Asbestos sheeting
Asbestos sheets, when broken, can cause cancer. They are often found in older houses, where they were used for insulation purposes.
Asbestos sheeting needs to...
Straw bale houses
Straw bale houses aren't particularly common, but offer excellent insulation and a cost effective way to build a home.
Straw bale houses are typically easy...
Structural insulated panel (SIP) walls
Structural insulated panels (or SIPs) are typically made of wood and styrofoam, and are an effective alternative to light frame construction.
What are structural insulated...
Steel framing
Steel is increasingly used in modern house framing, and is valued for its versatility, longevity and strength.
What is a steel frame?
Most buildings structured around...
Timber framing
Most homes in Australia are built using light frame construction using timber. Find out about the properties of these homes.
Timber house frames are very...
Render
Rendering a brick or stone wall can add significantly to its durability and insulation, and vastly alter the look of your home.
What is render?
Render...
Concrete sheeting
Although rarely exposed, concrete sheeting offers good insulation and is often used behind tiles and similar surfaces.
Concrete sheeting (or blue board) is a durable,...
Plaster
Plaster is often used as a filler, especially to repair damaged walls. It's also used for decorative mouldings, among other things.
What is plaster?
Plaster is...
Wood cladding and moulding
Wood has many uses on internal walls, but is perhaps most commonly used for decorative purposes like mouldings and frames.
What are wood-clad interiors and...
Mortar
Mortar is the material used to hold bricks together. There are a number of variations in mortar that are worth knowing about.
Mortar is used...