Are you looking for home building products to upgrade your home? With tough economic times, people often learn how to do many home upgrade projects on their own. This gives them the look they want without the labour costs normally involved with contractors. However, most still want to achieve that custom look without breaking the bank. You can take on more debt and upgrade to a custom high-end home. On the other hand, you can take your current residence and customize it yourself.  

Commercial building materials or residential building materials, they are all there to help construct an office or home. If you are considering purchasing discounted commercial building materials such as doors, windows, railings, lighting and so on, it is best to take a closer look and ensure that it is really what you want and is of good quality.

Cladding can be done on either the exterior of your home or the interior. Cladding is basically covering one piece of material with another. External cladding is a great way of weather proofing your home.

Plywood is many thin sheets of wood glued together. When layers like this are put together it produces a very sturdy and durable wood. It is important the type of glue used to put the layers together, when a professional adhesive is used the plywood becomes resist to cracks, shrinking, twists and warps, making it a better wood than many other plain woods on the market.

When buying furniture these days there is just so many options out there, it is hard to decide what is good quality and what is not good quality. Some furniture makers will use hardwood while others may use plywood. Do not just listen to what the salesperson tells you; ensure you do your own research on the subject so you know what you are getting.

Framing contractor's jobs are to look at your building plans and determine how much material is required and order the correct quantity. Doing it this way often works out fine with you in most instances saving money, but sometimes, it does not produce the best home that you could frame.

Have you ever heard of plywood siding?, Well it is not that well known but it is worth considering. Plywood siding is used as an overlapping panel lying parallel to one another. Plywood siding if done correctly can look great and is highly durable.

If you are looking at dressing your backyard up with a nice entertaining area, why not consider decking it.

Want to increase the value of your home without burning a hole in your back pocket?

Ever wanted to know how you can invest small but gain big? And no, I am not talking about investing money in the share market or any high risk activity of that sort. The answer is simple: Renovate your kitchen or bathroom.

A kitchen or bathroom renovation is one of the most effective ways to increase the value of your home, gain you instant equity, and increase your resale price. While there is an initial outlay of costs, renovating your kitchen or bathroom will pay for itself over a few years, and if you ever decide to sell your home, this will be a great selling point.

Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations

Renovating a kitchen is similar to renovating a bathroom, except on a larger scale. Start by choosing your cabinets and benchtops. These are the visual focal points of your kitchen.

For your benchtop, there are many surface options available. Laminate offers a large range of surface colours, patterns and finishes. Alternatively, if you are wanting a more luxurious surface there is the choice of Solid Acrylic Surfaces, Stone, Composite Stone or Marble.

Cupboard door options include selecting a decorative colour board. To complement the benchtop you could choose a contrasting colour. For a subtle blending appearance, select a colour similar to the benchtop. To create a different look, have a combination of both! Make a design statement with the door knobs or handles or for a very clean, minimalistic look don’t use any handles at all.

The next stage involves choosing sinks and faucets as well as energy efficient appliances. There are so many different styles to choose from it can get confusing. Stick with well known brands that carry warranties.

Your floor surface can change the whole feel of the room - do you want the natural beauty that only timber can provide or the cool, contemporary feel that tiles or concrete can offer? Look at the floors in your friends and families homes and take note of what makes you feel good about a room.

To inject charm or character into your kitchen, consider adding an island bench with bar stools. This can give you added storage underneath and additional serving space on top.

Bathroom Renovations

There are several options you can consider when renovating your bathroom, and the bathtub is usually a good place to start. You may choose to install a new tub, resurface your current tub or remove it all together and make a feature of the shower.

You can also update your existing bath and shower by putting in some modern fixtures and installing a water saving showerhead. This has the added benefit of saving you money on your water bill each month.

Next replace your vanities and basins. Check out your local home improvement store and kitchen cabinet makers. You can view built bathrooms and receive professional advice about products to best suit your needs and budget. Make sure that the cabinets have ample shelving, and the faucets match the fixtures in the bathroom. Always measure before you buy. Finish up the bathroom with some great looking flooring, lighting and accessorising with towel rails, toilet paper holders and shower shelves.

Some words of advice

Opting for colours and materials that are fairly neutral will maximise your homes resale price. Remember: you can always put your own stamp on the place through removable items such as curtains, furniture, ornaments and artwork.

Choosing the right edge profile for your benchtop

There are over a dozen different decorative styles that can be applied to benchtop edges.  The styling of the edge is dependent on the type of material being applied and the decision of the homeowner.

This is something that most homeowners are not aware of, in fact, most homeowners believe that the benchtop edges are only available in two different styles, square and rounded.  This is not true.

Suppliers that create custom benchtops will offer their clients a choice of edging designs that can be used when manufacturing the benchtop.  When it comes to custom built benchtops, the fancier the edges are, the more expensive the benchtop will be.

When choosing the style of your benchtop, the edge profile can change the look and finish of your benchtop.

The most common types of benchtop edges are square edges.  With the square edge, the entire benchtop is squared with everything meeting at right angles.  Most of the basic benchtops will feature a square edge to keep the benchtop affordable.

There are a few variations to the square edge that remain simple, but are more decorative than the square edge.  One variation is known as a Half Nose.  For this style, the top edge of the benchtop is rounded off to create a softer look. Another variation is the Pencil Round Top and Bottom.

