Get It Right with Undercover Architect

How do you get started on planning a renovation or building project?  And how do you avoid procrastinating for so long that you never actually get started?  I love this quote by Christopher Parker ... “Procrastination is like a credit card: it's a lot of fun until you get the bill.”   We can, and often do, dress up procrastination as 'planning'. And often what it actually is instead fear, confusion and overwhelm.  So, my aim with this episode is to help you recognise if you're procrastinating. And to help you move instead into PREPARING and PLANNING your project.   In this episode, I show you how you can tell the difference between preparing and procrastinating ...   I share with you how "preparing" feels ...   and then what can go wrong and might make you slip into procrastination ...   and then how to get it right so you can be productive with your time ...   and some key action tips you can put in place now to get prepared for your reno or building project.  Now, if you’re in the UA Community, it’s generally because:  You’re super invested in getting a great outcome for your new or renovated home  You’re aware that there’s a bunch of stuff you don’t know, and you’re worried about what that gap in knowledge might cost you extra in time, money and stress  You feel there’s so much at stake, and you’re navigating this unknown territory with nerves and concerns.   It seems that the more you find out, the more you realise you don't know.  You want to be involved in your project, and have a voice in the process, and so you’re seeking to equip yourself with the know-how, tools, tips and strategies to do this  Ultimately, you don’t want to be another disaster story.   And you don’t have to be – and that’s why both you and I are here.   Undercover Architect is all about helping you avoid the mistakes and heartache that many deal with renovating and building. So you can skill yourself up in what you need to know to make your home great, and have a successful project.  BUT …  You still haven’t started your project, have you?  So let’s talk about what’s might be holding you back. And how you can switch that around so renovating or building your home doesn’t only become a possibility ... It actually becomes an achievable dream that you can stop delaying, and start doing sooner.   Sound good? I think so too …   Listen to the podcast now.  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trying to make the decision whether to renovate, or to knockdown-rebuild can prevent people from starting their project for months, or even years, as they juggle all the options and are unable to choose one way or the other.  If this is you, and you’re trying to make the decision whether to renovate your existing home, or to start again and build a new home, this podcast will help you choose.   I share 3 deciding factors you can use, if you’re juggling whether to renovate or demolish your existing home and build new. Here’s a sneak peak:  Deciding Factor #1: Is knocking the house down to build a new one even an option in your area?  That can be a super fast way to determine if building a new home is possible at all for you.  Deciding Factor #2:  Is the orientation of the existing home is generally workable?  If your home doesn’t work for the movement of the sun, and getting it to do this will require huge structural change, it may be simpler to start again with a new build with a layout designed to suit your site and the sun’s movement.  Deciding Factor #3: Does the real estate value check tell you anything?  Is your area a new home area? Or a renovated old home area? And how do values compare? What does this tell you about whether you’ll overcapitalize or not?  And I also share 3 strategies you can get started with to determine whether to renovate or knockdown-rebuild – here’s they are in summary.  Strategy #1: Do some due diligence on your existing home.  Try to uncover all the potential challenges you’ll have in renovating it and bringing it up to current building requirements.  Strategy #2: Be realistic about the cost of building new.  Include all the various costs in creating a finished home. Often those prices you see advertised don’t include driveways or floor coverings, and have base level fixtures and light-bulbs for lighting.  Strategy #3: Consider getting a soil test and survey done.  These are processes you’ll need done anyway, and they can highlight any challenges a renovation or new build may pose, so your estimates can reflect your real situation.  I hope you find this episode helpful if you’re grappling with whether to renovate or build new.   It can be a challenging choice to make and it’s one that many homeowners get in touch with me about, and deliberate over for a very long time. So now you can use these deciding factors and strategies to help you with making your choice.  Listen to the podcast now.  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're listening to this around its time of release, it's late November, and there's less than 5 weeks until Christmas. And even less time to the start of school holidays! AArrrggh - where is the year going hey?   