Blog

Restoration vs Renovation

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 04:58:00 GMT

RESTORATION

Restoring a structure, to put it simply, is to repair and keep the original form of the structure, design and even materials. Restorations are best when you want to keep the original structure intact and are often necessary when dealing with heritage listed properites. Restoration home improvement projects occur typically because of damages from aging materials or new buyers wanting to retun a house to it's original condition. Antique structures benefit from restoration projects best.

Some basic restoration projects include:

Exterior Cladding Repair
Flooring Resurfacing
Painted Surfaces
Woodworking
Antique Hardware

Budgets

A restoration can be the most cost effective method to fix repairs, where the original material is easy to source and easy to replace. However, in the case of antique materials, spending the time and money sourcing items to match the original décor and design elements can be both time consuming and expensive.

Advantages

Certain home improvement projects like refinishing fine woods or resurfacing cabinetry benefit from restoration. A few advantages of restoration include:

Money Saving Home Improvement
Design and Décor Themes are Maintained
Some Restorations are Completed Quickly

Disadvantages

Renovations also have their disadvantages as well. Problems can occur before, during and after the renovation. Here are a few disadvantages to be aware of when you’re deciding whether to renovate or restore:

Hidden Damage May be Uncovered
Maintenance Issues can Cause Further Expense
New Materials Might be Best for the Overall Design
Old Material may be impossible to find or very expensive

RENOVATION

To renovate any area in the home requires removal and disposal of the previous material, followed by the replacement of said material with a new material. Depending on whether house is being increased demolition and excavation may be needed. Renovations are usually undertaken to update areas within the open, to create an open plan living space and/or to increase the size of the existing house. A few renovation home improvement projects include:

Roofing Renewal
Bedroom Extension
Window Replacement
Bathroom Makeover
New Kitchen

Budgets

Renovations are typically on the higher end of the budget scale when compared to restoration costs. But sometimes when restoration may seem to be the cheapest alternative, overall costs through constant restoration of an inferior material or design can outweigh the costs of the initial renovation. Always factor in lifetime maintenance costs when deciding whether renovation or restoration is more budget friendly to your home improvement project. Also, take into account the added value to your home, as a renovated home could increase more in value than a restored home due to a large in increase in living space.

Advantages

Renovation advantages are many and varied. Here are a few examples to help you decide whether renovation or restoration is right for your home improvement project:

Restoration is not Possible
New and Improved Materials and Design are available
Current Building Codes can to be adhered to
Extra Space is Required

Disadvantages

There are also disadvantages to renovation when compared to restoration projects. Use these examples to help you understand both sides of renovation:

Costs are Often Higher
Renovation can take longer as Council Approvals are needed
Ambiance and Antiquities could be Lost Forever
Renovations may be prohitbited in Heritage areas

Safely Building on Difficult Sites

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:02:00 GMT

The allure and splendour of a magnificent waterfront home, overlooking the water from high above and resting on the edge of one of the best views in the world, is a lifetime dream come true for the privileged few. This world-renowned mark of status has been ingrained into our culture throughout history. Ancient cliff side dwellings captivate our minds and ignite our wanderlust; while today’s modern cliff edge homes inspire our imaginations by creating more and more unique architectural designs.

Experience

Today’s modern engineers, architects and builders push the envelope of creativity and ability to build some of the best looking cliff edge homes. While they make it look easy, the many logistics and difficulties of building on a cliff edge site overlooking the waterfront are numbered and many. Without a good builder, architect and engineer, some serious problems could occur. Always use a company that has the experience and knowledge for building cliff edge homes.

Access

But no matter who you hire to do the work, it’s still up to you to make the final decisions that make your home custom and truly yours. Access to the site is the first and foremost priority when working on a difficult site. Which area of the property would you enter from? How steep is your driveway going to be? Where will you set up your parking area? What direction will you orientate your home? These questions are the first crucial step in providing the best access into the site. You and your builder, architect and engineer will be able to come up with the most suitable plan for access to the site.

Access to the site is just the beginning. Materials, machinery, labourers, vehicles, tools and equipment must be stored logically in order to get the job done safely and cost effectively. Logistics play an important role in the development of a limited spaced property. The critical path of development involves knowing where and when all jobsite materials and workers are needed.

Engineers

When it comes to the actual structure, site placement is crucial to achieving the best views. But placement of the home is always limited to the sites ability to support the structure. This is where the engineers really have to know their stuff. Assessing the soil conditions capability to support the structure is an important step into determining how and where the home can be placed on the property.

Architects

A qualified architect is one that is well versed in the ways of cliff edge design. With enough experience, the architect can design a home around your needs as well as the property's. Working with an architect that’s familiar in cliff edge design can help you get the most out of your difficult site. They can safely design the perfect structure for your waterfront cliff edge property.

