All Renovations by CA & JP GAUCI

30/08/2016

Hi everyone, it has been a while since my last post but I have been fairly busy renovating an old Queenslander for some very nice people.
The house is obviously quite a few years old, but structurally it is sound. The owners had made the decision to stay in the house because it is situated on their small cane farm plus, they love the area. Their only concern was that they did not want to over spend on something that may not see a return for them.

After a few preliminary designs we were able to come up with a plan that they were very happy with. We decided to basically renovate the complete inside of the house while retaining the classic Queenslander style. The bathrooms and kitchen are modern but they will still compliment the original feel of the house.

The outside will have a new roof, new aluminium windows and some vinyl cladding on the upper storey walls. The bottom storey consists of some terribly laid concrete blocks, obviously the previous owner thought himself to be a great handyman. To remedy this, we will be applying some acrylic block render to
some of the bottom storey to smooth out the roughness, but also some areas will be lined with FC planking.

It is a great feeling to be able to bring this old home back to some of its former glory.
If you are considering a renovation of any kind, or if you need some general construction advice, you can contact me on
0418882371 or email at [email protected]

Cheers for now!

22/03/2015

Bad Workmanship

It truly amazes me when I see some of the workmanship that is apparently acceptable today. Honestly, I cannot understand how this is allowed to happen especially in this modern age of technology and tools.
Take a look at this concrete foot path that is a walkway and a ramp for the disabled.

The stones that you see are part of a garden that has a 45 degree slope down to the main street footpath. Where is edge beam, (or Rat wall as we sometimes call it)?
The steel reinforcement is actually protruding out from the bottom of the concrete slab.

Seriously, what kind of incompetent fool can think that this is acceptable. This was done on a commercial project, so where the hell was the pre-pour inspection?

Firstly, the steel reinforcing was not set up to be in the correct place in the slab, and secondly, how hard is it to dig a small edge beam at least down to the point of intrusion to keep the under slab fill from pouring out from the edges. Also, the steel that can be seen will rust to the point of breaking the concrete path which will then require total demolition of the path and starting again.

By now you can probably sense that I am rather angry. Too right I am!
It is rubbish like this that gives all trades people a bad name, but the people that built this appalling piece of junk are certainly NOT trades people. And what of the so called inspector that passed this. Most likely it wasn't checked.

When people employ someone to perform a task, be it construction or any other industry, they rightfully expect fair work for payment, not sub standard work or product.
As I have mentioned in one of my previous articles, cutting corners to save a few dollars will always cost more in the long run and usually it is at the expense of the original customer.

I have seen way too much of this over the years and I believe that it is getting worse. It is not hard to build something properly. I have put these pathetic attempts of construction down to at least 3 things. Don't Care, Pure Laziness and Cutting Corners to save a few bucks!

Everyone makes mistakes but examples like this are not innocent mistakes. This project I believe should be totally rectified one way or another and the full cost should be taken on by all parties concerned except the client, who by the way, has received a very bad deal.

I welcome anybody that has had a bad experience like this to send me any information and pictures and will I gladly publish them on my blog. This kind of thing definitely needs to be published far and wide at least to make the paying public more aware.

Please use this email address, [email protected] to send your info. If you choose not to have your details published just add, Remain Anonymous, in the subject line.

People who pay someone for a service place their money and trust on the line and should rightfully expect value for money. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous operators out there that continue to carry out sub standard work and are no where to be found once a problem has occurred.

Stay tuned for my next article where I will provide a checklist on what to do and what to look for should you need to employ the services of any contactor.

Cheers for now.

23/12/2014

Hi everyone, just a quick update and to thank all my suppliers and contractors for their great work throughout this tough year. We will be back in the new year bigger and better, with a range of brand new home designs that will be an affordable alternative to what is already on the market. Our renovation sector remains strong and we will always be there to take care of all your renovations and repairs.

In the past, our new home sector mainly concentrated on the one off designs plus the more larger projects, which has been great but I now feel the we can offer more to the low to mid range area, but I can assure you that they will not lack in quality and quantity for the price.

Here are a few pictures of the last bathroom renovation for 2014.
Thanks to everyone for the support.
Merry Christmas from Charlie and Judy.

15/12/2014

Hi everybody, one of my previous posts featured an article on pink rubbish bags. My good friend Greg owns a business called Aussie Skip Bags. Most people think that the bags will not hold or carry much weight and they are reluctant to fill them up.

Well pop over to my blog, http://allrenovations.blogspot.com.au/ and watch the short video clip of us testing the strength of these great Pink bags. This demonstration should put that question to rest once and for all.