So, if you're planning some work on your place over the holidays, I want to share with you some tips. Because NOW is the time to get ready.  And if you're not listening at the time this episode was released, and it's say, August or some other month ... then these are still good checks for you to do before you hit 'go' on any project at home. Whether you're planning anything big or small, these tips will help minimise the headaches in getting it done.  So let's dive in! Let me share 7 tips to help you get sorted, so you can use your time effectively, to get work done this time of year. Because now is the time to get yourself ready.  Tip #1:  Check who else will be on holidays  So you don't get caught out like I did and have to scramble for suppliers or tradespeople mid-project.  Tip #2:  Make room for some holiday time  Don't wear yourself out so much on getting your project done, that you forget to actually relax in your holiday.  Tip #3:  Work towards the big picture  You'll be better served ensuring that all work you're doing on your project is heading towards a masterplan vision for it - rather than having to undo work down the track.  Tip #4:  Tick all the boxes  Don't forget to do things legally so you don't get into trouble with your local council, approvals and rules and regulations.  Tip #5:  Plan what you'll get through - and be realistic.   Create a plan of how much you can actually get through, so you don't finish your holiday with a half-done job, and feeling disappointed you've not got done what you wanted to, because your expectations were actually too high.  Tip #6:  Make the most of it, while it's still just on paper  When your home reno or new build is still lines on a page, you have a precious window of opportunity to be sure you've got it right - before all those lines become permanent choices you have to live with.  Tip #7:  Be patient - and look for the silver lining.  Can't get done what you want to? Look for other opportunities in your project. Tick off tasks you can do, and get yourself super prepared for future ones. You'll save time, money and stress in the long run.  Listen to the podcast now.  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s dive into the role of Builder on your project. Duayne Pearce is a Brisbane-based licensed Builder, with over 20 years experience.   Now Duayne is someone, like me, who is passionate about helping educate homeowners about how to get the best outcomes from their building or renovation project. So, Duayne and I first connected on social media and I’ve followed Duayne for a while now. He creates these great short videos that he shares on his facebook page to show things to be aware of and mistakes to avoid in your project – usually shot on site as he uncovers previous work that’s not been done well. This is the first time Duayne and I have met in person, so it’s great to have him joining me on this episode.  So Duayne is half the force behind D Pearce Constructions, which is award-winning construction company based in Scarborough, Queensland. That’s on the outskirts of Brisbane for those who don’t know where Scarborough is.   He and his wife Camille, run the business. They specialise in quality high-end residential renovations and new builds, and have worked with many of Queensland's best architects and trades.   Their mission is to be acknowledged as an industry leader by building well-designed, functional homes. And this is where I really connect with Duayne, because he gets the power of design in creating a great lifestyle for a homeowner in their finished home.  Duayne has completed over 70 residential projects, varying from small renovations to large architectural homes. The company has also received many awards, and Duayne himself was recognized with the Queensland Master Builders Rising Star Award in 2010.  Duayne believes that building should be an enjoyable process. He’s passionate about creating positive experiences for builders and clients. In addition to building quality homes, Duayne also facilitates free consumer seminars called “Build Your Knowledge”. So these seminars help homeowners understand the building process, and ask questions from someone who does it everyday.  He also runs networking and information events for builders called Builders Unite. These events are focused on helping builders connect with each other, and improve their processes via networking and exchanging feedback.  So, perhaps you can see now why I thought he was the perfect builder to get on this last episode of Season 4, Know Your Team.   It’s great to sit down with Duayne and talk about the role of the Builder. I hear so often from homeowners their nerves around choosing the right builder for them. And so it’s super critical to know what to look for, how to choose, and how to be sure you’re finding the best fit for you and your project. Duayne helps us, from his perspective, understand how to do this well.  This is about the WHO, the WHAT, the WHEN and the WHY of using a Builder for your renovation or building project.   