Tiles
Tiles feature in almost every home, and are particularly common in bathrooms and kitchens. Tiles are a strong design feature.
What are tiles?
Tiles are a...
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,...
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...
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...
How to fix big cracks & holes in walls
Larger cracks and holes require a little more attention, but can still be made to disappear using the right methods and materials.
Large holes 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...
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...