The bathroom is FINISHED!

They say that a picture speaks a thousand words. My bathroom is finished, but rather than tell you about it, I thought I'd just show you the pictures. I am really very pleased with it. Read More...

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Productive days on bathroom renovation project

It's been a productive couple of days on the bathroom project. After a couple of days puttering around under the floorboards with no visible progress being made things suddenly seem to be leaping ahead. Read More...

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Bathroom renovation not quite going as planned...

Kirsten tells us about the trials and tribulations of materials delaying projects and how companies should NOT manage problems. Read More...

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To renovate your bathroom, first you must destroy it...

Kirsten's bathroom renovation project continues - check out the 'before' photos and the beginnings of the destruction. Read More...

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My next project - a new bathroom

I’ve finished both the bedrooms, I’ve painted the hallway, there’s only one room left for me to tackle and then the whole of the upstairs is finished. The problem is that room is the bathroom. Now I thought about refinishing it rather than redoing it, but my bathroom is in an utter state. Read More...

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The realities of home improvement

I stumbled across this picture of home renovation realities and had to post it up for our readers - so funny, so true! Read More...

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Renovating my bedroom - carpets, cupboards, blinds, and a feature wallpaper wall

I decided that I’d had enough of sleeping in ratty bedroom with holes in the walls, more shiny, vinyl paint, dirty carpets and ugly fitted wardrobes. I had a week off work, my parents were coming to stay and I had a brand new sledgehammer to try out. It was time to decorate my bedroom. Read More...

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Building materials - taking delivery

There are two great pains to building. First, getting rid of all the rubbish. Second, where to put all the materials you get delivered. Especially since sometimes they'll happen at the same time! Read More...

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The satisfaction of having one completely renovated room!

So even when you think you have a room finished, and you’re just at the point where you can go and sit in it and close the door and pretend that the whole house looks like that one; there are always a few irritating little things that still need doing. It always seems to me that these things actually take much longer than all the work you’ve already done. Read More...

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Renovation accidents: Top 10 tools and materials to cause accidents!

Given the amount of time we spend in our homes, it’s hardly surprising that you’re more likely to be injured at home than anywhere else. If you’re renovating your home then your chances of getting hurt shoot up again and statistically if you’re renovating your home on a long weekend, when using a knife – you’re pretty much guaranteed to end up in hospital. Read More...

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What does the Climate Change white paper mean for the trades industry in Victoria?

Businesses are really just a collection of people, and so many of the changes experienced as individuals will be experienced by trades businesses, especially with the extension of the Energy Saver Incentive scheme to small and medium businesses (previously only for households). But there is also a further effect to businesses who work in trades related to the actual delivery of the goals outlined in the white paper. Read More...

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The second massive mess: Woman vs laminate

Dogs + laminate don't go. To protect my space on the sofa the only thing to do was to pull up the laminate. Lucky it was so ugly anyway... Read More...

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Can't get the sofa in? Just remove a wall. Sensible.

One of the very first things I did after taking possession of the keys to my new purchase was start to tear it apart. I picked up the keys yesterday and now it has one wall less than it did when I signed the papers. The problem was that I can't get my beloved sofa in the living room, the angles are wrong and it wouldn't go through the doors despite being taken to pieces. So rather than take the easy way out and buy a new sofa that would fit, I decided to take the wall between the hallway, stairs and living room down. Sensible. Read More...

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Home renovation: One woman, some power tools and a whole bunch of mess

Introducing Kirsten, our new guest blogger. As the title suggests, Kirsten's a woman with a mission to create a home out of a house - and will eliminate anything (including walls) that stands in her way. Read More...

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Oven and hob features that make your Masterchef life easier!

Technology can bring you to tears with millions of appliances stacked away in your cupboards taking up space, or you can concentrate on one special appliance - your oven and hob. Here are some of the features you might want to investigate when you're next having your kitchen renovated or buying a new oven. Read More...

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The best type of ovens to be a Masterchef: Gas, Electric, Multifunction or fan ovens

Your choice of oven can make or break your budding career as a Masterchef. Knowing the ins and outs of each type of oven helps you to compensate for the quirks when using someone else's oven, but also helps you pick the best type for you! Read More...

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Love this cost effective kitchen cabinet idea!

Talk about thinking outside the box. This kitchen is low budget, flexible and looks awesome. Need a new kitchen fast? Read More...

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Best renovation books: List of top-rated renovation books

Renovating is a task that requires a lot of preparation, planning and knowledge. Your tradies will help and advise you along the way but if you're managing the project, you'll need to spend a significant amount of time planning. So, a book with advice, processes, tips, checklists etc can help you along the way a lot. Here are the best rated books on renovations, some from Australia, some from the rest of the world. Read More...

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Waterproofing your bathroom

So waterproofing is not just sensible, it's also governed by the Building Code and Australian Standards. But how is it done and what do you need to know about it? Read More...

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Refinish your bathroom for a cost effective face-lift!

Is your bath stained, rough or just plain ugly? Give your bathroom a facelift by refinishing it in any colour you want. Read More...

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Saving Water around the House

In this day and age water is becoming recognised more and more for the precious commodity it is, especially here in Australia. With water restrictions in full force during both winter and summer, we are being asked to do everything we can to save water. Below are some simple tips to help you save water throughout the home. Read More...

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Restoring a Cement Tile Roof

Restore your cement tile roof to its former glory. This simple guide explains the process a roof restoration professional will undertake to make your cement tile roof look like new Read More...

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Advantages to installing a Colorbond Roof

What is colorbond? What are the advantages of using colorbond over traditional tiled roofing? When would you use colorbond? All these questions and more are answered in this handy little information article Read More...

