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| 6 Jun 2013 Rise and Fall Clause
In times of volatile building costs, builders will look at ways of reducing the risk of signing “fixed price” contracts with clients, contracts which leave the builders bearing the total burden of fluctuating costs over the construction period. In the last boom, massive increases and fluctuations in the price of roof tiles, steel and copper […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Roof Sarking
Roof sarking is a membrane that is fitted during tile or metal roof construction. The flexible membrane is usually installed under the battens to provide thermal insulation and to prevent water and dust penetration in the roof space. In bushfire prone areas flying embers cannot enter this space through the roof due to sarking protection. […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Safety Management Plan (Residential)
WorkSafe WA has introduced mandatory site-specific safety management plans for domestic construction as from 1 October 2008. Where five or more persons are working or are likely to be working simultaneously on a domestic construction site, you will need to have a site-specific occupational health and safety management plan prepared before work commences. The plan […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Shared Equity Scheme
A shared equity arrangement is where two or more parties agree to co-purchase an asset, and share in any capital appreciation of that asset over time. The parties may agree on a 70/30 ownership or any other shared arrangement. The parties need to consider whether recurring expenses such as stamp duty rates and taxes and […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Site Works and Contracts
Site costs can be a difficult element of a building contract. In most situations, builders will not specify an exact amount for site works, but will nominate a “provisional sum” or best estimate which may be adjusted up or down depending on work actually required. Under the Home Building Contracts Act a builder cannot just […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Swimming Pool Construction
Swimming pools are extremely popular and come within the definition of “home building work” in the Home Building Contracts Act (1991). This legislation covers issues such as maximum deposit payable (6½ per cent of contract value), progress claim payments and so on. There are several construction issues to consider. When a swimming pool is constructed […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Smoke Alarms
Smoke Alarms – Are they all the same? Hard-wired smoke alarms (installed by a licensed electrical contractor to mains power) are compulsory in all new homes and new leases for rental properties since October 2009. They are required to be installed on the sale of an existing home if not already provided. They are a […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Survey Plans
A legal survey exists for all land (lots) in Western Australia. Survey plans are the official record of the legal boundaries of land and will usually indicate the dimensions and size of a lot. Three types of legal survey plans are available from the public register and copies can be purchased online from the Western Australian Land Information […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Roof Frames
Both timber and steel are used in roofs. Each material has advantages and disadvantages. Supporters of steel roofs (which are being used nowadays by a number of major builders) argue that it is more environmentally friendly, fire safe and termite proof. However the timber industry rejects these arguments, stressing the high level of embodied energy […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Landscape Contractors
With the garden designed you are now ready for the service of an experienced and qualified landscape contractor. Contractors will implement your garden design, taking care of the earthworks, contouring, soil improvement, paving, building pergolas, retaining walls, installing water features, lighting, drainage, reticulation and stonework. They will also select and plant the trees and shrubs […]