Our “Get it Right” podcast partner for Season 4 is COLORBOND® steel and their Matt range.  COLORBOND® steel Matt is a great choice for creating a stunning, sophisticated and subtle look for your home. With a beautiful and neutral look, it has an elegance I know you’ll love, and diffuses light for a soft, natural, textured finish.   And not only does COLORBOND® steel Matt look gorgeous … It’s also durable, strong, 100% recyclable, high tech, tested and designed for the Australian climate, a choice for bushfire zones, able to give your home a contemporary and sophisticated feel, AND has 50 years of history behind it as a brand.  Head to www.colorbond.com/undercoverarchitect for more info  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julia Levitt and Fiona Ericsson are the team behind Sticks and Stones Landscape Design, and in this episode, we’re talking about what a Landscape Designer does, and how they can help your renovation or new home.  Now, as we near the end of Season 4, we’ve had some amazing professionals sharing incredibly useful information with us about what they do, and how their role can help you in your project.  And in Episode 6, Luke Jones of Larc Collective talked through the role of a Landscape Architect in helping you with your outdoor areas and exterior landscape design.  Landscape Designers are another discipline, or profession, that can assist with the design and construction of your garden and outdoor areas.   So, I’m really excited to sit down in this episode with Fiona and Julia from Sticks and Stones Landscape Design.  Sticks & Stones Landscape Design is a Sydney-based dynamic and contemporary young business with an ambitious and energetic approach. Their stunning work has been published in several magazines including House & Garden, Inside Out and Better Homes & Gardens.  The team consists of Fiona Ericsson and Julia Levitt, who met while studying Landscape Design and Horticulture.    With Julia’s passion for plants and Fiona’s background in Fine Arts, they discovered that together they had something special. They decided to harness their complementary talents and take the industry head on.  In 2014 Fiona was recognised with a Design Award for her creative and innovative use of space.   Shortly afterwards, Sticks & Stones designed a show garden at Grand Designs Live Expo, Sydney. I remember seeing it at that Grand Designs Live Expo that year. There were these amazing free-standing installations done by various landscape designers, all using the same floor area. I saw Sticks and Stones design as this fresh, light, clever display. It was this gorgeous urban landscape, with a pizza oven and BBQ, and cluster of pendant lights set against beautiful textured brickwork and sculptural planting. So much functionality and fun squeezed into a compact space.   And the wins keep on coming … In 2016 Julia celebrated an Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers (AILDM) National Design Gold & Best In Category Awards.  Sticks & Stones’ projects include such varied work as designing office spaces in Fox Studios around a bespoke hanging garden, to lush Northern Beaches home gardens and compact courtyards in the Inner West.   All of their designs, however, hinge on the two fundamental principles of garden design: creating a space that is aesthetically pleasing, while still being highly functional.   This achievement comes about through close discussion with the clients around their needs, a well-balanced canvas of materials and plants and, above all, attention to detail.   Sticks & Stones approach each project individually and work to seamlessly connect architecture with the landscape, to create a unique space that transforms the clients’ experience of outdoor living.   Because this is the thing isn’t it … most homeowners I speak to are seeking a beautiful finished new or renovated home. And nothing ‘finishes’ a home or … and nothing improves the quality, functionality and feel of your home - like the landscape design   It’s great to sit down with Julia and Fiona and discuss the role of a Landscape Designer, and how they can help in your project.   This is about the WHO, the WHAT, the WHEN and the WHY of using a Landscape Designer for your renovation or building project.    Our “Get it Right” podcast partner for Season 4 is COLORBOND® steel and their Matt range.  COLORBOND® steel Matt is a great choice for creating a stunning, sophisticated and subtle look for your home. With a beautiful and neutral look, it has an elegance I know you’ll love, and diffuses light for a soft, natural, textured finish.   And not only does COLORBOND® steel Matt look gorgeous … It’s also durable, strong, 100% recyclable, high tech, tested and designed for the Australian climate, a choice for bushfire zones, able to give your home a contemporary and sophisticated feel, AND has 50 years of history behind it as a brand.  Head to www.colorbond.com/undercoverarchitect for more info  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re talking about what a Building Certifier is, and why you need them – in fact, in most cases, they’re essential to any building or renovation project. They can also be known as a Private Certifier.   