DIY renovations can save time and money, but the key to a successful project is knowing when to call in the professionals.

Sometimes knowing when not to DIY can be even better for the budget. Having professionals take care of the work means you can rest easy knowing you won’t have to go back and do it again.

In fact Domain reports that Monday is the busiest day for Australian tradespeople, fixing up botched DIY jobs from the weekend.

If you’re renovating on a budget, there are plenty of ways to cut costs without compromising on quality.

Opting for hardwearing, low-maintenance and durable materials such as polished concrete floors, exposed aggregate driveways and honed concrete pool surrounds are just some of the ways you can save money in the long term.

So which areas do you do yourself, and what do you leave to the experts? To help you decide, we’ve compiled some tips on knowing when not to DIY.

Landscaping and Outdoors

Exposed aggregate is a popular material choice for driveways, paths and walkways, and requires professional installation techniques to ensure the right finish, and a long-lasting, durable surface.

If you’re planning to install and maintain a concrete driveway for example, getting it right the first time by hiring a professional installer, can prevent costly repairs and maintenance down the track.

If you’re planning on pouring concrete over an existing surface, it’s also a job best left to the experts. It is possible, in some cases to save time and money, but you will need to weigh up the risks with your installer to determine if it will pay off in the long run.

Approved Geostone installers prepare the area where your Geostone concrete is to be placed and then lay, spread, compact and finish the concrete, which includes exposing the stone in exposed aggregate projects, or honing and polishing for a smooth finish.

Professional concrete preparations also include erection of formwork and the placing of steel reinforcement and control joints to help ensure your concrete remains sturdy and strong.

Electricals

Lighting is one of the most popular ways to refresh the look of your home during renovations.

While most people are capable of installing new light bulbs and light shades, all electrical installation work must be carried out by a licensed electrician in Australia.

Whether you’re needing extra power points or a new appliance installed, be sure to check the regulations in your state and seek professional services from a licensed electrical contractor.

Plumbing

Regulations regarding plumbing also vary between states, but in general, any works interacting with the installation of drinking water systems and sewer lines require a licensed plumber.

Choosing Colours

From paint and concrete colours to furniture and decor, choosing a colour scheme for your home is one of the most exciting aspects of any renovation.

But colour selection can also be overwhelming. Determining which colours work best together to complement your home and surrounds can be a job best left to the professionals.

The Geostone decorative concrete range is exclusive to each region, using natural stone and materials sourced from the local area. So who better to ask than a professional who knows the local product.

Visit a Geostone Display Centre near you to choose the perfect Geostone coloured concrete and stone selection for your project.

Flooring

Concrete flooring is a durable and hard-wearing floor surface that can reduce maintenance costs over its lifespan, which is why concrete flooring is a more affordable option than you might think.

But correct installation is crucial to ensure a long-lasting and crack-resistant finish.

Approved Geostone installers and finishers are recommended to hone and polish concrete floor surfaces to a professional standard.

Pool Surrounds

Installing pool surrounds may be another area to call in the professionals.

Decorative concrete is an economically viable choice for seamless swimming pool surrounds, and comes in a wide range of colours and textured finishes.

Geostone’s exposed aggregate mixes highlight the raw texture of natural stone on a skid-resistant surface, while an honed and sealed finish oozes luxury and contemporary style.

Display Centres

You can view the Geostone range available in your area anytime from the comfort of your home online.

But if you would prefer to see, touch and explore the range in person, a visit to a Geostone Display Centre can help you make the best selections for your project.

The Geostone Team can also put you in touch with installers, finishers and other professionals in your local region.

If you’re planning to DIY to save money on your renovations, you might be hesitant to invest in an installer.

While some renovation tasks can be safely done yourself, seeking the skills of the right professionals can save you money and time in the long run.

For more information and inspiration for your decorative concrete project, visit the Geostone article archive.

Renovating for profit has become big business in the Australian property market.

What was once reserved for property developers, professional tradespeople and the lucky few gifted with an eye for detail, has become a money maker for those fortunate to be in the market.

First home buyers and ‘mum and dad investors’ discovered the thrill of ‘flipping houses’ through television programs like The Block, which made renovating for profit seem simple.

