bowens.com.au The Builders Choice

BOWENS HIREGet your site ready

for 2016?

TRADIES CORNERThis month we interviewed

Marty Helgensen

EXPERT ADVICEFor sound timber advice

see Bowens!

BUILDERSBulletin B

November 2015 Volume 27 No. 10

Follow us on

A Word From John Bowen

Cities for Tomorrow

Bowens 2016 Building + Innovation Expo

Coming Soon!

I’d like to share with you one of my strongest character traits - I

don’t like being told what to do. My mum was onto it first; she even warned my then girlfriend, who was to become my wife. I

am sure those I work with understand the need to craft creative

ways around it. I know the older I get the worse it becomes and

the more I am aware of its influence on my disposition. I need to be cognisant of its downside effects and ensure I listen, rather than

swiftly dismiss instructions thrown my way.

It is this obstructive quality to which I blame my loathing of the

commentators and governments warning against Melbourne’s

urban sprawl. I don’t like being told how and where to live, so I have mostly shut my mind to many of the ideas being used to

design our cities for future generations. My error.

A comprehensive study into the creation of smarter, more modern cities by the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA),

suggests we are soon to move from being one of the world’s

most liveable nations into a gridlocked, polluted urban mess, with millions of people blocked from opportunity, living in under-serviced suburbs, isolated from opportunities of the modern world.

Of course, one of the main drivers for change is the pace of population growth, most of which will happen in our major cities. Australia’s population is tipped to hit about 40 million, up from about 24 million now, by the middle of the century, which will all but double the population of Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. As many as four in five of those new residents will be in major cities.

As I am sure you have read previously, if nothing alters we will continue in a vicious circle: as cities sprawl beyond the reach of public transport, governments have primarily responded by building roads rather than expanding the network. More roads extend urban boundaries, which increases the use of cars, which increases the

demand for new roads, which… you get the picture.

In recent years the solution to a sprawling Melbourne has been higher density living. To this point, more research has been given to the Andrews government by a team of RMIT academics, led

by Professor Michael Buxton, suggesting one million more homes could be squeezed into Melbourne’s current boundaries by 2050, thereby reducing our urban sprawl. It is advice such as this that irritates me. I can’t agree.

As I have written in these pages before, our governments and economic commentators are convincing us, through their repeated reports and monologues, to live like the rest of the world. They compare Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to London, Madrid and Shanghai. We are different. We have space. We have a better way of life. Let’s not talk ourselves into being just a carbon copy of the rest. If we have challenges, then let’s work them out.

There are many issues with the changed emphasis to inner suburban regeneration. Cars are one, yet telling us not to own one

doesn’t work and is an unfair burden on the right of individuals to

choose. We need a good solution first and then, maybe, people might elect to live differently.

It isn’t all about traffic congestion; piling more people into existing space creates a variety of additional concerns and I don’t believe we should consent to compromise. We shouldn’t accept schools with less space, reduced parklands per capita or synthetic turf on overused sporting fields, and we definitely shouldn’t accept apartment living is inevitable. The right to reside in an affordable, traditional, Australian family home, with a back yard and all the

trimmings, should be something we fight to protect.

Unlike the many proponents of high density living, ACOLA’s recommendations are not about pouring more people into less space. One of their key proposals is for future Australian cities to be polycentric – economic hubs, where people live close to where they work, reducing the pressure on transport networks connecting suburbs to the CBD. In the case of Melbourne, I suppose this means ‘hubs’ such as Dandenong, Werribee, Melton, Sunbury and, maybe, Knox, Doncaster and Frankston become our “Polycentric” solution. Having lived and travelled around Melbourne all my life I find this hard to envisage.

ACOLA’s paper frequently mentions the importance of train networks. This, I get. We need to forget a fast train to Sydney, we have more immediate requirements. Let’s look after our backyard

first.

How many more people would choose to live in long established, quiet and charming towns, in or surrounding Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton, Warragul or even Euroa, Seymour, Heathcote and Kilmore; if we had trains that only travelled as fast as those most other developed (and many undeveloped) nations have introduced? It makes no sense to me that commuters can’t

jump on the 8:00am train in Geelong and not be at Spencer Street by 8:20am. It should only be a half hour commute from Ballarat and even less from Warragul.