Go on, take a look!

Bathrooms don’t have to be old to be dangerous. Most bathrooms in newer homes are designed mainly for the younger generation and are fitted with bath tubs that are used for bathing the young ones and to also take a shower. Not all homes have a walk in shower recess. Many of the bathroom renovations…

29/11/2014

And yes, this is the "before shot" for all you jokers out there. Actually, come to think of it, I have seen a few completed renovations that have some similarities to this picture.
Well not quite that bad, but you get the idea.

This lovely old farm house is on the way to my current renovation at a wonderful place call Seaforth. I had to stop and take this picture. I don't know what it is but it gives me a feeling of warmth and serenity every time I drive past it.

This glorious little house provided comfort and shelter to some family for many years and it's kind of sad to see it just sitting there. If only the walls could talk. Not many people today could really understand just how much hard work was needed to build even this small cottage back in the old days. Most people probably wouldn't care I suppose, but for me, it really brings to light how difficult and time consuming it must have been.

There were no power tools to speak of, maybe an old petrol powered bench saw to rip down the timber planks from large spotted gum trees. Everything had to done by hand with tools that today would be considered very primitive. Many would say that it is just an eye sore but for me it represents how hard it must have been for carpenters and other tradesmen of the time. It was a time of necessity and not luxury for most people.

These old places are a reflection of times gone by, hard times at that, and it makes me appreciate what my father and mother went through raising 8 of us.

Today it seems there are more wants than needs, and I believe that knowing things like this from our past would help us to appreciate what we have now.

They were not just houses, they were homes.

25/11/2014

SERIOUS INJURIES FROM DANGEROUS BATHROOMS
Sounds like a low budget horror movie from the sixties, but here are some frightening statistics that could be used to make such a movie today.

When we get to around the age of 65, most of us will usually suffer from poor sight and a lack of balance and mobility. These afflictions make us prone to slipping and falling which accounts for 79% of bathroom injuries for this age group. There are also around 10 deaths a year from these injuries.

Here are a few basic checks that you can do.
1. Get rid of any loose floor mats.
2. Use your bare feet (Dry) first to see how slippery the floor might be and then wet them and check the floor again.
3. Remove or replace any loose fixtures and fittings like towel rails, soap holders and alike. Many people grab onto these for balance only to end up on the floor with the item, mainly towel rails, still in their hands or next to them.
Bathrooms don’t have to be old to be dangerous. Most bathrooms in newer homes are designed mainly for the younger generation and are fitted with bath tubs that are used for bathing the young ones and to also take a shower. Not all homes have a walk in shower recess. Many of the bathroom renovations that I have completed consist of removing the existing bath tub and replacing it with a walk in shower area.

One of the best and least expensive items that you can fit are stainless steel grab rails. By simply installing one or two in the shower area and one beside the toilet, you immediately improve the safety of the bathroom. You can also purchase a good quality non slip mat for the shower floor. They are quite cheap, made of rubber and don’t impede the flow of water into the drain.

These few safety items work well provided the bathroom itself is in reasonable condition. Most times, many older bathrooms are in need of a full renovation. It is always a good idea to have a reliable and trusted tradesman to provide you with a detailed report and a quotation for any repairs or major renovations. Make sure the contractor is licensed with the QBCC (Queensland Building & Construction Commission). You can easily check this on their website. http://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/

Bathrooms renovations need to be done properly. There are legal requirements that need to be met.
All plumbing and water proofing has to be completed by a licensed contractor. Any major changes to the building frame or floor requires a qualified contractor or builder. There is also a 6 year insurance period on any faulty major work.
It can be a real minefield for anyone that has purchased a house that has been badly renovated. It can look ok, but it is usually not long before problems occur, and guess what, there is no insurance for you.

I hope this article offers some help in making your home a safer place for everyone.
If you would like any free advice on any building or renovating matters, just send me a message or send me an email at [email protected]
If you are interested in receiving helpful articles like this, you can subscribe to my blog and you will receive an update whenever I post something new.
SERIOUS INJURIES FROM DANGEROUS BATHROOMS
Sounds like a low budget horror movie from the sixties, but here are some frightening statistics that could be used to make such a movie today.

When we get to around the age of 65, most of us will usually suffer from poor sight and a lack of balance and mobility. These afflictions make us prone to slipping and falling which accounts for 79% of bathroom injuries for this age group. There are also around 10 deaths a year from these injuries.

