Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Say Goodbye to Mis-Match Colours

Have you ever stumbled across the perfect colour for your new walls? Only to find that a photo on your smart phone and a quick PMS comparison bear no resemblance to the colour you once saw?
Have you ever had to match the colour of a wall that had been scratched? Accidentally ditched the paint can ages ago and forgotten the swatch name?
Well believe it or not, there is an app to solve this colour-matching dilemma.
A new smartphone application enables you to capture any colour you see and store the information in your phone in as much detail as the human eye. The creators describe the SwatchMate as a "real-life eyedropper tool".




SwatchMate, from the bright minds of by Paul Peng, Rocky Liang and Djordje Dikic, is a small cube device that accurately identifies and captures colours on real-world surfaces. It uses Bluetooth to send the colour data to a smartphone or into Photoshop.
This application is revolutionary for designers, home renovators, and other creative minds to ‘measure’ colour values. Awarded the 2013 Sydney and Melbourne Design Award, Swatchmate allows users to instantly scan any surface and digitally match its colour to paint libraries. The idea is to make the colour world more interactive so that colours can be properly documented.

If the project reaches its funding goal, the SwatchMade will be manufactured in Victoria by June 2014.  

Thursday, December 05, 2013

Lighting Solutions


Lighting is a crucial element for any home. It can alter the mood as well as the appearance of your walls and furnishings in a particular space.

Different lighting for different spaces
Bedroom: Think about mood lighting, dimmer switches, wardrobe lighting, dressing table and bedside table lamps.
Lounge room: Accent lighting works well in a lounge room. It is recommended that you use up-lighting (floor lamp or wall lights) which offers a purer quality of light through refracting off the ceiling.
Kitchen: Your kitchen cabinets can showcase your treasures and collectibles with feature lighting. Recessed downlights and task lighting are also great in kitchens.
Get the right light bulbs
There are numerous light bulbs on the market: energy efficient, halogen, LED, fluorescent, incandescent – the list goes on. 
Light bulbs come in a variety of shades – from warm to cool light tones, or bright white, to blueish, to yellowish. This is the ‘colour temperature’ of light measured in degrees Kelvin. 

The lower the Kelvin the more yellow the light and the higher the Kelvin the bluer the light. A warmer globe is generally preferable in a home setting but a cooler globe may be more suitable for applications such as strip lighting in bulkheads.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Sticky Doors

Sticky doors are a common problem that arise in Australian homes, but they are relatively easy to repair. Sticky doors are generally caused by loose hinges and unsealed top and bottom of the door which causing swelling of the timber. Sometimes a sticky door can also be an indication of more serious foundation issues, such as subsidence.

If you do not address a sticky door in a timely manner, the door will gradually become harder to open, which causes severe damage to the hinges and handles. 

By following a few simple steps, you can easily repair the problem of a sticky door:

1.       Plane the door down to its correct height. Plane it from one side to centre. Then again from other side to centre so you get an even surface. The ideal gap between the door and the door jam is 2mm to 3mm.
2.      Sandpaper the perimeter of door giving it a smooth round edge.
3.       Seal it up with some paint, to stop moisture getting inside the door so that it will remain stable.

4.       If re-hanging the door by yourself, put your hammer down on the floor parallel to the door. At a 90 degree angle, place your chisel over the top of the hammer and under the door. You will have created a foot-operated lever which will make it a lot easier to lift the door up and down by yourself.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Energy Saving Roofing

Engaging in the re-roofing process allows you to increase your energy efficiency whilst also reducing the cost.

Cracks and missing tiles can contribute to the development of water leaks. This also results in cooler temperatures inside the home, which leads to additional energy consumption and more money attributed for heating purposes.

Re-roofing will improve insulation and ventilation, generally making your home more comfortable.

The re-roofing process also offers the opportunity for the installation of sarking, a flexible membrane that is laid under the roof battens that provides increased thermal insulation.