Today’s trek into Melbourne from our regions is a chore, so, of

course, we have people wanting to live in our ever expanding suburbs.

No doubt there is someone, somewhere designing the future shape of our city; it is an enormous responsibility. I hope they are good at listening to the reasonable opinions of others, rather than closing their made-up minds. I will attempt to take my own advice.

John Bowen,

Managing Director

BUILDERS BULLETIN2

November Event CalendarM T W T F S S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30

Mon 2nd, Wed 4th & Mon 23rd Nov CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY RDO’S

Tue 3rd Nov MELBOURNE CUP PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Movember is back! INSPIRING CHANGE & MOTIVATING OTHERS TO JOIN THE GOOD FIGHT

Mo Find our Movember Page on Facebook & Twiter

Maxbond PVA Range• Fast setting – dries clear

• Water resistant

• High bond strength

• Sandable

• Suitable for MDF/

Melamine

$599

Incl. GST

From

250ml MBP0250 $5.99500ml MBP0500 $9.991L MBP1000 $18.99

MBP0500MBP0250

MBP1000

Bowens would like to congratulate Rowville account customer Manny Ciantar (Total Homes), who has won the Singapore trip of a life time for four which includes return airfares, accommodation, airport transfers and $4K spending money. Manny was absolutely wrapped to win the trip and very appreciative of his account manager Greg Brack (Bowens Rowville), who called him with the great news.

Manny has some big plans for his trip and is looking at taking along his three daughters. Overall, a huge thank you to all that entered the competition and congratulations to all our runners up that received an Xbox One Console.

StructaFlor Singapore Trip of a LifeTime Winner!

Scott Bradley (Carter Holt Harvey), Greg Brack (Bowens Rowville), StructaFlor

Prize winner Manny Ciantar (Total Homes) & John Bowen (Managing Director)

INFORMATION

SESSIONS

Get all of the up to date information on how to become a Registered Builder in Victoria and the knowledge and

experience you need to be successful. Information sessions are free to HIA members and non-members and are

held in carious locations around Victoria.

NOVEMBER 2015 3

What’s New

Weathergroove Vertical Timber CladdingWeathergroove is the largest panel product available in the Australian market.

This vertically grooved panel is ideal for covering large areas in a short amount of time. Weathergroove is a versatile product offering an endless array of possibilities.

*These profiles only are available in 3660mm x 1196mm.**This profile is only available in 3660mm x 1196mm.

Weathergroove product rangeWeathergroove Smooth Architectural panel provides a smooth flat surface finish. The 5mm deep groove is 13mm wide, with a flat smooth base.

Weathertex Weathergroove is now available in new sizes! Due to high market demand, let your imagination run wild with a selection

of new Weathergroove profiles to choose from.

The Weathergroove product range now comes in:• Weathergroove 150 Smooth

• Weathergroove 150 Ruff Sawn

• Weathergroove 150 Woodsman

• Weathergroove 150 Natural**

• Weathergroove 300 Natural*

• Weathergroove 300 Smooth*

• Weathergroove 600 Smooth*

• Weathergroove 1200 Smooth*

1200 Smooth

150 Smooth 300 Natural

150 Natural 150 Ruff Sawn150 Woodsman

300 SmoothN

EW

600 Smooth

NEW

NEW

NEW

NEW!

NEW!

NEW!

NEW!

Product Of The Month

BUILDERS BULLETIN4

NaturalRuff SawnSmooth Woodsman

Weathergroove products have a thickness of 9.5mm and come in the following sizes:

• 3660mm x 1196mm

• 2745mm x 1196mm

• 2440mm x 1196mm

Our environmentally friendly product is made in Australia using 97% natural timber and 3% natural wax.

Weathergroove products are available in four different finish types:

1. Smooth- a flat surface finish.

2. Ruff Sawn- a surface finish that has the characteristics of ununiformed vertical and horizontal shallow lines portraying a rustic appearance.

3. Woodsman- a finish that has the characteristics of a wood grain effect. The pattern pressed displays the knots and curves of natural timber trees.

4. Natural- an unprimed surface finish that provides a unique appearance with the features and look of raw undressed timber.

