Wilson, one way to accrue a list of potential builders, is to drive around your area of Sydney and make note of which builders and building projects similar to yours as well as those who are currently building houses you admire. I would compile as many as possible and be discerning in your list. You might also notice how long particular builds are taking and if tradesmen are regularly on-site. I realise in Sydney this could be a big job, but it may well be worth your time. Then, check out the builders' websites to see their projects and any reviews. As you move closer to short-listing builders, make an appointment to meet with them to show and talk about your project. You will get a better feel for who you think you can work with, any creative ideas they may have to improve elements of your plan, reduce building costs, etc.

What comes to mind when you think about cladding costs? Perhaps material costs are the first thing that comes to mind. There are many factors beyond the purchase price of materials that need to be considered for a project. Best practice is looking at the long-term value of the project and asking yourself what cladding type will give you the best possible outcome. How hard is it to install? Another cost front of mind may be the installation cost of a cladding product. Installation costs will vary depending on your choice of cladding material. Inflexible and heavy materials such as brick, fibre cement and timber can require additional transport costs to get them to site. Some of these products may also require specialised labour and equipment for installation, therefore, increasing completion times and costs. A flexible and lightweight system, however, is easily transported and easy to install, saving you on both time and money. How long will it last? Some materials are made to last a lifetime. While some are at the mercy of the elements and require ongoing maintenance and replacement. In areas of extreme weather conditions, cladding types that are susceptible to rotting, warping, splintering or fading are not ideal for the project. Cladding that easily wears will require repainting, re-staining or even removing – adding significant costs onto a project over time. It is also important to ensure your cladding product is safe and compliant with Building Code of Australia – Since the onslaught of recent tower fires Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) have been restricted. If you use or have used this cladding you may be mandated by the law to remove and replace it – another costly exercise. How does it look? Eveyone’s goal is to make their project or home attractive for many years to come. The warmth timber delivers is a popular building aesthetic – but finding a product that looks great and can remain looking aesthetically pleasing is a difficult task. While natural timber may be an obvious choice, if it is not maintained it will warp, splinter and start presenting an unpleasant appearance. Vinyl claddings are cheaper and claim to be timber-like in appearance. However, they often disappointment with their visibly plastic looking texture. Powder-coated, sublimated aluminium cladding can achieve the natural look and feel of timber, without the issues of rotting or fading. This allows your cladding to remain visually appealing for years! DecoClad Looking for a cladding system that is durable, easy-to-install and appealing to the eye? Look no further than DecoClad! Made from solid aluminium, the sublimated, powder-coated cladding system provides a rich and textured timber grain finish for your project. DecoClad retains its beautiful appearance in extreme weather conditions. The Super Durable finish protects the cladding from wear and tear, eliminating the necessity for on-going maintenance other than cleaning. The solid aluminium profiles are light weight, fire-safe and very easy to install and transport. To find out more about cladding costs, what to look out for and how all aspects of cost can affect your project visit www.deco.net.au.

I think one of your key considerations will be what to do with the flue / chimney. My personal thought is that you should look to punch it through the wall and keep clean lines inside, but not sure if that is feasible for you. Otherwise you might want to make a feature out of the chimney enclosure - use it to break up the length of the room. The path you choose here will inform the remaining design decisions. You have to keep in mind that an off-the-shelf fireplace unit is not going to have heaps of flexibility in terms of altering its design to suit your space. If the unit you are looking at is designed with a vertical flue and you want to punch through the wall instead, you are going to need specialist advice to make sure that the gas certification for the fireplace unit is not compromised by your alterations - or chose a different unit that suits your needs.

