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| 6 Jun 2013 Retaining Walls on Boundaries
Retaining walls are not dividing fences and are subject to different legislative requirements. When installing retaining walls along boundaries, they must be wholly constructed inside the property – unless you have you consent of the adjoining landowner. It is a good idea to have the boundary line pegged by a licensed land surveyor to be […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Security: Home Systems
Home security systems are becoming a vital part of any residence. Crime is always on the increase, and protecting your home with a security system is becoming cheaper and much easier, with user friendly systems – even with do it yourself equipment. There are many different systems to choose from, and many experienced and approved […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Rainwater Tanks
With downpipes placed strategically around a home you could collect about 80 per cent of rainwater from the roof area. The Water Corporation suggests that with a roof area of around 100 square metres and our recent average rainfall of around 750mm per year, you can collect over 80,000 litres of water, saving money and […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Solar Systems Installed in Australia
Residential 1kW systems are most common at the moment due to the Federal Government Rebate funding up to a maximum of a 1000 watt (1kW) system. A lot of customers are installing 2 or 3 kW inverters in their systems however so that they can add additional capacity in the future as power get […]
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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 Redevelopment Authorities
The WA Government has established a number of redevelopment authorities to expedite the development of land in WA. They operate by suspending local and state planning laws and introducing redevelopment schemes to govern development in a defined area. Current redevelopment authorities include: Armadale Redevelopment Authority The Armadale Redevelopment Authority (ARA) is tasked is to plan, […]
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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 Skylights – Size of Skylights
Sizing of a skylight is dependant on the level of illumination required. The table in ‘Size of Skylights,’ provides guidance for average installations under average related conditions. It also assumes that some other form of lighting, such as borrowed light from a window, contribute to the overall result in the living areas for a satisfactory […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Owner Building
If you are considering building your own home, excluding some of the finishing work from your building contract, or renovating your existing home, you will need to apply to the Building Commission of Western Australia. All of the owners of the land must apply, and at least one applicant must provide evidence that he/she has […]