Plumbing

The Mystery of Henry Hoke

JonathanGreen — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:55:11 +1000

Like many readers of ManSpace, we at the Institute of Backyard Studies (IBYS) are big tool collectors. Most Sunday mornings you’ll find us out at garage sales, swap meets or the trash’n’treasure, casting expert eyes over piles of rubbish and junk in a search of that elusive little beauty. A Stanley plough plane from 1923 perhaps... or maybe a Wilkinson folding drawknife is just sitting there, waiting for our loving touch. You live in constant hope of that big find and some days are good.

PRODUCT NEWS: Billi launches new boiling & chilled water taps

Darcy — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:26:48 +1000

Billi has released its latest range of boiling and chilled water drinking systems, featuring three attractive new designs.

The 'Levered' model uses a tactile levered-mixer style design, similar to that of conventional levered mixer taps. A second 'touch' model uses understated touch-sensitive controls to dispense either boiling or cold drinking water, and a third 'Remote' version allows you to remove the controls from the tap altogether, and mount a control panel wherever you choose.

Flush font and colours

FREE ticket giveaway for the HIA Sydney Home Show!

Darcy — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:32:07 +1000

When: Thursday 31st May - Sunday 3rd June, 2012Where: Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre, Sydney Want free tickets to the HIA Sydney Home Show?Just sign up for the BUILD newsletter. The first 50 people to sign up get a free pair of tickets (valued at $18 a piece on the door). Couldn\'t be simpler.Even if you\'re not in the first 50, we\'ll still send you a special half-price promo code. Not bad eh? Click here to sign up About the show:The HIA Sydney Home Show is being held in Sydney between the 31st May - 3rd June 2012, and features all kinds of ...

FREE ticket giveaway for the HIA Melbourne Home Show!

Darcy — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:23:58 +1000

NOTE: All of the free tickets are gone! Big thanks to those who signed up, we\'ll be in touch in the next day or two to get your postal details. If you\'ve missed the boat, don\'t despair - we\'re still offering a 1/2 price coupon code to anyone who subscribes to the newsletter before Monday 23rd April.Thanks again, and see you at the show! ______________________________________________ When: Thu 26th - Sun 29th April, 2012Where: Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Southbank, Melbourne Want free tickets to the HIA Melbourne Home Show? Just sign up for the BUILD ...

On the go again!

wrenton — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:35:25 +1000

It’s been a while since the last update, but there has been quite a delay with the supply of the steel for the upper level, and once a again it felt like there was very little happening. Quite a few of the wall frames had been completed but erecting these all depended on the steel being in place.

Going back a month or so, the bricklayers did a fantastic job with all the lower walls being completed in just under two weeks. It would have been nice if the steelwork had come along as well! Anyway, the clock cannot be wound back, and, as of this week everyone is back on the job.

PRODUCT NEWS: Caroma Quattro tapware range

Darcy — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:35:55 +1000

Caroma has just announced its new Quatro range of tapware, featuring squared off lines, a distinctive geometric styling and looping handles for easy operation.

The Quatro range includes:

a basin mixer (6-star WELS rating)
a sink mixer (5-star WELS rating)
a bath and shower mixer (available both with and without a diverter)
a wall basin/bath mixer in two different sizes
a fixed shower outlet (3-star WELS rating)
a hand shower on a rail (3-star WELS rating)
a wall basin/bath outlet.

PRODUCT NEWS: Auspex Radiant Underfloor Systems

Darcy — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:55:23 +1000

Australian-made and owned Auspex underfloor heating systems are now available as a complete installation system, allowing for easy installation of cosy radiant underfloor heating in new homes.

Ian Hopkins' unofficial motorbike museum

JonathanGreen — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:00:09 +1100

A magnificent motorbike and memorabilia collection in a renovated ice cream factory is a visual treat of the highest order. It also acts as a chronicle of one man’s life, writes Jonathan Green. One of the best motorbike collections in Australia is located in an old ice cream factory in Cairns. With over 40 bikes of significance and a mountain of memorabilia and history, some have even said it’s the best tourist attraction in Cairns. Except for one small issue ... it’s not actually open as a public exhibition. Ian Hopkins (or Hoppy to his mates) has lived and breathed motorbikes his ...

PRODUCT NEWS: Hansgrohe Monsoon shower

Darcy — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:18:36 +1100

Hansgrohe this week launched its Monsoon multi-spray hand shower. The shower, which limits water usage to 7.5L / min uses 'AirPower' technology which, according to Hansgrohe, involves drawing air into the shower to give a greater sense of spray volume, regardless of water supply pressure.

The shower also features a self-cleaning system (QuickClean) to help fight limescale, and allows three different stream settings.

Key features

Three spray settings: 'Rain', 'massage' and 'tonic'

Having a bar of it

JonathanGreen — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:36:57 +1100

In the launch edition for ManSpace we asked readers to send in personal stories about their space. Darren Gallagher has answered the call and gives us a first person account of The Flying Sailor Bar & Brewery; his garage retreat inspired by beer, blues music and cool cars: Never a truer word has been spoken since young Tobias talked it up in the 18th century. There is something fantastic about being young and hitting the high seas (which led to being hit from time to time, or from port to port). Having moved around as a lad because of my father’s employment, little did I know that he ...

