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| 6 Jun 2013 Insulation Types
Loose Fill Loose fill materials include cellulose fibre and mineral wool, and is mainly used as ceiling insulation. It is simply pumped into the roof space, or sometimes the wall cavity. Since there’s no cutting, fitting or stapling it’s one of the fastest and easiest insulation types to install. Cellulose has been rated currently (by […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Lighting
Lighting can transform your new house into a home. Early planning about your lighting requirements can save a costly and inconvenient retrofit at a later stage. As part of this planning process you will need to decide about the type of lighting you require. This decision is more than thinking about whether you want downlights, […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Noise
Starting times must comply with local government by-laws which dictate the hours within which on-site work can take place. You should consult the building department of your local authority for the relevant requirements. Compliance with these by-laws is a condition on which the building licence is issued to the builder. Once you have discovered the […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 BCA: Class 1a vs Class 2
Classification of a building is of paramount importance for the viability of a project. Getting it right from the start will ensure you are not over or under-specifying your buildings. Large developments are sometimes classified incorrectly as Class 2 based on the scale, instead of the actual definition of the buildings of the development. This […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Building Sites and Theft
Under most building contracts, the builder controls the site until practical completion. During the construction period a builder is usually responsible for theft, vandalism or other damage that occurs on the site. A builder may be able to claim on its insurance policy or may absorb the cost, depending on the amount involved. If your […]
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| 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 […]
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| 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 […]
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| 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. […]
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| 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 […]
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| 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 […]