The tiles and tiles are usually one of the most complicated parts to keep clean and shiny, both on floors, houses, and commercial premises. In fact, cleaning them can be simple in the short term, however, extending this state is already more complicated. A flat has critical or more critical areas than others, not only for cleaning but also for maintenance in the most hygienic conditions possible. These areas are the kitchen and the bathroom, which have tiling, tiles, and tiles even on the walls. In the kitchen, residues of grease, odors, and vapors end up removing the shine of the tiles and tiles. In the bathroom, on the other hand, the remains of lime and steam from the water end up reducing the shineand cleanliness of the tiling. Information 1 How can tile and tile be cleaned? 1.1 Kitchen tile cleaning 1.1.1 Ammonia and water to clean kitchen tiles 1.2 Bathroom tile cleaning 1.2.1 Cleaning with vinegar and ammonia 1.2.2 Cleaning with baking soda 2 The most common doubts about tile and tile cleaning 2.1 How to remove embedded grease from kitchen tiles? 2.2 How to remove limescale embedded in bathroom tiles? 2.3 How to clean the blackened joints of the bathroom tiles? How can tile and tile be cleaned? kitchen tile cleaning As has already been mentioned, the kitchen tiles end up full, in large part, of fat from the preparations that are made in them. For this reason, degreasing, acidic, disinfectant products or materials that allow the grease to be easily extracted from the tiles are necessary. Among the most effective mixes and combinations are the following. Of course, it should be remembered that before using this mixture on the tiles, it will always be convenient to have passed a scourge with neutral soap and water. After rinsing and finishing off the cleaning, the ammonia is perfect and will give shine. Hot water and vinegar to clean kitchen tiles and tiles The vinegar can be wine, apple, or cleaning. Normally the most effective is usually cleaning, as its composition is much more concentrated and effective in less liquid. The way to clean with this mixture is to deposit one part vinegar to two parts hot water in a bucket. Then take a brush and scrub the tiles with this water. You can even apply the vinegar directly to make it more effective and then rinse it off with water. To make it much brighter, it is best to give it a last blotting pass with kitchen paper or a chamois that does not leave a trace of fibers. Ammonia and water to clean kitchen tiles This mixture is already one of the classics when it comes to cleaning. Three parts water and half ammonia are enough for good results. Detergents or scents can even be made with ammonia. It is highly effective and practical to use ammonia and hot water to clean kitchen tiles that have been embedded in the dirt for a long time. However, this mixture is very corrosive. That is why it is recommended to use it after having left it to rest for a few moments and with gloves. bathroom tile cleaning Bathroom tiles and tiles, as mentioned above, end up full of limescale, steam, and traces of soap, shampoo, and other hygiene products. For this reason, it is important to carry out a series of cleaning habits in order to leave the walls much more beautiful. Cleaning with vinegar and ammonia The system is the same as with the cleaning of tiles and tiles in the kitchen. Previously, they must be cleaned with soap and water, but after that, a pass with one of these two mixtures will leave the surface much brighter, disinfected, and cleaner. Cleaning with baking soda Mixing baking soda with a little water will not only give the bathroom tiles a shine, but it will also remove excess limescale and protect the area so that these remains do not accumulate so quickly. The most common questions about tile cleaning How to remove embedded grease from kitchen tiles? To do this, the best method is always the mixture of water and ammonia. This combination of products allows fat to be dissolved and extracted, even the most accumulated. The way to apply it should be either with a sponge or with a scourer, depending on the type of fat and how dry it is. The importance of protecting the hands with rubber gloves should not be forgotten, as this mixture is highly aggressive to the skin due to ammonia. How to remove limescale embedded in bathroom tiles? To remove the lucky lime from the tiles of the bathroom, the most useful and economical thing is the mixture of vinegar and water. Above all, yes, the water must be cold. The application on the surfaces must be done with a sponge, leaving it to act for about ten minutes. When rinsing, it is dried with clean and dry kitchen paper or cloth. How to clean the blackened joints of the bathroom tiles? Another common bathroom problem is blackened joints between tile pieces. This is due, in large part, to the moisture in these areas of the floor and not cleaning it properly, which leads to a buildup of mold. This results not only in an unattractive appearance but also in infections and bacteria. That is why a thorough and thorough cleaning of the bathroom with vinegar, either cleaning or apple vinegar, and hot water is so important. Another very practical product for this problem is baking soda mixed with water. Both mixtures should be left to act for a few minutes (between 20 and 30) on the surface, after scrubbing the surface with a brush or hard pad. Always protect the hands with gloves, not because of the products themselves, but because of the mold and bacteria on the joints. Cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, after all, is very simple if you know how to do it. From theSCS Group Integrated Services blog, we want to provide information and advice to our customers and readers to make their lives easier. For more information about our servicesvisit our website