bashworth posted:start up costs for solar
The cost really depends on what quality you want.
I have found the solar quotes website good value . . .
bashworth posted:6 star rating on this floor plan
I built a single storey house with windows facing north, rather than south, and got 6 stars.
The only other change I made was as they originally went down to…
bashworth posted:Hot water System on LPG bottled GAS
Its not efficiency that the concern (although the best LPG unit are around 90%) with LPG, its fuel costs.
LPG is the most expensive form of heating anything, especially with bottles…
bashworth posted:Electrical Plan Comments / Suggestions
Power outlet in garage ceiling for powered door.
Hall Light switch next to connecting door from garage.
If you ever want one of those spray toilet seats (Might be useful at the…
bashworth posted:Repairing small holes and cracks in concrete patio
Mortar has lime which improves the workability for bricklaying but reduces the final strength compared with concrete.
Concrete is cement and aggregate . . . . For normal concrete you use…
bashworth posted:Minimum Laundry room requirement
If you are still early in the process there are 3 posts on my website that describes how we planned the layout of our first Australian house (The one with…
bashworth posted:Minimum Laundry room requirement
Just too small.
We came from UK where people have laundry appliances in the kitchen so thought the smaller the better.
Its good to have some space for
Laundry baskets a
Ability to…
bashworth posted:Repairing small holes and cracks in concrete patio
Probably a good method would be:
Keep wet overnight.
Prime with a cement slurry
Fill with sand and cement mix (absolutely not a bricklaying mortar)
Should work for holes but crack repair will not…
bashworth posted:Minimum Laundry room requirement
Yes you could . . . . ;. but I made that sort of mistake once, so I wouldn't recommend it.
bashworth posted:Australia lockdown
The problem is going to be supply of imported fittings.
I ordered 20 special plumbing fittings early February normally available in a week, but told would be delivered by the end…
bashworth posted:Electrical plan
Seems like plenty of lights but nowhere near enough power sockets.
Unless you want power boards and extension leads all round the house you probably need 2-3 times as many double…
bashworth posted:Vertical wood fence no rails- how to build?
I would be using rapid set concrete.
bashworth posted:Paving around house
Here is some information about why foundations on some soils need to kept dry.
bashworth posted:Setting steel house posts in deep concrete footings
The way I have done this in the past is hang the posts of the horizontal bearers which themselves are supported at the finished level.
The holes can then be filled…
bashworth posted:Help in buying house and land package please.
The common pipe is a minor problem for this block . . . . . unless you want to build right up to the back corner.
Approximatly half of all blocks…
bashworth posted:WC Door Clearance Space?
For me I would be putting the door on the wall opposite the toilet.
Doors that open outwards are also safer.
If someone passed out while on the toilet (might not be…
bashworth posted:Bathroom heaters
We have a wall mounted fan heater which we find great. see
I can't find the model we have, so I guess it must be discontinued but its similar to…
bashworth posted:Rural Heating & Cooling - Electrical Vs. LPG
We have recently gone from mixture of gas and electric to all electric.
Heating/cooling is all reverse cycle except bathroom where we have a wall mounted fan heater
Ran our hot water…
bashworth posted:HELP!? Building over sewer line
Some areas you can build over a sewer line and some you can't. for instance I have seen many properties built over sewer lines in Metro Melburne.
As for price there…
bashworth posted:Buying Titled Land
I like titled blocks because you can start building straight away.
The question is why is the block left?
Is it a bad shape, poor orientation (see ) or has it got…
bashworth posted:Buying land - what to watch out for
North facing blocks are the least attractive for a home.
Check out
bashworth posted:Land Evaluation
The thing to understand about house and land packages are
The blocks are often used as a way of selling the least attractive blocks on an development. For instance the…
bashworth posted:Best kelvin and watts for our bedrooms?
Down lights are completely different in the way that they light a room compared with the fittings you previously mentioned.
For down lights you would probably be looking at least 9…
bashworth posted:Best kelvin and watts for our bedrooms?
It's not watts you should be thinking about but Lumens.
A LED provides around 80-100 lumens per watt and you should be aiming for around 20-50 lumens/m2.
50 if you read in…
bashworth posted:Off the plan nightmare
The best advice I can give is read your contract.
Generally it is up to the entity that you signed the contract to buy the unit from is who is responsible…
bashworth posted:Structural Plans information please
You have found an error.
Whether it is relevant would depend on the original calculations, and what was constructed.
Generally the groundworkers who construct the pier would take the dimensions for the…
bashworth posted:west facing windows in Perth and the heat
works really well at keeping the sun out.
Do you really need floor to ceiling windows if you want to see the sunset? . . . . you will looking at…
bashworth posted:Acid washing brick but not killing the garden
I would be going for Garden Lime.
Around $12 for a 10kg bag at Bunnings
bashworth posted:Storm water bore hole.
There is something called a Soak Well which can be used in certain conditions.
They are very popular in WA where they work very well on sandy soils.
To find out more…
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Occupation
Retired Water Engineer
Interests
Volunteer for Disaster Aid Australia