Builders

Experience in cliff edge building is a must have when working on any difficult property. A working knowledge of up to date structural assembly is a must have when hiring any building contractor. Doing your own research by contacting references and viewing portfolios of past jobs can ensure you find the best of the best without wasting time, money and safety on tendering an inexperienced waterfront contractor.

New Kitchen Design Tips

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:04:00 GMT

Your kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house. From storing food to cooking to eating to cleaning up after dinner—and all three times a day—the kitchen is a well-used place indeed. That’s why it’s so important to get a good idea of what you need and want in your new kitchen before you hire any contractor to do any work. This way, you and your contractor will be on the same page when you start your new kitchen.

Sketch up a Plan

Even if you can’t draw well, you can still create a basic outline of your kitchen that will help you get a few ideas down on paper. Start with a basic outline of your kitchen from above. Items to include:

Cabinets
Appliances
Islands
Doors
Windows
Lighting

Once you’re satisfied with the drawing, make a few dozen copies of the picture & use the copies to create new kitchen ideas. The more ideas you have the better chances you have of getting the most out of your design. Pick out your three best ideas and present them to your architect and builder to finalise your design brief.

The Kitchen Triangle

The kitchen triangle is an important part of any kitchen design. The triangle in any kitchen is formed by three points:

Refrigerator
Sink
Stovetop

The kitchen triangle is the most used area of the kitchen space. By keeping the triangle points within reach of one another, you can create an efficient cooking space that makes everything from preparing food to cleaning up as easy as possible.

Appliances

One of the best parts about getting your new kitchen is when the new appliances arrive. However, before you take a trip to the local appliance store; consider this. When many homeowners pick out appliances, they often impulse buy their favourite colour or style. Things to look for when buying appliances:

Work Capacity
Energy Efficiency
Unique Features
Size
Storage Space

Countertops

When we think of countertops, we think about colours and materials, but more often than not we neglect size and space. Your kitchen counter space is critical in getting your daily kitchen tasks done efficiently. Without the correct amount of counter space, cutting veggies, putting away groceries and setting out dinner plates can be difficult at best. No matter what materials you use for your kitchen countertops, be sure the design layout and size is exactly what you need in your new kitchen addition.

Storage

Another very important aspect of any kitchen addition is good storage. Storage solutions that take advantage of dead spaces are just the beginning to good cabinet design. A good appliance layout can create storage spaces that work with the kitchen triangle, creating the ultimate efficient cook space. Unique storage solutions are the key to perfect storage in imperfect spaces. Some unique storage solutions include:

Lazy Susan’s
Pull out Trays
Built in Drawers
Built in Door Shelving
Slide out Vertical Shelving
Built in Recycling/Refuse Bin

Lighting

Lighting plays the ultimate role in any kitchen design. A good kitchen lighting plan involves a blending of task lighting sources and ambient light sources. Task lighting like recessed lighting can focus the right amount of light on any kitchen surface. Ambient lighting like fluorescents or skylights lends the perfect lighting source for the ultimate blend of kitchen light.

Creating the Perfect Master Bedroom Extension

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 06:35:00 GMT

Adding on an extension to your home can be a great way to expand your square footage for a growing family and it can give you the opportunity to build your own personal new master bedroom or parents retreat.

Whatever your reasons are, building a new extension on your home is a great way to not only gain extra space, but also to add more value to your home. If you are going to build a new master bedroom, the tips below will help you make the most out of your extra space.

Getting the Most from your Design

Before you begin drawing any design drawings, it’s best to create a list of the most important functions, aspects and design ideas that your new extension is going to fulfill.

Important items to consider in bedroom design include: bed orientation, storage and closet space, ensuite requirements, feature furniture and future needs.

Bed Orientation

Placing your bed in a specific direction helps plan for utilities like electrical outlets, cable television and phone cords. With a good plan where your bed is going to be located, you can instantly place dressers, night tables and other feature furniture easily. But that’s not the only role bed orientation plays in the early part of bedroom extension design, it also works to help place windows and door openings in your overall design.

Storage

Bedroom storage is a very important aspect of any good bedroom design. Clothes, shoes and jewellery are just the basics and work perfectly well in any closet. But the other not so everyday items need a storage place as well. It’s a good idea to think about unique storage solutions for you’re out of the way items like photos albums, winter jackets or grandma’s quilt. Here are a few unconventional storage solutions for the bedroom:
Under bed drawers
Built in dressers
Bay window seating
Slide out vertical clothes hangers

Closet Space

The closet is used at least twice a day by most people. And when you’re sharing space with your significant other, then closet space is at a premium. Opt out for a his and her closet space to get the most out of your shared closet space. Duel walk in closets that are connected by a small alcove can help provide a unique feature that pulls double duty as a shoe storage area.