The rising trend resulted in a massive increase in home renovations across Australia, rising by 147% from 2010 to 2014.

The House Industry Association (HIA) reported home renovations totalled $33.6 billion in Australia in 2017, and that figure is predicted to grow to above $35.5 billion by 2021.

Some people are certainly living the dream, like Australia’s own ‘Renovation Queen’ Cherie Barber.

Dubbed Australia’s Number 1 renovation educator, Cherie has 27 years of profitable renovation experience, and 112 projects under her belt.

Although Cherie is known for turning record-breaking profits in just a matter of days, she has confessed to a love-hate relationship with television renovation programs.

In a 2017 interview, she told the Eastern Reporter that today’s homeowners make the mistake of doing too much DIY, recommending 90 per cent of the work should be outsourced to licensed tradespeople for the best results.

But many experts warn fast renovations don’t always equal fast profits.

Respected property investment writer Michael Yardney says renovation flips often flop for many reasons.

He says buying low and selling high after a quick, cheap renovation is a ‘speculative strategy’ which often doesn’t work due to transaction and holding costs, tax, unrealistic expectations, and a fickle property market.

Instead, he recommends a long-term investment strategy to buy, renovate and hold.

“I enjoy taking a dwelling that’s been a bit neglected and breathing new life into it, making it into a home my tenants will love and want to care for and more importantly, it’s a great way of manufacturing equity for my property investment portfolio,” Michael Yardney writes on his website PropertyUpdate.com.au.

Michael says this slow-growth approach allows homeowners to make thousands of dollars in equity and fast-track capital growth, while increasing rental yields, and gaining tax benefits through depreciation.

So what are the secrets of the successful house flippers renovating for profit?

And how can their tips be applied to your own renovations?

Maybe you’re renovating or building a home to live in, but hope to sell for a profit some time in the future?

We’ve compiled the top three suggestions from respected industry experts on just some considerations when renovating for profit.

The information provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account your individual circumstances. You should consider seeking independent trades, financial, legal, taxation and other relevant professional advice specific to your needs.

Longer lasting equals lower cost

There can be a strong temptation to choose the cheapest option, particularly when renovating a home purely for profit.

But smart buyers, or their conveyancing teams, will easily spot the difference between a quality build, and a cheap fix-up job.

If you’re planning to live in the home, or rent it out as an investment property, choosing materials that will withstand the test of time should be a priority.

While this approach might cost more initially, it’s likely to save money in the long-run by avoiding costly call-out fees, repairs or premature replacement.

Avoid temporary touch ups

A lot of renovators admit to ‘settling’ with a temporary renovation option, despite grand plans for something very different down the track.

The old saying of ‘do it right the first time’ can certainly be applied here.

While you have to take into consideration your own budget and financial situation, choosing a temporary touch-up that requires ongoing maintenance could end up costing a lot more than making a solid long term investment from the beginning.

Even luxurious finishes like polished concrete floors can be more affordable than you realise.

Don’t neglect the outside

The majority of any home renovation budget is often spent on the kitchen and bathroom.

Sometimes, over-spending in these areas means little to no money remains for outside renovations, so it goes unfinished for years, or the property goes on the market with no landscaping at all.

If that’s you, then you could be selling yourself short.

Did you know property valuers can determine the price range of your home before they walk through the door.

And potential home buyers will usually make a decision about whether or not to pursue a property within the first 10 seconds based on kerbside appeal alone.

Buyers also look favourably on finished renovations, and statistics show a finished driveway can earn up to 75% ROI.

For more information and inspiration for your home renovations in relation to your Geostone concrete needs, visit the Geostone blog or contact us today.

Polished concrete has become a popular flooring option for contemporary and classic style homes, and it’s surprisingly affordable.

Getting that glossy look of polished stone flooring doesn’t have to come with the premium price tag of marble.

Polished decorative concrete flooring can be a cheaper option to lay, and requires less maintenance than many other flooring options, which can save you thousands of dollars over the lifespan of your floor.

