Warning- defective materials

As the following article explains a number of defective building products have crept onto the market. And you need to be aware!  Why? If you will be living in the home, as the article explains, you may NOT be able due to product defects. And if you come to sell in the future, under the Building Act you are warranting …

Termites – what you should know!

A message for Owner Builder and Home Owners from the Victorian Building Authority on Termites. When building or owner building your home you need to be aware of termites and the problems they can cause. Victorian Building Authority CEO Prue Digby today urged home owners to be alert for termite activity in and around their homes this summer. “Recent media …

New change to Tasmanian Building Act

Article written by Guy Barnett on The Mercury website TASMANIANS planning to build or renovate in 2017 can look forward to saving time and money when it comes to gaining approvals. The Liberal Government’s nation-leading building reforms came into effect on New Year’s Day this year with the commencement of the new Building Act. Our reforms are about making it …

Why You Should use a Registered Building Practitioner!

So what is a Registered Building Practitioner? Registered Building Practitioners are tradesmen who are qualified to undertake certain work, eg, electrical, carpenter, bricklayer The advantages of Owner Builders using Registered building practitioners is that they carry Warranty insurance for the work they do, above $16,000. This is where it is important that you have a written contract with them so …

Certificate of Consent and related FREE Course

Now that you are committed to Owner Building, it will be your responsibility to manage the building process from start to finish. The FREE course with study guide required to obtain your Certificate of Consent is an invaluable resource to help you understand your responsibilities of being an Owner Builder. The study guide is in an easy to read format …

Benefits of the White Card

The white card is the result of the nationally recognised training course for the Building Industry put into place by the Occupational Health & Safety legislation. The white Card is a requirement of Building sites to enhance their safety and is now a requirement for Owner Builder sites in Victoria. The course teaches Owner Builders, who generally are about to …

7 Special Reports – Changes to the Building Act

Why read these reports? BECAUSE, you will learn about: New study guide and e-learning assessment Mandatory contracts Performance audit inspections and much more! Report One – Benefits of White Card Report Two – Certificate of Consent and FREE related Course Report Three – Why you need a Registered Building Practitioner  Report Four – Why Contracts are to your benefit and …

WorkSafe Warning: Residential Construction Injuries a Growing Concern

It may sound like we’re beating a dead horse when we stress the importance of owner builders purchasing a Personal Accident Insurance policy, but believe us when we say that far too many homeowners think “skyscrapers” and “commercial projects” when talking about serious construction injuries. Catastrophic mishaps can and do take place in the home. WorkSafe recently launched a new …

Waterproofing external balconies

Monday November 7 2016 – Article by VBA Recently, the VBA has received a number of complaints involving failed waterproofed balconies resulting in major damage to homes throughout Victoria. The recent wet weather and rain events across Victoria highlight the importance of waterproofing in the building process. There are many reasons why waterproofed balconies may fail, and identifying the cause …

Should you Hire a Draftsman over an Architect, and Vice-Versa

The words “draftsman” and “architect” have become synonymous to the lay man, but for those in-the-know they are hardly one and the same. Both professions play important roles in the Australian building industry, but it’s extremely important to have a solid grasp on what exactly these roles are before you hire either one to work on your project. Learn from history …