Holmes on Homes at Home

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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Making progress - the plasterers come in

Progress on Kirsten's bathroom renovation project, now that the previous fixtures have been ripped out the walls have been replastered and reskimmed. 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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Training courses for tradies: Sustainable trades

The Victorian Climate Change White Paper released last month included many plans for reducing the impact of climate change. One of the items included in that white paper was that the Victorian Government wanted to provide a central, authoritative source of knowledge about climate change and sustainability. They've done this with the launch of the Climate Communities website. Read More...

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Tools of the Trade: Why builders should love your utes!

One of our staff members recently went on holiday to Morocco, and took this photo... What is the building trade like in Morocco we wonder? 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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Renovating the spare room: New carpet, dangling wires and girlie-fying

After the success of my bedroom renovation, I decided to tackle the spare room next. I might have somewhere nice to sleep but my guests were still roughing it in magnolia spare room, staring at the same ugly wardrobe that I’d ripped out of my room. I was starting to feel bad about it, especially as I was making everyone admire my new bedroom. Read More...

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Victoria's feed in tariff

What is Victoria's feed in tariff for solar panels? Read on for the details. 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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When the finish is important - get in the professionals

Galvanised by finishing off the front room, I decided that I wanted the living room done too. Of course you don’t always get what you want. I knew from the schedule of works I’d done, there was no point in doing the floors in the living room until the kitchen and bathroom were finished. But, I reasoned, I could do everything else. Read More...

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Plasterer price: How much does plastering cost?

When you're hiring a plasterer the hourly rate they quote will cover their labour and all materials. Plastering is a highly skilled trade, and it's worth paying someone good to get the best finish possible. It's always worthwhile getting recommendations for a plasterer or asking to see examples of their work. Read More...

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Price for rewiring a house: how much will rewiring cost?

It's useful to check out our price guide for electricians, but this article has some additional information more specifically about whole house rewirings. As with most electrical jobs it's difficult to quote anything specific but using this guide you should be able to get a general idea. 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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Solar Panels

What is a solar panel? Read on to learn all about solar panels and how they can help you save money and save the environment. Read More...

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Woman vs House: Tearing another room to pieces

Kirsten attacks the front room, rents a rubbish bin, hires a builder to fit a fireplace and paints skirting boards. Read More...

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Giving up and calling in the professionals - why hanging doors is hard!

Kirsten McCall's men tried to hang the door but failed. It's much harder than it seems. 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 Victorian Climate Change white paper - what does it all mean for us?

The Victorian governments action plan for climate change is comprehensive. We've examined it from various perspectives - what it means for individuals, business, and industry. Read More...

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What does the Climate Change Action Plan mean for individuals?

The plan feels like a good combination of providing incentives and education about smart environmental choices. Here's the highlights of how the Climate Change Action plan affects us. 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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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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Staircase design marvels

When it comes to stairs, usually they are built for safety and practicality. Check out some of these stairs designs that are absolutely amazing! Read More...

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How do you tell if you need to restump or reblock your home?

Many Australian homes have a foundation of stumps. Wooden stumps to support your house were common up until the most recent years when concrete stumps became more popular. The reason why concrete stumps became more popular is because wood can only be expected to last between 20 and 80 years depending on the type of timber, soil conditions and other factors like drainage and pests. Archicentre has said that up to 30% of timber stumped homes need an immediate full or partial restump, so your house could very well need to be restumped. What are the symptoms of stump rot or movement? 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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Why does plaster crack?

Plaster is common in Australian homes, and so are plaster cracks. But why are there cracks and are they serious? Read More...

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Replastering or replacing plaster board?

Why does plaster crack? Once it's cracked, what are your options to fix it? Read More...

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What kinds of renders are there?

Lots of different brands of render, but there are three main types. Cement, acrylic and solid plastering. Read More...

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How is rendering done?

Rendering is a process that should be done by a professional. Unfortunately, rendering isn't really something that you can really patch up if part of it isn't quite right, and it's tricky to get the consistency and application done right. Steps involved in rendering... Read More...

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What is rendering?

Everything can be rendered. You can render a graphic image, render lard, and render results. Rendering is also used in film-making, but most importantly it's also a substance that's applied to brick, concrete, stone, earth or cement surfaces - often to hide imperfections and add aesthetic appeal. What are the benefits of rendering? Read More...

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Improving home safety: Timer or sensor lights

If intruders are watching your home, they look for 'signs of life' inside. Noise, being able to see people moving about, and lights are all signs of life. Timer lights and sensor lights are a great way to deter burglars. Read More...

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What is solar power?

Solar power is the power that is generated by converting the sun's rays into usable current. No matter how much sun your property gets, you can use solar power to supplement the electricity you buy from your power provider or even replace it! How does solar power work? Read More...

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Top 5 smartest lighting solutions

Lighting comes in 3 categories - general, practical and ambient. It can add so much value to your life without you even realising. Here are our Top 5 most ingenious lighting solutions.... Read More...

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What do land surveyors do?

Land surveyors measure and draw the earth's surface, including land, air space and water. Read More...

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Electrician's price: Costs for electrical work

Find out about call out fees, hourly rates and potential other costs here. 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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Carpentry prices: Costs for carpentry work

Carpentry jobs can vary from large to small - building a deck or houseframe to installing a hand rail or refitting a wooden window. How much can you expect to pay for this work? Read More...

