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Checklists5 Oct 202612 min C21: The Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist (know what your inspector checks, and what the report really means) Buying an existing home? Our C21 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist walks you through the 103 things a licensed inspector looks at under AS 4349.1, what the report's terms really mean, and how to use the findings before you sign. Checklists6 Sep 202617 min C15: Your Ultimate Painting Inspection Checklist (from design to execution) You don't need to be a painter to ensure a top finish on your new home. In this post we walk you through our painting checklist to help you oversee your builder's painting work, protect your investment, and ensure a best result. Checklists9 Aug 202521 min C14 Checklist: The Homeowner’s Guide to Ceramic Tile Design & Installation Planning ceramic tiling in your new home? The C14 Ceramic Tile Design & Installation Checklist walks you through materials, preparation and installation so you can spot problems before the grout goes in. Checklists20 Jun 202521 min C12 Fixing Stage Checklist: What to Inspect Before You Pay the Fixing Claim The fixing stage is when plasterboard, cornices, joinery and tiling lock your home's interior in place. I'll walk you through the C12 Fixing Stage Checklist so you can inspect plasterboard, joinery, eaves and tiling before you pay the claim. News14 May 20255 min Our Checklists Are Chonky, and We Know It. Here's Why Yes, our checklists are long, and that's on purpose. They're built to help you spot issues, ask the right questions and hold your builder to standard. Here's why the details matter and where we're heading next. Checklists8 May 202523 min C13B: Waterproofing Done Right: How to Avoid the #1 Building Defect Waterproofing is the most common defect in new homes—and it’s almost always avoidable. Our C13B Waterproofing Inspection Checklist shows you how to identify issues before it’s too late. Whether you're an owner-builder or hiring a project builder, this is for you. Checklists25 Apr 202526 min C13A Waterproofing Design Checklist: Get It Right Before the Membrane Goes On Waterproofing failures are among the most expensive defects in new homes. Here's how the C13A Waterproofing Design Checklist helps you get the system right before any membrane goes on. Checklists12 Apr 202511 min C19 Periodic Safety Inspection Checklist: A Builder's Guide to Safety Is your building site actually being managed safely? How to use the C19 Periodic Safety Inspection Checklist to spot hazards, keep a record and hold your builder to account. Checklists4 Apr 202516 min C11 Enclosed Stage Checklist: An Overview What to check when your new home reaches the enclosed stage: brickwork, wall ties, flashings, weep holes, subfloor, cladding and site management, explained in plain English. Quality control27 Mar 202523 min A Guide to Ceramic Tiling: AS3958.1 Insights for Homeowners In this post we take a look at what you need to know from AS3958.1:2007. Learn about everything from substrate prep and grout widths to movement joints and tolerances. Know what a compliant tile installation is. Before Construction26 Feb 20256 min The Preliminary Service Agreement (PSA): A Quick Overview A Preliminary Service Agreement (PSA) locks in pricing and key details before building starts. Learn what’s included, how it works, and how to use multiple PSAs to compare builders and get the best deal. Plus, see examples of a PSA and electronic consent form. Landscaping13 Feb 202519 min Landscaping and Garden Design for Your New Home Good landscaping does more than add street appeal. It cuts energy and water bills, manages stormwater and protects your slab. Here's how to plan a garden that suits your new home and Australia's climate. Opinion12 Feb 20256 min Rethinking Australian Housing: Better Than a Standard Project Home Bigger homes and showy designs are eating up the gains from tougher energy rules. Here's where many project homes fall short, and how the government's free YourHome designs give you a better starting point. Checklists6 Feb 202520 min C10 Rough-In Stage Inspection Checklist: What to Check Before the Walls Close Our C10 Rough In Stage Inspection Checklist helps ensure quality, manage costs, and avoid major rework. Use it before facades, cladding and internal linings are installed. Design23 Jan 202512 min Thermal Mass and Your New Home: What You Need to Know How thermal