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| 6 Jun 2013 Solar Power System
The Solar Panels collect the sunlight and create energy. They are attached to the roof by high strength rails able to withstand wind, rain and hail. The energy flows through to the Inverter which converts the current from Dc to AC (to usable household power). A Bi-directional meter records the amount of power being […]
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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 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 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 Fire and Your Property
A combination of dry winters and hot summer days can make our bush extremely dangerous, especially in summer. While it is impossible to completely fireproof your home, there are a number of things that you can design into your house and garden to reduce risk. Fire safety can be improved by preventing wind borne burning […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Liquidated Damages
A liquidated damages (LD) clause is common in many building contracts for commercial or institutional buildings, but less common in residential contracts. Liquidated damages are an amount which the builder agrees to pay to the homeowner for late completion of the project. This is usually an amount per day or per week. Liquidated damages are […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 First Homebuyers & Building
First homebuyers comprise around twenty per cent of the new home market. This means that each year of the 20,000 new dwellings constructed each year, around 4,000 will be built by new homebuyers. Master Builders’ advice to homebuyers who are going through the building process for the first time is as follows: Make sure you […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Mobile Cranes
The use of mobile cranes in the residential construction industry has become commonplace. Before commencing using a crane on a construction site it is important to develop a work plan or safe work method statement for all crane operations. A work plan or safe work method statement should be developed which includes information on, but […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Fixed Price Contracts
Fixed price contracts are the most common form of domestic building agreement. As the name suggests a fixed price agreement is where the builder agrees to perform building work for a fixed sum. This provides a degree of certainty to both parties, but during a period of escalating costs the builder is likely to include […]
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| 6 Jun 2013 Moisture Penetration of Walls / Damp-Proofing
Dampness on internal walls may be caused by: Condensation (kitchen, laundry, bathroom — improve ventilation by opening external doors or windows); Water penetration from above; Penetration across the wall cavity (accidental bridging of the cavity by mortar droppings or by an incorrectly installed wall tie or inadequate flashing around a window or door — difficult […]