Cladding

Article from Insurance and Risk   Insurance brokers have been warned that non-compliant, highly flammable cladding appears to have been used in buildings around the country – not just Victoria.   The Victorian Building Authority last week revealed that of the 170 buildings audited as part of the their investigation, which was prompted by the Docklands Lacrosse apartment fire of November 2014, 51% were …

Safety – Don’t do!

 Be safe when you are building or renovating and don’t follow any of the below instances!  We’ve put together a selection of 24 photographs which show that there is a kind of resourcefulness that only men seem to display. Women shouldn’t be jealous of this, however, for as you can see, it’s often characterised by a complete absence of the instinct for self-preservation. What would we do without these guys? So, this is how tightrope-walkers earn …

Cement alternative is cheaper, stronger and quicker to install

This article is written by Springwise and sponsored by Geovation   Cortex is an easily transportable alternative to cement, in the form of rollable concrete sheets that are activated by water.   Cement trucks are incredibly expensive to run, especially in areas that only require a thin layer of cement — such as drainage ditches and canal beds in developing countries. …

UPDATE – Infinity Cables

Source: Insurance News Potentially deadly Infinity cables may degrade in hot summer months, causing fires and electrocution, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warns. The product, imported from China, was recalled more than a year ago after tests showed its poor-quality plastic insulation breaks down over time. The cables were first installed in NSW homes in 2010, where they may …

Stronger councils for Sydney and regional NSW

Source: https://www.nsw.gov.au/ Stronger councils for Sydney and regional NSW 18th December 2015 Improved infrastructure and services and stabilised rates will make ratepayers the big winners under a proposal for 35 new councils in NSW, unveiled by NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Local Government Paul Toole today. Mr Baird and Mr Toole said the community would have the opportunity …

The development of roof trusses being engineered from plan and delivered on

The development of roof trusses being engineered from plan and delivered on-site is all so ho-hum normal these days. Even though some builders still use sticks engineered roof trusses are big business. Competition among manufacturers is fierce, which is good news for builders. The competition is keeping pricing keen and manufacturers are constantly looking at ways of reducing costs even …

What should I do if something goes wrong?

The best endeavours to prevent problems will never guarantee that the building will proceed without any problems. Each state has building tribunals set up under the various government consumer bodies e.g Office of Fair Trading (NSW). In the end the builder will have to be accountable to a tribunal set up to allow owners a fair hearing. Details on taking …