One thing to be careful about- if you are measuring, make sure the tape is level- as if you measure down a slope the distance will not be correct- and…

I think it sounds like ideal weather for a pour.
I worked in ther Blue Mountains for years and this is pretty standard. As long as it is not close to…

Lots of questions- but as a carpenter there is one I can help with I hope. Timber shrinks in the thickness and width, but not in the length- so interspercing…

Hey- I had another thought on this last night...How about we spare a thought for the poor tradies who are not paying their bills while it rains. Imagine the stress…

Hi there.
As we humans use old-growth trees for floors and other things what happens is they start running out. This pushes the price up- so that lengths are used that…

The sums with the rebated solar add up so well that I can't understand anyone who is not planning to move in the next 3-4 years not getting one.
Sure- shop…

I have seen slabs poured on quite wet sites with no ill effects.
In the long run you will be happy that they waited for the right conditions though- neither you…

Hi Connie.
Lots of good advice here- but one very simple piece of advice that will make your site run much more smoothly (and safely)...
I know it sounds ridiculously simple- but…

Hi there.
We have sold I guess 30 houses and I have attended the settlement on I suppose 8 or 10. The solicitor/conveyencer should have no problem with the settlement on…

There can be two reasons for this (not the tank/s).
One is not enough (or too small) downpipes.
The other is that your guttering may not be sloping (falling) correctly. If there…

Meter box is the classic if it is there.
If you use a small builder it is much more friendly! But perhaps more expensive.
Under a brick somewhere is the other place.
Dennis

They don't call them Butler sinks for nothing!
It sounds like a nifty idea to me.
Cheers,
Dennis

No- as a builder the most I have done is install privacy (like bathroom) function on master bedrooms.
Dennis

Hi there.
I have moved bricks before from one house to another- I just rang some transport companies close by and they will know who is set up for this.
You would…

Hi there.
Heck no- read a book instead! As a builder I have seen a lot of dirt on a lot of frames, but once they are clad there is no…

There are not a lot of things to choose from that goes wrong with a HWS. Either the tak rusts out (leak around the HWS), the element burns out (no…

Hey- well done with the photo! How did you do that??
Dennis

are these beasties harmful?
Dennis

We have done up and sold lots of houses.
I would sweep off any loose paint and do the kitchen or bathroom. They will sell the place. As long as the…

Hi there.
The reason that the builders are insisting on good quality materials is that they don't want to get a phone call from you in 3 or 4 years saying…

Saw it on Grand Designs, in the U.K. and they said it was great. They are pretty fussy on the insulation there so that might be a good sign.
Cheers,
Dennis

Welcome Michael, and good luck with the build.
As a builder can I just stress that the most important thing about the process is very clear communication, between the builder, owners,…

Hi there.
We have used Tung oil in the past and have found it a great product. It brings out the best in the timber but doesn't put an artificial coated…

Hi Judie,
We have a metal roof.
What I have done (during construction when possible, but I have retro-fitted aswell) is buy some stainless steel fry wire at the hardware store. I…

Normally you would box this in with some fairly thin (20mm) dressed timber. Are you able to do this?
The holes in the bricks can be filled with a little mortar
Regards,
Dennis

Slightly tongue in cheek, but as a builder I always found the brickies not responsible for anything! They do the job and shoot through. Perhaps it comes down to if…

To add a touch of class a butler sink is great to use. We have had one in our last 3 kitchens and I would not be without one- both…

In our last 2 houses we have had Ilve 900mm ovens (upright) and soon we will have number 3!
It is great to have both the extra oven, and also the…

I don't know if I have some odd sort of marble, but after installing it I just polished with bee's wax (3 years ago) and I have not had a…

As a builder I fell to the temptation to use Blanco once. And once only- on installation there were a lot of things that seemed pretty ordinary to me. Back…