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| Anticipating Autumn | ||||||||
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Friday, August 19, 2011
Autumn Treasury
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tips for Choosing the Right Builder For Your Home
When choosing a builder do your research beforehand, check their credentials, make sure you have a written contract and that they are reliable.
When choosing a builder for your home there are a number of things you should take into consideration. The same rules apply when building kit homes. You may choose to build your kit home yourself but you can have the entire project constructed for you by a professional builder. Many Kit homes in Victoria and in other places within Australia are being built with the help of fully qualified builders. It will cost you more to build your kit home if you hire a builder but if you are unsure of your abilities or don't have the time it can save you a lot of stress.
Do your research
Before you decide on a builder do a bit of research beforehand. You will be working closely with this person for a while and you are trusting them with your new home so you want to be happy that they are going to do a good job. Ask around friends and family as they may be able to recommend a good builder to you. If someone has had any building done by this particular builder ask if you can go and have a look at it. Find out whether they were easy to get along with, whether they were on time to work and if the cost of hiring them was reasonable.
Check their credentials
Before you hire the builder check their credentials. Make sure they are a fully qualified builder and that they are properly registered. Also make sure they are accredited with HIA (Housing Industry Association).
Contract
It is important to have a contract with your builder. This contract should include things like the start date and expected completion date of construction. It should have written in it exactly what their work includes and what their costs will be. Both parties should sign the contract and have a copy.
Price
Shop around to find the right builder that suits your price range, as well as finding someone whose work you like and who you can trust. Be upfront about what they charge as you don't want to get to the end of the job and find out that you can't afford to pay them. Be very clear about getting the costings at the beginning of the job and ask whether you need to be prepared for any unexpected costs, such as possible additions to the building or the builder finding that they need to use more materials than first anticipated.
Reliable
Make sure that your builder is reliable. You want your builder turning up when they say they will and turning up on time. If they wander in whenever they feel like it at any time of the day then the job is going to take a lot more time and cost you a lot more money. You also want someone who will contact you if they can't show because of illness or some other reason, just to let you know what is going on. You also want a builder that you can trust, so if you don't feel comfortable with them don't hire them.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
The Best Floor Coverings for an Australia climate
The Australian climate is temperate one. Unlike countries in the northern hemisphere, we do not experience snow and ice, harsh winds and biting frosts. Rather, Australians are lucky enough to experience wonderfully warm weather almost all year round. It also means that when it comes to home decoration we can choose from a variety of floor coverings like sandstone pavers, granite tiles and slate.
Hard floor coverings are almost impossible to consider in countries that experience ice and snow. The colder climates make hard flooring a nightmare of dangerous proportions. Ice and snow will rot and affect the composition of the natural materials, it will make them extremely slippery in certain weather conditions and finally it proves to be a cold and uncomfortable choice when you are battling the chill for much of the year.
Australia on the other hand possesses a positively tropical climate in many parts of the north and a mild and comfortable temperature in the southern states. Being close to the equator means we can enjoy sunny days and warm breezes for a lot of the year and even our winters seem to pass us by without seeing much below 10C.
Trying to stay cool and comfortable is an ongoing struggle for Aussies a lot of the time. However it is a battle that you can win when step inside our own home. When you walk through the door, you might be lucky enough to enter a room with the cool crispness of air conditioning. Perhaps you might have the cooled, swirling air created by ceiling fans. But if you are looking for more ways to cool your home, don’t look past your choice of flooring.
So much of the heat can be either absorbed or transmitted through the floor. Choosing natural materials is the best way to ensure the coolest feeling for your feet. Like wearing wool, natural floor coverings will keep you cool in summer and retain heat in winter.
Not only will stone and slate keep you cool, these substances will also last. The durability of stone and slate is its finest asset. Unlike most man-made materials, it will not fade in the sun; it is resistant to chemicals and alkalis and won’t be destroyed by water. These materials are difficult to chip and crack and look clean and tidy even when they’re not!
If you’re looking for a durable and well-wearing floor covering for your outdoor or poolside areas, then natural materials will once again be your first choice. Choosing high quality sandstone to line your pool area or complement your landscaping will end up saving you expensive repairs and maintenance costs. Good quality sandstone is tested for superior density, water absorption, slip resistance and resilience to salt attack which means it will look better for longer.
Like any natural substance, sandstone pavers will age gracefully and will actually add character, warmth and beauty to your home. It is hard to beat natural substances for durability, stain resistance, practicality and most importantly visual appeal. There really is no better choice for the harsh Australian climate, whether you’re looking at interior coverings or outdoor tiles.
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