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...
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...
Oriented strand board (OSB)
Oriented strand board (or OSB as it's known) is used in light frame construction to offer greater strength, stability and reinforcement.
What is oriented strand...
Framing materials
The different materials that can be used to create the frame or structure of a home will have a big impact on its strength,...
How to choose walls
Some types of walls and materials are far better suited to different types of houses and climates than others. Find out what makes for...
Stone cladding
Stone cladding, in addition to the many attractive finishes it offers, is very resilient and durable, and only requires very basic maintenance.
Stone cladding can...
Cob homes
Cob walls are typically quite roughly built, but do offer some advantages over many of the more sophisticated choices.
What is cob?
Like mud brick and...
Mud brick and adobe
Mud brick and adobe are two other types of wall materials that are making a resurgence as alternative building materials.
What is mud brick or...
Plastic cladding/vinyl cladding
Plastic or vinyl cladding is often made to imitate weatherboards, and is a relatively cheap and durable alternative.
What is vinyl cladding?
Vinyl (or plastic, or...
Weatherboard/wood cladding
Weatherboard is very common in older Australian homes. It is easy to maintain, and relatively cost-efficient to buy and install.
What is weatherboard or wood...