6 sources of inspiration for your build

Darcy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:58:52 +1100

Planning your home designs or renovations should be a bit fearful and overwhelming. Even if you\'re entrusting a designer or an architect with most of the hard decisions, the concept\'s still down to what suits you best. If you\'re not chewing your nails to a bloody stump when you\'re considering what you want, it\'s possibly a sign that you need to dust off your brain and think much harder about the endless options you have in front of you. The world\'s full of spectacular ideas about to how we\'re able to live in our built spaces, what we can build, and how we can tweak and refine our ...

Like a giant Meccano set

wrenton — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:04:51 +1100

With the holiday break behind us the action on ‘The Block’ is picking up. Early January the scaffolding was put in place, then from that point on there didn’t appear to be much happening. However, we were assured there was plenty going on behind the scenes.

Can a price be too cheap?

matthew — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:06:41 +1100

We all love a bargain right? Group buying websites, department store sales, online shopping. We are being bombarded with discounts so much that if we pay full price we tend to feel ripped off.

Giving hefty discounts is fine if you have large markups. Sure profits take a hit, but if they are still making money the business can be sustainable.

PRODUCT NEWS: Caroma Cameo toilet with Orbital Connector

Darcy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:30:40 +1100

Caroma has announced a new Cameo toilet suite, which incorporates a patented Orbital Connector to allow greater flexibility in renovations and retrofits.

Extreme DIY: Barry's backyard observatory

JonathanGreen — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:18:40 +1100

As a kid, Barry Armstead was a huge fan of Star Trek and Dr Who. He watched documentaries on space and dreamed of becoming an air force pilot so he could fly close to the outer rim. Instead, Barry joined the army, and on returning from active service in East Timor he decided to build an observatory. This was his very own Tardis – in the front yard of his house – that could transport him through time and space … if only through lenses. Astrophotography is the art of taking photographs of objects in space. Aficionados use telescopes, digital cameras and other sensitive equipment and ...

PRODUCT NEWS: New Kohler Nature's Chemistry range of basins

Darcy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:56:01 +1100

Kohler has recently launched its visually striking 'Nature's Chemistry' range of glass bathroom hand basins.

Stormwater systems

Darcy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:01 +1100

Septic systems

Darcy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:25:15 +1100

Drain waste vent (DWV) systems

Darcy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:20:27 +1100

What to do if there is a gas leak

Darcy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:16:31 +1100

Always take gas leaks seriously, and deal with them immediately.

Gas leaks aren't something you should ignore - even if you think you only have a small gas leak, you should deal with it immediately. Below are a few steps you can take to deal with leaking gas inside and outside your home:

If you smell gas inside:

What to do in a plumbing emergency

Darcy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:49:51 +1100

Plumbing systems and equipment types

Darcy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:41:49 +1100

What is plumbing?

Darcy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:30:11 +1100

How is plumbing installed in houses?

Darcy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:25:22 +1100

What does plumbing involve?

Darcy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:44:40 +1100

What do plumbers do?

Darcy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:40:50 +1100

Make sure your plumber holds a current, relevant licence.

For many people, plumbing is that ‘dirty job that someone else has to do’. Because most people don't give a second thought to their plumbing until a problem arises, it's often not given the attention it deserves. In reality, plumbing is the one system that your home absolutely can't be without.

Types of valves

Darcy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:12:47 +1100

Pipe lagging

Darcy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:32:23 +1100

Sub metering and smart water meters

Darcy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:24:06 +1100

Water meters

Darcy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:02:44 +1100

Grey water systems

Darcy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:10:35 +1100

Plumbing systems

Darcy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:22:09 +1100

Plumbing regulations

Darcy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:17:35 +1100

Plumbing maintenance

Darcy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:13:18 +1100

Hot water systems

Darcy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:02:39 +1100

Safe installation and use of gas appliances

Darcy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:21:04 +1100

Always remember to turn gas heaters off when you sleep or leave the house.

Gas is used widely across Australia and is generally safe, convenient and affordable if you understand a few basic principles.

Carbon monoxide and ventilation

Darcy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:15:13 +1100

BBQ safety advice

Darcy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:28:14 +1100

So you have at least 3 quotes, now what?

matthew — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:57:20 +1100

If you have carefully selected your tender list, then choosing your builder should be relatively easy. If you have read my previous blogs you would have already selected builders that can provide what you are looking for. So once you take this variable out of the equation it comes down to scope and dollars.

What you are trying to do here is get all of the builders to price exactly the same scope. Once this is done you can either just go with the cheapest price, or negotiate with your favourite.

Gas installation and use

Darcy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:24:41 +1100

Look for the AGA Makers Warranty when choosing gas appliances.

What you should know when installing gas

Each state has regulations binding the installation of gas, however there are some basic things you need to understand.

How pipes are connected

Darcy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:02:23 +1100

Types of plumbing pipes

Darcy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:44:24 +1100

Water quality and potability

Darcy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:59:57 +1100

Fittings and couplings

Darcy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:22:47 +1100

Plumbing fixtures

Darcy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:11:13 +1100

Pipes, tubes, lagging and fittings

Darcy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:06:53 +1100

Energy efficient plumbing

Darcy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:59:24 +1100

Bore water

Darcy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:02:15 +1100

Bore water systems draw water from the ground, and are very useful where a regular supply is otherwise not available.

What is bore water?

Temperature restrictions and tempering valves

Darcy — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:41:41 +1100