SBP Perth Blog

Vinyl cladding is an economical and practical way to jazz up the exterior design of your home. But with so many options available on the market, in terms of quality and style, you might find it overwhelming to make a decision. At Statewide Building Products, we source vinyl cladding from Mitten Vinyl.

Mitten Vinyl is a leading manufacturer of vinyl cladding in Australia. We know that when we supply Mitten Vinyl products, our customers are getting the highest quality vinyl cladding available on the market.

Mitten Vinyl’s reputation for quality and innovation is built on years of investment in research and development into creating products at the forefront of the industry. The company continues to evolve to meet the needs of homeowners and builders.

Mitten Vinyl recognises the importance of protecting the environment and has implemented eco-friendly practices to minimise its impact on the planet. Mitten Vinyl's products are recyclable and made from sustainable materials, w

Strength and durability are the bedrock of construction. 

A key safeguard of these features is trench mesh. This hidden yet essential component reinforces concrete structures to ensure their integrity and longevity. 

In this article, we’ll take a comprehensive look at trench mesh, explore its defining qualities, significance and application in construction, benefits and common mistakes of its usage. 

What is trench mesh?

Trench mesh, also known as concrete mesh or reinforcing mesh, is a construction staple. It’s a type of welded wire mesh specifically designed to reinforce concrete structures. Trench mesh consists of a grid-like pattern formed by longitudinal and transverse wires, which are welded together at their intersections. This arrangement creates a sturdy and reliable framework that enhances the structural integrity of concrete elements.

Composition and characteristics of trench mesh

Trench mesh is primarily com

How to calculate how many metal roof sheets your project needs

Australians are massively growing in favour of metal roofing.

It’s durable, low-maintenance, energy-efficient, offers fire protection and looks good doing it.

However, one problem many DIYers face when installing metal roofing is figuring out the number of roof sheets their project will need. This can be a daunting task, especially if you don't have any prior experience in construction or roofing.

So, to help with this challenge, we’ve put together a simple set of steps to help you calculate how many roof sheets you’ll need for your building project.

Step 1: Measure the roof area

The first step in calculating how many metal roof sheets you need will be to measure the roof area. You can do this by measuring the length and width of the roof and multiplying the two values together to get the total area (in square metres).

For examp

Why are building materials increasing in price?

Over the past two years, we’ve seen a steep hike in the cost of building materials.

From lumber to steel, prices of essential construction materials have skyrocketed, causing all sorts of issues for builders and contractors, who are often left struggling to deliver projects within budget and on time.

So, why the price hike and what can you do about it?

We’ve outlined the major construction industry pain points affecting the cost of building materials below. We’ve also provided some suggestions on how to source materials at the best prices on the market.

Increased demand

Perhaps from so much more time spent at home, the global COVID-19 pandemic created a surge in demand for new homes, home renovations and infrastructure projects. As the demand for building materials increased, this put pressure on the supply chain, causing a shortage of materials. As consumer demand exceeds the supply avail

Reinforcing mesh (or “reo mesh”) is an essential component of any construction project. It’s made from high-strength wires welded together to form a square or rectangular grid. Reo mesh is used to provide strength and support to concrete structures, such as foundations, walls, driveways, paths and columns. 

With such a wide-ranging selection, choosing the right reo mesh for your construction project can be a daunting task. However, selecting the correct reo mesh is crucial for achieving structural integrity. Explore the different types and uses of reo mesh in the guide below.

Types of reo mesh

Before selecting reo mesh for your project, it’s good to know the different types of reo mesh available. The most common types of reo mesh include:

Square mesh

As its name suggests, square mesh is made of steel wire that is welded together to form a square pattern. Square mesh is the most common type of reo mesh and is suitable for a v

What Is the Difference Between Reo Mesh and Reo Bar?

Contrary to what many believe, concrete has very poor tensile strength, which means it’s vulnerable to breaking under tension (such as very heavy weight). As such, reinforcing bars and/or mesh are used to strengthen concrete and prevent it from collapsing or cracking. In most government, residential and commercial building projects around Perth and Western Australia, an engineer is commissioned early on to specify what mesh and bar are required for retaining walls, footings, slabs or suspended slabs.

However, if you’re looking to DIY a concrete slab or other foundational area at home, you probably won’t be engaging the services of an engineer. Having even a small amount of knowledge about what support materials to use will help you ensure your concreting project is done properly the first time.

What is reo mesh?

Reo mesh is short for “reinforcing mesh”, and comes in two main forms: we

What Is Structural Steel? Which Type Is The Best?

Structural steel is a category of steel used to support the integrity, structure, and fabric of a building — these construction materials come in a variety of shapes. The most common of these is an elongated structural steel beam with a profile of a specific cross-section. These components are specified by an engineer in the planning phase of a project and components usually include steel lintels, t bars, universal beams (also known as I-beams) and PFC channels.

Steel beams.

In Perth, roofs are typically built from timber. Sometimes, steel beams are required to provide additional support and reduce pressure on the ceiling joints. In this scenario, a universal beam is often used. Universal beams are I-beams (named after their shape, which looks like the letter “I” when looking down the beam). The beam spans between two walls, acting as a support for any roof structure.

 
Steel linte