Ensuites

Adding an ensuite bathroom is a logical step when creating a master bedroom extension. While a bathroom addition might not be suitable for every budget, it should always be considered when installing a new bedroom extension. With the addition of a new bedroom and bathroom extension you should consider these important points first:
Budget costs
Septic tank limits
Fashion versus function
Space constraints

Feature Furniture

Furniture in the bedroom might not be something you would think to design a bedroom around, but in fact, seating, dressers, night stands and other bedroom furniture works hard in the bedroom. Kid’s bedroom furniture includes toys chests, study desks, video game centres and play tables. Designing your new room extension around these items can help you get the most out of your new bedroom.

Future Needs

Your new bedroom might be for your growing family, or your family might already be gone. A new bedroom extension is going to last for years to come. Get the most out of it, even decades from now by planning ahead for future design needs.  Ideas for possible future bedroom conversions include a home office, hobby/craft space or additional guest rooms.

Renovation on a Budget

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:24:00 GMT

What do you do when you want the perfect home renovation but you lack the funds?

It can be tough to make the decision between what you can afford and what you need—let alone what you want to get out of your renovation project. That’s why it’s so important to set a budget, create a cost breakdown list and stick to the initial plan when hiring a building contractor.

Use this guide to help you get the most out of your budget renovation project.

Setting a Budget Number

The bottom line of any budget renovation project is money. By setting the amount of money you are willing (and able) to spend upfront — and sticking to that figure throughout the project—is the best and only way to get the project done for the right amount of money.

So how much should you spend? Your return on investment is an important way to determine the amount of money you’re willing to invest. If a renovation project like installing an on-demand water heater costs more than you’d like to spend, consider that it will save money every year, recouping initial costs quickly.  Another way to tell how much money you should spend on your renovation project is by assessing the value of your home and taking into account whether you intend to sell or stay.

Spending somewhere between 20-30% of the value of your home is likley to be a suitable amount of money to allocate for a budget renovation project, and still get a great return on your investment, particuarly if you are intending to stay in that property long term. However, it also depends on buyer perception, whether the money you spend is spent in such a way, that if put on the market, new buyers would see the extra value and be prepared to pay for it.

If you’re like the rest of us, it's likely that your wants and needs may exceed the amount of money in your budget. A good way to pinpoint costs to help you pick out the needs from the wants is by creating a cost breakdown list. This is a list that helps you to nail down labour and material costs so that you can better plan for your renovation project.

Some of the considerations you should keep in mind when you’re drawing up a budget:
How much cash you have on hand?
How long will you occupy the home?
How much you can borrow?
How much is the interest rate?
How much can you afford for a monthly payment?

The Best of the Best

Work with a quality builder. It is standard to check about three different contractors portfolios so that you can choose the best fit for you for your renovation. Ensure that you choose only contractors licenced for the work you need completed and check to make sure all their insurances are current. You should also speak with past clients and inspect past work, ideally on a similar scale to the work you need completed.

ROI

Return on investment or ROI is the best way to get the most bang for your buck on any renovation project. Even if you plan on staying in your home your whole life and never selling, it’s still in your best interest to recoup some of those renovation funds by employing projects that give you the best ROI factor possible. Here are a few examples of budget renovation projects that give can you the most ROI:

Bathroom renovations
Kitchen renovations
Master bedroom renovations
Basement and attic renovations
Curb appeal renovations (cladding, decking, roofing, etc)

Allow a Buffer

The reality of building is that there can often be unexpected costs, particularly if demolition or excavation are involved, or you are adding to an older building that wasn't built well. To allow for this it's normally recommended to have a contingency sum available (usually around 5-10%) just in case.

Tendering pitfalls - How to get the best price for your project

Tue, 24 May 2011 23:36:00 GMT

Building a new home is a big investment. And as with any investment, you want a qualified individual or group to know exactly what they are doing so they can give you the best possible return on your investment. That’s why it’s so important to find a builder who has experience, knowledge and a good reputation.

Prospective clients regularly ask a number of builders to tender for their project on the assumption that they will get the best deal possible when choosing who they will appoint to complete their project. But the fact of the matter is, tendering has very little appeal to builders because the process can be very time consuming and costly to the builder. When a client chooses a tender on the assumption that they are the lowest bidder, it usually results in the dissatisfaction of the homeowner. This is because in the bid to get the job, corners can be cut by unscrupulous builders and the overall quality of the project suffers.