Mick Tyrell is a Brisbane-based licensed Building Designer, with over 15 years industry experience.   Mick is someone I’ve known and worked with for many years. I actually worked with his brother for many years at Mirvac – he was on my project team documenting the homes we were doing in Bulimba in Brisbane. So, it’s been a family affair!   Mick was the Private Certifier on my own most recent renovation, and was an essential team member in helping us see that project through.   In addition to being a Building Certifier, Mick is also a registered Queensland Structural Engineer. So, in his all his work, building safety is his priority. And this combination of skills – certification and engineering – is a great asset to a project.   In my experience of working with lots of great, and not so great Building Certifiers, the best ones become really collaborative members of your team.    They help you streamline the process overall when they can strategically think about how to help your design perform the way it needs to, so it can be approved and be built. They’re not simply someone who gets a pile of drawings dumped on their desk at a specific point in your project to then tick a bunch of boxes, and do their job.   Working with Mick like this has always been an important part of ensuring we can get to site as simply as possible, and be assured there’ll be no unnecessary stalls or hiccups in that process.   In addition to his engineer background, he has over seven years experience of domestic building certification for homeowners, builders and designers in Brisbane and beyond.   He works incredibly hard to provide every client with the prompt personalised service and attention to detail they deserve. And, he’s just completed his own home renovation – so he has that personal insight into understanding the peace of mind that comes from professional, streamlined and efficient certification!   Building Approvals and Advice is a Brisbane-based team of building certification consultants. They work on projects throughout Queensland, and partner with designers, builders, architects, planners and engineers across a range of domestic and commercial projects.  And, as managing director of Building Approvals and Advice, Mick also coordinates their experienced team.   They have recently been recognised as the Building Certification Team of the Year at the National RICS awards for a second year in a row (2016 and 2017).   They can help with services including building inspections, pool fence compliance certificates, energy reports and relaxations. Mick’s personal experience extends from underpinning, renovations, to new homes and house demolition or removal.   Not sure what all of those things are, and why you might need a Building Certifier to help out with them? Well, that’s some of what we’ll be talking about in this episode.   It’s great to sit down with Mick to talk about the role of the Building Certifier. There can be a lot of confusion over what a Certifier does, and why you might need one. And given that you, in most cases, can’t even commence construction on your project without getting one involved, it’s worthwhile understanding more about what they do.   This is about the WHO, the WHAT, the WHEN and the WHY of using a Building Certifier for your renovation or building project.    Our “Get it Right” podcast partner for Season 4 is COLORBOND® steel and their Matt range.  COLORBOND® steel Matt is a great choice for creating a stunning, sophisticated and subtle look for your home. With a beautiful and neutral look, it has an elegance I know you’ll love, and diffuses light for a soft, natural, textured finish.    And not only does COLORBOND® steel Matt look gorgeous … It’s also durable, strong, 100% recyclable, high tech, tested and designed for the Australian climate, a choice for bushfire zones, able to give your home a contemporary and sophisticated feel, AND has 50 years of history behind it as a brand.  Head to www.colorbond.com/undercoverarchitect for more info  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I speak with Matthew Willis of Bushfire Planning Services. Matt is a Bushfire Consultant, and will be sharing with us when you require this role in your renovation or building project.   Now before you think: Bushfire Consultant? Why would I need a Bushfire Consultant? I don’t live near the bush, I don’t have any bush nearby, and fire isn’t an issue for my property.    Wait.  Surprisingly you don’t need to live right near a large area of bush to be impacted by a bushfire risk.  In fact, I first connected with my guest for this episode when looking at a suburban home in Sydney. The Bushfire risk come up in my early council searches, even though this home didn’t look like it was anywhere near any significant bush.   However, the site did back onto a narrow reserve. And then that reserve was this thin sliver of treed area than gradually connected into larger bush area, and then National Park. And that posed a bushfire risk to this property, and hence brought about the bushfire overlay.    