We're currently renovating and are replacing the small electric storage HWS with an instant gas (Rinnai 26 litre). We're on tank water with a pressure pump so pressure should…

The kitchen is off white 2 pack with black granite benchtops and a black granite splashback with stainless steel appliances. Flooring is timber, timber windows - window coverings have…

We're currently renovating and would appreciate any ideas regarding lighting for our kitchen/living area.

Ceilings are 3 metres high. Large window on east wall is 2100mm high, sliding doors on…

We had sandstone tiles in a house, they were nowhere near as cold as ceramic tiles and were great with regard to thermal mass. Our next build will probably…

We have had both an Ozzi Kleen and Septech (as well as septic tanks). A lot of councils will insist on a treatment plant rather than a septic, check…

But these guys are just doing what we all wish we could
No, not at all. Some of us have the money to build something that is a monument to…

Agree with you Greg. We had the misfortune of living in a house with a 900mm freestanding Savoir Faire stove. Never again. Biggest piece of junk I've…

If $$ permit I'd swap your proposed kitchen with your meals. You'll end up with a lounge,meals area with bedrooms off this which is better to me than bedrooms…

Can you move the toilet to the top right behind a full wall? Bath where it is, shower in bottom left and vanity on bottom wall? That way…

Interesting, didn't know they existed. How are they different through from zoned floor heating? Both houses we had had individual room controllers including each bathroom. Wattage varied depending…

In my experience with electric underfloor heating (2 separate houses, tiled floors) it is not an instant heat but it builds up over time. You'd need to set your…

Originally we were going to build from scratch (and this is still our first option) but land in the area we want is pretty hard to come by. Our…

Where are you located? If I was buying a newish house in Victoria in the next 5 years or so I would expect it to already have solar hot…

Will have to redo the test to check this, only thought of it mid morning. Not too concerned about morning warmth as 6 days out of 7 we have…

I did a bit of (very unscientific) testing at our current place the other day. It faces due north. Sun stopped coming into house at 4:26pm. Model…

Thanks for your reply, you've echoed my thoughts exactly. Hard to convince my parents as the real estate spiel is all about "architect designed", "passive solar". We were…

How far off due north for living areas is OK for optimal orientation in central Victoria. Parents are looking at a house that according to the agent "has been…

Thanks for explaining it so clearly - that's what I had in my mind, obviously was as clear as mud writing it down!
So the outer concrete walls of formatech are…

Sorry, you've lost me. Are you saying that there is better thermal mass if the concrete is on the inside of the insulation, in this case foam?
I was under…

We saw these at a home show the year before last and DH liked them but then saw this: http://www.greenenergybrick.com.au which took his fancy. Trouble is now we…

Thanks suprok. We have looked at ICFs so will go through the links you sent. I tend to agree with your thinking but DH liked the look of…

http://www.formatech.com.au/index.html
We're looking at building and husband likes the look of this product (he's a commercial builder who builds a lot with tilt panels). We'd probably render or clad…

Our current dishwasher is not under the sink, it is at right angles to it and there are 2 cupboards between it and the sink. We bought the house…

We have a eucalyptus pauciflora, about 5 feet tall with a trunk circumference about the width of a woman's forearm. I noticed yesterday that it appears to have been…

I would imagine the slow combustion heater would heat a far larger area than a decorative gas heater??? Our old house was open plan and our slow combustion easily…

Our road first went through in 1840, so that's 170 years ago. Tom Tom listed it mid last year.

I'll add from my experiences only. Last home had a Septech. Concrete tanks, lots of excavation, quite noisy and alarm kept going off (weekly). Complex to reset…

Thank you - that is exactly what I wanted. You're right, that's a LOT of insulation!!

I have an American magazine and am curious as to how US R ratings differ to ours. I've googled it and know they are different but don't know how…

We upgraded the winter before last to a Nectre - they are made in South Australia. We have the biggest one (think it's called Mega, says it will heat…