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| 6 Jun 2013 Water Meter Theft
Theft of water meters has been a problem on some Perth housing sites. Some sources suggests that the number of thefts has more than doubled in recent years to around 700 incidents per annum. At $200 per meter, this adds up to $140,000 per annum. Whether these meters are stolen for scrap metal or other […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Tiles and Lippage
Lippage is a condition in floor tiling where one edge of a tile is on a different plane to an adjacent tile. In plain terms this means that one tile is higher than another giving the finished surface an uneven appearance. When large tiles are used on surfaces with compound falls to a floor waste, […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Timber Rot
Timber rot was a major problem in some Perth homes. A survey a few years ago suggested that houses in Subiaco, Ardross, Floreat, Nedlands and Mosman Park were most likely to suffer from timber rot. This incidence of timber rot is not surprising as it usually occurs in older homes and caused by a lack […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Timber Waste
Up until recently, most builders dumped all construction waste together – sand, rubble, bricks, timber offcuts were all collected by a bobcat driver and sent to landfill. However, regulations now only allow disposal of “inert waste” at Class 1 landfill sites, which most builders use. Waste which includes timber is being refused at the gate […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Traineeship Information
What is a Traineeship? Traineeships 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. A trainee enters into a formal training contract (Indenture) with his/her employer for the duration of the traineeship. When a trainee successfully […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Unavailable Products
Sometimes building materials and products are specified by an owner, but become unavailable for reasons such as strikes, shipping delays, high demand etc. This presents the owner and the builder with a dilemma which must be worked through carefully. If these circumstances arise most building contracts provide that the builder must notify the client and […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Redundancy in construction
All Construction Contractors in the general building and construction industry need to be aware of the federal “Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020” which covers employees working on-site. This includes any construction, alteration, extension, repair, maintenance, demolition, or dismantling of buildings that form part of land. Visit the Fair Work website for full details on the Award. The “redundancy” clause […]
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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 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 Renovations and Extensions in WA
The value of home alterations activity in Western Australia is huge, at up to $3 billion per year. Many homes in Perth that were built in the 1960’s and early 1970’s are approaching their “use by” date. Retrofitting activity of laundries, kitchens and bathrooms is very popular. The decision to renovate is often the result […]