Avoiding the many problems associated with tendering and choosing the lowest bidder can be easily eliminated with basic research and credibility checks on your behalf. One of the best ways to get that information is to ask people you know directly who have hired a builder in the last few years. They’ll let you know exactly how they feel about the builder and give you a heads up about their strengths and weaknesses.

With the advent of the internet, it’s easy to compile facts and figures about various builders and the work that they have done in the past. It’s a good idea to use the internet to narrow the list of builders by location, specialties and abilities to ensure you get the best fit for your particular project.

Besides basic references, it’s also a good idea to check on prospective builders licensing and insurance through Fair Trading and by asking the builders you are interested in to provide copies of these documents. Always ensure your builder has the correct licence and insurance requirements before signing any agreements or contracts. A builder who is associated to local building organisations doesn’t necessarily mean they are a quality builder (speaking to past clients and seeing past & current work is the strongest reference), but it does show commitment to their trade and increases their knowledge about new building methods and materials. In Australia the two best known organisations for builders to be associated with are HIA (Housing Industry of Australia) and Master Builders.

Once you’re set on a quality builder, negotiations can be made to find the best project design at a price that will fit your budget. This is a great way to still get the quality, reputation and service of a reputable builder that you’re sure will give you the quality home you want and deserve, while still getting the most affordable structure possible—all without the hassle and inaccuracy that tendering can sometimes create.

Many builders work directly with architects and designers, allowing your home to be designed and built exactly to your specifications while remaining in a price range suitable to your budget constraints. Designers and architects should all fall under the same scrutiny that your builder did, so choosing one that has a reputation for quality, experience and customer service. Choosing the right partners and designing and building your project with them is definitely the best way to ensure value for money and satisfaction with the final results at the end of the day.

The Pros and Cons of Knockdown Rebuilding

Tue, 24 May 2011 23:42:00 GMT

If you like the area you live in, but your home doesn’t live up to your expectations or needs, then you may want to consider rebuilding your home. While a new home builder will tell you to build from scratch, a renovation company will want you to rebuild and a real estate agent will want to sell your home for you, it’s up to you to decide which building plan best suits you and your family’s needs. But before you draw a new set of plans and break out the sledgehammer, read this article to discover the pros and cons about knockdown rebuilding and you’ll be sure to get exactly what you’re looking for in a new home.

The Pros

Every real estate agent knows the three most important rules of real estate—location, location, location. And it’s your existing home's location that makes your home special to you and your family. With a complete knockdown and rebuild, you’re still in the same great location that you’ve always been, except now it’s in a new home that suits your needs and tastes.

Knockdown and rebuild construction is also the perfect choice for higher density construction projects in cities and rural areas. Many older buildings in rural areas tend to be rundown and worthless, while the property is in just the right location near schools, shopping and jobs, making a knockdown rebuild a worthwhile and budget friendlier endeavour than relocating.

Sometimes a home might still appear to be in good condition, but the age of the home means that it was not built to building code standards. Repairing the home up to code may be too costly and a knockdown rebuild is the most cost effective solution.

When considering a room addition to an older structure, the transition between the old and the new might be too extreme and can be very noticeable. This is the perfect time to knockdown the entire structure and rebuild from scratch.

The Cons

The biggest con to a complete knockdown and rebuild is relocation. Months might pass before you’re back at your new home, so a suitable location must be determined before you begin any knockdown rebuild project. The costs associated with relocation often make homeowners think twice about a knockdown rebuild project.

Another big con is that the character of the home will be lost. In older homes especially, it’s the look and style that make it attractive. With a complete knockdown and rebuild, it makes it difficult to maintain the character of the previous home.

Additional costs can be added during the demolition process as well. Environmental concerns can bring a knockdown to a screeching halt. Asbestos, lead and other toxic materials in an older home can send your knockdown budget higher than anticipated. Smaller amounts of space around the old home can also make waste removal difficult.

Real estate returns can also be a turn off when it comes to a knockdown and rebuild scenario. If your home is already the best house in the neighbourhood, building a bigger and better one might not be in your best interest. A “White Elephant” tends to stand out in an area without similar homes. The lesser valued homes actually make the value of the more costly home go down and can easily become a big problem for the new homes resale value.

Why Renovate?

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:02:00 GMT

Reasons for renovating your home fall into two basic categories: the first is renovating to upgrade the look, design, functionality or long term value of your home (renovating to stay). The other reason for renovating would be to upgrade the value of your home so that it might be sold for a higher price than its current value (renovating to sell). Whatever your reasons, renovating a home has plenty of surprises for the uninitiated—factors you should take into consideration when deciding whether to renovate, knockdown/rebuild or sell & buy elsewhere. Use this renovation guide to help you make an informed decision when it comes to renovating your home.