Another modification common to the square edge style of benchtop edges is the bull nose.  With the bull nose, the top edge of the benchtop is dramatically rounded to produce a more circular shape to the benchtop edges, creating a perfect half circle.  Both of these styles are very popular and are easily achieved without adding a great deal of cost of the benchtop.

Many individuals like the look of bevelled benchtop edges, where the edges of the benchtop are carved into 45 degree angles all the way around the benchtop.  The bevelled edge is perhaps the most popular option for decorative benchtop edges and can be found in the products of many different retailers.  The bevelled edge may also be the hardest decorative edge for an individual completing a do-it-yourself project to accomplish on their own as it is very easy to create the angles at different degrees.

Each of the different styles of benchtop edges can be combined with another type of benchtop edge to create a truly unique style.  The bull nose can be combined with a square edge to create a benchtop that is rounded on one end and square on the other.  Some individuals choose to create a look that is their own.

When it comes to benchtop edges, the possibilities are endless.

The Green Movement

Green building practices reduce negative impacts on human health and the environment through better design, construction, operation, and choice of materials. Ultimately, green building increases the efficiency in which materials are harvested and utilised.The green movement has swept through Europe the US and is now beginning to gain momentum in Australia as documented by the many environmental buildings being built across the country.

We are also seeing an environmental consciousness emerge, with an increasing number of Australian homeowners beginning to ‘walk the talk’ and build green.  Even though there are no national standards that state what a green home remodelling constitutes, it all boils down to social and environmental consciousness.

Consumers are becoming more environmentally savvy as the growth of the Green Star rating system moves green home building into the mainstream.

Home builders and homeowners are at the brink of a new, environmentally conscious era.

But in the hazy world of figuring out what is truly a "Green" product, how does one know what to look for? Products that carry the AFS/PEFC and FSC logos have passed a rigorous monitoring process. These labels signal to consumers that the product was made from wood that has been procured, manufactured, and distributed in accordance with internationally accepted standards. Many architects and builders are using AFS/PEFC and FSC-certified wood in their projects as a means of demonstrating their own commitment to the environment.

Even though we are in the wake of the credit crunch we can all do our bit by making our lifestyle a little bit greener and ensure that we look for eco friendly labels when purchasing building products.

  Splashbacks 101 Kb

Splashbacks Change the entire ‘look’ of your kitchen with a new splashback!   Above the benchtop and underneath the overhead cabinets is an area of exposed wall which requires a surface finish that can be easily cleaned and maintained for long lasting durability. The surface needs to be non flammable if used behind a cooktop and water resistant, as it may be adjacent to sinks and and basins.   The splashback acts as a protective coating to those high-wear areas in your house, so choosing the right material is important.   Splashbacks add to the aesthetic character of the look and feel of the kitchen, bathroom and laundry. It can either make a design statement or blend in with its surroundings.   The popular options for contemporary kitchen splashbacks include stainless steel, tiles, glass, acrylic solid surface and now as a more economical choice, Zenolite. To help you choose your new splashback, a comparative chart has been developed. This lists the strengths and weaknesses of the most popular splashback materials available.

Splashback Material Strengths Weaknesses Glass Colour choices – any colour can be chosen to match or complement paint colour Easy to clean More expensive that other options Difficult to change Requires a qualified glass cutter to install Stainless Steel Durable Hard Warning Expensive Marks easily – fingerprints  Tiles A large choice of colours and patterns Can be economical with selection More difficult to clean with the grout Difficult to change Price variations Labour intensive to install Zenolite Easy to install as lightweight High gloss glass like appearance Very economical in comparison to alternatives Easy to clean Fully recyclable Requires a stainless steel insert if installed within 300mm of a cooktop Solid Acrylic Surface (HI-MACS) Seamless joins from benchtop to splashbacks Easy to clean 100% waterproof Durable Expensive Requires qualified fabricator to install

  OSB PR FEB 2008 78.27 Kb

When designing an outdoor or indoor area the main objective is to create a liveable, inviting environment that is stylish and chic. Colour is a good way to enhance the look of your design. For an alternative natural effect, using a product called OSB (Oriented Stand Board) can give a unique finish to whatever you may be building, at an economical price point. here are two types of OSB, the first being structural OSB which can be used as bracing or as a cladding. The other type of OSB is a decorative board which can be used for a magnitude of things including: Bins/ Boxes Ceilings Craft Projects Cubby Houses Dog Kennels Doors Fencing Furniture Partitions Shelving Toys Wall panelling OSB can be used in many of the same applications as Plywood. However, unlike plywood, it has a randomly textured appearance and does not have the smooth grain or consistent colour. This limits the appearance applications, in which OSB can be used, to ones that specifically require a patterned appearance. It is made using wafers of timber that are placed in presses for the manufacture of sheets. Most of the fibres pressed are parallel to the long direction of the sheet. While many of the fibres are oriented in that direction, there is a random proportion of wafers that are running in the opposite direction which creates a lot texture throughout the board. The benefits of OSB are: Strength and durability Excellent Workability Saws, Drills and routes easily Glues easily Can be painted or stained Made of Recyclable materials For interior use, OSB can be stained, vanished, painted or left unfinished. To ensure weather protection in exterior applications, all OSB surfaces, including edges, should be painted, stained or clear vanished. For more information on OSB and its uses, please contact John McClure (Marketing Manager) at Gunnersen Pty Ltd on (03) 9647 9907.