CityNews talks with the Canberra experts of home improvements. These happy helpers ensure that all home decor, renovation and everything in between is covered, without breaking the bank or a sweat.

Home is where the heart is, so why not take the best care of it as possible.

But it can be hard to know where to start; so in this feature CityNews talks with local experts in home improvements.

Don’t delay when it comes to building defects

Owners of newly-constructed homes shouldn’t delay if they’re concerned about defects in the building, as time limitations apply to making claims against the builders, says building and construction law expert Ben Kuzman, of RMB Gil-Jones Barker Lawyers.

“Building a home is likely to be one of the most significant financial investments of your lifetime,” he says.

The Building Act 2004 (ACT) ensures builders comply with construction standards and codes when carrying out residential building work. Ben says when these standards aren’t met, homeowners have the ability to make a claim for the repair of works.

“Warranties apply to residential building work that protects homeowners against defective works,” he says.

“When considering how these protections apply, it’s important to determine whether a building element impacted by a defect is a ‘structural’ or ‘non-structural’.”

Ben advises homeowners to be aware of limitation deadlines to defect claims, making the assessment of whether an element of a building is “structural” or “non-structural” is important when considering a claim for rectification.

“It is best practice for homeowners to promptly seek legal advice in relation to defective building work as commencing a claim out of time, or after the limitation periods have passed, can mean that the claim is unsuccessful, and a builder will not be required to rectify defects.”

RMB Gil-Jones Barker Lawyers, Unit 6, level 2/97 Northborne Avenue, Turner. Call Freecall at 1800 681211 for a consultation or visit rmblawyers.com.au

Affordable storage, just over the border

For Canberrans looking to downsize, storing years’ worth of belongings can often be expensive and complicated, but Self Storage Solutions provides customers with storage options that are convenient, secure and affordable, says manager Lewis Jones.

A family-run business for more than 30 years, Lewis says Self Storage Solutions is proud to provide cost-effective storage options for people living in regional and metro communities, and can help get quotes from trusted local removalists.

“Our monthly storage costs are easily half the price of a storage unit in Canberra,” he says.

“People generally like a single garage-sized unit, and in Canberra and Sydney that can easily be $800-900, whereas we charge $299 a month.

“We have customers from the Snowy Mountains all the way to the northern beaches of Sydney and operate in a location that’s really convenient for customers and removalists.”

Lewis says the business is always striving to make things as easy as possible for their customers.

“We’ve recently installed automatic gates that are phone operated. Customers can call from their phone and go right through,” he says.

“We’ve installed 24/7 security cameras and have cloud-based storage of everyone entering and exiting to make sure customers know what they’re storing is safe.

“We take pride in providing excellent customer service and looking after your property while it’s in our care.”

Self Storage Solutions, Marulan, call 9986 3618 or visit selfstoragesolutions.com.au

Now’s a good time to start thinking about renovations

In the lead-up to the New Year, Andrew Hooper says it’s the perfect time to start planning and engaging with Class Constructions for renovations.

“If you sign up by December 25th, you’ll receive complimentary floor and wall tiles with your bathroom renovation,” the director says.

“With our on-time guarantee, if we don’t complete the project by the agreed date, you won’t pay the final instalment.

“In today’s world, finding a construction partner you can genuinely trust is essential.”

Recognised for its client-first approach, Andrew says it is the company’s transparent communication philosophy and meticulous attention to detail that brings every renovation vision to life.

Class Constructions has recently welcomed in-house designer Ramir Araneta who, Andrew says, brings local expertise and a deep understanding of regulatory standards.

“Ramir works closely with clients to create designs that capture their vision while keeping budgetary needs front and centre,” he says.

“With high-quality 3D renderings, clients can preview their renovation before construction begins, allowing them to adjust layouts, materials or finishes with confidence, avoiding costly changes later on.”

Andrew says transparency and open communication are at the core of Class Construction’s approach.

“Projects are managed with regular updates and budget checks, so clients know exactly what to expect at each stage, making the journey from concept to completion smooth and worry-free,” he says.

Class Constructions, call 0489 953410 or visit classconstructions.com.au

Home designs that make a difference

Reimagined Habitat was established to increase the standard and energy efficiency of buildings, through combining building science with the designs and aesthetics clients desired.

“Our aim is to help people live in healthier, energy efficient, sustainable homes,” said owner Michael Drage.

“By incorporating all of the building science and really understanding what works in Canberra and the regions, we help our clients make really informed choices about not only the design, but how they build and what this means to them in terms of how the house works.

