MEN AND THEIR SHEDS
Posted on June, 22 at 9:41 pm
It’s Saturday afternoon and it’s raining. I trudge into the house. Vanessa and her sister are in the kitchen, analysing our daughter’s degenerating behaviour as they cut out a pattern for another frilly dress for their already frilly mother. I wonder at the intensity, speed and dexterity of their sisterly conversation.
Polite greeting from me: “Hello girls, you having a good time?”
Answer from my loving wife: “Yes. The tap’s leaking.”
The best I can manage is: “Uh huh!”
There is a sound of an explosion in the living room.
Young Aden and his friend are on the floor, playing some obnoxious computer game that disgorges a barrage of shooting, dying, and screaming. Despite being cemented to their game controllers, they are also watching a DVD which has an equal amount of shooting, dying, and screaming. It amazes me how kids can now watch TV without looking at it.
Vanessa yells from the kitchen. “Honey, can you fix the tap?”
Where can I hide? I quietly slip out the door. Lucky for me I have a … SHED.
According to a recent survey in the UK, the average man will be “busy” in his shed for more than 12 hours a week.
That’s more than 27 days a year, or 3 ½ years of his married life. What do blokes do with their time there? Well here are the top 10 activities:
1. Tinker with tools (41%)
2. Gather junk (37%)
3. Pot up plants for the garden (30%)
4. Mend/make furniture (23%)
5. Work (18%)
6. Maintain or revamp cars, bikes etc (17%)
7. Play music (17%)
8. Drink beer (16%)
9. Read the paper (13%)
10. Have a sneaky cigarette (10%)
There are lots of types of sheds: Garden/ Office Sheds, Workshop Sheds, Studio Sheds, Drinking Sheds, Fantasy Sheds, Summer House sheds, Rumpus Rooms, Farmhouse Sheds, Garage Band Sheds, and Illicit Sheds.
Whatever the shed, it’s a place for blokes to escape; where they can be master of their own time and be still with their own STUFF.
For the DIY Man, STUFF is important. You never throw it away, because if you do, you will need it the next day. You store it, either chaotically, or chaotically systematically. But it’s no use being too systematic because someday everything is eventually going to get pulled out and shoved back in a completely new spot. Brian from next door reckons a tidy shed is the sign of an inactive mind.
Dust, rust, spiders, smells; they’re all part of it, part of the shed’s coming of age; it’s maturation. Shed stuff is like a compost heap. It’s ever-developing matter that just gets bigger and better.
I plonk down on my old stool in the corner, and relax with a beer. Vanessa might come to the door but if it’s shut, she will never venture in. She knows this is my domain. Sheds are just private places for blokes, where they can be alone, tinker with tools, listen to the footy. Shed’s are also where boys learn stuff from their Dad. Stuff that they can’t learn at school, or from a computer game. Like how to change a tap washer, how to clean a carburettor, how to get rid of the fuzz that’s appeared on your face when you turn sixteen.
There is, in fact, a whole culture of sheds. There are books, websites, and films, all devoted to shed culture.
There is even a rock group MEN AND THEIR SHEDS.
Community men’s sheds are wonderful meetings places, especially for older men. They gather, drink coffee, and make even more STUFF. Some community shed’s even have skills and trade programs where older men mentor younger men.
Still on my stool, I wonder if I should have another beer, or should I fix that old toaster? BANG! A rock hits the roof. It’s Brian from nextdoor. That’s his secret signal that he needs to ESCAPE. I get up and peer out the window and sure enough, he’s at the fence, flashing a tinnie at me. His wife’s probably got her Saturday arvo book club meeting.
Brian and I drink our beers. We don’t say much, we never do. We just watch the STUFF in the shed mature, like watching a silent movie.
Brian scrutinizes one corner, a memorial to old tools.
“You’ve moved that monkey wrench.”
“Yeah”.
He stares at it and nods. “Good spot.”
There is a muffled voice behind the closed door. It’s Vanessa. “Can you fix the tap now?”
“Can’t, I’m busy, with Brian. We’re in the middle of something.”
