Having experienced a leaking shower, a step down sounds like a welcome added precaution, which seems rarely done. Supposedly if there is no hob or atepdown there is an angle, and obviously the whole thing is supposed to slope towards the drain anyway, but BeachBathrooms' earlier comment about capillary action rings true. It became obvious very quickly in our other shower that water was creeping across the grout outside the shower so whatever was meant to be done either wasn't or wasn't correctly done. Then there's the modern hotel bathrooms I've experienced where the water simply splashes out too easily. All in the name of style.

You should ask your builder why he is reluctant about 3 metres ceiling heights on the upper level. It is more work for him, so he should quote appropriately, and be paid for the extra height, the extra materials, the extra scaffolding etc. If you are building as an investment you need to understand your market. Will people pay extra for the extra high ceilings so it is profitable for you? In some really expensive areas homes with ceilings less than 3metres are looked down on by the buying public. In poorer areas people are more interested in square metres of floor area than ceiling height so you would lose money by putting in 3m ceilings to both floors. When building townhouses you need to think with your head, and not with your heart. Everybody loves high ceilings, but make sure that you increase the door and window heights proportionally. Standard height doors look funny with 3m high ceilings. This is one of the reasons why 3 metre high ceilings do cost so much more as you need everything taller, including window furnishings for it to look right. If you are building townhouses for future rental you will need to outweigh the additional cost of the extra height with the small increase in rent that could be achieved. While you say the height limit is 11 metres, it probably isn't 11 metres when it is close to the side boundary. Many townhouses are built close to the side boundary so you should check with your council about the side setback requirements. Usually the taller the building the further it has to be from the side boundary. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls and Dr Retro Virtual Visits

I have came across waterproof laminate floor with 15 years waterproof warrenty. Please see Quick Step Laminate Impresive Ultra floor boards. They look quite impresive. I am trying to decide between waterproof laminate and hybrid floor. Please see my post here https://www.houzz.com.au/discussions/6004056/laminate-vs-hybrid-waterproof-floor-board#n=0 Can you please give your input?

Every month seems to bring new flooring products to market that claim to be water resistant or waterproof. But how do you know which products are suitable for wet areas in your home? And what rooms are considered wet areas? Selecting the Best Flooring for Kitchens, Laundries & Wet Areas Which types of flooring are suitable for use in wet areas? So long as your floors are properly waterproofed in accordance with the NCC, Flooring 2 You’s range of Hybrid flooring is suitable for installation in bathrooms, laundries and toilets in domestic homes without floor wastes (Not to be installed within the shower or near a drain). Our hybrid flooring is completely unaffected by moisture, and 100% stable when exposed to topical moisture on a regular basis. Hybrid planks are composed by creating layers that are resistant to water and scratch-proof that are made to last: The top layer is treated to make them stain and scratch proof. A decorative layer gives it the look of timber. The rigid core is innovative that provides stability, especially against changes in temperature and water, including heating that’s underfloor and windows that are north-facing. The last layer is the acoustic backing that helps with noise reduction. When it comes to other areas of the home, other products are also suitable provided the proper maintenance precautions are taken. For more product specifications, care and maintenance information, please refer to the respective product pages. https://flooring2you.com.au/selecting-the-best-flooring-for-kitchens-laundries-wet-areas/