Polished concrete provides a durable, smooth, flush floor surface which is easy to maintain, requiring little to no further expense.

Unlike carpet, polished concrete flooring provides a hypoallergenic and water resistant surface perfect for families and households with pets.

Geostone’s polished and honed concrete range comes in a wide range of colours, with a variety of aggregate options to customise a flooring solution unique to your home.

Ensuring the longest lifespan of a concrete floor starts with the pour. Your installer should follow all the usual measures from using steel reinforcement to planning the pour in the right weather.

But there are also some simple steps you can take to increase the lifespan of your polished concrete flooring. We’ve put together this easy to follow guide with the help of some of our Geostone service providers, to help you get the most from your Geostone floor for many years to come.

Affordable Maintenance for Polished Concrete Floors

• Concrete is a porous material so it can absorb spills and stains. Polished concrete is more resistant, but all spills should be cleaned and dried promptly to avoid staining.
• Replace your broom with a microfiber pad. Microfiber is less abrasive and more effective at removing the everyday dust and microparticles which can dull the shine of polished concrete.
• Victoria’s Revolution Concrete Grinding and Polishing recommends only washing the floor when absolutely necessary.
• Revolution Concrete Grinding and Polishing also suggests draining the mop thoroughly to avoid soaking the floor. Flooding or pooling of water can damage the polished surface.
• WA Terrazzo Tile Manufacturers recommends using a gentle pH neutral floor cleaner solution for mopping, avoiding anything containing ammonia, bleach, pine cleaners or vinegar.
• They also suggest using clean water when mopping polished concrete. The concrete can be stained if dirty water is used.
• WA Terrazzo Tile Manufacturers warns any rubber products such as rubber backed mats or rubber floor protectors could permanently mark the surface.
• Be sure to thoroughly remove cleaning solution with sufficient water, and don’t allow cleaning solution to pool or dry on the floor.
• WA Terrazzo Tile Manufacturers says, if in time your floor is becoming difficult to clean this can indicate the sealer is wearing away and needs resealing.
• If after a few years your polished concrete floor could use some extra TLC, a commercial floor burnisher can buff and renew the surface.

There are many benefits to having such a long-lasting hard-wearing flooring option. Perhaps one of the most important features of polished concrete is its affordability and ability to save you money in the long run.

Click here for more information about Geostone’s polished concrete flooring options.

The ideal driveway provides unhindered access from the curb to your front door; it gives you somewhere to park your car and provides a clear walkway to your home. It is made of a strong and hard-wearing surface that is safe to walk, play and drive on. A beautiful driveway is a valuable chunk of real estate at the front of your home and is usually the first thing visitors notice as they approach. And if you are looking to sell your home, first impressions are everything. A functional well-dressed driveway has the capability to generate a unique impact on your home and on the eyes of potential buyers. A new decorative concrete installation is one way to add to your home’s curb appeal and potentially help your home sell faster. If you want your home to stand out from the rest of the street, it’s important to get the driveway right.

Driveway Types

When renovating, homeowners put a lot of thought into the landscaping, garden features and paint colours but all too often don’t give the driveway the attentive planning it deserves. It’s important to discuss options with contractors familiar with the materials used for the driveway you are considering. When choosing driveway materials, you should consider:

• Is the gradient flat or sloping?
• Is it a flood area where the driveway may be submerged for long periods?
• Will the driveway be straight or curved?
• What is the distance between the street and garage/carport?
• How much digging is required to accommodate the new surface and sub-base?
• Is the choice of paver or tile suitable for heavy traffic loads?

Your climate and locality are deciding factors in which type of driveway will serve you best for years to come. Labour costs are generally higher for sloping surfaces, hard to access areas and complex paver patterns. Choose professionals who have a proven history with your chosen driveway material, are licensed, are listed in business directories or have an informative website with testimonials, have a verifiable business address and can provide a warranty and free quotes.

Long Driveways

One way to make a long driveway look great is to install a gate or feature that introduces a higher quality material for the driveway section leading directly to the front of your home. For instance, a home that is situated quite a distance from the curb could have a long lead-in driveway of gravel or asphalt that is given a crowning finish as you enter the front yard of the main property which is a beautifully dressed mini cul-de-sac of exposed concrete aggregate.

