Archive for the ‘Renovating’ Category

Where Everything Old Is New Again

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Retro StoveRenovating can be a tricky game at the best of times, but even more so if you are looking to renovate an older style period home. You will no doubt want modern comforts, but do you really want to lose all of that old world charm in the process?

Some older style homes can be lacking in the charm stakes. These homes can often be renovated to your style and taste with little adverse impact on resale value. But how about those older style homes that have real character, how do you keep that character and yet still modernise them to the point that they practical for everyday use? (more…)

Granny flats

Monday, February 8th, 2010
Carefully planned granny flats can add real value to your home

Carefully planned granny flats can add real value to your home

In this day and age it has become increasingly common for extended families to live together on the one property. The savings offered to grown up siblings moving back in with their parents, or visa versa make this an attractive proposition for more and more Australians.

If you have elderly parents or in-laws who either live with you or are going to move in some time in the near future, you may like to consider the idea of a “granny flat”. Of course it could be that your grown up children are moving back in with you.

While granny flats may in fact be used for adults, guests or even teenage children, the term implies that this is living accommodation that is suitable for an elderly person, typically a parent. If this is the case, your motivation for building a granny flat may be because your elderly parents or in-laws feel unsafe living alone, or because they need assistance and don’t want to live in any type of old age home. It may also be because they don’t have the available finances to continue to live alone. (more…)

Outdoor storage solutions that don’t involve your garage

Monday, February 8th, 2010
Proper planning can avoid clutter like this

Proper planning can avoid clutter like this

As people build bigger and bigger homes on smaller blocks of land, there is less and less space for storing things we don’t want in the house, like tools, gardening equipment, and even sports equipment.

Garages are perhaps the most common storage solution. Designed for cars and other vehicles, in the absence of other storage facilities, they often become workshops and storerooms for any type of equipment ranging from lawn mowers and wheelbarrows, to golf clubs, tennis and squash racquets, even paddle skis and smaller water craft. And whilst a larger-sized garage might happily cope with your nebulous storage needs and still provide space to house a car and possible bicycles, this is far from ideal. (more…)

RENOVATE OR KNOCK IT DOWN AND START AGAIN?

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Wrecking BallSo it’s time for a change. You want to improve the overall liveability of your home, but you’re torn between whether to renovate or demolish your existing home and build a new one.

Well both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and at the end of the day, demolishing your existing home and building a new one can sometimes be more cost effective, but that does not mean that it will necessarily deliver you a better outcome. Before making any decision there are a number of factors that you should consider like: (more…)

Dealing With Dampness

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Rising DampnessWhen we construct houses and other buildings, we take steps to protect them from dampness. In spite of this, buildings are often affected by water and dampness, and we end up having to take further action to stop the damaging effects this moisture has.

There are four main types of dampness, each of which has to be dealt with in a different way.

  1. Rising damp that moves upwards vertically,
  2. Falling damp that moves downwards vertically,
  3. Damp that spreads horizontally, and
  4. Dampness caused by condensation. (more…)

RENOVATING: The marriage tester

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Renovation_StressIf I were to ask you to list the events that put the biggest strain on a marriage, I am sure you could rattle off quite a few.

But would renovating the family home appear on your list? If it doesn’t, then it should.

To understand this better, consider this scenario: (more…)