“We have found that helping people understand this creates great outcomes, as people really understand how their house will feel and perform given their choices.”

Michael said his research showed the two biggest drivers for real performance to a home were the airtightness, and the quality and performance of the windows.

This led him to a global search for the best products and eventually he established Net Zero Plus, which imports European, high-efficiency windows and prefabricated building systems.

“Our research drove this thinking. We now have access to triple-glazed windows at around the same price of even the better double-glazed units,” he said.

“An example recently was a client whose windows were eight per cent more costly through us, but reduced their heating and cooling costs by half. An unbelievable outcome.”

Reimagined Habitat, 18 Creswell Street, Campbell. Call 0419 391282, or visit reimaginedhabitat.com.au. Net Zero Plus, call 0439 924660.

Top timber that doesn’t cost the planet

After 30 years of salvaging and recycling timber, Thor Diesendorf, founder and owner of Thor’s Hammer, says he’s seen a surge in demand for high-quality, recycled, Australian hardwood timber that doesn’t cost the planet.

“We’ve seen people’s approach to home improvement and renovation shift dramatically as people become more aware of the creative possibilities of recycled timbers and wanting to source sustainable materials for their homes.” Thor said.

“It’s great for us because that’s exactly what we live and breathe!

“Our customers love that we source our timber from old buildings, factories, bridges and warehouses, because each piece has a unique history and story to tell.

“At Thor’s Hammer, we value the history and provenance of the timber and we build to last a lifetime – the longer a piece of timber’s life, the longer it stays out of landfill.”

Thor said the business had an experienced team of designers, recyclers and joiners, skilled in working with recycled, Australian timber and passionate about their mission to divert demolition timber from landfill.

“We provide personalised solutions for DIY home improvement and renovation projects, whether that’s supplying recycled floorboards, cladding or posts, helping to match and patch existing floorboards with similar species, or custom-milling timber to your desired profile and finish,” said Thor.

Thor’s Hammer, 10 Mildura Street, Griffith. Call 6282 9900, or visit thors.com.au

Boutique firm with a big impact

Filardo Ercan Architects is a boutique architectural firm based in Griffith, established by award-winning architects Maria Filardo and Can Ercan.

The firm specialises in residential architecture, interior design, commercial and hospitality fit-outs, and heritage projects.

Together, Maria said, they brought a wealth of expertise in architecture, interior design, and heritage conservation, enabling them to offer a comprehensive approach to each project.

“We intentionally keep our firm small to maintain close client relationships and deliver personalised service,” she said.

Maria, with more than 20 years of experience, lectures in building and interior design at CIT and has also been a judge for the HIA awards for the past six years, and recently joined the HIA National Judging.

Can has more than 25 years of experience in heritage conservation, having worked with the NSW Heritage Office, ACT Heritage Unit and leading firms in Canberra and Sydney.

Maria said Can recently qualified as an Access Consult, which allowed the firm to provide assistance to projects requiring accessibility compliance.

Can said: “We strive to offer something unique and exceptional in every project.”

Maria said: “Our mutual respect and shared vision drive our business forward, ensuring we consistently meet and exceed our clients’ expectations.

“Our passion for architecture and the strong relationships we build with our clients are evident in the outstanding results we achieve.”

Filardo Ercan Architects, visit feas.com.au or call Maria on 0421 342625 and Can on 0415 550801.

Joinery breaks through with flat timber doors

Creating practical, beautiful and sustainable furniture has been a passion for Robyn and her husband Gino Monteleone for more than 20 years.

“Select Custom Joinery creates bespoke solutions for people looking for beautiful additions to your home,” she says.

Opening in 2000, Robyn says the business started specialising in timber and hard woods in 2008.

“It’s a natural product, so it feels like you’re bringing a piece of nature to your homes,” she says.

“It’s like you’re creating a soul in the furniture.

“You’re making a house a home.”

Robyn says they are particularly excited about their new range of flat timber doors.

“Flat timber doors goes against the way that timber should be built – with movement,” she says.

“We’ve found a way that satisfies the timbers’ need while also meeting the demand for flat panels.”

The doors are flat on the outside and busy on the inside, something that Robyn says was a genius innovation by her husband.

“Timber doors are supposed to be built as a frame and panel to allow for timber movement, but it’s been exciting working our way around this problem to meet demand.”

Select Custom Joinery. 1182 Wallaroo Road, Hall. Call 6230 9414 or visit selectcustomjoinery.com.au