Featured Articles

Building experts agree that one of the most common defects they're called on to fix is water leakage through showers. If a bathroom is on a second or upper floor, moisture damage can spread to downstairs rooms. This can be very unpleasant and expensive to fix. The key to avoiding this is a combination of the right materials and correct installation.

With the introduction of Secura™ wet area flooring, there's now a simple way to help protect against moisture damage in wet areas. Made from Scyon™ - an advanced lightweight cement composite with heavy-duty performance - Secura™ wet area flooring not only removes the need for full waterproofing outside enclosed shower areas, but even if it does get wet, it won't deform, or lose its structural integrity.

Simonds Homes designer Bill Giannikos says in the recently published Smarter Construction Book that "brickwork on its own has been done to death as a look". He claims that what's "absolutely king" is being able to mix and match lightweight claddings and brickwork together.

Giannikos says that the key to making this work is good design. If that's been achieved, then he feels that once people see products like those in the Scyon™ range in the field, then "it's good night Irene".

The Smarter Construction Book is designed to help builders and designers builders build in smarter ways. It's the third in a series that includes the Smarter Green Book - about designing and building sustainably, and the Smarter Design Book - about creating distinctively Australian built form character.