Plan for Comfort

A space that comfortably accommodates your household’s cars acts as a good guide for how big your driveway should be. Be sure your driveway has enough space to manoeuvre your cars without the need to drive onto surrounding garden edges. Allowing too much space is just an unnecessary expense and it may make the front of the house look unbalanced. Are you going to be working on the cars in the driveway? Are you thinking of installing a basketball hoop for the kids later on? Think of how your driveway fits in with possible future renovations.

Decorative Concrete

Concrete driveways are popular due to their longevity, easy upkeep and affordability. There’s a huge range of decorative styles to choose from. Exposed aggregate driveways, in which the aesthetic qualities of natural stone are exposed, can transform a conventional driveway into an attention-grabbing feature at the front of your home.

Check with Council

You or your contractor will need to investigate what’s required in regard to driveway and footpath permits for your work areas and if the driveway materials you’ve chosen are allowed. Check that your planned driveway doesn’t fall short or exceed specified widths.

Driveway Maintenance

All driveways can be susceptible to stains from automobile fluids and the coloured oils from fallen leaves and seeds. It’s a good idea to remove oil, petrol, grease and other spills as soon as possible. One of the best attributes of a decorative concrete driveway is how little maintenance and routine care it will need over its lifetime. There are a range of acrylic sealers and epoxies that can be applied once every few years (as per your concrete manufacturer’s instructions) to help keep your driveway in peak condition for years to come.

More than just a basic construction material, concrete is now one of the most versatile building, paving and decorative products in existence.

Decorative concrete has become an integral part of modern building design and renovation projects. In its wide-ranging applications to commercial and residential architecture, it provides functionality and enhancement.

Concrete used to have a reputation for being drab, grey and dull. This was at a time when its household use was limited to driveways adecorative concrete flooring is relatively affordable.nd paths that were plain, flat slabs; unimaginative in colour and texture. A lot of homes have concrete surfaces that have been there for decades and are starting to show their age or are getting damaged. Homeowners sometimes leave these surfaces, not knowing what to do with them. With decorative concrete, it’s never been easier to give almost any area of your home a new lease of life and your creativity with concrete is limited only by your imagination.

Decorative concrete is created when materials such as natural stone, sand, shells and crushed quarry material that have been mixed into the concrete are later exposed or highlighted by grinding and polishing methods. A decorative effect can also be created by stamping elegant lines and geometrical patterns or acid-staining the concrete. Decorative concretes are affordable and are a quick and practical way to increase the kerb appeal of your property.

EXPOSED CONCRETE

The aggregate materials near the surface of the finished concrete are revealed. The end result is a low-maintenance, rugged, non-skid surface that fits in beautifully with the surrounding outdoor environment. Exposed concrete is generally a less expensive option to tiles and timber decking and a perfect choice if you’re intending to make your driveway match your home’s colour scheme. It’s a perfect hard-wearing solution for garden paths, driveways, pool surrounds and al fresco areas.

HONED CONCRETE

A smooth low-maintenance matt finish is created by honing the concrete surface and exposed aggregates. Honed concrete brings to life driveways, patio areas and pool surrounds and is an ideal choice for transition areas that crossover to the stylish polished concrete that may feature inside the home.

POLISHED CONCRETE

A smooth flat finish is obtained when the aggregates are polished even further using progressively finer abrasives so as to impart a glossy lustre. The end result is a top-of-the-range look, a sophisticated design that can be manicured to look like marble or granite. Polished concrete flooring is a relatively quick and inexpensive way to get the look and elegance of natural stone. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to flooring of similar appearance such as terrazzo or marble and this can be especially important in spacious living rooms.

Decorative concrete can provide a striking uplift to wet areas such as showers and bathrooms. Picture a slip resistant concrete floor embedded with cut coral, ground and polished to stunning effect, or blotted and dappled concrete shower walls with rendered pebble floors showing off some traditional chrome tapware and white porcelain fixtures. Concrete bathroom floors can be designed for any budget, incorporate the warmth of in-built heating, require little maintenance, resist moisture and stains, and can reduce allergens. Why put up with the angst of cracking and discolouring tiles when you can have a superbly crafted concrete bathroom floor that gives the natural beauty of polished stone in a tile-like finish?