I’ve had a similar experience with a property in Perth that was simply located in a suburban area where each block was quite steep, had significant trees on it, and there was a reserve nearby.  And if you’re in a regional location, you may also be aware that you have a bushfire risk to manage for your property.   So, let me introduce Matthew Willis. Matt is a Bushfire Consultant and Principal at Bushfire Planning Services.   Bushfire Planning Services is an established and professional consultancy firm specialising in Bushfire Risk Assessments and compliance issues, mainly within NSW.  With over 15 years’ experience in the bushfire mitigation and compliance industry and with thousands of successfully approved projects, Bushfire Planning Services is one of the most experienced companies in the industry today.   They have extensive knowledge of the finer points of the NSW requirements for building in bushfire prone areas, types of products available for construction and the requirements of the Australian Standard for building in bushfire prone areas.   Matt personally has extensive knowledge of construction methods and materials gained through 10 years of prior involvement in the building industry.    And he was a Fire fighter with the New South Wales Fire Brigade (now New South Wales Fire and Rescue) and is also one of the first people in Australia to gain a Post Graduate Degree in Planning for Bushfire Prone Areas.  Matt has also sat on industry committees with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service and has a good working relationship with both the RFS and many local councils.  Over the years Bushfire Planning Services have established good working relationships with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service and local councils alike. This allows them to discuss projects prior to submission, which in turn allows for a smooth passage through the approval process, saving time, money and heartache.  This is a great opportunity for us to understand more about how a Bushfire Consultant can help you and what you may need to be aware of if this is something to consider for your property.  This is about the WHO, the WHAT, the WHEN and the WHY of using a Bushfire Consultant for your renovation or building project. So, let’s get into the episode.  Our “Get it Right” podcast partner for Season 4 is COLORBOND® steel and their Matt range.  COLORBOND® steel Matt is a great choice for creating a stunning, sophisticated and subtle look for your home. With a beautiful and neutral look, it has an elegance I know you’ll love, and diffuses light for a soft, natural, textured finish.   And not only does COLORBOND® steel Matt look gorgeous … It’s also durable, strong, 100% recyclable, high tech, tested and designed for the Australian climate, a choice for bushfire zones, able to give your home a contemporary and sophisticated feel, AND has 50 years of history behind it as a brand.  Head to www.colorbond.com/undercoverarchitect for more info. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is all about Interior Designers, what they do and how they help you.  I know this is an area where homeowners can get confused. I see some homeowners using an Interior Designer to simply choose soft furnishings like cushions and fabrics … through to getting their help for the overall vision for the internal colour and material palettes … extending through to being a partner, working alongside them in their project in the design of interior elements like joinery and fitout of their home … and even through to designing whole extensions and renovations. It’s a wide pool of work isn’t it!  So, Melissa Wittig of Healthy Interiors is joining me in this episode to share her knowledge about how an Interior Designer can help your project, and some key tips to help you along the way.  Now, Melissa is a “health focused” Interior Designer. What does this mean?   Well, Melissa can explain that a little more, but basically, our indoor environments are not always the healthiest places for us to be. Choices we make in materials, soft furnishings, paintwork, and other things we live and work around everyday can impact the air quality and how well we thrive in these spaces.   So Melissa’s work not only focuses on Interior Design, but also in helping homeowners understand how to make choices that create healthy interiors.  Melissa’s work and knowledge has been published in various publications including, Sanctuary and House & Garden Magazines. She is also the author of several award recognised design resources including an App and a book called The Smart Living Handbook, which she co-authored with Danielle King.  In fact, it’s via this book that I found Melissa. I personally was doing some research for Alexx Stuart’s Low Tox Life Community about how to renovate and build in a Low Tox way. I found and bought a copy of Melissa and Danielle’s book, and have had it sitting on my desk since. I use it for the members of my online program Your Reno Roadmap, as some have families with allergies, so choosing carpets or other items for example, that don’t cause problems for them, is a key concern in renovating their homes. If renovating or building in a healthy way is something you’d like to learn more about, the book is a great place to start.  