Hi, just thought id update everyone on the outcome of the paint. Went to Inspirations Paint (they are a Dulux specialist and matched it exactly) but got it home and same result - paint was completely different colour on the wall, way too brown-yellow and much darker in colour. Perfect when painted onto a piece of primed timber but completely changed when it went on the wall. In desperation I decided to start again and bought other sample pots but all with the same problem - if it was a beige tint it turned out deep mud colour on the wall and if it was a grey colour it threw purple on the wall. Both the hardware and Inspirations Paint feel it was a faulty batch of sealer that was affecting the paint colour. We had already used 30 litres (bougth both 15lt from the same place at the same time) so it was too late to re-seal again and so we purchased a couple of sample pots from white/neutal swatches and finally found one that was similar to our desired paint colour when applied to the faulty sealer. So... in the end it seems the primer/sealer we used on the new gyprock was the problem, and what a headache! But thank you all for your help

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.

I have chosen Signature Carpets "Harlow- Creighton" 65 oz carpet with a pile length of 16mm.Half of the carpet was laid before x-mas and not finished. I took a sample of the laid carpet to the showroom to compare with the sample there and the colour was different. I have now taken the showroom sample home to compare what had been laid on the floor and found that the showroom sample had the same length of fibre, but had a mush plusher feel to it and felt very much dense.I am currently walking on the unfinished Creigton carpet and have footmarks everywhere I go, to the point of toe-marks(bare feet) still imprinted on the carpet the next day! I have now compared a sample of Harlow Creighton laid at my property and Luxcloud Florian(very much cheaper) and apart from the pile height there is no difference. Both of them are tracking very badly and look awful, especially compared to the denser showroom sample. I get the impression that there is either a problem with the wrong carpet delivered from the carpet importer or maybe the more expensive carpet ordered by me was substituted with the cheaper Luxcloud Florian. The third scenario is that there is no difference in density between the cheaper and more expensive carpet and only the height is different. However, this still does not explain why the sample from the showroom seems to be much denser and does not track very much. A sales rep from the carpet importer is coming on Monday. Is there anybody who had a similar experience and who could give me some advice? The importers sales rep is coming in a few days and I just want as much info as possible.

Now this, I can get behind! Literally and metaphorically. What a transformation! the 'before' images take me to a place where I'm sitting in a boring corporate 70's office making 80 calls a day only to receive a fax from a prospect to say they liked me but aren't going ahead with the deal (heartbreak). The metal cabinets scream ATO/IRS and I can almost feel the them breathing behind my neck as to why I haven't yet lodged my returns. Fast forward, this new space is full of colour, life, a sleek modern touch and a great vibe! Love it x100