Outdoor Room
Jason from EdithvaleI would like to enclose my pergola to get more use out of the area but I would like to make it cost effective and avoid the messy planning approval process. Am I wanting too ... continue reading
Kitchen Face-lift
Gail From BalnarringWe have just moved into a fantastic 6 year old dream home in Balnarring. The kitchen is in good condition but we would like to upgrade it with todays colours and add our personal touch. Is there a ... continue reading
Hydronic Heating
Carley from BalnarringWe are in the process of building a new home and would like it to be as environmentally friendly and efficient as possible. We have heard about Hydronic Heating but do not know anything about it, ... continue reading
Patio Roofing
Cherie from FrankstonWe are currently building an outdoor patio and require some green colorbond to cover area 5 metres wide by 2.6 metres long. How many sheets of colorbond will we require and what color greens are ... continue reading
!!! Winners !!!
posted 2 hours, 54 minutes agoAnd The Winners ... continue reading
Timber Floor Special
posted 1 week, 49 minutes agoDon't miss these specials on Timber flooring... Mountain Timber products are dropping prices on all the following untill 31st May 2010. ... continue reading
Timber Flooring Sensation - Sale Now On!
posted 1 month, 1 week, 3 days, 17 hours, 33 minutes agoHurry in to Perfect Timber Floors for these huge ... continue reading
CBA Mortgage Innovations Manager in Store
posted 2 months, 1 week, 5 days, 2 hours, 49 minutes agoRelax. I'll come to you... Home Loans at your convenience to Finance your ... continue reading
Non-Firable Asbestos Removal Course (Class B)
Tuesday 9:00 am, 23rd March 2010This WorkSafe recognised course is aimed at supervisors and others directly involved in the process of non-friable asbestos ... continue reading
Certficate III OHS - (Occupational Health & Safety)
Tuesday 8:30 am, 13th April 2010Participants are required to undertake a range of assessment activities. ... continue reading
Master Builders - Green Living
Wednesday 9:00 am, 14th April 2010An accredited category of Master Builders course for environmentally aware builders and building public to pursue sustainability options for their constructions. ... continue reading
Builder Registration Course - Cert IV in Building & Construction #2
Friday 9:00 am, 21st May 2010Recognised by the Building Practitioners Board as the qualification towards registration as a ... continue reading
Choosing a Benchtop Material
Choosing a suitable bench top for your kitchen, bathroom etc can be a hard task. Here is a brief overview on many of the most popular materials with Pro's & Con's to make your selection process a bit easier.

LAMINATES
Today's Laminates are stylish, durable and come in a huge range of colours, patterns, styles and finishes. With a number of companies making a variety of Lamiante products, there is something to suit everybody's taste and specifications.
Pros
| Affordable alternative | Endless design possibilities | Can be custom designed | Huge variety of products and finishes including granite & marble look | Durable i.e: stain resistant |
Cons
| Not as prestigeous looking as natural or man made stone options |
GRANITE
Granite has been a favourite for decades. It cannot be matched in quality, finish or colour. Because it's a natural product, Granite has individual character, colour and pattern variation. It is un-disputably a classic, stylish material, which has made it such a long lasting favourite amoung people doing kitchen & bathroom installations.
Pros
| Long lasting | Easily wiped clean | Natural | Prestigeous looking |
Cons
| Heavy | Expensive | Needs to be sealed often | Harsh on crockery, dinnerware (if you drop it, you break it!) | Limited range of colours |
MARBLE
Marble is another popular product when considering a benchtop material. Its soft character makes it an elegant choice.
Pros
| Looks fantastic | Natural | Colour & pattern variation |
Cons
| Heavy | Soft, will mark & scratch | Needs to be sealed often | Very porous material, will hold moisture (not a good choice for kitchen counters) |
MAN MADE COMPOSITES
Today you can get the look of Granite and other natural stones with a man made composite, such as 'Caesar Stone'. These products are made up of a combination of stone, adhesive, glass, etc to form a durable, great looking stone like surface. The range available is broad, with some types featuring mirror chips, shell, mother of pearl particles and different coloured glass fragments.
Pros
| Durable | Great colour range | Non-porous | Contemporary looking | Sealed- never needs to be sealed again |
Cons
| Not the real thing | Limited styles |
TIMBER
Timber benchtops have remained a very popular choice. They can co-ordinate with any other surface materials depending on the colour and timber type. They have a warm and inviting look, suitable for many different styles of architecture.
Pros
| Looks great | Can be sanded & re-sealed | Natural |
Cons
| Soft, will mark & scratch | Needs to be sealed & looked after to maintain its condition |
CORIAN
Corian is a man made material that is becoming vastly popular. It has a finish that is crossed between plastic and stone. One of its great features is you don't need to use a chopping board on this surface because it is non-porous and will not mark. There are quite a broad range of colours and styles with some patterns and stone look styles. Many different profiled edges are also available.
Pros
| Renewable surface | Seamless design | Intergratable sink | Won't scratch or stain easily |
Cons
| Not to everyones taste | Limited colours |
HIDC Exhibitor(s) who specialise in this area;