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What is services location?

Avoiding digging up or damaging pipes or lines when you're extending your home or landscaping your garden should be your first priority. Not only for safety but because it'll delay work and could be a very expensive mistake to make! Read More...

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How should you fix skirting boards to the wall?

There are a couple of methods of fixing skirting boards to walls, once the corners have been cut to shape. It usually depends on what finish you want on the skirting boards as to which method you use to fix the boards. If you want to stain or varnish the boards then the best bet is to attach the boards using a glue or adhesive. Read More...

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How to cut and fit skirting boards

Skirting boards are one of the weird things that you don't notice until you don't have any. Generally skirting boards are there to protect the bottom of the plaster and to hide any gap between the floor and the plaster, providing better insulation and protection from dust. Fitting skirting boards can be tricky and is something that the less experienced renovator might want to call in a carpenter to help with. Read More...

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What's the best kind of tradesperson to install new doors or windows?

When looking at installing new doors or windows, here are a few tips to decide what kind of business is best for your job. There are definite overlaps in the types of jobs that might come up, and therefore the kind of tradesperson that's the best for your job. Read More...

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What do concreters do?

There are lots of different specialities of concreting but you'll find that most concreting businesses are either very specialised (for example putting decorative concrete garden borders in) or offer full service concreting. Concreters also often work as part of the building team, given that concrete is often an integral part of new home builds and extensions. Here's a list of all the services that a concreter can do. Read More...

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Two common carpentry styles

Carpenters are useful for projects spanning across a wide variety of jobs - from small jobs like getting a wooden window to open easier to massive jobs like major construction projects involving complete house frames, and pretty much everything in between. What types of carpenters are there? Read More...

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Patio, deck, porch, pergola or veranda - what's the difference?

All these outdoor structures - what's the difference between them really? Read More...

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Top 5 questions to ask your prospective builder

Service Central has put together 5 key questions and a bit of advice on hiring a prospective builder. Read More...

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Architects, Draftspeople or Builders - who's best for your job?

Planning an extension or building a new home, adding a pergola or car port and need planning permission - Which trade can help you most? Read More...

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Pros and cons of different types of roofs

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your house, and if you're building a new home or replacing your roof, you have several options. If you are buying a new house, the age of the roof is also an important consideration. The Service Central team has gathered info from our quality tradespeople and given you some advice on your roofing choices. Read More...

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Pergola price: How much does a pergola cost to build?

Pergolas can be purchased 'out of the box' or made specifically for you to a unique design. How much do they cost? Read More...

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Pricing for decks: How much does a new deck cost?

Pricing decks before designing the job or seeing the terrain is virtually impossible, because not only are there many options in terms of materials, but also lots of different things can affect the cost. But, this guide should give you an idea of which options are more expensive and a very basic idea of the cost. Read More...

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What is an air chisel?

Air Chisels are an absolutely genius invention. They work on a similar principle to jackhammers, but they cycle faster as they're much smaller. Read More...

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How to tell if an internal wall is load bearing

Load bearing walls are walls that can support their own weight as well as the weight of the additional structural loads placed on them. Most importantly, they have additional support underneath them, as they also need to be able to carry what are called 'live loads' - furniture, people, carpets etc. While they may look the same as non-structural walls they aren't. Removing these walls without replacing them with RSJs or some other method of transferring the load will compromise the structural integrity of the property. Read More...

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How to hang a door

Hanging doors is notoriously difficult and time consuming, although irritatingly a professional carpenter will make it look very easy and quick to do. For the sake of your blood pressure it is usually a good idea to let a professional handle this task. However if you decide that you want to try taking on this job yourself... 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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Timber flooring price: How much does a wooden floor cost to install?

For many years home owners have chosen wooden flooring to give their home's warmth and charm without forsaking durability. Today there are loads of options for all budgets - laminates that just look like wood, engineered 'floating' wood floors that have a layer of wood veneer over cheaper materials, or completely solid wooden boards. Other types also include bamboo and cork. Read More...

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How to fit door handles

Door handles are finicky things to fit, but if you're careful you'll be fine! Read More...

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Guide to hiring a Project Manager

A Project Manager or PM is the person who is responsible for the planning and management of a building venture. Their scope covers everything from the initiation and project plans right through to the day-to-day management of the work. The PM will deal with costs of the project, the safety and all contractors working on the project. Read More...

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Service Central helps repair storm damaged Melbourne

Melbourne has turned to Service Central to help repair the damage done by the massive storms that hit the city this Labour Day weekend. Service Central's army of tradespeople have helped Melbournians repair their hail damaged homes, fix leaking roofs, and mop up all of the water left after the weekends deluge. Read on for the full details. Read More...

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Top tips for painting new plaster

So you’ve had your walls re-plastered and you’re desperate to get on with painting them. The first thing that you’ve got to remember is that the new plaster must be absolutely dry before you do anything to it at all. Painting on wet plaster doesn’t work. Here's some tricks to drying out your plaster faster and painting the plaster once it's dry. Read More...

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Fixing rough or textured walls

If your walls are badly uneven, rough and textured, you can try to fill and sand them back. If that doesn't work you have two additional options. Read More...