When selecting a material for a replacement roof, terracotta roof tiles are the premium choice for Australian homeowners. This is because they are resistant to the effects of frost during the cooler months. They also act as an additional barrier against dust and condensation.


Colourbond is the other main contender offering a cheaper alternative and a sleeker look. This is paramount in the design phase. 

Thursday, November 07, 2013

Bathroom Design Trends

The most recent bathroom design trends of 2013 are all about water efficiency, the spa experience, and overall aesthetics.

Water-Efficiency

Water efficiency is now one of the primary considerations for Australian home owners. Companies such as Raymour are now supplying six star WELS rated basin mixers that use as little as 4.5L of water per minute with toilets also saving significant amounts of water with four star WELS rating.

Toilets have also evolved somewhat with wall hung and wall faced models increasing in popularity in recent times. These models have concealed cisterns and wall-hung designs are suspended above the floor for a clean and uncluttered look.

Spa Experience

Bathrooms are no longer seen as being a simple wash room but a home spa and a domain where people can unwind. Showers now deliver up to six shower patterns - from a refreshing light spray to a dense, massaging rain shower.

Kohler offers BubbleMassage baths that take up the same footprint as a conventional baths yet deliver the spa experience with thousands of warm-air-filled bubbles that massage and support the entire body.

Aesthetics

Bathrooms have now become a representation of the homeowner's personal style. Earp Bros is pioneering the trend towards textural stone finishes, organic timber planks and coloured mosaics. All of these features are the product of the very latest in ceramic tile technology.


Moreover, dimensional and tessellated tiles have also become a huge trend in bathrooms where the tiles have an innovative 3-D appearance.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Tessellated Tiling


Design
Tessellated floor tiles involve a combination of ceramic pieces that form a geometric pattern to suit any space required. Their use in commercial and domestic architecture in the 19th century was due to their strength, durability and diversity of design. Due to the nature of tessellated patterns they offer good slip resistance and can be used in wet areas.



Tessellated patterns are supplied as loose pieces (not on sheets). This is done to ensure that the product is aesthetically pleasing. Joint sizes between tile pieces can vary from 1mm to 3mm. This enables the tiler to open and close up the joints to ensure patterns and borders fit seamlessly together.

Installation
It is important to employ a tiler experienced in tessellated tiling as it involves time setting out the pattern effectively, and understanding of how to turn borders correctly.

 Maintenance
· Pre-sealing: This is recommended for red vitrified clay ONLY. Prior to exposing the red vitrified clay to water, pre-seal the top surface to prevent watermarking. This will also help to reduce efflorescence (salting which can result from the mix of water, sand and cement).
· Acid Wash: After the tiles have been laid and grouted, wash them with a phosphoric acid cleaner to remove any excess cement and grout residue.
· Neutralise: Rinse the floor thoroughly with water to remove all acid
· Penetrating sealer: Apply penetrating sealer to provide resistance from staining and oil.
· Cleaning: Tessellated tiles can be cleaned with scrubbing brushes to remove any built up dirt



Thursday, October 24, 2013

Things to consider before renovating your kitchen

       Research your design elements

It is important to research and collect samples of the materials and colour schemes you plan to use for the project. This will enable you to create a "mood board" that will allow you to visualize how the various design elements will look together. 

              Embrace innovative trends

Contemporary interior design trends are dynamic. Do your research! This could help make unique additions to your kitchen space. Magazines such as HomeLife or Grand Designs Australia provide great insight to interior design ideas.

           Attention to detail

Attention to detail can make or break the appearance of a new kitchen. Make sure you consider styling features such as splashback choice, undermount or top skins, draining solutions, and edge detail selection to create a space that represents your lifestyle.

        Design around your appliances

It's important to research your choice of appliances such as oven and cooktop, dishwasher and microwave as their dimensions will play a fundamental role in the overall layout of the kitchen. Be sure to allow for just the right amount of space to avoid frustration when your new fridge doesn't quite fit in its space.

