Mick Corcoran Building

Changes to the Home Building Act (NSW)

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:16:17 +0000

On 19 October 2011, the New South Wales Parliament passed legislation that makes a number of changes to the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) (“the Act”). Please find some of the changes outlined below.

Click here for further info. NSW_-_NFSCON0875_-_Changes_to_the_Home_Building_Act

Your Home Technical Manual- Sustainable Building

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:49:04 +0000

if you are building, buying or renovating, this technical Manual has been developed to show you how to design and build a more comfortable home that has less impact on the environment – a home that will also be more economical to run, healthier to live in and adaptable to your changing needs. This Technical Manual contains specific information and practical solutions that you can adapt to your budget, climate and lifestyle. The ideas and principles outlined in each fact sheet can be applied to any home. Suggestions cover new or existing homes and include villas, units, apartments and freestanding houses anywhere in Australia. Always remember that whatever you do – no matter how small – it will contribute to your own health, comfort and lifestyle. It will also contribute to the health and wellbeing of the environment which sustains us now and which will sustain future generations. Our behaviour and the way we build our environment are interconnected. Well designed homes perform best when used in a way that makes the most of their sustainable features. Adopt a lifestyle that minimises your use of energy, water and resources. The most important action you can take now is to make a commitment to do all that you can within your budget. Little things, when done by enough people create enormous change. Click here to follow the web link- http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs11.html

HIA Greensmart Course Dates, Gold Coast

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:59:00 +0000

The HIA Greensmart accreditation course has enjoyed great success over the 2011 period, with continuing support from the industries leading association the future is looking even brighter. Mick Corcoran Building encourages all members of the building industry to participate in this course & become accredited HIA Greensmart Professionals. 2012 Greensmart training calendar for the Gold Coast. Feb- 15 & 16 June- 27 & 28 Sept- 5 & 6 Oct- 17 & 18 To register your interest in the Greensmart training at the Gold Coast please contact, Julie Bolitho 07 3226 4731 j.bolitho@hia.com.au please be aware that course dates are subject to change, you should contact your HIA representative for more information.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:19:50 +0000

MCB is an HIA Greensmart accredited builder and understands the effects our building industry can have on the natural environment.

We believe that environmental awareness is highly important.

Starting from the basis of good design to minimize the need for artificial heating/ cooling, as well as the materials used in construction through to the disposal of waste both on & off site – We feel that sustainable building can and should be incorporated into any Building project.

Building sustainably is more than adding on features such as water tanks and solar panels, but also in the construction materials and the often overlooked – construction quality. When the build is of a high construction quality, this minimizes the need for ongoing maintenance utilizing further resources to achieve the standard required.

Key issues towards a sustainable building future;

Design / solar passive
Appropriate materials suited to the environment being built in
Sustainable applications / solar power/water etc
Recycling of materials
On/off site recycling of building waste
Quality in construction to minimize ongoing maintenance & repairs
Being aware of what can be achieved through sensible & thoughtful building processes.

Environmental awareness is a key issue that needs to be adopted by all members of the building industry. We all have a responsibility to include sustainable processes in our businesses and work towards a longer, healthier future.

New Website

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:36:44 +0000

Mick Corcoran Building has just launched a new website. Here at MCB we endevour to keep up with ever changing aspects of the building industry, updating our existing website to a format that can adapt to changes and track new innovations in the industry was always an easy decision to make..

Casuarina Beach

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:10:54 +0000

New Sustainable home construction to be completed late 2012- Casuarina Beach.

On the beach in Casuarina’s southern precinct this home will be a fine example of sustainable living. Thoughtfully designed to blend with the natural environment; sustainable building materials integrated with a functional & low maintenance design will create a beautiful easy living home. This building will have the signature Green theme that Mick Corcoran Building endeavours to blend through each project. This sustainable home will be used for display purposes upon completion and will showcase products & materials from companies who are environmentally aware and enthusiastic about making a difference in today's built environment. A key feature of this home will be the adaptable design, originally being constructed as a single level building with an overlay design for the second story to be constructed in the future. This concept has been carefully thought out and will provide an affordable home with the option of adding on in the future should the need arise.

North Sapphire Beach Display Home

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:10:18 +0000

We are currently constructing a developer’s display home for a new beachside housing estate. There is a huge emphasis on sustainability in the design & construction of this HIA Greensmart Accredited home. The home will boast leading technology in solar water heating, hydronic under floor heating, performance glazing and low water use indigenous landscaping to name just a few of the key “Green” features of this building. Other sustainable features of this home: - Solar passive design - Underground water storage tank (20,000L under garage slab) - Low VOC paints & materials - Low embodied energy building materials including recycled hardwood kitchen benchtop & composite decking boards Open to the public early in 2012, this home will be a fine example of what we can expect in the future for sustainable housing.

