Archive for the ‘Home Maintenance’ Category

Jul
29
2010

Understanding Cost Efficient Designs

Expensive RepairsFor most people who are considering renovating or building a new home, the cost of getting the project designed and built are their two main considerations.

But if your goal is to live in the property long term, then other factors need to be considered, not the least of which is the cost of upkeep and the running of your home.

For example, choosing a timber exterior might seem like a good idea initially, but painting the exterior of your home can be an expensive process, and one that needs to be factored in over the time that you will be living in your home. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Building Advice, Home Maintenance | Comments Off
Jul
29
2010

6 Star Energy Rating Explained

Bronze starsYou may or may not have heard, but as of the 1st of May 2010, all new houses, townhouses and unit built in Queensland must achieve a 6 star energy rating.

Quite a few people have asked me what this means and how much it’s all going to cost, so I thought I would give you a quick overview here and hopefully help put your mind to rest.

Firstly, the 6 star energy rating is a rating out of 10. That means that your new dwelling does not need to be a 10 out of 10 in energy efficiency, it only needs to be a 6 out of 10. Of course you can go beyond the minimum 6 stars if you want to.

The idea behind the 6 star rating is to help to reduce the carbon footprint of your home. Interestingly it does not relate to the appliances that you use within your home, such as hot water systems, ovens, air-conditioners, heaters etc. Instead it takes into account thing like the materials your home is made from such as roofing, flooring and wall materials as well as the type, style and placement of windows. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Architecture Advice, Building Advice, Home Maintenance | Comments Off
Jan
22
2010

Termites and other Pests

termitesBuying a home is a huge investment, and the decision to buy needs to be objective and unemotional. Of course you will be drawn to a house that appeals to you and you fall in love with, but you will soon be heartbroken if you find that there are many underlying problems that are going to cost you a small fortune to rectify.

When you sell a house, you should always make it look clean, tidy and pretty, and make sure it smells sweet. That’s easy to do, for example by removing animal bedding and displaying fresh sweet-smelling flowers or bowl of potpourri, and of course by thorough cleaning. But often people selling homes do quick renovations that simple cover up the things they don’t want their buyers to spot, like rising damp or borer rot. Read the rest of this entry »

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Jan
14
2010

Restumping and raising homes: The key to giving your home a lift

Restumping HousePrevention is better than cure, which is why regular home maintenance is so important. This applies to everything from the top of your house to the bottom – from the roof that shelters you to the stumps that support the building.  

If you live in an old house with timber floors, there’s a good chance that the floors are supported on timber stumps, even if the house itself is made of bricks and mortar. So if you do have timber floors, it’s a good idea to check the condition of the stumps from time to time. Certainly be sure to check the stumps of a house you intend to buy, and never start any type of renovation work without checking the condition of stumps before you do so. Can you imagine how awful it would be if your house suddenly collapsed or subsided, particularly if you had just had a new kitchen or bathroom installed, or had recently repainted, retiled or recarpeted the interior? Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Architecture Advice, Home Maintenance, Renovation Advice | Comments Off
Jan
04
2010

Dealing With Dampness

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. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Home Maintenance, Renovating, Renovation Advice | Comments Off