mass works, where it helps (and where it doesn't) in Australian climates, and what to check with your designer and builder. Checklists9 Jan 202522 min C9: Your Guide to Quality Roofing: Tile Roof, Box Gutter, and Flashing Inspection Checklist A step-by-step guide to inspecting tile roofs, box gutters and flashing on your new home: what to check, which Australian Standards apply, and the common defects to catch early. Energy Efficiency8 Jan 202513 min Insulation for Your New Home: What You Need to Know to Improve Comfort and Reduce Energy Costs Insulation is one of the cheapest ways to make a new home comfortable and cheap to run, but only if the right product goes in the right place and is installed properly. Here's what Queensland home owners need to know, and what to check on site. Checklists2 Jan 202518 min C8 Metal Roof, Box Gutter and Flashing Checklist: A Homeowner's Guide How to use the C8 Metal Roof, Box Gutter and Flashing Checklist to inspect your roof during construction, spot common faults, check compliance and raise issues with your builder. Checklists20 Dec 202420 min C7 - Timber Frame Stage Inspection Checklist: A Detailed Guide for Quality Management How the C7 Timber Frame Stage Inspection Checklist helps you check walls, trusses, tie-downs and bracing against AS 1684 before the plasterboard goes up and before you pay the frame claim. Checklists13 Dec 202420 min C6 Post-Pour Concrete Slab Inspection Checklist: Your Essential Guide How to use the C6 post-pour concrete slab inspection checklist to check levels, finishes, membranes, penetrations and site controls before framing starts. Concrete + Driveways9 Dec 202414 min C5 Pre-Pour Slab Inspection Checklist for Homeowners The C5 Pre-Pour Slab Inspection Checklist is exactly that. A detailed stage inspection checklist to ensure quality and compliance before concrete is poured on your site. Quality control6 Dec 202413 min C4A - The Ultimate Earthworks Inspection Checklist Before your slab goes down, check the building pad, fill compaction, retaining walls, drainage and sediment control. Here's how, using the C4A earthworks checklist. Design4 Dec 202410 min Your Home Orientation: The Key to Comfort and Energy Efficiency in Australia Orientation is the one design decision you can't fix later. Here's how sun, shade and breezes should shape your floor plan, what changes in Queensland's climate zones, and what to check when buying land, on your plans and on site. Paint + Plasterboard1 Dec 20246 min Painting Quality Assurance Records for Your New Home Painting is one of the most common defects in new homes. Here's what painting records your builder can realistically give you, what to check at each stage, and how those records protect your warranty. Quality control22 Nov 202414 min C3 - Erosion & Sediment Control (ESC) Checklist About to start new home construction works? Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) planning is required to protect your site, saving money, and avoiding delays. This guide walks you through our Checklist C3 to help ensure compliance and mitigate risks, making your build process smoother and stress-free. Quality control15 Nov 202412 min C1 Before Buying Land Checklist: What to Check Before You Sign What to check before you buy land to build on: location, zoning, services, easements, soil and fill, overlays, bushfire and flood, and noise. Avoid costly surprises with our free C1 checklist. Quality control8 Nov 202417 min C4 - Choosing Your Builder: Find Out Who Is Best for You Hiring the right builder is essential. In this post we discuss our C4 Asking the Right Questions (Choosing Your Builder) checklist: questions to assess a builder’s experience, quality practices and project management, so you can decide with confidence before signing a contract. Materials1 Nov 202421 min Glazing for Your New Home: How It Affects Comfort, Costs, and Energy Efficiency Glazing greatly impacts your home's comfort, energy efficiency, and costs. Understanding glass types, frame materials, and installation can help you optimise thermal performance, lower energy expenses, and improve sustainability in your new home. Landscaping18 Oct 202417 min Shading for Your New Home: Design Tips for Comfort & Efficiency Shading plays an important role in improving comfort and reducing energy costs in your new home. In this post we cover the best shading options, climate-specific strategies, and design considerations to enhance your home's liveability