Brahminy

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:05:02 +0000

Location: Sapphire Beach Type: Single dwelling / New Home Construction Scope of Work: Dwelling, landscaping including pool Size: Overall 609sqm: Lower level 215sqm / Upper level 125sqm / Terrace East 130sqm / Upper Level Balcony 27sqm / Pool 4.5 x 13.5 m

Overview:

Views from East to North of the coast-line and Pacific ocean. 4 bedrooms plus self-contained studio with bedroom, ensuite, living / dining area & kitchen. Kitchen, Dining & Living including fireplace open to terrace. Stunning pool, positioned off the living room, captures spectacular North East views. 2 car garage + storage

Project Description:

Thoughtfully designed to capture the essence of headland living, the building needed to be able to withstand the harshest of environments, keeping the occupants feeling confident & safe as well as being able to open up and make the most of ocean breezes to enjoy the coastal lifestyle. As you enter through the front gate, the evidence of a quality home becomes immediately apparent. With honed sandstone pavers and full height clover patterned feature wall leading up to the wide pivot front door, you are able to step inside get your first glimpse of the ocean. As you proceed to walk down the first set of stairs you start to feel the house open up as the ceiling gets higher and the walls become wider. The quality finishes are apparent with timber niches & timber joinery elements suspended off the floor. Up through the hallway and then into the main part of the house, there is a continuous floor level through all rooms including bathrooms & bedrooms. The building materials have been selected to withstand the harshness of the coastal surrounds, utilizing German engineered zinc paneling on selected external walls, aluminium doors & windows to most of the house, rendered block & brick and lightweight fiber cement upper level construction. Painted masonry surfaces have a membrane based render paint designed to withstand the harsh environment, while all 316 marine grade stainless steel is coated with a protective teflon coating. All external gates & screens are made from timber except for the 2nd story privacy screens which have been crafted from zinc. The new guinea rosewood doors & windows of the living area, along with the double sided gas fireplace & select blackbutt flooring throughout the lower living areas provide a sense of warmth and comfort for times when the pacific ocean decides to batter the headland. At this point the wind sensors will have retracted the automatic external blinds & screens as the occupants watch the beauty of Mother Nature from the comfort of the lounge room. When the Coffs Coast turns on the great weather it is renound for, this house steps into its own. The living areas open up via 4 large sets of screened timber bifold doors and the outside areas become part of your everyday living. Turn the water fountains on in the pool and adjust the remote control sunscreens on the pergola and then just sit back and watch the waves role in. The master bedroom ensuite would have one of the most commanding views of anywhere in the house. The solid pressed steel bathtub sits out against the full width clear glass window and has uninterrupted ocean views as far as the eye can see. Privacy here is no issue with the remote control blind an option. There is also floor heating for the cooler nights. All bathrooms have floor to ceiling porcelain tiles with high quality fixtures & fittings. In wall toilet cisterns create a less cluttered space and allow the toilets to be coupled with the vanity. Full height frameless shower screens and full width mirrors create a seamless finish. The kitchen is all quality, boasting 2-pack joinery fitted with glacier white corian benchtops, Australian made rangehoods & cooktop, complemented by the double oven for the avid chef. An Integrated dishwasher services the secondary sink. There is a wine fridge incorporated into the island bench for those special bottles and all of the everyday clutter as well as the fridge is concealed behind the floor to ceiling pocket sliding door which leads into the separate pantry. Being a guest in this home is quite the experience. The main guest bedroom is separate from the other three bedrooms and has the largest walk in robe in the house, private quality finished ensuite looking into the meticulously landscaped central courtyard, with its own paved terrace just outside the sliding door. If that's not enough for guests, there is a completely separate self contained studio with a very generous kitchen & ensuite which shares the same quality finishes as the rest of the house. The studio has a separate gas instantaneous hot water unit so as not to affect the rest of the houses solar hot water supply. At night time it becomes evident just how much thought and effort has been put into every aspect of this house. The mood lighting is so well placed you feel like you are in a luxury hotel. Every function has been carefully thought through to provide ease of use by the occupants. Lighting under wall hung joinery elements allows dimming of the ceiling lighting, spot lighting under overhead cupboards is well placed for task lighting, and there is general show lighting on top of the pool feature wall with a series of multicolored LED lights illuminating the 15 meter long wall behind. These can be controlled to alternate colors & strobe via remote control. Every bedroom has TV, pay TV, phone & data outlets that can be linked to each other. All bedrooms & living areas have flush ceiling mounted cassette style Daiken air conditioning units, serviced by a single outdoor unit hidden away in the service court. The house & gardens are generally maintenance free with native plants suited to the coastal conditions and automatic self watering gardens. Since there is no side access to the back areas, there is a highly functional locking system. Users of the house from service providers to maintenance people are able to access the specific area required without entering areas of no need. For the owners, there is a masterkey which opens the whole house. This residence is a great example of what can be achieved when there is good communication with all parties involved. With the client based in Sydney, most correspondence throughout the construction phase was made via emails, with regular site meetings carried out with all parties; owner, builder and architect.