I stare at the closed door and hear Vanessa disappear back into the house.
Ah, where would we be without a SHED. Us blokes have got to stick together. Like they do here!
Guest Blog by Writer and Copywriter, Steve Connard.
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Polished concrete floors
Posted on May, 26 at 1:35 pm
Come on, I know you’d love a concrete floor…….
Polished concrete flooring is one of the most sustainable, funky and durable building products on the market and we’re not talking boring concrete slabs here.
Concrete lasts forever and has been used for decades to produce some of the most interesting polished concrete floors, kitchen and bathroom bench tops and fire places.
The Australian Home Design Directory has a great article that gives you an introductory run down on polished concrete floors and provides a step by step guide on how these floors are made.
If you do a search on FU-TUNG CHENG you will be thrown into the world of polished concrete. FU-TUNG CHENG would seem to be the god of concrete furniture design, some very nice stuff.
Whether it’s a kitchen bench or a bathroom floor you can have a masterpiece for the fraction of regular floor prices.
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Prefab and modular building
Posted on May, 22 at 9:18 am
House by Sparks Architects built with prefab units
In the last few years, both building materials and building labour have risen dramatically. Steel has gone up by 200%, transport costs have risen, and some plumbers, somehow, now cost almost the same as doctors! The expense of on-site labour and materials has been one of the main catalysts for the burgeoning of refabricated and modular building industry.
Off-site construction is considerably cheaper than on-site, and it minimizes the potential for disruptions to the building schedule; when trades do not turn up, or when the weather invariably turns foul. Any reduction in building time is a reduction in cost. The beautifully designed Mt Ninnery house (shown above) by Sparks Architects was built quickly and cost effectively by utilizing prefabricated units.
Quality control is also less of an issue with prefab building. Because the prefabrication is in factories, manufacturers are able to utilize tools unavailable to the site builder, such as custom manufactured jigs which ensure that all walls, floors and ceilings are square and plumb. Skilled craftspeople, under the watchful eye of the manufacturer construct each home to exact specifications. Like motor vehicle manufacturing, automated production lines and prefabrication reduce cost, produce more interesting material usage and greatly reduce wastage.
While prefab roof trusses and walls have been around for a while, prefab roofing and wall units are now appearing on the market and their use can considerably reduce building time. Riteck’s Prefab Roof Units are worth a look. Prefab (wall and ceiling) units come in standard sizes and if you build to multiples of their dimensions, there is less on-site, custom building and considerable savings are possible. However be aware of possible limitations for running services within these units.
Modular German Hauf Haus
One-step further is the fully modular house. They are built in room units, each one providing structural strength, insulation and both interior and exterior cladding. The wall and ceiling units have grooves for electrical wiring. However it’s only a matter of time before we see prefab flooring modules with options for pre-laid plumbing, and modules that are prewired. Houses like this are built in a few days.
Is this the way of future building? Probably!
In the US and Europe this type of housing is already quite advanced. There is even a prefab association in the US.
Modular German Hauf Haus Interior
Many modular housing construction companies there offer hundreds of options and design possibilities, floor plans and elevations, interior and exterior cladding, carpets, window styles, and choices of countertops and fixtures. Most fixtures, plumbing and electrical are in place before the modular home leaves the factory. Cost overruns are rarely occur. A basic unit can be purchased and further units added later.
Modular homes are built in about 1/3 the time needed to construct a site-built home. Some are faster. Living Homes, a modular home building in the US installed their first home on site in 8 hours (and documented it on video).
This type of building naturally radically reduces interest on construction financing.
Very cool NZ/Aust Bachkit modular home
It’s probably only time before the sophistication of the US and European module home industry is available in Australia. We already have a BRB’s fully modular light-weight houses but they have been used mainly in industrial situations. A more residential house is Gateway’s Prefab House. Another, in development, is the Quon Module House by Andrew Maynard.
If you can’t wait for these exciting developments, then perhaps you should a consider or a cool kit home by Bachkit.