Should I stay or should I go?

The biggest concern with any renovation project and first question you should ask yourself and your family: How is it going to disrupt our everyday life? Smaller renovation projects like master bedroom/bathroom additions tend to be scaled down enough to allow the homeowner enough space to still preform day to day tasks by moving their furniture, clothes etc to an existing location in the house that is unaffected by the renovation.

Other projects that are larger in size and scale can cause enough concern to relocate during the renovation process. This is especially true when kitchen and bathroom renovations are made. Without a working shower, toilet, appliances, cooking equipment and even plates and cups, it’s impossible to survive at the remodel while work is being completed.

But it’s not just problems associated with space. A huge concern many homeowners have about staying at the premises during the remodel is quality of life. The daily activities of a construction crew often begin first thing in the morning and last until dusk, upsetting the balance of family life with sounds, smells, vibrations and other distractions that some people can find tough to tolerate for an extended period of time.

Renovating to Sell

If you’re in the renovation game to get a quick turnaround on your property for an increased sale price, then performing budget friendly renovations that are quick and easy is probably what you have in mind for your renovation. But before you pick colours and design options that are your favourite; consider choosing neutral colours and materials that suit the general public’s tastes.

A suitable investment renovation scenario for the home’s exterior would be to repair the existing structures integrity and increase curb appeal with paint, cladding or roofing materials. Avoid over indulging in extravagant additions that will over capitalise.

An efficient indoor remodelling strategy would be to remove and replace old fixtures and fittings with new modern ones. Trim work, new paint and built in shelving are all perfect renovation projects that increase the homes buyer appeal while being cost effective enough to get a quick and easy return on the initial investment.

Renovating to keep

When you’ve had enough of your homes old look and feel, but don’t want to leave the property, renovating to update its look is a satisfying and cost effective way to get a new home—without actually getting one. When you are planning to stay in your home long term you can afford to indulge in design elements that suit your personal tastes.

A primary advantage in renovating to stay can be adapting a home you are already emotionally attached to, so that its design and functionality suit the changes in your family and lifestyle e.g. making more living space, enlarging the kitchen, adding bedrooms, adding a granny flat or adding a pool etc.

You would only be renovating to stay if you love your home and the area you live in, by renovating you can keep all the things you love about your home and change all the things you don't.

Knockdown Rebuild - Considerations to think about

Tue, 24 May 2011 07:18:00 GMT

If you love the street you live on, your neighbours are great and schools, shopping and work are right around the corner—but your home has seen better days, then you may want to consider the option of knocking it down and rebuilding a new structure in its place. This decision can be a tough one to make though when it comes to choosing between selling your home, renovating the existing structure or starting from scratch. By knowing what’s in store for you when knocking down and rebuilding your new home, you’ll be prepared—if and when—you knockdown and rebuild the home of your dreams.

Feasibility

Put down those blueprints and designs and ask yourself this question first: Am I even allowed to knockdown my structure and rebuild? There are many reasons why this would be an unfeasible request. Heritage and conservation controls can prohibit some older buildings from being torn down and rebuilt specific ways.

Local building councils control other aspects of demolition and construction as well. These include and are not limited to, setbacks from the street and other structures, colours and design elements of the exterior, height, size and square footage allowances and storm water runoff control. Before you begin drawing any plans, it’s a wise idea to find out what your limitations and restrictions are first. That way, you can still design the new home of your dreams, and still keep within code boundaries.

Windows and Doors

Any new openings in the home must be carefully planned. Proper window and door placement is crucial in knockdown rebuild designs, especially in locations that are in close proximity with neighbouring structures. Window and door placement may also be governed by building codes as well.

But besides the obvious—windows not facing the neighbour’s windows directly—solar orientation is crucial to preventing too much sunlight from entering the home and heating it excessively. Too little sunlight can overwork heating systems in the cooler months. A finite balance should be achieved during the design process to properly orientate the home for optimal sunlight conditions and to meet BASIX requirements.

Overall Costs

Pricing factors include a wide variety of subjects and all should be addressed independently in your building budget. Hiring a designer, builder and architect to submit the design for approval to the council is the first step. Demolition, disposal and recycling fees for removal and processing of the old structure come next. Rebuild materials and labour costs are last as the home is completed.

And that’s just for your new home. Since your old home is going to be knocked down, you’ll need a place to stay for several months while your new home is being rebuilt. Monthly home rental costs, furniture storage fees and double utility bills are significant costs that need to be considered during the knockdown rebuild process and factored into the final budget.

