Personal guarantees: what a builder puts at risk
A company limits what its owners lose, but a personal guarantee can switch that protection off. Here is how guarantees work for builders and directors, what decides their size and what to check before you sign one.
11 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.
Personal guarantees: what a builder puts at risk
A company limits what its owners lose, but a personal guarantee can switch that protection off. Here is how guarantees work for builders and directors, what decides their size and what to check before you sign one.
11 min read
Skylight flashing and installation to prevent leaks
Most skylight leaks are installation faults rather than product faults, and they show up at the kerb, the flashing or the ceiling reveal. The fix lies in the order each layer goes down, so that water is always shed over the layer beneath it.
11 min read
Temporary bracing and propping during construction works
Temporary supports hold a building up while you change it, and much of the trouble on a residential site happens while they are in place. Here is how to decide what needs support, when an engineer is needed and when it is safe to take a prop away.
11 min read
Using producer price indexes to escalate a building quote
A quote is a forecast, and materials costs rarely hold still for the life of a job. A producer price index gives you an objective basis for adjusting the price, but only if you understand what it measures, how late it arrives and how to write it into the contract.
12 min read
Setting out a slab with digital layout tools
Digital layout tools place a slab faster than tapes and string, but a layout is only as reliable as the reference it was built from. This article sets out the checks that confirm the layout against the surveyor marks and the approved plans before the concrete goes in.
11 min read
Decommissioning gas services in renovations and rebuilds
Gas is often left half-removed in renovations, with pipes in walls and no one sure whether they are safe. This article sets out who does what, how the gas is made safe and what to record before the electric replacement goes in.
11 min read
Protecting trees on a building site and when removal needs approval
A retained tree is often a condition of the approval, and it dies quietly if its root zone is cut or compacted. This article sets out how to protect it during footings and excavation, and when removal needs approval.
11 min read
Sole trader or company: choosing a business structure as a builder
A sole trader or a company decides who is liable, who holds the licence and how the business can grow, long before it decides the tax. This article sets out the questions to answer first.
11 min read
Balcony waterproofing: falls, outlets and membrane detail
Most balcony leaks start at the falls, the outlet or a junction rather than in the membrane itself. This article sets out the sequence a licensed builder should follow, from the first fall check to the flood test before tiling.
12 min read
Working safely near water on flood-prone house sites
A flood-prone block turns ordinary tasks into drowning, collapse and electrical risks. This article sets out how to plan the work, control the access and decide when to stop before the water arrives.
12 min read
Benchmarking build cost per square metre without fooling yourself
A rate per square metre looks like a clean comparison, but it hides differences in scope, site and finish. Normalise the job first, then compare it with anything.
11 min read
Choosing drafting software for residential plans
A drafting package is a daily tool, so judge it on the files it opens, the drawings it produces and the skills your people already have, not on the feature list.
11 min read
Hot water pipe insulation and recirculation loops
Hot water that has sat in a long pipe run is cold by the time it reaches the tap, and the energy that heated it has gone. Here is where that loss happens and how to limit it.
12 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.