You can plant what you like in an easement, but you need permission for the council and the water (sewer) authority to build anything within a metre of it.
Pipes can…

I can highly recommend Rawdon Hill Constructions.....I work for them for over 10 years as a draftsperson. Their homes have stood the test of time. I recently visited one near…

I've heard of this happening before.
Was there fill on your site? I've known of clients having to pay for excavation, to avoid pier and beam slabs or bulk concrete.
Happens a…

Set-backs to rear boundaries (in regard to light and ventilation, and fire rating)are the same as side boundaries under the building code (national) as I understand it. What complicates matters…

In this case, you go for the old "run the gutter on the brickwork" trick.
Basically, wherever there is a window on that 1.0m side you have to run the roof…

"the boundary wall cannot be a habitable room".....yes it can! You just can't have a window in it.
Think of it this way, draw I line 1.0m around the perimetre of…

It's an all too common problem. Blocks are getting smaller but the trend is for ever wider houses.
Most single storey display houses don't comply with the timber code, but due…

Geeeze, we're a touchy lot aren't we.
Obviously, some folks here are struggling with postcode envy. Hang in there, the market will come good eventually.

Real estate agents crack me up!!!!
They want you to work for nothing in the hope of them getting a sale, yet they want money off a potential buyer to…

10,000lt rainwater tanks are quite large. You might want to check that they fit on your block close enough to the house otherwise you may need additional plumbing, pumps and…

To explain boundary offsets would take forever so I'll try and keep this short.
150mm is considered on the boundary, however some building surveyors insist on 200mm for gutter/fascia clearance.
Generally a…

I really hate this suburb snobbery that exists in this country. I don't know why it exists, but it's like you are judged on your postcode.
I've lived out in the…

I'm tipping if there's a fire in your garage, the rest of your house is a blaze....no matter what zone you are in.

You only need a fire door btwn separate dwellings or into a common space such as a apartment building.
Biggest fire risk in a domestic dwelling is poorly installed insulation around…

Take pictures of the damage and the site showing the obvious lack of protection that has caused it.
Call the builder on Monday (or Tuesday if it's a public holiday where…

I know here in Victoria, Most building inspectors will want the downpipes connect up ASAP, as it becomes an OH & S issue if you have huge mud puddles and…

When is Mission Brown going to make a come back???
I spent my youth painting it and now my middle age painting OVER it.....I believe the next generation should experience the…

Sounds a bit suss???
Timber is a natural product and will swell and contract but an expansion gap shouldn't be needed in such a prominent place unless you are laying…

I'm looking at buying an investment property soon and being in the industry (draftsman) I'm seeing house and land package coming thru as low as $330,000 here in Melbourne.
They are…

Industry standard is 900mm but having worked with a custom builder and now designing custom home for private clients, I draw my cabinets at 910mm. This is mainly to cater…

I built with Henley 15 years ago......Put it this way, you get what you pay for! We paid for a cheap house and we got one. I've systematically ripped out…

The issue with building to any boundary is two fold.
The first is fire separation. Basically, all construction within a metre of a boundary has to be fire rated to…

Any builder that is in a position to offer a client a discount has loaded that tender to the max or is desperate for the work.
The builders I work with…

Energy star ratings are a bit like safety star ratings in cars. You can have a high star rating car, but if you drive it like an idiot, it's not…

It's interesting to read posts where people are comparing Architects with Draftspersons.
Basically, the former takes a commission to take a design thru to completion. The latter is a technician who…

I've drawn up a couple of ICF homes in Melbourne and have shown very little benefit over brick veneer in terms of cost or energy efficiency. This is partly due…

Fact of the matter, the more info you give to your builder, the move accurate the quote. Also, budget for providing this info. People tend to look at their budget…

This is usually a simple job, but does require a bit more info to answer your questions. I'll try and answer them as best as I can.
1. Cost will depend…

Just a little advice regarding pergola builders......Make sure they are registered practitioners and get a permit.
As a draftsman, I get numerous calls this time of year from people who have…

Good luck with the project. Be sure to post lots of picures as the building progresses.