The gleaming elegance of the polished floors we see in fancy boutiques and big-named department stores – it’s not so long ago we’d have never thought of trying to replicate that look in our own home’s indoor areas.

Traditionally, concrete floors have been hidden away – painted and sealed, or concealed under an assortment of floor coverings, timber boards or vinyls. A lot of the floor types that get laid on top of the concrete slab can involve expensive installation work, ongoing maintenance and eventual replacement costs. However, as all the flooring options change and until the jackhammers are called in, what remains underneath is the original structural concrete.

Transform Your Bathroom

Decorative concrete is a modern and stylish choice for your indoor areas where water is an issue. New print and staining techniques allow the creation of concrete that is a functional and beautiful element of interior style. Special sealing and honing processes create a surface sheen that’s smooth, smart and skid-resistant. It’s a long-lasting flooring option for bare-footed bathrooms. When sand and dirt from the family hike and trip to the beach gets brought into the bathroom, a polished concrete floor is up to the challenge.

Does Your Home’s Indoor Wet Areas Need Concrete Floors?

Today there is nothing stopping you from having your wet area floors miraculously transformed with polished concrete. Remember, concrete doesn’t have to be grey. A complete warm, cream bathroom (including the walls, floor and sink) can be made entirely of concrete. Whether you’re building or renovating a laundry, toilet, shower or bathroom, for a high-gloss, low-maintenance finish, concrete polishing is the answer – it’s a fine, no-wax flooring material. With Geostone’s expert knowledge and state of the art equipment, existing concrete can have extra concrete layers added and refined into a floor that is durable, tough and looks spectacular. It can be honed down to a very smooth surface, have sealing agents applied that provide traction. The initial cost of having artisans design concrete walls and floors may be offset by the decades of use polished concrete can provide.

Skid Resistance

Polished concrete floors may look as smooth as glass, but are comparatively safe to walk on when kept clean and dry. Polished concrete has veritable skid-resistance properties. Like other hard floor types, a polished concrete floor can be slippery when wet, though they tend to be less slippery than waxed linoleum or polished marble. In 2014, a field workshop undertaken by the Concrete Polishers Association of America (CPAA) included a series of tests to measure how much traction ceramic, porcelain and similar surfaces provide. A ‘slip-meter’ tool called a tribometer was used to assess the ‘dynamic co-efficient of friction’ of each flooring material. The CPAA determined that polished concrete is among the safest architectural hard surfaces.

“A most welcome surprise was the evidence that properly polished concrete is one of the safest flooring choices available to the consumer,” said CPAA co-chairperson Jennifer A Faller.

Waterproof First

Moisture prevention is imperative prior to installing a concrete floor in your home’s internal wet areas. They must firstly be properly waterproofed to prevent water transfer and water retention in the sub floor and wall joints.

Concrete Capers for Indoor Wet Areas

• A plaster finish on the laundry walls can be brushed and smoothed; made to look like concrete and so complement the polished concrete floor – it’s an even-tone type of look many of us aspire to bring into our homes.
• Imagine the striking contrast of ochre-coloured honed pebble aggregate shower floor against the all-white walls and glass of the enclosing recess.
• A wall-mounted toilet seat and other fixtures suspended above the expanse of a polished concrete floor can impact a sense of creating more space for an urban cool look that oozes industrial precision.

Concrete can both absorb and release thermal energy quickly and efficiently, enabling you to tailor your concrete choices for the areas where you need warmth or coolness. A grout-less polished concrete floor makes mopping a cinch.

Do your indoor wet areas need concrete floors?

Decorative concrete is relatively easy to care for, and it’s this low-maintenance factor that is helping to drive its increasing use in many homes. Here are five cleaning tips for decorative concrete that are not only helpful but also emphasise how simple it is to look after.