Value-adding

It might be tempting to keep costs down by opting for cheaper appliances and materials but it's important to think long-term. A renovation is an investment that adds value to your home. Using products from reputable brands creates a quality finish that will appeal to future potential buyers. 

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Common Air Conditioning Problems

One of the most prevalent air conditioning problems that arise is improper operation. If your air conditioner is turned on, isolate the room from the rest of the house to ensure that you are using the air conditioner efficiently.

Problems with existing air conditioners often result from poor installation, poor service procedures and inadequate maintenance. Improper installation of a central air conditioner can result in leaky ducts and low airflow. Quite often the refrigerant charge is not congruent with the manufacturer’s specifications. If proper refrigerant charging is not performed during installation, the performance and efficiency of the unit is impaired and this is likely to cause damage.

Refrigerant Leaks

If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, either it was undercharged at installation or it is leaking. A technician should fix any leak, test the repair, and then charge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant. The performance of your air conditioner is maximized when the refrigerant charge is neither undercharged nor overcharged.
Electric Control Failure

The compressor and fan controls can wear out, especially when the air conditioner is turned on and off frequently. Because corrosion of wire and terminals is common in many systems, electrical connections should be checked on a regular basis.
Sensor Problems

Room air conditioners contain a thermostat sensor, located behind the control panel, which measures the temperature of air coming into the evaporative coil. If the sensor is knocked out of position, the air conditioner could cycle constantly or behave erratically. If you notice that the sensor is out of place, adjust its position by carefully bending the wire that holds it in place. 

Friday, October 11, 2013

How to improve home efficiency


There are numerous ways you can improve efficiency in your home. In particular, efficient heating and cooling solutions are vital for saving money on energy bills.
Passive Design:
Passive design can help you maintain the interior temperature of your home with little mechanical heating and cooling. Passive design includes:
·         Insulating the ceiling, walls and floor
·         Sealing draughts around doors and windows
·         Using natural airflow to help with cross-ventilation

Mechanical Heating:
The type of heater you use, how you use it and even its position in your home can make a dramatic difference to your heating expenses.
There are many different types of heating, with different levels of efficiency. Central heating can often heat a whole house, whereas space heating heats the one or two rooms that are in use. There are many options for both types of heating:
·         Gas heaters and efficient reverse-cycle heat pumps are cheaper to run than standard electric heaters and produce one third the amount of greenhouse gases.
·         Reverse-cycle heat pumps are the most energy efficient type of electric heater.
·         Heat shifters have a fan and ducting to direct warm air to unheated parts of your home. They can be cost-effective to install and low-cost to run.

Mechanical Cooling:
When preparing for a hot summer, cooling options may include:
·         Fans: the cheapest and most sufficient option
·         Evaporative coolers: work well in low-humidity areas
·         Air conditioners

Always ensure that you clean the filters on your chosen heating and cooling systems at the beginning and end of each season to ensure that it runs smoothly. Also use timers to make sure that you are not wasting energy.

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Bamboo

With increased consumer environmental consciousness, interest in bamboo flooring, building materials and furnishings has soared. As an attractive and viable alternative to hardwood flooring, bamboo is tough to beat.

Strength & Durability

The superior strength and durability of bamboo has earned its successful use as a timber for flooring and bench tops. In particular, bamboo flooring is stronger and more stable than many hardwoods. Janka ratings have demonstrated strand woven bamboo to be approximately 13% harder than maple and 27% harder than red oak. Moreover, bamboo expands and contracts 50% less than timber and is 99% termite-proof.  

Bamboo fibers are vertical which reduces the opportunity for moisture absorption compared with traditional woods where the fibers are round. 

Convenient Installation

Bamboo timber is similarly priced to quality tongue and groove hard timber flooring, but has an advantage in that sanding and sealing is not required after installation. It is ready to walk on immediately.

Reducing your carbon footprint

There’s no denying that bamboo is a renewable alternative resource for environmentally sustainable development. Research has indicated that bamboo helps reduce CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere, so if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, bamboo timber is the way to go. 

