@solarventi, Hi, sorry, I didnt work it correctly, It is an interesting concept, but I am not getting it>>> bit slow... How do you heat up in winter in Vic when we get very little sun and the weather has turned Artic this year, Main reason I am noticing the cold, especially when working outside. I do have low blood pressure so feel the cold, but the red clothing next to skin works a charm. I would like to understand... I have seen on uTube where they DIY passive heat I liked the pictures but no explanation and these were using exisiting windows .. I this with gap at bottom on outside so cold air comes in and gap at top on inside so warm air into house.... but got to technical for me. And I get confused, as hot air rises and I dont understand why fans are at the top in newer models not at bottom [of heaters] But I would mind understanding how it works.. Am going to check the website, TU very much. I have bats to put in kitchen reno but would like something to attach to the corrogated iron so there is no gap between iron and bats. Appreciate your help and will check again on your site to see if I missed anything :)

Miranda You appear to be making all the right choices in life. I will be a little bit presumptuous by offering some advice on helping you to raise your child in touch with nature in this age full of all the electronic lures that keep the kids indoors. or, when outdoors, glued to a small screen, rather than the glory that surrounds them. I am writing a book about landscape architecture and have a section regarding the importance of embracing nature in the preschool years. - which I would like to forward that section to you. However, my computer skills are limited to email and US Mail. I don't even know how to attach a picture to the text. If you would like to receive this draft from my future book, send me your email or postal address, and I'll get it right off to you. My email is cascio.offsite@gmail.com Good luck with your new challenges and opportunities. Joe Cascio

we used to be in the burbs..always popped by my neighbour for a chat as she was a stay at home mum..then we moved to a Mac mansion lol knew both neighbours weren't as close.. we've since downsized ..moved closer to the city..we are in the commercial /retail area..only have one neighbour as he lives on top like us too..really nice guy so all good one thing I find as you move closer it's more traffic..thank goodness we live across from train station..one time I went to the shops came back peak hour took the main road..20 mins to get back we are only 3km from the shops.. now I just take the train they come every few mins..and only 4mins to shops no need to find parking. the other bad bits is there's no parking we've only got space for two cars council gave us a permit for the third..kids are growing up and learning to drive ..they won't be able to have their own car living with us.. also privacy..when someone has a party we can't sleep lol too bunched up the music seems much louder.. more apartments going up around us..they will be looking into our deck pretty soon.. we relocated because kids were older couldn't justify one hour drop off pick up each way for schools.. also because we couldn't upkeep our mansion anymore ..too busy ..place too big..it became a burden..now it's much more manageable :)

Hi Kylie Decking is beautiful and there are pros and cons for composite v hardwood. We install both timber and composite for our clients and we like both. However, whichever you choose, its a lifestyle choice. One requires maintenance consistantly and the other is very low maintenance. We're based in WA so we don't recommend clients install BlackButt or Spotted Gum if exposed to any weather (a pergola is not rain proof) as those boards don't suilt the hot dry climate. In our experience of installing Spotted Gum and Blackbutt decks exposed to the weather in Perth and installed by other companies, is that these Eastern States timbers can split and warp if not very regularly re-oiled. However, if you're in the Eastern States, your climate may be better suited. We mainly install Merbau decking and sometimes WA Jarrah (for undercover areas). Merbau is a quality hardwood that doesn't tend to cup or split, although it still requires oiling regularly. There are many composite brands on the market and the main thing to remember is - you get what you pay for. There are very good brands, good brands and economical brands. We've installed most brands however we do tend to lean towards Trex, NewTechWood, Millboard, EvaLast and NexGen. These are all good brands with good warranties. We're not given commission by these brands if we recommend one over the other however, we install what we know is going to provide our clients with quality, longevity and create solutions over problems. Timber v a good quality composite: * Timber requires ongoing maintenance costing time and money. Composite might need a wash down once a year * Timber does not come with a product warranty depending on the supplier. A good composite brand will come with a 20+ year warranty * Most timbers are screwed or coil nailed (not advised) to the joists. Composite boards are secret nailed so you wont see nails or screws through the board * Timber is a 100% natural product and suits all styles of home. Composite has an element of plastic (a good brand may be 70% recycled timber + 30% recycled plastics) * Both timber and composite can scratch. Scratched timber may be sanded back (which takes a lot of work) to remove the scratch. A composite board, once stratched deeply, cannot be fixed. * Timber boards can cup, shrink, swell and crack. Composite boards to expand and contract length ways however a good brand should not shrink, cup or crack. * Composite can get hot on a 40 degree day. But, so can timber. Any surface will be hot on a hot day * Composite boards are smooth to walk on and come with slip ratings. Timber is lovely to walk on too however can become splintery if not maintained * Composite decking is more of a cost investment initially however if a 10L good tin of oil costs $250.00 perhaps twice a year as an ongoing cost plus your time to move your furniture, oil the deck and avoid deck use for 24 hours while the deck drys up to 4 times a year, the investments are almost the same. I hope this helps you make a decision. Best wishes! Regards, Castlegate Home Improvements