With cheaper construction due to more off-site fabrication, and a drop in trade rates due to the depressed economy, building a house might even become less expensive. Or is that too much to ask?
Guest Blog by Writer and Copywriter Steve Connard
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The financial Crisis, oh please can’t we talk about something else!!!
Posted on April, 29 at 3:31 pm
I’m sick of listening to the news, everyone is absorbed with the financial crisis …….
Media hype has scared the construction industry into a freeze in the middle to upper end of the market but many families and business are still living, working and growing. Currently the construction industry is seeing significantly reduced levels of designed work and many clients that were ready to start construction are holding off.
This financial nightmare doesn’t mean that you have to stop and wait, wait for what, and when will that be???? Get a move on with your DIY project you will be amazed at how much you can save and what you are able to tackle yourself, given the right tools.
Ok lets start at the beginning.
So you want a new home?
1. Read this article, “So you want to be an owner builder”, a great read for people that know very little about construction or who know a lot. This article was written by an architect and has been deliberately written without industry jargon so everyone can understand it.
2. Another must read is “The Building Process fully explained”, this is an excellent article on the entire building process. It will arm you with information you need to get your home built.
3. After you have read these you will need to let it sink in, you may even like to read over them again to ensure you understand each stage. From here you are ready to look at some plans and start designing your own home, yes it is possible but for the first timer it’s not easy, so if you are having trouble just take your time and make sure you understand each step before moving on.
4. “Designing your own home”, is an article based on the design process that is taught to architecture students at university. It’s an easy step by step article that will enable you to produce design drawings detailed enough so that a drafty can prepare working drawings for tender and council approval.
5. Next, take a look at “How to read plans”. These are the type of plans you will need to provide to trades for them to build your home, don’t panic these are working drawings we are only doing the design drawings. You will need to engage a drafty to provide as much information as is provided “In how to read plans”. The more information you have on the drawings the better.
So at the very least….
These few articles will make you stronger for the design and construction journey.
There are other articles that will also be helpful, see all the construction articles and calculators at www.homedesigndirectory.com.au/sitemap.shtml
The great thing about www.homedesigndirectory.com.au is that the site can be used as a reference tool throughout the design and construction process, offering support and confirmation, and it’s free…..
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Privacy screens and fencing
Posted on March, 11 at 2:06 am
WHAT SORT OF FENCE DO I BUILD?
So you have just finished building your nice new house and it’s time to think about a fence. What sort of fence do you build? The first question to ask yourself is “What’s it for?”
A “Friendly Neighbour Control Fence”
This fence will keep friendly neighbors at bay and also stop your small dog from going AWOL.
It only needs to be a modest structure, such as an easily constructed low picket fence, paling or a post and beam fence.
Low brick wall fences are also a possibility but it’s hard to make these anything but completely boring.
Unfortunately I have never lived in a neighborhood where only a modest discouragement from a fence was required. My neighbours were always closet bogans or dead dreary.
The “I’m a Creative Person Fence”
Creative ski paling fence
If you really need to demonstrate your wild artist sensibilities in a fence then probably any old material can be used. Best use something that would otherwsie be thrown in the trash, like old surfboards or skis.
These are more serious fences, designed for discouraging the local drug-addled thief and other undesirables. This type of fence is always see-through, so that the pathetic low-life will always be visible from the street.
Cheap security fence
Drug Addict Control Fences are usually built from pressed metal spear posts which have nasty sharp tips and slippery vertical faces (with no toe holds). They also usually partner with snappy self closing gates with good locks.
The ‘Household Restraining Fence”.
This fence is for keeping persistenly active children and pets nice and secure inside the family compound.
A low (750mm) fence will usually suffice for this requirement. Some dog breeds, however, have been known to have uncanny fence climbing abilities.
For larger dogs, pole climbing dogs, or more determined children, a higher paling fence or a solid brick and rendered fence might be a consideration.
If you live in a nice housing estate and you really don’t want anyone looking at your backyard behavior perhaps a metal fence might work for you.
