Why building a house costs so much in 2026: construction costs explained
House construction costs are more than half as high again as before the pandemic, and the fuel shock of 2026 pushed them up again. Here is what drives the cost of building a home, where costs are heading, and how builders can protect their margins.
7 min read
The PointCPD blog
Building industry news and articles
What is changing in Australian building, and what it means on site: construction technology, materials, energy, regulation, safety, contracts and the housing market.
Why building a house costs so much in 2026: construction costs explained
House construction costs are more than half as high again as before the pandemic, and the fuel shock of 2026 pushed them up again. Here is what drives the cost of building a home, where costs are heading, and how builders can protect their margins.
7 min read
When a builder goes under: how subcontractors can protect themselves before and after
Builder and developer collapses hit subcontractors hardest, because they have usually done the work and are last in line to be paid. Most of the protection comes from what you do before the collapse, not after. Here is how to use it.
7 min read
Shading and eaves: the cheapest thermal control on the house
Shading is the cheapest thermal control on the house, yet it is the first thing value-engineered out. Here is how to keep it, and why it beats glazing upgrades on cost.
10 min read
Silica dust on residential sites: controls for cutting concrete, brick, tile and pavers
The engineered stone ban removed the worst material, not the hazard. Concrete, bricks, tiles, pavers and mortar all contain crystalline silica, and cutting, chasing and grinding them on a house site can produce dangerous dust. Here is what the rules require and the controls that work.
7 min read
Master Builders blueprint: four reforms to tackle a 141,000-worker construction shortage
Master Builders Australia’s new Future Workforce Blueprint says the construction skills gap is structural, not cyclical. It names four priority reforms it says would deliver almost 40,000 extra qualified workers over a decade.
6 min read
Renewing your NSW builder licence: conditions, variations and staying compliant
Renewal is not a repeat of your first application. It is a check that your licence still reflects the work you do, that any conditions on it still fit, and that you have kept up the CPD the scheme requires.
10 min read
How to get a builder’s licence in NSW in 2026: qualifications, experience and the new police check
A NSW contractor licence for general building work needs an approved qualification, at least two years of supervised experience across a wide range of building work and, since 23 June 2026, a National Police Check. Here is how the process works and where applications fail.
7 min read
The National Housing Accord explained: the 1.2 million homes target and what it means for builders
The National Housing Accord commits governments to 1.2 million new homes in five years from mid-2024. Two years in, the target is behind schedule. Here is how it works, where it stands, and what it means for builders.
8 min read
Scope creep: spotting the small unbilled favours before they eat the margin
Scope creep rarely arrives as a written instruction. It arrives as a small favour — and by the time you notice, the margin is gone.
11 min read
Product substitution: what builders must check before swapping a specified product
Lead times and prices push builders to swap specified products every week. Most swaps are fine. The ones that are not become defects, failed inspections and disputes. Here is what to check before you substitute.
7 min read
Construction technology for small builders: a practical 12-month adoption roadmap
Most small builders do not need more software. They need the right few tools, adopted in the right order, and actually used by the whole team. Here is a practical 12-month roadmap.
8 min read
Insulation installation gaps, compression and poor fits: what actually goes wrong on site
An insulation product only performs as well as its installed condition. Gaps, compression and poor fits are the three faults that undo good product selection, and they are almost always visible before the linings go on.
12 min read
SWMS explained: the 18 high-risk construction work categories and what a good SWMS contains
A safe work method statement is required before high-risk construction work starts. Most builders have plenty of SWMS; far fewer have ones that describe the actual job. Here is what the law requires and how to make a SWMS useful.
7 min read
Free site templates for builders
SWMS, JSA, Take 5, inspection checklists, site diary, variations and payment claims. Word and PDF, free for commercial use.