Listen to the concrete experts – this could well be the most important step in keeping decorative concrete clean. By following this step, you shouldn’t go wrong. Your decorative concrete supplier or installer (a good installer, anyway) will be able to advise on appropriate cleaning solutions or products for each surface or application. Just as decorative concrete comes in many different forms, so do the products manufactured for cleaning it. Thinking that one cleaning product can be used in all situations is a mistake – and potentially a costly one. Ask the experts for their advice, and follow it.

Regular sweeping saves you in the long term – exterior concrete surfaces such as driveways, walkways and patios require regular sweeping. Leaves, blossoms, twigs and other organic debris, if left to lie on concrete for too long, can cause stains as they decay. A few minutes with a soft-to-medium broom is all it takes to remove this matter – it could also remove the need to undertake more intensive and time-consuming cleaning in the future.

Damp mopping is sometimes all you need – many internal concrete floors require little more than a gentle sweep, or a damp mop using nothing but water. It’s better to do this than apply potentially harmful solvents to the mix. Another reason to consult with experts before you clean.

Rinse thoroughly – any cleaning effort can be wasted if you don’t finish the job. In the case of decorative concrete, particularly if you use recommended cleaning products, this means it is imperative to thoroughly rinse the surface with water after you’ve finished cleaning. Failing to do so means you run the risk of leaving spots of residual cleaning fluid on the concrete, and this can give the appearance of an uncleaned surface – which defeats the purpose of cleaning in the first place!

Wax your interior floors to reduce cleaning – a layer of wax specially designed for concrete floors can protect the sealer against dirt, stains and abrasion, reducing the need for more strenuous cleaning.

Most of these tips are very simple to follow, and emphasise that cleaning decorative concrete is relatively easy when you compare it to the maintenance regime required by other surfaces. As always, expert advice will help you to maximise your cleaning efforts for better results.

Sealing your decorative concrete is an important part of the installation process for several reasons:

• As concrete is a porous material it can absorb stain-causing contaminants if it is not sealed. By sealing your concrete, a protective layer can help to keep the concrete clean and looking new for longer.
• Sealing can protect concrete from weather exposure.
• An outdoor sealer might help to bring out the colour of your decorative concrete and enhance its aesthetic appeal.

This short list shows why an outdoor sealer should be applied as your decorative concrete is installed. Surprisingly, not every concrete installer offers sealing as a standard part of their service. Therefore, you should never assume your decorative concrete has been properly sealed after it has been poured. Before you choose an installer, it’s important you ask them if sealing is all part of the service. While you’re at it, it might be a good idea to enquire about other key components of the installation, including:

• Will you use plastic between the ground and the concrete?
• What sort of steel reinforcement and steel mesh do you use?
• Do you use the recommended membrane method when curing decorative concrete?
• Where will the control joints be placed?
• Will you still pour on a hot and windy day? (The answer should be NO, but steps can be taken if a pour is time-critical)
• May I please see recent customer references, and some of the work you’ve completed?

Your decorative concrete should have a big and positive impact on the appearance of your home. For this to happen, it has to be installed correctly in every respect, including the use of an outdoor sealer. You have every right to be picky when choosing an installer who will do a complete job. Reputable suppliers of decorative concrete might be able to help you in this respect by recommending good installers in your area. It’s in the best interests of your concrete supplier to ensure their product looks its best once it is installed, so they will probably be very fussy about who they recommend to carry out the project.

Sealing your decorative concrete while it is being installed should not be a one-off. Resealing every two years is recommended, depending on traffic and resulting abrasion. Sealing every step of the way, either during installation or in the years ahead, will help to maximise the impact that decorative concrete can have on a property. When you see the end result, and the wow factor decorative concrete can provide, then sealing with a high quality outdoor sealer, and taking the time to find the right installer, is well worth it.

Basically, thermal mass refers to a material’s ability to absorb and store heat energy. The next question is: what does thermal mass have to do with decorative concrete, and specifically, a polished concrete floor?

Concrete has what is known as high thermal mass. Because it is a dense material, concrete can absorb and store a considerable amount of heat energy. (In comparison, lighter materials like timber can’t absorb and store as much heat. For this reason, timber is known as a material with low thermal mass.) While concrete stores heat energy during the warmer part of the day, it releases this energy when the temperature drops later on. This release can be an efficient way to keep a home warm year round, and polished concrete floors can play a large part in this.