Knockdown rebuilding has been gaining popularity over the last decade, despite the fact that it is more costly than a typical renovation. By using cost effective strategies like installing energy efficient appliances, creating a wastewater recycling system and using ecofriendly building materials, the overall costs can be significantly offset placing a knockdown rebuild in a similar price range as that of a renovation. Factor in the huge increase in the appeal of the property and new home value when you knockdown and rebuild and you’ve got an affordable dream home that’s well worth the investment.

Difficult Sites

Tue, 24 May 2011 07:23:00 GMT

Just because the building site is clear and ready to go doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be an easy build. With so many considerations that effect site preparation, demolition and construction, it’s easy to see why many sites can be a problem to build on. Use this guide to help you associate the additional costs, time and problems that may occur when your property is difficult to access for building. This way, you and your builder are on the same page when it comes to building your new home of your dreams.

Sloping Sites

Often the most controversial building site, a sloped site can cause drainage problems, foundational concerns and added materials that significantly increase overall building costs. Drainage is always an issue with sloping properties but can easily be remedied with the installation of an underground drainage system or forming the properties soils to a suitable grade with fill dirt or through excavation. Retaining walls can be added where sloping properties are too great and level land is required.

When sloping lands affect the placement of footers and foundations, stem wall construction, post and beam or split-level design options can offset the structures foundation to meet the requirements of the sloping land. While these construction methods propose alternative methods to constructing on difficult sites, the costs associated with these techniques can increase costs exponentially as the degree and grade of the slope increase.

Sloping properties also cause problems with labour and materials. Cladding, roofing and other exterior based construction projects can have a difficult time setting up scaffold, ladders and work stations to cut and assemble materials on sloping grounds. By increasing costs and challenging tight work schedules, sloping grounds add to the overall cost of the project in this manner as well.

But it’s not just the house that has a problem with sloping building sites—what comes in and out of it can have a tough time with sloped sites too. Electricity and water lines may need extra help getting up, down and across steep slopes, increasing the costs as the grade increases. Septic tanks and sewage lines are particularly susceptible to sloped condition problems and concerns. Some sloping properties may only be able to support a small septic tank, making the amount of bathrooms in the structure very limited.

Small Properties

Restraints from tight property lines between neighbours can be a building site that is difficult at best to work with. Finding good real estate to place materials, workers and the building itself can prove to be challenge even for the most seasoned of builders working on a small lot. Careful planning and proper delegation of authority can all make or break any construction project on a small property within close proximity to its neighbours.

Waste materials can become a big issue on the small lot. With little room for disposal containers, continual dumping of smaller containers requires additional costs per load hauled from the site. Recycling many materials often helps alleviate some of the concerns with too much garbage onsite.

A great way to deal with the many problems a small property can cause is to create an action plan for each phase of construction. Knowing exactly where and when materials are to be delivered during each phase of construction is the key to keeping difficult site problems (and budgets) in check.

Online access for clients

Thu, 12 May 2011 22:28:00 GMT

Project Management Software for Residential Building

Building your new your new home or renovating is an exciting and important endeavour. At the Home Building Centre we want the process to be as smooth and enjoyable as possible. This is why we provide each of our clients with access to a secure website with all of the details of their home building project.

Whether you are at home, at work, on the road, or on holidays, the Home Building Centre puts information at your fingertips about your selections, upgrades, financial decisions, questions, documents, photos and more.

Selection Sheet

See choices and stay on schedule. Our site organises selection items on a single colour-coded list, displayed with all of the pertinent allowance, pricing, and other helpful information. Upcoming selections are automatically flagged to help keep you on schedule. With just a few clicks, you can enter your choices.

Expenses & Change Orders

Eliminate any surprise price variations as every decision made on the selection sheet is automatically reflected on the expenses page. With a single click, you can see how each of your choices have affected the final price of your home. If you need to approve a change order, you can do it electronically, saving you the time and hassle of faxing or mailing signatures to us.

Schedule & Milestones

Building a home is an involved process. To make is easier for you we set up key project milestones in the system so that you can check the progress made so far and see what steps are coming up next.

Questions List

Over the course of a project, you will have lots of questions and this section will help you keep all of those questions, and your builder’s answers, organised and in one place. Simply enter your questions here, and your builder’s responses will be listed right next to them.

Comments, Photos, and Files

As your home building project progresses, you will need to have “conversations” about certain items, like asking for clarification on a selection or providing an update on a request. Rather than using e-mail, you can add comments to many of the items in the site. Comments group these conversations together with the items to which they relate, which keeps information organised and available to everyone, cutting down on misunderstandings. You and your builder can also attach photos and files.

Warranty List

Once your home is complete, you can submit warranty requests online. You can come back to the site to check the status, add comments as necessary, and then verify when they are complete.

