Sediment and erosion controls on residential sites in NSW
Soil leaving a building site after rain is a pollution problem, a neighbour problem and a stop-work problem. Set the controls before the soil moves and check them after every heavy storm.
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.
Sediment and erosion controls on residential sites in NSW
Soil leaving a building site after rain is a pollution problem, a neighbour problem and a stop-work problem. Set the controls before the soil moves and check them after every heavy storm.
11 min read
Succession planning for a small building business
Most small builders plan the sale or the handover date and forget everything that has to move with it. The licence, the people, the clients and the accounts all need their own plan.
12 min read
Retaining wall materials and drainage behind the wall
A retaining wall fails when the ground behind it has nowhere to go. The material matters less than how the wall is backfilled and drained, and that is where most failures begin.
12 min read
Mould clean-up in renovations: protecting your crew
Most mould jobs are caught after the crew has already started pulling material down. This is how to contain the room, protect the people in it and leave the house clean.
12 min read
Property sales volumes and what they mean for renovation demand
A rise in property sales does not produce an immediate rise in renovation work. This guide explains the lag between a sale and the decisions that follow it, and how a builder can plan around that lag.
11 min read
Backing up job files: a practical recovery system for small builders
A lost job file can cost a builder a variation, a defence and a client. This guide sets out a recovery routine for a small business, separate from the wider cyber security questions.
11 min read
Preventing bedroom overheating in new and renovated homes
Bedrooms are often the hardest room in the house to cool at night, and the risk is largely set at design stage. This guide covers the roof, ceiling, layout and ventilation decisions that keep sleeping spaces workable.
11 min read
Lead paint in older homes: safe work practices for renovation builders
Lead paint can turn a routine renovation into a health risk for the crew and the occupants. This guide covers testing, dust control, keeping lead separate from other hazards and disposing of the waste.
11 min read
Interviewing a site supervisor: questions that reveal real competence
A site supervisor interview should test how a candidate handles a late pour, a defect and a difficult subcontractor. These scenario questions show what a sound answer sounds like.
11 min read
Subsoil drainage around footings and slabs: when it is needed and how to build it properly
Subsoil drainage keeps water away from footings and the slab edge, but only when the line is set, graded and connected correctly. This guide covers when it is needed and how to build it.
12 min read
Lead paint in renovations: what disturbance means for your crew
Old paint in an older home can release lead dust the moment it is scraped, sanded or cut. Plan the testing, the controls, the cleaning and the waste before the first tool comes out.
11 min read
Regional and metropolitan builder markets in NSW: how they differ
Regional and metropolitan building look similar on a plan and very different in the accounts. Travel, freight and the labour pool decide which is the better place to focus.
11 min read
Site cameras and time-lapse: setup, privacy and neighbours
A time-lapse camera records progress well, but aimed carelessly it also records the neighbour’s yard and the workers. Set it up for the job, not for the street.
11 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.