Kitchen Remodels
Nicole Bickley
How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost per Square Metre?
Cost per square metre is a poor unit for a kitchen, because the price is driven by the number of services that move and the length...
Nicole BickleyNicole Bickley
Writes about renovation sequencing, material schedules and building control.
Permits & ComplianceNicole Bickley
What Is a Party Wall Agreement and When Do You Need One?
A party wall agreement is the formal process of notifying a neighbour before work that affects a shared wall, and it is required before any excavation...
Nicole Bickley
Permits & ComplianceNicole Bickley
What Happens If You Build Without a Permit?
The work does not become legal because it is finished. Unpermitted building work remains a defect that can be enforced against, must be declared at sale,...
Nicole Bickley
Permits & ComplianceNicole Bickley
Can a Neighbour Object to Your Extension?
Yes, and they can object at any point during the consultation period, but an objection only matters if it raises a material planning consideration. Loss of...
Nicole Bickley
Materials & SpecsNicole Bickley
Why Do Movement Joints Matter in a Tile Installation?
Because tile, adhesive and substrate all move at different rates, and a movement joint is the only place that movement can be absorbed without cracking something....
Nicole Bickley
Budget & SchedulingNicole Bickley
How Should Renovation Payments Be Staged?
Pay in stages tied to completed and inspected work, never in advance of it, with a five to ten percent retention held until snagging is closed...
Nicole Bickley
Budget & SchedulingNicole Bickley
What Should You Buy Before Demolition Starts?
Order everything with a lead time longer than four weeks before demolition: kitchen units, windows, steels, bespoke joinery, stone worktops and tiles. Order the rest after...
Nicole Bickley
Kitchen RemodelsNicole Bickley
Can You Move a Kitchen Sink to the Opposite Wall?
Yes, but only if the new position can reach a waste connection with a fall of at least 2 percent and a run short enough to...
Nicole Bickley
Bathroom RenovationNicole Bickley
What Underfloor Heating Works Under Bathroom Tile?
Electric mat systems are the practical choice under bathroom tile, at 100 to 160 watts per square metre, laid on an insulated substrate and covered with...
Nicole Bickley