Pros and Cons of Tendering for Residential Building

Fri, 13 May 2011 01:44:00 GMT

Pros and Cons of Tendering for Residential Building

For any home owner the cost of renovating or building a new home is a significant purchase. Naturally you need to ensure you are getting the best price possible, however, it is also critically important that you select a builder who will deliver a high quality project.

Clients and Architects regularly ask a quantity of builders to tender for any given project. However, there are a lot of factors that clients need to consider before choosing who to appoint.

Tendering has little appeal for Builders, because it is a very time consuming and expensive process & regularly the lowest price is selected. If a builder wins on a low price and then cannot or does not deliver the expected quality, the long term cost to the client will be massively higher financially and emotionally, putting you and your family under significant stress for an extended period of time.

1) Cost of Tendering

If a tender is prepared thoroughly it will cost a Builder thousands of dollars put together. This cost is made up of work contracted out to Quantity Surveyors and setting aside several days to organise plans, contact all relevant trades, detail the scope of work and send it out for pricing. All quotes then need to be followed up and a tender document or tender pack prepared.

2) Comparing Prices

If 4 builders tender on a project and 3 have similar prices and one is significantly less, warning bells should be ringing. For one of four tenders to be much less than the others it suggests it was rushed, items were left out and/or they are not quoting to allow for all the subcontracted work to be delivered by high quality tradespeople.

3) Price vs Value

Staring a building project is like starting a long term relationship. You want to be sure you select someone that you can trust. If you choose the wrong partner to save 200K on a large job, you may well find that it costs you 700K extra by the end of job or worst case that you spend all the money and do not get a good result. If you have bad building work done, the cost to repair the work second time around will be much higher than having it done correctly the first time.

4) Asset Value

Building is an investment. When you are building or renovating the cost to build should increase the value of your asset. Cutting corners is likely to see the impact on your asset either reduced or minimised. All clients have a budget and you need to choose a building partner who will respect your goals, work with you to deliver the project within the set budget and deliver the best possible quality possible within that framework.

5) Reliability

Structural quality guarantees are set at 7 years by the government. If you choose the wrong builder though, as demonstrated by many horror stories on TV, it can be very difficult, almost impossible to get them to help you when things go wrong. For this reason it is critical to pick qualified, experienced builders. You need to see the quality of the work, meet or speak with several former clients and know that they can be relied on to assist with any warranty work, if required, when required in the future.

A recommended alternative to Tendering

To avoid the pitfalls of tendering and choosing the wrong partner or a misleading price, there is another less known and very effective option.

Do your research on the builders you are interested in; call past clients, visit past jobs, meet their team, find out their company history and check out their licences. Select a great builder that you trust and would like to work with, one who you can be sure will deliver the result you want for your home.

Set your budget with them (and your architect where appropriate) and work as a team to engineer the project costing so that you can be confident you are getting the look, quality and price that will work for you, delivered by a reputable, high quality building company.

The value for you, your family and for your home asset will be well worth the time you spend researching and engaging the right building partner for your project.

Northern Beaches Home Show Expo May 2011

Thu, 12 May 2011 07:21:00 GMT

We invite you to come and meet with our team at the Northern Beaches Home Show Expo this May.

When: 28th and 29th May 2011 (Sat & Sun) from 10am
Where: Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre, Jacksons Rd, Warriewood
Cost: Free public admission

The Northern Beaches Expo is expected to have more than 200 exhibitors showcasing a huge range of products, services and lifestyle options. There are 4 shows in one - Outdoor Adventure, Home Show, All Woman and Retired Life, so there will be something for everyone.

Our Home Building Centre will be exhibiting in the Home Show area, which will cover everything for the house and garden market from renovations, building and decorating, to cooking demonstrations, eco-friendly homes and gardens.

So, if you have some building questions you'd like to ask someone or some ideas for your home that you'd like to bounce off a qualified team, we would love to see you and assist you in any way we can.

Concrete or Wood Decking?

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:26:00 GMT

An outdoor space not only adds a functional room to an unused area of your yard, it also adds to your overall home square footage. With the addition of a quality deck, a home quickly becomes worth more money which is why it’s definitely a job best left to professional contractors. No matter who you hire though, it’s up to the homeowner to choose the materials used when building a deck. Wood and concrete are typical materials used for building decks, patios and porches. Use this article to help you determine which decking material is right for your deck project.

Wood and its Benefits

Wood is a unique product building material and should be treated as such. Wood lasts lifetimes with proper maintenance and it’s also a renewable resource. The majority of wood decking materials are typically pressure treated with a borate or a chromium based preservative, which allows the materials to help prevent decay and insect infestation. Since wood grows just about everywhere in the world, it can be a cheap and local source of decking material. And because wood comes in a wide variety of species, sizes, colour and textures, you’re sure to get exactly the design you are looking for in your new deck.