year-round. Concrete + Driveways30 Sep 202425 min Concrete Foundations and Slabs: A Guide for New Homeowners Everything you need to know about house slabs and footings: site classification, piers, reinforcement, cover, curing, damp-proof membranes, common problems and maintenance. Energy Efficiency27 Sep 202414 min Ventilation and Airtightness in Residential Homes: Key Concepts and Best Practices Balancing ventilation and airtightness gives you a comfortable, healthy, efficient home. How airtightness is measured, what the NCC requires, and how to avoid condensation and mould. Before Construction26 Sep 202422 min Why Your Air Conditioning Installation Probably Blows (And Not in the Right Way) What the Australian Standard requires for ducted air conditioning, and what to check at rough-in and fit-off so problems are fixed before you pay. Opinion24 Sep 202412 min Why Mandatory ITPs and Real Oversight Would Fix Residential Construction Quality Inspection Test Plans have kept commercial builds honest for decades. Here's how they work, why they need independent oversight to mean anything, and what you can ask your builder for today. Brickwork + Cladding19 Sep 202429 min Brick Veneer Facades for Australian Homes Brick veneer is durable, low maintenance and popular for good reason. Here's how the wall works, from DPC and weep holes to mortar, joints, tolerances and cracks, and what to check on your build. Before Construction12 Sep 202417 min Timber Framing for Residential Construction: An Overview Learn the fundamentals of timber framing for residential construction in Australia. In this guide we cover sub floor, wall, and roof elements, bracing systems, and building code references. Pest Control3 Sep 20249 min A Guide to Termite Barrier Systems: Protecting Your Home from Termites Mesh, graded stone, sheets, slab edges or reticulated chemicals? How each termite barrier works, where it goes wrong on site, and what you need to keep it working after handover. Fasteners + Fixings2 Apr 20247 min A Guide to Fasteners in Construction: Types and Uses Nails, screws, bolts and anchors hold your home together, and the wrong one can rust out or pull loose years later. Here's what each is used for and how to pick the right corrosion protection. 18 Mar 20246 min What Is Steel Rebar and How Does It Help Concrete? Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension. Steel reinforcement fixes that. Here's how reo works in a house slab and what to check before your slab is poured. Materials19 Feb 20247 min Types of Brick Masonry House Construction Explained Brick looks simple, but there are several very different ways to build with it. Here's what brick veneer, double brick, block and stone mean for cost, comfort and maintenance on a Queensland build. Design12 Feb 20244 min Normative vs Informative: What Those Labels Mean When You Read an Australian Standard When your builder says "that's only a recommendation in the Standard", here's how to check. A plain-English guide to normative and informative content in Australian Standards, using AS 3959 as the example. Planning & Organisation30 Jan 20246 min What is Value Engineering and its Impact on Residential Construction Discover what Value Engineering is and how it can dramatically impact residential construction. Gain insights into how Value Engineering can optimise cost-efficiency and improve quality, on your next residential construction project. Maintenance + Care8 Jan 20244 min Why Your New Home Needs a Maintenance Calendar Why every new home needs a maintenance calendar: how to balance preventative and reactive maintenance, what to check before Queensland's storm season, and how it ties in with your defects period. Quality control4 Jan 20248 min Transforming Construction Quality: The Power of SWMS and ITPs in Australian Residential Construction How Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) can be turned into Inspection Test Plans (ITPs) to lift quality in residential construction, and what homeowners should ask their builder. 