Shearwater

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:04:01 +0000

Visit the you tube web link http://youtu.be/v_ZP5r_6B3Y Location: Sapphire Beach Type: Single dwelling / New Home Construction Scope of Work: Dwelling, landscaping including pool Size: Overall 640sqm: Lower level 235sqm / Upper level 125sqm / Terrace East 170sqm / Upper Level Balcony 27sqm / Pool 4.5 x 13.5 m

Overview:

Views from East to North over the Solitary Islands and Pacific ocean. 4 bedrooms plus self-contained studio with bedroom, ensuite, living/dining area & kitchen. Pool positioned off the living area, featuring stone wall with water spouts and discreet lighting. Courtyard garden entry area with timber pivot door. Gallery hallway. 2 car garage + storage

Project Description:

On a private headland overlooking the Solitary Islands Marine Park & Pacific Ocean sits Shearwater. The stunning architecturally designed residence yields ocean and island views from all key living spaces. Shearwater features the natural beauty of timber and stone with a mix of Tasmanian oak and travertine flooring complementing the rosewood doors and windows throughout. Each of the four bedrooms offers abundant natural light, with the master bedroom ensuite offering a full appreciation of the Pacific Ocean whilst soaking in the spa. The kitchen in American oak features Ilve and Miele appliances, a large butler's pantry and panoramic ocean and island views. Custom crafted rosewood doors open to the outdoor kitchen with large granite benchtop, teppanyaki plate, state of the art barbeque and Vintec cabinets for optimal wine enjoyment. The main living area offers a Jetmaster fireplace for those cooler nights as well as the perfect atmosphere for relaxation. Shearwater's home cinema room, which acts as a second living area, opens onto the private northern courtyard garden via French doors. It is fitted with a large, high definition plasma screen, projector and motorized projection screen. A great deal of thought has been put into the electrical wiring of this home, with internet data networking and a sound network system incorporated into every room. To top it all off, the thirteen metre salt water solar heated pool offers perfect views over the ocean, landscaped gardens and back towards the house which blends into the scenery perfectly with the natural materials used both inside and out.

Osprey

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:02:27 +0000

Location: Sapphire Beach Type: Single dwelling / New Home Construction Scope of Work: Dwelling, landscaping including pool Size: Overall 710sqm: Lower level 300sqm / Upper level 90sqm / Terrace East 70sqm / Verandah West 30sqm / Pool 4 x 14 m

Overview:

Courtyard garden entry area. Glass- walled foyer. Gallery hallway. Side Courtyard with outdoor kitchen. Kitchen, Dining & Living including fireplace open to terrace. 4 bedrooms with ensuites. Generous pool to the South East captures panoramic ocean and coastal views. 3 car garage + storage

Project Description:

The picturesque Solitary Islands and surrounding ocean play backdrop to this residence which has been designed and built to be in keeping with the natural environment. Externally, the home needed to be able to withstand the harshness of the sea while internally it had to be durable enough for holiday makers to relax and unwind. The building structure and use of materials both reflect these requirements with the result being clean, architectural lines running inside and out. Continuity of materials used throughout the residence blur the lines between external and internal living spaces, allowing one to gain the full experience of the magnificent location. External materials consist of German engineered zinc paneling on selected external walls, anodised aluminium doors & windows, rendered block & brick, and lightweight fiber cement upper level construction. Gates, screens and the open pergola are made from New Guinea Rosewood timber. Painted masonry surfaces have a membrane based render paint designed to withstand the harsh environment, while all 316 marine grade stainless steel is coated with a teflon coating to protect it from the ocean which is just a stones throw away. The spectacular views can be seen from all living areas both internal and external as well as the bedrooms upstairs. The main area of the home encompasses the kitchen, dining and living area in one open space. The kitchen is a simple galley style with a more than generous pantry storage area. Boasting reconstituted stone benchtops and splashbacks for durability and style, meal preparation & cleanup is made simple and easy. The anodized aluminium bi fold doors in the living area open right up for a seamless transition from inside living onto the open pergola, also leading out to the pool and BBQ areas. For the colder nights, there is a gas fireplace located in centrally in the lounge room. It too has been selected for ease of use and no maintenance is required. While the house is in principal an open plan design, it also has the capacity to allow separate spaces to be sectioned off. Office and guest quarters downstairs and the three bedrooms upstairs are secluded from the activity of the living spaces. Colours flow easily from room to room and are all neutral to blend in with the earthy tones surrounding. Hints of colour are added through soft furnishings and dacor. Internal tiles have the look of limestone with the durability and maintenance free beauty of porcelain. All tiles throughout the inside of the house are the same, with smaller sizes used in wet areas. Bathrooms have been fitted out with built in joinery, in wall toilet cisterns, frameless glass shower screens and the highest quality range of tapware and accessories. Walk in robes have been placed in both the Master Bedroom upstairs as well as the guest quarters downstairs. The Star serve electrical hub allows for TV, pay TV, internet, phone & data in every bedroom, the office & living area. All designed to suite the home and blend in with the natural surroundings, the landscaping was carried out in conjunction with the building and pool. Random pieces of valla granite stone were used as an edging surrounding the courtyard as well as to build a planter box to house the frangipani tree. Brush fencing has been used along the side of the house and meets the frameless glass which goes on to surround the pool. A beautiful paved area surrounded with white limestone pebbles leads from the guest quarters to the BBQ and meals area. Plants and grasses are all native species blending with those existing on the headland.