Wood can do something that concrete has a tough time with—going high. Wood can be used to build a deck at any height off of the ground while concrete has a tough time. From a two story master bedroom crow’s nest, to the barely-off-the-ground backyard outdoor barbecue deck, wood is the ultimate in decking materials. And because it’s so easy to work with, labour costs are kept to a minimum.

What’s wrong with Wood?

The biggest problem with wood—insect infestation and decay. Wood is a living organism; therefore it decays and rots away after its death. Wood must be preserved using chemical sealants to keep it intact through the coming years. Even if you use a commercial pressure treated decking material, rot can become a problem without using a deck preservative. Maintenance issues add to the frustration of owning a material in constant need of care. From scrubbing and washing to staining and sealing, deck maintenance can be a game changer for those who prefer easier care materials.

Concrete and its Benefits

A concrete slab will last indefinitely once it has been poured and allowed to cure for 28 days. Concrete is an extremely tough material and will last. Concrete is also strong enough to support a structure above unlike a wooden decking surface. By using future foresight in your deck building strategy, a concrete patio can easily be transformed into an indoor room in the future.

Concrete can also be painted and stained creating a durable and smooth finish perfect for all weather activities and outdoor fun. Concrete has one unique ability that wood decking can never have—it can be textured to look like stone, brick and many other amazing patterns and designs. Because textured concrete is a permanent and amazing looking creation, values can exceed wood decks.

What’s wrong with Concrete?

The biggest disadvantage with concrete is that it increases in expense exponentially compared to the amount of space the project is encompassing as a whole. For example, the less space you have with your deck project to maneuverer trucks and other concrete equipment, the higher the installation costs are going to run. Throw in footers, steps or other odd angled form work and concrete can quickly become five times more expensive than a wood deck.

If you need help deciding the best material for your deck, seek professional advice. They will help you weigh up all options taking into account your home, your lifestyle, your goals and your budget.

Green Cladding Installation Techniques

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:53:00 GMT

The exterior of your home does more than just look nice. It’s also the first line of defense against the elements. That’s why it’s important to hire a licensed and insured professional with plenty of experience to ensure the job is done right, and also to ensure the job in performed in an ecofriendly way. Use this article to help find the greenest cladding for your home and for the planet.

Check your Existing Cladding

Before you decide on any cladding renovation, repair or removal project, it’s best to be sure that your existing cladding needs to be replaced. The most ecofriendly cladding is the cladding that’s already installed. It requires no materials or fossil fuels to install. Your existing cladding might be better off being cleaned, painted, stained or repaired to get it looking like new again. As long as your cladding isn’t rotting, sagging, or warping, it should be just fine after basic repairs and maintenance.

Find out what you need

Now that you’ve checked your existing cladding and it definitely needs to be replaced, then it’s time to do some research on cladding materials. Since there are so many materials that can be used for cladding, it can be difficult at best to find the right product for your home.

Some cladding products are ecofriendly; and some of are not. It’s best to look at ecofriendly cladding materials from a different perspective. The greenest cladding material you can buy is not a particular product; it is the product that will last indefinitely. Keep a lookout for products with a lifetime warranty or an extended lifespan to ensure your siding stays in place for years to come. That way, you’ll be sure to get a cladding product that not only saves you money on maintenance and repair costs, but also one that never needs to be replaced.

Find out what you want

While low maintenance and a long warranty are good signs that a cladding material is going to be ecofriendly, it is never the deciding factor when it comes to cladding installation. Materials, labour and other costs are the true deciding factor when it comes to cladding purchases—after all, budgets are set from the get go. Use this materials list and labour pricing guide to help you decide which cladding material is the most ecofriendly choice for your home.

PVC Weatherboard and Composites

PVC and wood composites are the cheapest and easiest to install of all cladding materials. They need basic annual maintenance and repairs, making them the most maintenance free of all cladding products. The downside—PVC is made from environmentally harmful materials. PVC and wood composites both use vast amounts of manmade chemicals and burn tons of fossil fuels annually, making them a bad choice when it comes to ecofriendly cladding materials, but a good choice for tight budgets.

Fibre Cement Board and Solid Wood Weatherboard

These two cladding materials have been stuck together into the same category because they both have similar ecofriendly features and prices. Fibre cement cladding and wood cladding can last lifetimes, installation costs are low, and they require basic maintenance, making them a popular choice among green builders.

The downside—your wood product may be harvested in an unsustainable way. Cementious cladding may use materials that have been strip mined. Ensure that sustainable harvesting/mining methods are used before purchasing your cladding materials.