Hi, Barbara! Hello, my friends in the Houzz! I got caught in the whirlwind of construction works and a wedding and family homecoming that went with it! Now, I am happy to be back supervising the works. I made additions to the house, mainly at the back, making outdoor living and relaxation as a feature with the grill and outdoor seating and mobile Kitchen all added around the small bath area. Security here in this country is a big consideration, which leaves me with not much choice but to build high and strong fences and gates. My challenge is how to allow for a view of those cornfields and meadows just behind the house, providing a natural awesome backdrop to the 450sqm small property. It may not disappoint you too much to know that I went for the cut stone cladding for the four tall gate posts in front, a copy from the cladding on the posts of the front veranda, only, they are 2.2meters high. There will be two wide gates that will allow entry and exit of suv's on a half roundabout. The whole stretch of the front fence and gates shall be 2.2m vertical iron rods all lined up in a picket. This should allow the least obstructed view of the property from the narrow road. I shall send you more photos of our finished product :). In the meantime, this is how I have fared... Blessings to you, all!!

There are two types of glass pool fence. Frameless and semi-frameless. Frameless fence sits in two spigots which are fixed to the ground. There are no supporting vertical poles between the glass pieces. The semi-frameless fence is attached to vertical supporting poles between each glass fence. Numerous helpful sites are available online, from where one can install glass pool fences to add style and luxury to your swimming pool.

The corrosive environment created by seawater presents a major challenge when building on coastal areas. In Australia, this is an enduring issue as the vast majority of the population lives in coastal areas. When choosing building products for coastal buildings, home owners must consider the impact of harsh environmental conditions such as humidity, sea spray, pollution and ultraviolet (UV) solar radiation. As developments move closer to the sea, the higher percentage of moisture and salt particles in the air accelerates the rate of corrosion on all types of building components. To deliver high quality coastal buildings with long lasting performance, homeowners should select products that are marine grade and compliant with Australian standards for corrosion resistance. DecoWood, with its Super Durable powder coating, is one such product. The DecoWood finish is created through a two-stage process called ‘photo-imaging’, which involves powder coating aluminium, then sublimating a woodgrain pattern into the coating. The aluminium profile or sheet is pre-treated before coating, giving it additional corrosion resistance. DecoWood’s specialist finishes are designed for marine environments and comply with international and Australian standards for quality. DecoWood is 50% more durable than standard powder coating finishes and achieves a Class 2.0, one of the higher classes of durability under the Qualicoat Standard. The Qualicoat Standard is the international standard for quality assurance in powder coating. Both Qualicoat and Australian Standard AS 3715 set out a series of tests to assess the performance of powder coatings. Under the Qualicoat Standard, the key durability tests of powder coating are The Natural Weathering Test and the Acetic Acid Salt Spray Test. The Natural Weathering Test involves laying samples out and exposing them to high levels of UV radiation. Part of the sample is also covered for the testing period. This process measures the performance of finishes under realistic conditions that cannot otherwise be replicated by machine testing. The DecoWood finish has been tested in extreme exposure sites around the world, and have performed strongly, showing minimal difference between the covered and exposed samples and retaining 90% of its gloss level. DecoWood has been tested in sites such as Miami and Venice and passed a 3-year Florida Natural Weathering Test as required for its Class 2.0 Qualicoat durability rating. DecoWood has also been subjected to the Acetic Acid Salt Spray Test, which determines how well the powder coating is bonded to the aluminium. DecoWood samples are placed into a cabinet where an aggressive mix of salt and acids are sprayed over the samples for the test period. DecoWood passes 2000 hours of this test, meaning it fully complies with the Qualicoat standard and is more durable than any other woodgrain finishes available in Australia. Ideal for coastal building projects, DecoWood’s marine grade finish is available on a number of applications, including the following: DecoClad combines aluminium’s strength with the Super Durable coating for exterior cladding, gable ends and facades. DecoDeck is an aluminium decking system that replicates the form and appearance of natural timber decking. DecoSlat offers aluminium slat fences, gates and screen coated in the high performance DecoWood finish. DecoBatten are aluminium battens that replicate the form of luxury timber and enable a wide range of architectural styles and statement pieces. Unlike real timber, DecoWood building products are low maintenance, do not require painting or sealing and are easy to clean. They are also resistant to termites, warping and rot. DECO products are also non-combustible and compliant with the fire performance requirements in the National Construction Code. For more information on the Super Durable DecoWood finish, visit DECO’s website at: www.deco.net.au.

2020 is brimming with exciting new trends worthy of this fresh new decade. While 2019 was dominated by products showcasing innovation and sustainability, this year, even more stunning and clever new styles will make their way onto the design scene. INDUSTRIAL CHIC Industrial design has been having a moment in the sun in recent years, and that is only predicted to continue. Industrial materials, recycled products and neutral colours on buildings are proving popular for residential and commercial designs alike, bringing an edgy, urban aesthetic to building design. DECO’s new rust and concrete finishes are a lightweight, easy-install option for achieving popular industrial aesthetics, offering a low-maintenance alternative to real concrete and rust. WALL MURALS AND LARGE SCALE ART Say goodbye to boring, blank walls – large scale artworks and wall murals are taking the world by storm. Outdoor spaces are now designed to be eye-catching, with exciting, colourful murals shared again and again on social media, creating new tourist hot spots and talking points in the community. DecoArt offers almost limitless designs for large-scale wall art and murals, allowing designers to achieve their dream aesthetic and explore the bounds of their imagination. CURVES AND ROUNDED EDGES Architects and designers are increasingly veering away from traditional, boxy building designs. Rounded edges and curved walls are becoming increasingly fashionable, with curved batten walls, round window frames and spectacular arches featuring on commercial and residential designs alike. DecoBatten radius edge moves with the times, allowing architects and designers to create wave-like effects, curved walls and a more handcrafted feel to their projects. FORM AND FUNCTION Functionality is becoming just as much an important part of design as aesthetics. New designs focus on the quality of space, with designers choosing dual purpose products that are attractive, functional and durable. DecoWood timber-look finishes are versatile, and can be applied to windows, doors, fencing, screens, decking, cladding, shutters, louvres, gates and facades. 50% more durable than standard powder coatings, they are designed to withstand even the harshest of Australian environments, offering longevity as well as the natural appearance of timber. SOLID ALUMINIUM: THE SAFER CLADDING OPTION In the past year, city and country residences alike have been hit by horrific fires. Flammable cladding on high rises and bushfires destroying flammable products have forced the architecture and design industries to rethink the building materials they are specifying. Solid aluminium cladding is a safe alternative to flammable ACPs, composites and timber, and is suitable for both bush areas and multi-storey residential buildings. Made from 100% solid aluminium with a sublimated, powder coat finish, DecoClad is a non-combustible option for all residential and commercial buildings, with 30 natural timbergrains available for a realistic timber appearance without the fire hazard or maintenance. It is compliant with Australian Standards AS 1530.1 and AS 1530.3 as a non-combustible material, and is ideal for internal and external cladding, ceilings and soffits, feature walls and facades. SUSTAINABILITY With climate change on the world’s radar, demands for recyclable, sustainable building materials are rapidly rising. Architects and designers are increasingly turning to products with longer life cycles and less wastage, which can be reused indefinitely. Some materials, such as timber and plastic, are downcycled, meaning their quality decreases with every iteration and their use becomes limited after they are recycled. Aluminium, however, can be recycled indefinitely without losing its quality, and 70% of all aluminium in the world is recycled, making it a highly sustainable material and a green design option.