Melissa has over 15 years experience and a culmination of skills and knowledge that assists clients to create beautiful, functional homes with consideration to lasting functionality and property value.  And Melissa is also passionate about helping homeowners and their families discover how to create a beautiful home that is energy efficient and supports good health.  I’m really excited to be sitting down with Melissa.  This is about the WHO, the WHAT, the WHEN and the WHY of using an Interior Designer for your renovation or building project.    Our “Get it Right” podcast partner for Season 4 is COLORBOND® steel and their Matt range.  COLORBOND® steel Matt is a great choice for creating a stunning, sophisticated and subtle look for your home. With a beautiful and neutral look, it has an elegance I know you’ll love, and diffuses light for a soft, natural, textured finish.   And not only does COLORBOND® steel Matt look gorgeous … It’s also durable, strong, 100% recyclable, high tech, tested and designed for the Australian climate, a choice for bushfire zones, able to give your home a contemporary and sophisticated feel, AND has 50 years of history behind it as a brand.   Head to www.colorbond.com/undercoverarchitect for more info. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we head outside … and into the gardens and exteriors of our homes.  When we’re renovating or building our home, we are often seeking a big improvement in our lifestyle at home. This can mean enlarging our home, or building a bigger one. And generally it means creating fantastic living / kitchen / dining spaces, that then flow to outdoor entertaining areas and functional gardens.   Our connection with nature, with our environment, can make a big difference to how we feel, and how our homes feel. Creating gardens and outdoor areas that are safe, secure and that add lifestyle to our homes, can make a huge difference to our finished project.   BUT … and it’s a big but …   Often they get left off the budget altogether. Or cut off at some point during the project when money gets tight. Or set aside as a DIY job with some Weekend Warrior, Backyard Blitz action planned … that never quite happens like we plan for it.  And yet, they’re such a big part of helping our projects feel finished … and also helping our homes work well. To have that space around your home – be it compact or generous – that is well designed and beautiful to be in, is so significant for our homes and our lifestyles in them.  Homeowners are often surprised at the cost of their landscaping. It can vary based on your site, and the nature of topography, how easy access is for machinery, and what you’re seeking to create in your project.   As you can imagine, it can be fairly labour intensive – especially if your site is hard to get gear into, and work is being done by hand. And dirt has this handy way of expanding in size when you pull it out of the ground, and so moving it around, and getting it off site, can get expensive. Add to that any retaining and services you want to add, plus the style and design of your hardscape or paved areas, and planting … it’s like designing another room to your home. And it’s so worth the effort when you get it right, so it’s great if you can give it attention and budget in your project.  I think too, it’s one of those areas that we think we can all tackle ourselves. But when you see landscaped areas that have had design input from a professional, it can be amazing what a difference it makes to how the garden and outdoor areas function and feel – both in the daytime, and at night.  So, I’m really excited to be sitting down with Luke Jones of LARC Collective.  LARC Collective formed in 2012, when Luke returned from a year-long adventure. Experiencing the extreme landscapes of the Mexican desert, freezing waters of New Jersey and rocky mountains of Canada from the solace of a van - he became acutely aware of space and thus space-saving solutions.   LARC Collective specialise in what they call “unique solution-based design”. This means that they listen carefully to clients' needs to collaboratively create with these objectives in mind.  They work in a range of project types, including commercial, multi-residential and single residential.   Their work has been published in Inside Out magazine, and they have this fantastic collaborative approach to all their work.  Luke is actually based near me, and connecting with him recently is a funny story. See Luke and I actually worked in the same office about 17 years ago. When I worked for Arkhefield in Brisbane, we shared an office with a Landscape Architecture practice that Luke worked with. It was called Stephen Pate Landscape Architects – or SPLAT for short. Arkhefield and SPLAT teams would often all have morning tea together, do Xmas parties together and we also enjoyed working together on certain projects.  