Weathergroove Smooth, Ruff Sawn and Woodsman profiles can be painted with any exterior grade acrylic or solvent based paint of your choice.

Weathergroove Natural profiles are a Natural unprimed board which has the characteristics and look of raw undressed timber.

The Natural surface is pressed to create a woodgrain effect. Its rough deep cut pattern shows all the knots, cracks and imperfections of natural timber. It can be left to weather naturally or be stained. When the Natural surface is oiled, the look of fresh brown timber is maintained. When allowed to weather naturally, the depth of colour will vary, subject to location and sun exposure, however the board will gradually silver.

• Easy and quick to install

• Off stud joining system

• No silicone or adhesives required

for installation

• Can be used up to BAL 19

• Fixes directly to frame

• Approved for brad nailing up to C2

cyclone areas

• Can be cut using standard wood

working tools

• 100% natural: 97% hardwood and 3% wax

• Guaranteed not to rot, split or crack for

25 years

Weathergroove Benefits & Features

For more information on Weathergroove, visit: www.weathertex.com.au or visit your local Bowens store today!

Looking for a product to improve performance? Weathergroove has an exclusive joining system which has been designed to clip onto the rebated edges of each panel, blending in perfectly with each Weathergroove sheet for a continuous panel finish. Weathergroove also provides a safe and reliable means of structural bracing.

NOVEMBER 2015 5

For Sound Timber Advice

See Bowens

If you would like more information about this subject or

technical support, Jeff Harvey is available on

0412 550 740 or email feedback@bowens.com.au

I often raise a bit of a chuckle about some of our competitors when I see and hear their product knowledge virtues in the various media forums they choose to use. I think there is a fair bit of ambit in their

claims. Perhaps I am getting a bit old and cynical, but it has taken me over 50 years in the employ of Bowens to gain the experience to be able to confidently offer advice on the appropriate use of timber products.

I work on a formula when establishing a situation that I am

confronted with to try to determine which products or advice are suitable for a particular project/job. This is particularly important if the product specified is not readily available or there is a more cost effective alternative that will do the job required.

This formula I call Fit for Purpose Selling which

follows the following criteria;

• Establish the use.

• Is it to be used externally or internally?

• If externally, is it to be used in ground, above ground, a

bush fire rating required, immersed in salt or fresh water, are termites an issue?

• Once the above has been established have knowledge

of the various cost effective timbers available referring to

Australian Standard AS 5604—2203 for an appropriate durability rating.

• Understanding the various treated pine levels of treatment H1 through to H6.

• Are there structural considerations?

• Understanding heart/heartwood in timber, particularly posts.

• When to use recycled timber, keeping in mind there is usually a price penalty.

• If the specie specified or suggested will leach out sap stain. (eg. Merbau)

• How to nullify/minimise leaching.

• If used internally, determine the finish required.

• Is hardness a consideration particularly if used as a flooring?. This means having a knowledge of established janka ratings for the various products on the market.

• Does the product need to be dry. In big sections, particularly posts, recycled timber is often a good alternative

• Understanding moisture in timber and how the loss/gain of it can be minimised or controlled.

• The importance of air movement, particularly in sub-floor and sub-deck situations and knowing what specie of timber and other procedures can be used if air flow is compromised.

BUILDERS BULLETIN6

Expert Advice

Of all the articles I am privileged to submit to the Bowens Builders Bulletin over the course of the year, my annual summary of the Excellence in Housing Awards is certainly among my favourites. It’s always good news, and I know I’m addressing the right audience

when writing about the terrific homes our Victorian builders are creating for communities across the state. They come from people like you.

On Friday, 16 October nearly 750 of us—including Shadow Minister for Planning David Davis MP and Victorian Leader of the Opposition Matthew Guy MP-- gathered at Crown Palladium to recognise the winning projects from a field of 255 entries, an increase of 29 per cent from last year. Statistics like these are significant, and I believe a good indicator of not only building activity state-wide,

but the enthusiasm within our sector for sharing good work with

our colleagues, clients and the media. Master Builders is always pleased to provide an outstanding setting for this to happen.

