Distance between water and electrical outlets

Electricity and water are a dangerous combination. Find out what the regulations say about how far power points need to be from sources of water in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries.

Terracotta tiles

Terracotta roof tiles (also known as ceramic shingles) offer attractive, well-insulated roof surfaces that suit almost any climate. Tiles come in many different shapes and colours.

Heat recovery ventilator (HRV)

Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) improve air quality in heated and cooled areas, and also help to improve heating and cooling efficiency.

Glass and acrylic floors

A glass or acrylic floor, when designed and installed tastefully, can add a sense of luxury and class to your home.

WaterMark labels

Plumbing fixtures come bearing what's known as a 'WaterMark' label nowadays. This label indicates their compliance and quality. Find out what it means and what to look for.

Door styles and appearance

Doors play a huge design role not only based on their own appearance, but also in terms of the impact they have on the rest of your home and how it flows and functions.

Wood cladding or weatherboard

Weatherboard is very common in older Australian homes. It is easy to maintain, and relatively cost-efficient to buy and install.

Fluorescent tubes

Fluorescent tubes provide a cool, functional and relatively energy efficient way to light large spaces.

Maintenance of window glass

Like any part of the home, windows need care and maintenance to function at full capacity. The following maintenance and cleaning tips are provided to help you prevent permanent...

LPG hot water systems

LPG (or liquid petroleum gas) is very similar to natural gas, but is more expensive to use due to the higher price of the fuel.

Multi-level decks

Multi-level decks allow you to separate a deck into different areas for different purposes, or to create a particular structural feature to improve the look of your home.

Soap dishes and recesses

Vanities often have a soap dish built in, but in many cases a free-standing soap dish can add to the look of your vanity.

Site prep: termites, drainage and trees

Before building a pergola, it's important to first prepare the site and ensure that it's free from things like poor drainage, reactive soil or termites, which are likely to damage the pergola in the longer term.

Energy efficiency of different TVs

Some displays use far more energy than other types - and modern displays are becoming much more efficient. See how different displays stack up, and why the differences exist.