Building materials Archives

Upcycled glasshouses

Are we in a new golden age of conservatories? Secondhand glazing is being given a new life as greenhouses – but far from being plant-only spaces, we visit five conservatories which double as cosy extra rooms for relaxation.

Building materials

Thin skin: getting cladding right

Cladding has become controversial, but every building needs a skin. What should you consider when choosing cladding material?

Building materials

Fair dinkum wood: Locally sourced ecologically sustainable timber

CERES Fair Wood has established itself as an honest broker, linking people seeking environmentally and socially responsible timber with small local farm foresters and salvage sawmillers who can struggle to find a market for their resource. While still small in scale, could this social enterprise’s local ‘chain of custody’ approach become a new model for sustainably sourced timber?

Building materials

Hemp, hemp masonry and hempcrete

Why hemp is gaining recognition as a high-performance, low-impact and contemporary building product. Dick Clarke explains why.

Building materials

Changing phase: Are PCMs living up to their promise?

Richard Keech considers why you might choose to use phase change materials (PCMs)

In focus

Composite benefits: When are SIPs the right choice?

Many households now factor construction time and expected energy bills into their project bottom line. Could structural insulated panels be an answer to lowering them both?

Sustainable Design

Windows: In the frame

Lance Turner and Dick Clarke introduce you to the delicate art of window selection, and explain the key terms and concepts to get you started.

Building materials

Material benefit: Specifying eco building products

Vetting the green credentials of building products is difficult for everyone. We find out how the experts go about this tricky task.

Outdoors

Pushing the boundaries: fence materials and design

Mara Ripani explains how to push the boundaries of sustainable design to the very edge of the property with the new abundance of fencing options.

In focus

Construction waste: Low hanging fruit

Stripping buildings of their reuse components before they are demolished can reduce demand for new materials.

Building materials

When is a concrete floor the right choice?

Dick Clarke explains the benefits and design considerations for choosing a concrete slab, and some alternatives.

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