A polished concrete floor, with its high thermal mass, can absorb, store and release heat over a wide area of the home. This should lead to lower heating bills and a more comfortable environment within the home because thermal mass can moderate temperatures, and average out day/night extremes (please ensure you do your research to compare the different products and their performance). But just putting down a polished concrete floor does not guarantee you’ll be able to take maximum advantage of thermal mass. Some key factors should be taken into consideration.

Good planning and design will help to make your polished concrete floor an energy efficient feature, as well as an aesthetically pleasing one. For example, when exploiting thermal mass as a source of passive heating during winter, it should have maximum exposure to sunlight. You’ll need the correct ratio of glazing to concrete to help achieve this. Conversely, minimum exposure to sunlight is required during summer to avoid overheating. With this in mind, shading becomes a very important part of the design process.

The orientation and layout of the floor is something else to keep in mind, as is insulation. Adequate insulation is needed to prevent released heat energy from being lost too quickly. Even floor coverings should be looked at. Polished concrete floors must be exposed to capture heat energy; rugs and carpet act as impediments to thermal mass in this regard.

Thermal mass can also be used to cool a home during summer. It does this by drawing in and storing the heat in the air. As this energy is released later in the day, good ventilation is needed to stop the home from overheating; yet something else to consider. With all these things to think about – and they are worth thinking about for financial and environmental reasons – expert advice should be sought at the planning stages. The Australian government’s Your Home website is a good place to start, and will help to guide you in the right direction should you decide to use the thermal mass of a polished concrete floor as a way to passively heat, and cool, your home.

Images from Australian Government, Your Home

Renovating your driveway can have many benefits. A great driveway can add functionality, convenience, street appeal and, crucially, value to your home. But, like anything in life, if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right. With that in mind, this short checklist will help you maximise the benefits of your driveway renovation.

Will It Be Easy to Maintain? – high maintenance can have little appeal, both to a homeowner, and to a potential home buyer. So choosing a low maintenance surface for your driveway renovation is very important. For example, a concrete driveway can be a low maintenance option, requiring basic cleaning and minimal need for repairs if installed properly. Not all surfaces can be as forgiving, so during the planning stages of your driveway renovation, do your research on how much maintenance might be required once the project is complete.

Make It a Driveway That Lasts – like the roof, a driveway is a very big, if not unmissable, part of the home. If something’s not right, it could be rather obvious. A driveway that is durable enough to stand the test of time and keep its good looks over the years will help to maintain street appeal and value. Plus, it should be even more appealing if it looks like it won’t need to be replaced in the near to medium term. As you choose the surface for your driveway renovation, check its ability to handle vehicle traffic and local conditions e.g. ask if the surface will be UV and weather resistant.

Does It Add Street Appeal? – Just because a driveway is low maintenance and highly durable, you shouldn’t have to compromise on its aesthetic value. A driveway should add street appeal to a home because of its sheer size. On the other side of the coin, anything less than attractive will probably detract from its surroundings. In this day of coloured concrete, or exposed aggregate, it is very easy to choose a surface, colour, texture or design that can enhance street appeal. As you plan your driveway renovation ask yourself: will my final choice add to that appeal?

It Has to Do the Job – your driveway renovation design might look good, but its functionality should also be a priority. Consider the size and number of vehicles that will use it and ensure your final design comfortably accommodates those vehicles.

Have You Chosen the Right Installer? – Possibly the most important step of your driveway renovation checklist. Did you know that not all installers include sealing as standard when installing a concrete driveway? As sealing is such an important component when installing a concrete driveway, it might be a serious error of judgement to assume all installers did this.

This is just one example of why it is vitally important to choose the right installer, regardless of the surface you choose for your driveway renovation. A good way to find the best installer for your project is to check their credentials and look at previous examples of their work. Another good idea is to contact the company providing the surface materials for your driveway renovation; they might have a list of recommended installers or, at the very least, they can provide you with the questions that every good installer should be able to answer.