I was at a friend’s birthday dinner recently, and was introduced to Luke – who now sports a beard – and he was keen to hear about how my hubby runs our property as Luke has recently bought one of his own in the hinterland.   He looked familiar, but I couldn’t work out why. And then Luke remembered me from Arkhefield before I recognised him through his beard, but had this hilarious experience of thinking “Oh my gosh that’s Luke!” (and pulling from my memory the image of his clean-shaven face!)  Luke himself has over 15 years of experience in various Landscape Architectural practices. He’s worked on a huge range of projects of all scales.   It is with great pleasure that I sit down with Luke to talk about the role of the Landscape Architect, and his tips on how to get the most from working with one, plus answers to some of the key questions you may have about the landscaping component of your project.  This is about the WHO, the WHAT, the WHEN and the WHY of using a Landscape Architect for your renovation or building project.   Our “Get it Right” podcast partner for Season 4 is COLORBOND® steel and their Matt range.  COLORBOND® steel Matt is a great choice for creating a stunning, sophisticated and subtle look for your home. With a beautiful and neutral look, it has an elegance I know you’ll love, and diffuses light for a soft, natural, textured finish.   And not only does COLORBOND® steel Matt look gorgeous … It’s also durable, strong, 100% recyclable, high tech, tested and designed for the Australian climate, a choice for bushfire zones, able to give your home a contemporary and sophisticated feel, AND has 50 years of history behind it as a brand.  Head to www.colorbond.com/undercoverarchitect for more info.  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we’ll learn all about how a structural engineer will help you in your project, and why you need one.  Josh Neale is a Structural Engineer. He’s also the NSW Office Manager and Structural Project Engineer for Westera Partners.  Westera Partners is a highly respected Australian consulting engineering firm that has been practicing on the Gold Coast since 1981, Brisbane since 1998 and Northern New South Wales since 2009, in both structural engineering and civil engineering.   The company has extensive experience residential housing, higher density projects such as townhouses, and apartment buildings … right through to factories, warehouses, aged care facilities, retail, office buildings and schools.  Westera Partners seek to provide educated and informed feedback to minimise construction costs and reduce construction times. Their service ensures every project is designed or supervised by a senior engineer with over ten years experience. So they are approachable, reliable and experts in their field.  Josh himself has 16 years designing diverse structural engineering projects. His special fields include the design of medium density and complex architectural housings, resort structures, complex and luxury housing, renovations to existing structures and various commercial projects.  Josh has a thorough knowledge of timber framing, steel work, concrete and masonry structures, with a particular interest in sustainable design. He provides consultancy services to architects, builders and developers regarding structural optimisation, cost effective materiel planning and construction techniques. Josh prides himself on presenting his clients with creative and economic solutions while maintaining a high attention to detail.   A structural engineer becomes a key part of your team when renovating or building your home. The structural design of your home – basically how it stays standing, and doesn’t move too much, deflect or fall down over time – is an important part of its longevity. And a big part of your budget can be spent on the structure of your home. So being efficient with it, and it being well integrated with the overall design, is necessary in getting it right.   It’s fantastic to get Josh’s help in explaining more about how structural engineers can work with you, your designer and your builder, to help your project overall.   And he’s also going to help us understand about some of the other information that’s helpful in your structural design.  This is about the WHO, the WHAT, the WHEN and the WHY of using a Structural Engineer for your renovation or building project.    Our “Get it Right” podcast partner for Season 4 is COLORBOND® steel and their Matt range.  COLORBOND® steel Matt is a great choice for creating a stunning, sophisticated and subtle look for your home. With a beautiful and neutral look, it has an elegance I know you’ll love, and diffuses light for a soft, natural, textured finish.   And not only does COLORBOND® steel Matt look gorgeous … It’s also durable, strong, 100% recyclable, high tech, tested and designed for the Australian climate, a choice for bushfire zones, able to give your home a contemporary and sophisticated feel, AND has 50 years of history behind it as a brand.  Head to www.colorbond.com/undercoverarchitect for more info  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.