Goldfields

Contracts for Home Building Work

The Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (the HBC Act) provides protection for home owners and persons undertaking home building work.   Part 2 of the HBC Act applies to fixed price contracts for ‘home building work’ valued between $7,500 and $500,000.   Home building work includes:   constructing a new dwelling; carrying out additions to an existing […]

Construction Software

In the construction industry, being a cutting edge company that embraces innovation and new technology can be the difference between being a true industry-leader and struggling to remain profitable. Different businesses require different systems. If your company reaches a point where you find your software systems and processes are holding you back from reaching your […]

Condensation

Condensation is at its maximum in new homes. When homes are built many gallons of water go into materials such as concrete, plaster, wallpaper, tile work and even some types of paint. This water evaporates; which explains the reason for a higher moisture content than usual in new homes. To aid the drying out process […]

Bricks

In the Perth metropolitan area, a large majority of all new homes are double brick structure. However in many regional areas of WA, framed construction is very popular. One of the main reasons why double brick is so popular is because of our sandy soil. The soil type is very stable with very little ground […]

Concrete Slabs – Shrinkage

Curing is a process which takes place when a concrete slab is laid. As concrete is being poured, fresh concrete is converted into a solid mass when the cementeous materials hydrate. The action taken after the slab is laid to ensure hydration is called curing. Curing is the protection of fresh concrete from evaporation. When […]

Charging for Quotes: Builders and Subcontractors

Charging for quotations is not a common building industry practice. But builders can pick and choose their jobs, and charge for quotes and in order to discourage “check pricing” by some consumers. A problem can arise when some financial institutions require three quotations before approving a loan amount. Many builders particularly in regional areas are […]

Appliances and Building Specifications

It is common for home buyers to do insufficient research on whether a builder’s standard specification is suited to their needs. Frustrated new home owners sometimes discover too late that their new garage is not wide enough or high enough for their 4 wheel drive (especially for multi-vehicle households), or that their fridge is too […]

Bathroom Tips

Tips to having a healthy bathroom Brand new bathrooms look clean and fresh. Sparkling tiles and tapware and transparent shower screens. But with use, the build up of soaps, cleaners, and general debris makes areas of the bathroom a breeding ground for mould and start to look old and tired quickly.   Invest in the […]

Alternative Solutions in Building

When the Performance-Based Building Code was introduced in 1996, WA was the first State to adopt it. The new Code provided the flexibility that was lacking in the Uniform Building By-Laws that prescribed the minimum requirements for compliance of residential and non-residential buildings. The performance-based Building Code of Australia (BCA) maintains the prescriptive requirements as […]

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