The ”This Is The Edge Of My Property Fence”
There again, if you are one of the world’s fortunate who do not have dead boring neighbors or thieving drug addicts in your street, what you need here is a modest little fence that just defines your boundary.
The practical washing line fence
A fence like this doesn’t really need to be a proper fence. A line of little shrubs, a low post and beam, or stumpy (300mm) fence of stone or masonry would certainly suffice.
Concrete sleepers can also look very good.
The “Improve The Value Of Your Property Fence”
There are a variety of fences that will enhance your real estate and improve your property value. A full brick rendered fence or its synthetic polystyrene equivalent looks surprisingly good, provides total privacy but has security issues; due to the fact that you can’t see through it.
Likewise a brush fence; which can also become a smart feature wall.
A curved brushwood fence
Timber batten screening, either alone or with a brick and rendered sub-wall, looks very good especially when it is integrated into the design of the house.
Timber battens, however, need to be maintained; either oiled or painted every 6 months.
Timber slats in fences looks great. If termites are a problem, don’t worry, just use Cyprus Pine timber and chemically treat your timber!
And if you are in bushfire territory, use fire retardant Merbau and fire retardant paint. You can get a full fire retardant timber list from the rural fire service
Another option for bushfire areas is powder coated aluminium (PCA) fencing and screening. It’s more expensive but looks sensational and is low maintenance. It comes in standard colours but can also be custom painted.
The stylish Peak Garden Wall Fencing System uses cement board and timber and is worth a look.
I myself dont have a fence. I guess I am lucky. I live on the side of a hill that backs onto a national park and don’t need to define my boundary or contain my household. The only thing I have to keep out are bush turkeys; the most persistent, stupid, destructive native animal that will ever transpess into your domestic space. No fence, of any kind, can possibly keep out this arrogant, intellectually challenged home invader.
Guest Blog by Writer and Copywriter Steve Connard
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New article: Lighting inside and outside the home
Posted on February, 15 at 2:28 am
This lighting article has a very funny and captive first liner “Most light is delivered by the Sun Corporation and is thankfully free of charge”. Ha, ha.
But our writer has a lot of serious stuff to say about residential lighting, what it is, how you should use it, as well as the big “do’s and don’ts” of interior and outdoor lighting.
With his background in cinematography and DIY home construction the author writes expertly about applying the basics of light study and the categories of light and its effects on a space.
Towards the end of the article there is a very informative “apply it to your own home” section, which makes the article very relevant and practical if you are currently designing your own home.
By-the-way: the design stage of home design is not too early to be thinking about lighting layouts. In fact this is the time you should take into account space, size, orientation, window & door sizes and window & door locations.
This lighting article is worth a read and may even educate people who thought they knew everything about lighting.
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Rangehoods unmasked
Posted on January, 31 at 10:42 pm
What a range there is in rangehoods. I thought doing an article on rangehoods would be fairly dull but I have been pleasantly surprised. Recently there have been significant changes to kitchen exhausts. Listed below are 6 different systems available on the market.
Canopy and Island Canopy rangehoods: A Canopy range is the most expensive, but also the most visually pleasing, cooktop exhaust on the market. They range in price from $400 to $2,000. Canopies also come in an “Island Canopy” form but they are more expensive because they need to be structurally sound and self-supporting.
If you buy a more expensive unit you will get extra power, more filters, and a sexier finish, as well as a better and quieter system. If you are ducting your system to a roof or external wall this will also increase the unit price. Many of the high-end hoods also come with dish washable parts. Most exhaust systems have a 2 year warranty and many suppliers offer extended warranties.
Note: there is a huge downside with canopy ranges: they can not always be installed with sufficient clearance, therefore the corners of the hoods often collide with human heads! Unfortunately if the hoods are installed with more clearance, they do not function as well. So be warned.
Retractable rangehoods: The retractable range is priced between $200 and $1,000 and the lower end models are very basic and do not perform very well as there is no room for a powerful motor. But the higher-end models are an integrated system that extends into overhead cupboard space. The latter option has a larger motor and performs exceptionally well. Remember you will also pay more for a system that is quieter; this is not always obvious when you are shopping. The retractable/integrated model has the ability to equal the performance of the canopy range hoods but is cheaper than the higher-end rangehoods as these systems have no expensive or showy parts. The obvious benefit of the retractable system is that it retracts and there are less unfortunate head-collision situations.