2 Jan 20247 min Mastering Home Construction: Stage Gates and ITP Processes for Superior Quality Discover how to elevate home construction quality using project management's stage gates and Inspection Test Plans (ITP). We look into each stage gate, from land selection to builder's warranty expiration, outlining how ITPs integrate into each phase for quality control & project success. Design1 Jan 20246 min Loads on a House: What They Are and Where They Show Up in Your Plans Every part of your house is sized to carry certain loads: its own weight, you and your furniture, the wind and the ground it sits on. What each load means for your build and what to check on your plans. Materials1 Jan 20246 min What Is Concrete Made Of? Ingredients, Curing and Pour-Day Checks Your slab is the one part of the house you can't redo. Here's what concrete is made of, how it gains strength, what grade your slab should be, and what to check on pour day. Materials30 Dec 20235 min Construction Sand Explained: The Types Used on Your House Build Brickies' sand, washed sand, packing sand, bedding sand: they're not interchangeable. Here's which sand goes where on a Queensland house build, and what to check at slab and brick stages. Materials22 Dec 20238 min The Right Way to Install Wall Wrap According to Australian Standards Learn the right way to install wall wrap according to Australian Standards. This guide explains the proper sequence for installing windows, doors, and wall wrap, highlighting the importance of correct installation for maintaining the building envelope and enhancing your home's energy efficiency. Design20 Dec 20235 min Wind Classification for New Homes: The 4 Factors That Decide It Your home's wind classification (N2, N3, C2 and so on) sets how strongly the roof, frame, windows and tie-downs must be built. Here's how it's worked out under AS 4055 and what to check on your plans. Concrete + Driveways24 Nov 20237 min Concrete Slab Cracks: What's Normal, What's a Defect, and What to Do (QLD) Almost every concrete slab cracks. Here's why it happens, how to tell a harmless shrinkage crack from a defect using the AS 2870 categories, and how to record and report it in Queensland. Design26 Oct 20234 min Why Your Builder Should Be Doing a Condensation Risk Analysis Mould and damp in a new home often come down to condensation that could have been designed out. Here's what a condensation risk analysis looks at, what NCC 2022 requires, and what to ask your builder. Design26 Oct 20234 min Selecting the Perfect Colour Palette: A Guide to Colour Psychology for Interior Design How colour affects the look, feel and mood of a room, how to combine colours with the 60-30-10 rule, and how to test your choices before you lock in selections with your builder. Design25 Oct 20234 min Making Sense of Your Soil Test: Site Classes Explained Your soil test report decides what slab you get and how much it costs. Here's how to read the AS 2870 site class, the Ys value and the other results in plain English. Quality control23 Oct 20234 min What Is a Communication Management Plan? (And Why Your Build Needs One) Most building disputes start with a missed or unclear message. A simple communication plan agrees up front who tells whom, what and when. Here's what one looks like on a new home build. During Construction12 Oct 20234 min A Homeowner's Guide to Waterproofing Wet Areas Failed waterproofing is one of the most common defects in new Australian homes. Here's what good wet-area waterproofing looks like under the NCC and AS 3740, and when to check it on your build. Concrete + Driveways21 Sep 20233 min The Essential Guide to Concrete Joints: Purpose and Types Concrete shrinks and cracks. Joints decide where. Here's what control, construction, isolation and expansion joints do, and what to check on your driveway, paths and alfresco slab before the pour. Energy Efficiency18 Sep 20235 min The 4 Control Layers of a High-Performance Home: What to Ask Your Builder Water, air, vapour and heat. Get these four control layers right and your home stays dry, comfortable and cheap to run. What each layer does in a Queensland home, and what to ask your builder. Before Construction6 Sep 202310 min What to Know Before Sitting Down With a Project Builder (The PSA) Before you sign a preliminary services agreement with a project builder, know what you're paying for, what you get, and what happens next. Here's the process from first meeting to handover. Before Construction18 Aug 20235 min Understanding and Managing Condensation in Buildings What causes condensation in new homes, why it leads to mould, and what to ask your builder about insulation, wraps and ventilation. Maintenance + Care15 Mar 20234 min Steel Surface Preparation: Why It Decides Whether Paint Lasts The quality of the surface preparation decides whether a paint coating on steel lasts. Here's how steel is cleaned and prepared for painting, and where it matters in your home.