Here are a few basic checks that you can do.
1. Get rid of any loose floor mats.
2. Use your bare feet (Dry) first to see how slippery the floor might be and then wet them and check the floor again.
3. Remove or replace any loose fixtures and fittings like towel rails, soap holders and alike. Many people grab onto these for balance only to end up on the floor with the item, mainly towel rails, still in their hands or next to them.
Bathrooms don’t have to be old to be dangerous. Most bathrooms in newer homes are designed mainly for the younger generation and are fitted with bath tubs that are used for bathing the young ones and to also take a shower. Not all homes have a walk in shower recess. Many of the bathroom renovations that I have completed consist of removing the existing bath tub and replacing it with a walk in shower area.

One of the best and least expensive items that you can fit are stainless steel grab rails. By simply installing one or two in the shower area and one beside the toilet, you immediately improve the safety of the bathroom. You can also purchase a good quality non slip mat for the shower floor. They are quite cheap, made of rubber and don’t impede the flow of water into the drain.

These few safety items work well provided the bathroom itself is in reasonable condition. Most times, many older bathrooms are in need of a full renovation. It is always a good idea to have a reliable and trusted tradesman to provide you with a detailed report and a quotation for any repairs or major renovations. Make sure the contractor is licensed with the QBCC (Queensland Building & Construction Commission). You can easily check this on their website. http://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/

Bathrooms renovations need to be done properly. There are legal requirements that need to be met.
All plumbing and water proofing has to be completed by a licensed contractor. Any major changes to the building frame or floor requires a qualified contractor or builder. There is also a 6 year insurance period on any faulty major work.
It can be a real minefield for anyone that has purchased a house that has been badly renovated. It can look ok, but it is usually not long before problems occur, and guess what, there is no insurance for you.

I hope this article offers some help in making your home a safer place for everyone.
If you would like any free advice on any building or renovating matters, just send me a message or send me an email at [email protected]
If you are interested in receiving helpful articles like this, you can subscribe to my blog and you will receive an update whenever I post something new. http://allrenovations.blogspot.com.au/

Cheers!

24/11/2014

I am compelled to write this article, not just because my best mate owns the business, but honestly, this type of rubbish removal system works really well for me.
Over the last 35 years in the building game, I have always used the metal skip bins and they were also good to use. One of the biggest problems that I had with these was site access and being able to place the bin where I needed it.

A lot of the time the only place that the steel bin could fit was in the front yard of the property or out towards the footpath. This presented a few major problems. The first was encroaching on the council footpath caused workplace, health and safety issues. The second was that everyone in the neighbourhood would throw their own rubbish into my bins. It not only filled the bin, but it meant that I would have to get extra bins and that I was paying for other people’s rubbish. Sorry, but I am not that generous. The extra costs were huge.

Finally, the skip bags came onto the scene and let me tell you, they are the best things to use for rubbish. With the smaller truck, access is not a problem which means that I can place the bags exactly where I want them. I am able to put them closer to the job which means less time wasted carrying the rubbish from the job to the bag. Also the other big winner is no cost of taking other people’s rubbish to the dumpsite.

While I think that the original steel skip bins would work a little better on the larger building sites, the skip bags are definitely far easier to use when doing renovations, bathrooms and decks etc. They are a lot easier to collect. They are also great for your green waste and ordinary household rubbish.
Checkout my friends website and see for yourself.
http://www.localsearch.com.au/Mackay,QLD/Aussie-SkipBags-Mackay/profile/XKnA

Cheers Everyone!

21/11/2014

Attempting any kind of electrical work can more than likely land you in hospital or worse. It may even get you an early appointment with this charming fellow on the left.I am still amazed how so many home renovators and handymen don't take the dangers of electricity seriously and continue to do the electrical work themselves.

It is not only dangerous but it is also illegal.
And so it should be!

Any electrical work must be carried out by a qualified electrician. Too many times I have found shoddy workmanship done by a handyman or home owner obviously trying to save money. If I sound a little annoyed it's because I have witnessed electrocution before, and let me tell you, it is not a pretty site.

Dangerous wiring is mostly prominent in older homes and even more so when renovation work has been carried out on them. These are the kind of things that I have regularly found over the years.

Many older homes still have this kind of wiring running through their walls and ceilings. It is copper wire covered in a black rubber coating. Usually the rubber coating becomes brittle and breaks off leaving the live copper wire exposed. Many rodents have met their maker chewing through the coating.

Believe it or not, I have seen some houses that have had at least one burnt out power point still active. This is just a disaster waiting to happen.