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Terracotta Roof Restoration

Make your terracotta roof beautiful again with the help of a professional roof restoration. This article outlines the process involved in restoring a terracotta roof Read More...

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Roof Restoration - What is it and why do it?

Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Well at least we’ve still got a roof over our heads’? Well, roof restoration makes sure that the roof over your head stays there, as well as ensuring that it’s in good condition. Read More...

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I Want to Replace my Roof!

Unhappy with your current roof? This informative article will give you information on the differences between replacing and restoring your roof as well as some advice on which would be right for you. Read More...

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How to repair holes in plaster

Got a hole in your plaster wall that needs to be fixed? This simple guide will walk you through fixing big and small holes, as well as giving some quick advice on how to fix cracks in plaster Read More...

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How to Hang Paintings

So you've found the picture of your dreams and you'd love to hang it on your wall... but you're not quite sure how to go about it? Read on for some great advice on hanging pictures and paintings. Read More...

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Tiler's price: How much does hiring a tiler cost?

When you're hiring a tiler their hourly rate will usually cover the cost of labour and materials such as grout/adhesive but not the cost of the actual tiles. Tiling is a skilled job and it's a good idea to have a look at some work that they've done previously. Read More...

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How to install a shelf

An easy video guide to installing a shelf. Read More...

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How to tile a wall

A video guide to tiling a wall. Read More...

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How to wallpaper around corners

A video guide to how to wallpaper around corners. Read More...

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How to wallpaper

A video guide to how to hang wallpaper. Read More...

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How to prepare a wall for wallpaper

A quick and easy video guide to how to prepare a wall for wallpaper. Read More...

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When you need a subbie fast who do you think of?

A great story on how a builder turned a customer complaint into a revelation. When Bruce Ahchow, CEO of Service Central, chased up a customer complaint about a builder taking too long to complete a project he found out that a sick renderer was holding up the whole project. Learn how he solved the problem in 5 minutes and left both the customer and the builder happy. Read More...

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Questions to ask a Tradesperson

A tradesperson's answers to your questions can give you a good sense of whether you could work with him or her. Here's a list of questions to help you work out which tradesperson is best for you. Read More...

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Top Home Improvement Investments

Considering a home improvement? Check out the top 6 home improvements across Australia. Read More...

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Preparing for Christmas

Are you ready for Christmas? Hosting Christmas at your place can take months in preparation, especially if you're home isn't up to it. Is your kitchen big enough? Can your oven cook a Christmas meal for 20 people? Do you need a 2nd or even 3rd toilet? Is there somewhere for everyone to go outside? All these questions and more and addressed in this guide to preparing for Christmas. Read More...

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Summer Renovation Ideas

As the first sunny days appear and winter fades into the distant past we're reminded of the hot summer days ahead. How are you prepared for this summer? To help you out Service Central has put together a list of summer renovation ideas for your home. Read More...

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Tips to Reduce the Cost of Kitchen Renovations

A kitchen renovation is a major investment in your home. In this guide we explore different ways that you could reduce the cost of a kitchen renovation without necessarily reducing the quality of the end result. Read More...

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Tips to Reduce the Cost of Bathroom Renovations

While a complete bathroom renovation will add substantial value to your home, it can also cost you a lot of money. Here are a number of ways that you can help you to reduce the cost of your bathroom renovations. Read More...

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Guide to Kitchen Renovations

A kitchen renovation can make an amazing difference to the look and feel of your home. It can enhance your living standards and makes your day to day life so much easier. They key to a successful kitchen renovation is thorough research and finding the right kitchen renovation company for you. Read More...

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Guide to Bathroom Renovations

A bathroom renovation is one of the largest renovation projects that you can undertake and when done well can add substantial value to your home. The key to a successful bathroom renovation is thorough research and finding the right bathroom renovation company for you. Read More...

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15 Reasons why Renovating may cost more than you think

The most important part to planning a home renovation is to plan your budget first. However there are lots of problems that may arise midway through your renovation that you simply hadn't thought of and included in your original budget. This article looks at what some of those problems may be. Read More...

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Guide to Building an Extension

Building an extension to your home can be a great way to get the space you want without having the expenses and hassles of selling your home and finding a new one. In this guide to building a home extension we explore the pro's and cons and seek to lay out the general process to follow when extending your home. Read More...

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Tips to maximise your home renovation dollar

Home renovation can be a difficult and expensive exercise. Here are some tips for ensuring that you spend each and every home renovation dollar wisely. Read More...

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Why you should use a qualified licenced tradesperson

At Service Central our mantra is finding quality licenced professional tradespeople for you. When asked why quality is important we have a million reasons, but sometimes a video explains things just that little bit better. Read More...

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How not to DIY

Always on the lookout for amusing pieces, our eagle-eyed team came across the following video which only proves the point that if you want something done properly, use a qualified tradesman. Read More...

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Holmes on Homes at Home

Holmes on Homes has been nominated for Best Lifestyle/Practical Information Series at the 2008 Gemini Awards. His hilarious take on home renovation work is not only comic genius but often useful and insightful. Read More...

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Hamish & Andy and Service Central

During a recent "Hamish and Andy" segment, a friend of theirs was on air with what he thought was a brilliant new invention. He was going to create a website that would allow people to log jobs that they needed doing and providers would then call them if they were able to do the work. This sounded a little too familiar to some of the listeners... Read More...

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What to look for when buying a house to renovate

Every Australian dreams of finding the perfect "Renovators Delight" at a bargain price, renovating the house and either keeping it as your family's dream home or flipping it for a quick profit. However, before you get too far ahead of yourself you need to find your "Renovators Delight", and before you buy it you need to be sure that you're truly purchasing a "delight" rather than a "nightmare... Read More...