Page 5 - SBP Perth Blog

A customer's beloved caravan home had begun to show the wear and tear of time. The once-vibrant exterior had become faded and worn, a testament to years of sun and rain. Determined to restore the caravan to it's former glory, they embarked on a renovation project using Mitten Vinyl cladding.

Low-maintenance was a key factor in their choice of Mitten Vinyl. Unlike traditional paint, which requires regular upkeep, vinyl cladding offered a long-lasting solution with minimal effort.

The diverse range of colors and styles also allowed for personalisation. After careful consideration, they opted for a classic white weatherboard cladding, achieving a clean and modern aesthetic.

The installation process proved surprisingly manageable. The lightweight vinyl panels were easy to handle, and with the help of Mitten Vinyl's detailed instructions, they were able to complete the project in just a few days.

The transformation

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 their 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

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 composed of high-quality, low-carbon steel wire. The steel wire used

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 example, if your roof is 10m long and 6m wide, the total area of the roof would be 60m2 (10 x 6 = 60).

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 available, prices tend to rise.

Supply chain disruptions

Another lasting effect of the pandemic has been

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 variety of applications, such as foundations, walls and slabs.

Contrary to common belief, concrete has very poor tensile strength. While it performs extremely well under compression, it is vulnerable to cracking or breaking when subjected to tension, bending, or heavy loads. This is why reinforcing steel,in the form of reinforcing mesh (reo mesh) or reinforcing bars (rebar), is used to strengthen concrete and improve its long-term durability.

Across government, residential, and commercial building projects in Perth and throughout Western Australia, structural engineers are typically engaged early to specify the exact type and placement of reinforcement required for slabs, footings, retaining walls, and suspended slabs.

However, if you’re undertaking a DIY concreting project such as a slab, pathway, or footing at home, you’re unlikely to involve an engineer. Having a basic understanding of reinforcement options will help ensure your project is completed correctly the first time and performs as intended over time.

What is reo mesh?

Reo mesh, short for

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 lintels

Perth houses are typically built with double clay brick and,

What is SPC ridged click vinyl flooring?

Stone plastic compsite vinyl flooring is concidered to be an upgraded version of engineered vinyl flooring. SPC rigid flooring is set apart from other types of vinyl flooring by is uniquely resilient core layer. This core is made up from a combination of natural limestone power, polyvinyl chloride, anmd stabilizers. This provided an incredibly stable basefor each flooring plank. You can't tell that is what's inside these floors once they are installed. The floors look like any other engineered vinyl floors, with the core completely hidden underneath. SPC rigid vinyl flooring is quicklely becoming one of the most popular trends in home flooring.

Each plank of SPC rigid vinyl flooring is constructed with the following layers:

Wear Layer: This transparent layer ia at the top. It provided resistance to scratches and stains and is easy to clean.

Vinyl Layer: This layer provided the decoration of the plank. Colors and pattens are printed onto the vinyl.