So for your own safety and the safety of others, pay a qualified tradesman to do your electrical work

19/11/2014

WASTE NOT

After all my years in the building industry, I am still amazed at the amount of waste that appears even on the smallest of projects. This is not earth shattering news I know, but I would like to show you how in some cases that some of the waste can be used and actually save you heaps of money.
Here is a prime example of this. I am currently working on a small renovation to a very old and very small house situated at one of our many glorious beach side housing estates. It has a concrete patio floor all around with a 2 meter wide roof over it. I am constructing 3 walls under the existing patio roof to form a new bathroom. A section of the concrete floor needs to be removed, 4 meters by 2 meters, to allow for the new under-slab plumbing for the toilet, shower and vanity wastes.


Normally we would use an excavator with a rock breaker attachment to break the slab into small pieces and then take it to the nearest dumping facility. In this case, there is only 2 meters of clearance from the ground to the underside of the roof, so basically no room for the larger machine. So with a diamond blade concrete saw, I ran a series of cuts right through the full depth of the concrete floor so it resembled a block of chocolate like so.


We then used a smaller excavator (BobCat) to grab the sections and stack them neatly in one corner of the yard. With the right set out plus a few decorative stones, the owner now has an excellent pathway to her house. The cost of hiring the cutter plus my labour was far less than using the larger excavator plus the dumping fees. The budget also allowed for the placing of the blocks to form her new pathway. Needless to say she was extremely happy.

So whenever you are renovating or even just doing some needed maintenance, always take the time to see what is left over. Who knows, you might even save some money

By the way, if you would like to subscribe to my blog, you will receive my new posts as I publish them. You can also send me your questions by using the contact form.

Click here to take you to my blog http://allrenovations.blogspot.com.au/

15/11/2014

Asbestos
All you renovators, handymen and house holders out there really need to read this article!
There are many websites listing the dangers of asbestos and this is just one.

Click on this link and take some time to read the articles. It may just save your life and the life of your family many years down the track.
http://asbestosawareness.com.au/dangers-of-asbestos/?runonce=1

Unfortunately, myself and every other tradesman have been exposed to asbestos for many years since we began our apprenticeships right through to the later years of our building and renovating careers.
But it's just not people like us that have worked with it, but just living in any dwelling puts everyone at risk. While most painted areas pose no risk, I have found many areas in dwellings where the wall and ceiling sheets are broken or not painted.

This doesn't sound too threatening but it can lead to microscopic fibres being released into the air that you are breathing. It can take up to 45 years for someone to become affected, and this will end badly. I have not heard of anyone surviving this terrible infliction called mesothelioma.

People need to take this seriously and have their homes checked for any exposed asbestos by a qualified person. Some people say that this is just a money making scheme but I assure you all that this is a real safety issue that affects everyone.

Not much was known about the hazards In our day, so I guess it is just a waiting game and a matter of luck for us. Hopefully good luck.

You can always contact me if you have any questions on any building and renovating matters.

Checkout my new blog!. You can join my community and receive important info as I update it.
http://allrenovations.blogspot.com.au/
Cheers

05/11/2014

Hi everyone, it has been a while since I last posted. Thanks to our loyal client’s referrals and recommendations, we have been relatively busy during this economic downturn and getting busier by the week.
Our main scope of work has been extensions, renovations, decks, bathrooms and all types of repairs and maintenance, however we will soon be showcasing our own line of affordable but stylish new homes.
Our aim is not to compete with the larger home builders but to offer something different and affordable for those who have specific needs and ideas.
Without the huge operating costs and overheads that the larger companies have, we can provide stylish and affordable homes without cutting corners or sacrificing quality.

Some of our extensions and renovations worked out larger than the original houses that they were added to, so we decided to take that concept and offer something similar in the way of a new home.

Don’t worry, our renovations and maintenance side will always continue to grow and we will still provide quality and affordable service for your new bathroom, deck or any other building project that you may have.

Don’t forget, if you need any free advice about your building project, no matter how small, you can always contact me here, [email protected] or leave a comment with your contact details and I will be happy to help you.

Cheers Charlie.

08/07/2014

Building on Unstable Ground.
Before you consider building that dream home or renovation, one of the major concerns to look at is the stability of your land where you wish to place the building.
All major building projects require a soil test to determine what your soil type is before any footings and foundations can be designed.

This project that we recently completed was built on a (P) Site classification, meaning Problem Site. The engineered footings did add some extra costs to the project but skimping here can cause you a lot of headaches later on.

This extension is 12 meters wide and 8 meters deep. It has a toilet, shower, laundry and storage cupboard. It is situated at Salonika Beach, Hay Point and is right on the beach front with magnificent sea views. It has made their home a very nice place to be.

If you are considering any type of building project and would like any advice on construction, planning, engineering and certification, you can email me and I will be happy to help you.

Another Happy Client.