defects addressed. The contractual rights can be exercised by the property owner, but not usually by a third party. There are general entitlements under the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011 that allows a person to make a complaint about defective building work. […]
-
| 6 Jun 2013 Enterprise Resource Planning & Strategy
A company’s strategy is key to achieving a competitive edge in the highly competitive Australian construction industry. Therefore making the most informed strategic decisions as fast as possible can be of utmost importance. Informed decisions however stem from having access to up to date and accurate information. Many companies may think they have this, however […]
-
| 6 Jun 2013 Earthworks
Risk of Owner Earthworks Some home owners take on the task of organizing the earthworks and their certification themselves, rather than the builder charging for the responsibility. The aim of this is often to reduce building costs, removing these works from the contract with the builder. This in theory sounds fine, until you […]
-
| 6 Jun 2013 Tips: First Home Buyer
First home buyer – tips Buying a first home can be a daunting experience. To make this process enjoyable, think about the following tips: 1. Read the contract carefully Make sure that you understand all the terms and conditions. If not, ask!! 2. Allow extra time for delays Despite the best intentions projects can run […]
-
| 6 Jun 2013 Apprentices: Hiring
Master Builders believes it is in the interests of builders and subcontractors to invest in our industry’s future by taking on and training apprentices. A Master Builders publication is available to as an easy guide to the requirements for employing an apprentice for either a part or the whole of their apprenticeship. Your Investment for […]
-
| 6 Jun 2013 Apprenticeship Information
What is an Apprenticeship? Apprenticeships are jobs that combine paid work and structured training. They include: paid employment under an appropriate industrial arrangement (for example, an award or enterprise agreement) nationally recognised training. An apprentice enters into a formal training contract (Indenture) with his/her employer for the duration of the traineeship. When an apprentice successfully […]
-
| 6 Jun 2013 Building Legislation
From 1 January 2011, WA has adopted one of the biggest reforms in building control legislation our State has seen in 50 years. The establishment of the Building Commission in WA marked the end of the Builders’ Registration Board and the Painters’ Registration Board and provides a one-stop shop for the regulation of the building […]