Fixed rangehoods: The fixed rangehoods are priced between $100 and $400. As there is limited space for a good motor these systems are generally less powerful and are also noisier than the canopy and retractable models.
Downdraft systems: Down draft systems suck cooking air either into a wall mounted system or directly into the cook top. These systems may look great but are not used very often in Australia (see this discussion on Vogue’s online forum). However there is an Australian supplier; see DownDraft.com.au. Remember hot air rises from a cooktop and these systems rely on moving the naturally rising air down or sideways, therefore the unit would need to be exceptionally powerful to out perform a decent overhead system.
The natural system: A window behind a cooktop is a natural option but be aware of the danger of operating the window when the cook top is being used. There are also standards on how far an operable window can be from a cooktop so you will need to make sure you comply if you do not want certification issues. Call your local council or private certifier for more details.
DIY rangehoods: You can do a DIY system and buy all the individual components. Here is a shopping list:
- 1x inline fan
- industrial filters (you will need a cupboard space for this to fit into)
- ducting
- roof mounted air mover
This system can only be ducted and roof mounted and the connection between the filters and the fan can allow grease to build-up over time. The advantage of this system is that it is the quietest ventilation system around because it is wind driven (you will not even know it is running). These systems are also great for bathrooms.
So here is the checklist for buying a rangehood:
- How much do you cook?
- How many people are in your family?
- What kind of cooking do you do?
- How tall are your family members?
- Do you want or are you able, to have recirculating or ducted system?
- What is your budget?
- Do your wants match the style and function of the kitchen?
So buy a rangehood that meets all your requirements and do not buy a system purely for aesthetics.
Happy shopping!
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Wild and weird architecture
Posted on December, 24 at 2:10 am
Given the doom and gloom the world’s media and governments are overwhelming us with these past few months (thanks to the misdeeds of a pack of idiotic and greedy bankers) I thought I’d end the year with a lighthearted look at some wild and weird architecture from around the world. Enjoy…
The crooked house in Poland…
…would you want to go shopping here after a 3 martini lunch?
The Basket Building in Ohio, USA
…the basket-case bankers who caused our latest financial problems should work here!
Kansas City Library, USA
…I actually like this, its art, in my opinion.
Click the following link for more “Wild and Weird Architecture“.
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Colorbond roof sheeting
Posted on December, 16 at 4:17 am
Become enlightened!
You may think that you know plenty about this age old and well used product but many people are still in the dark about the various types, applications and profiles of this product.
What is Colorbond?
Colorbond is a steel sheet product coated in a zinc and aluminium alloy coating with a baked on top coat of exterior paint.
History of Colorbond
Colorbond’s history starts back in England in 1843 when John Lysaght introduced corrugated iron to Australia. It was a galvanised iron product with a zinc coating and in 1966 the first Colorbond product was manufactured in Port Kembla, Wollongong on the south-east coast of Australia.
Lysaghts now has many competitors: companies such as Stramit, Metroll, Fielders and Steeline located in Australian have virtually identical products. Have a look at this website for a comparison: SteelSelect.com.au
Applications and colours.
There are three Colorbond applications and depending on the location of your property you maybe be limited as to what colours you can choose from.
- Standard comes in 20 different colours and can be used in most areas not affected by salt or industrial elements
- Ultra comes in 6 colours and is for use in coastal and industrial areas
- Stainless comes in 4 colours only and is used in developments with in 100 metres from surf spray and heavily affected industrial areas
Cost correlates with the above, stainless being the most expensive. If you choose the cheaper standard in a salt environment you will be replacing your roof often.
Also remember you maybe limited to colour choice if your local council requires you to specify a non reflective or light colour to minimise glare or heat absorption - BASIX compliance in NSW.
Residential profiles.