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Uninvited Guests

Termites are responsible for causing an incredible amount of damage to Australian homes each year, with one third of Australian properties reporting damage caused by these uninvited guests. 

Unfortunately, the damage caused by termites is normally not covered by household insurance. On the flip side, you can protect your home by undertaking regular inspections and trying to make your household unattractive to termites.



What attracts termites?

·         Moisture (i.e. damp ground)
·         Decaying timber framework
·         Mulch


How to prevent termites:

·         Fix plumbing problems
·         Seal leaking showers
·         Increase ventilation underneath your floor
·         Don’t leave wood lying on the floor! This is their source of food and will be the number one cause in attracting a colony of termites.
·         Ensure the ground is well drained
·         Keep mulch away from the house perimeter as it holds moisture in soil and serves as a shield for termites


·         Expose concrete slab edges by at least 75mm so you can inspect the house perimeter to detect the presence of termites 

Friday, September 27, 2013

Concrete Cancer

What is Concrete Cancer?

Concrete cancer (also known as “concrete spalling”) is caused by the steel reinforcing rusting inside the concrete.  This causes expansion which results in displacement of the concrete around the steel. When the concrete cracks, water penetrates through, causing the steel reinforcement to rust. This results in corroded steel reinforcement and may cause significant wear on both the steel and the concrete.


Identification

Concrete cancer can be identified by observing the following:

·         Appearance of rust stains, broken concrete or rusted steel reinforcement emerging through the concrete slab, walkway, awning, etc.
·         Swollen or delaminated concrete

What causes concrete cancer?

 Concrete cancer can be caused by the following:

·         Poorly treated reinforcing steel
·         Poor quality concrete
·         Use of incompatible metals

Therapy

Concrete cancer can be treated by undertaking the following repair strategies:

·         Cleaning and removal of all loose, rusted and damaged steel reinforcement
·         Replacement of steel reinforcement that had been damaged beyond repair
·         Treatment of steel and concrete with unique priming products and anti-corrosives
·         Reinstatement of concrete using products such as Sika or Parchem
  Application of a new render so that the initial appearance of the concrete is restored

Cost

For a quotation, contact Graeme Howland on 0416 006 604 or at info@gvhconstructions.com

Friday, September 20, 2013

Mould: An Inconvenient Truth

What is Mould?

Mould is a type of fungi that grows in damp areas that are poorly ventilated including kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. Humidity and condensation from driers, heaters, cooking or showering creates an ideal environment for mould. As a general rule of thumb, always ensure that the interior of your home is dry with effective extraction fans in order to prevent mould growth.

The existence of mould could indicate inadequate ventilation or a structural problem with the property, such as a water leak.  



How to reduce the growth of mould:

·    Open doors and windows to allow air to circulate particularly in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen

·    Clean your bathroom regularly- wipe away any moisture on windows and walls

·    Do not run evaporative air-conditioning systems with water during times of high humidity
·    Regularly clean carpets to prevent mould spores using a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum cleaner

How to remove mould from your property:

·      Use a solution consisting of 60% vinegar and 40% water OR a solution of 70% methylated spirits     and 30% water
·     Exit mould is NOT recommended as it only removes visible mould and does not kill the spors ·     Firstly, wipe clean the affected area using a microfiber cloth with the cleaning solution (use two buckets- one with the solution and the other with clean water)
·     After cleaning the mould affected areas with solution, wipe the surfaces with a fresh damp cloth
·     Finally, wipe all surfaces dry with a clean cloth

GVH Solutions:

GVH Construction can efficiently remove mould within the interior of your home or unit. Contact Graeme  on 0416 006 604 or at info@gvhconstructions.com



Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Article in Australian House & Garden

A job we did last year for one of our favourite interior designers, Stewart from Horton and Co. made it into Australia's House & Garden Spring edition!

Check out the article at Horton & Co interior design webpage http://www.hortonandco.com.au/#!press/c1k7w