Most people think of Custom Orb as the only Colorbond profile, but as you can see below there are more, there is even one thats looks like tile!
So next time you hear the name “Colorbond” you won’t be thinking “Oh that’s corrugated sheeting”. Instead you’ll be comparing prices, determining whether or not its be durable enough for your location, deciding on a profile and asking whether or not it will comply with BASIX.
Good luck on your Colorbond quest!
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Funky Claddings
Posted on November, 22 at 8:42 pm
Claddings may not seem like an interesting blog subject but brace yourself, we’re gonna get ‘funky’…
I’m guessing when you think claddings (or siding for our North American readers) that fibre cement, brickwork, render and horizotal timber claddings come to mind. Well that’s all fine but lets not be boring.
Cladding can be fun, durable and classic; you just need to be careful in your selection. Take a drive around expensive coastal neighbourhoods and take a look specifically at claddings and don’t focus on anything else. You will find if you go cruising and looking at every detail on houses you won’t focus enough on claddings. So when your husband says: “Oh darls look at those doors!”, you say “No! We’re here to look at cladding we’ll come back later for that take a picture”.
Many crazy items can be used as claddings but it’s the waterproofing and longevity factors that will limit your choices, not your imagination.
Corrugated iron cladding:
Corrugated iron or “Colorbond” in the “commercial metallic range” can be an interesting, appropriate and a low maintenance cladding option. The Australian bush is littered with this product on sheds, silos and residential roofs.
When used as cladding the corrugated iron sheeting is laid in a horizontal format and great care needs to be taken where the sheets join one another. Where sheets join vertically a timber batten is used and a waterproofing membrane is inserted between these. Horizontally the sheets are overlapped by about two or three ridges. It is important to note that although rainwater does not sit on the cladding for long it is still a good practice to fix securing top-hat screws with rubber washers on the corrugated ridges, not the troughs. This is essential in roof construction where water can sit - if the screws are located in the trough of the corrugation, water will penetrate through the sheeting.
For more information on the history of corrugated iron I recommend you read this web article: CORRUGATED IRON: Materiality and Placedness
Matrix & Axon Cladding
Some time ago James Hardie launched a product call Exo-Tech for commercial use. Designers started to use this cladding in residential developments and it become very popular. However the product is very heavy and designers were installing it unsealed because the raw grey underneath the sealing was visually appealing. Because of this James Hardie went on to develop a residential application that was lighter and preprimed, thus solving the main problems of the Exo Tech product.
Matrix and Axon are high density fibre cement sheetings. When cut they have an edge as smooth as cut-glass when compared to regular fibre cement which is brittle and rough at cut edges.
These products can be cut to size and are joined by a black rubber seal base for waterproofing. The product is easily painted and used in combination with other products can look stunning.
Plywood
Marine grade plywood is another option but like any timber product it requires recoating about every two years - if not maintained the plywood will delaminate. “Shadowclad” is manufactured by Colter Holt Harvey.
Fixing can be secured with hat-screws with rubber washers. Sheet joins require a rubber seal similar to the Matrix and Axon products or by secret nailing and regular nailing methods.
Cor-ten weathered steel
This is a beautiful product when used correctly and in conjunction with products such as sandstone and timber.
“Weather steel” is the metal form name, and Cor-ten is a brand name. This cladding has a visually striking rusted steel look, but you need to be aware of weathering and staining of other closely located products and items.
The product rusts to a depth of around 5mm, and then stops. This occurs due to the rust acting as a sealing barrier between the steel and oxygen in the air, which causes rusting.
Terracade by Astral
This is my favourite product at the moment and I am still waiting to use it on a building. Terracade consists of terracotta wall tiles that fits onto a a channel system that is secured to timber or steel stud wall. Unfortunately there are only three of the seven colours advertised available in Australia and they are a little expensive if used in a small residential application, but the product is as low maintenance as brickwork and classic in style. Atsral has devised a sealing product that provides excellent waterproofing between the tiles.
So you see…??
Why be boring and uninspired when with a little research you could have a home that really has a “wow factor” and that will date well.
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