Imperial Builders won the title of Master Builder of the Year (Residential) for their fantastic work on an Albert Park residence, a two-story, three-bedroom house with a broad palette of textures and materials. The house impressed our judges in many

RADLEY DE SILVACEO, Masters BuildersAssociation of Victoria

Excellence in

Builder of the Year: Imperial Builders’ Albert Park residenceRegional Builder of the Year: Camson Homes’ Tallarook residence

Housing Awards reflects achievement throughout Victoria

ways, including with its central feature, an infinity-edge reflection pool visible to each of the rooms that surround it. In addition to the house being well constructed, it achieves a unique, calm

atmosphere that goes well beyond the assembly of its component parts. Imperial Builders will now go on to compete at the 2015 National Excellence in Building and Construction Awards on the Gold Coast on 14 November.

Among the other major winners we also honoured were Kinglake West builder Camson Homes, named Regional Master Builder of the Year for work on a Tallarook home that features pavilions constructed of reclaimed jarrah columns. And Warragul builder Leigh Allchin was named Young Builder of the Year for his professionalism and commitment to nurturing good working relationships with his clients.

The photos on this page will give you some idea of the calibre of projects we received this year, but you can view the whole portfolio (offering a much sharper picture of their diversity, too) on our website at www.mbav.com.au. I encourage you to have a look and

hope it encourages you to share your own work when it comes time, very soon, for us to begin looking at work for 2016.

NOVEMBER 2015 7

Industry News

R6 Brace is manufactured with tightly controlled and measured structural properties, has uniform density, is free of knots and splinters and can be cut, drilled and sawn like regular solid wood.

Building Code of Australia (BCA) Compliance

R6 Brace is engineered to comply with the bracing requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA). All R6 Brace is manufactured in accordance with AS/NZS1859.2. R6 Brace is made specifically as a structural wall bracing board. It is designed to resist horizontal

racking and vertical uplift forces, due to wind or earthquakes, applied to buildings requiring bracing in external and/or internal wall frames. R6 Brace is engineered with highly durable Moisture Resistant resin for enhanced durability and strength.

The BCA specifies an assessment method referred to as a comparison with the deemed to satisfy standard. This allows a comparison to be made between the deemed to satisfy product, which in this case is structural plywood bracing that is specified in AS1684, and the deemed to satisfy replacement product, which in this case is R6 Brace.

As a result of this testing program the racking capacities documented herein ensure R6 Brace installed as described in this brochure will achieve equivalent capacities to comparable plywood systems.

R6 Brace

System

RACKING PERFORMANCE

NAIL SYSTEM

Stud Centres

Nails

Nail Spacings

450mm 600mmTop/ Bottom

PlatesStuds

1 3.0kN/m 3.0kN/m 2.8 x 30mm 100mm 100mm

2 4.5kN/m 4.0kN/m 2.8 x 30mm 50mm 100mm

3 6.0kN/m 6.0kN/m* 2.8 x 40mm 40mm 100mm

Quick Guide:

* Requires nailing to nogging

• Complies with BCA

• Tested & certified by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA)

• Performs in all weather conditions

• Strong and durable

• No cracking and splitting

• No splinters

• Surfaces are smooth and flush

• Easy to handle

• Uniform density

• Easy to cut

• FSC® Certified

• Australian Made

R6 Brace Key Features

Termite Protection

All R6 Brace comes with H2 treatment that provides protection against termites Australia wide complying with AS/NZS1604.2 Specification for preservative treatment – Reconstituted wood-based panels.

More information, please contact your Bowens branch

or http://www.gunnersens.com.au/products/building-

products/structural-bracing/r6-braceboard.html

R6 Brace is a strong and durable Engineered Structural Bracing product made in Australia for Australian conditions.

Certification of structural performance and Approval of Preservative treatment for R6 Brace

BUILDERS BULLETIN8

Feature

Suitable for use in humid conditions where the panel in-service moisture content does not exceed 20%

R6 Brace can be sawn and shaped in the same way as solid wood with standard wood working tools

It is designed to resist horizontal racking and vertical uplift forces

Engineered with highly durable Moisture Resistant resin for enhanced durability and strength

NOVEMBER 2015BUILDERS BULLETIN 9PB

Are you site ready for 2016?

First off, you need to ensure there is an adequate supply of bins, cages or skips on site to prevent rubbish and debris blowing around and getting underfoot. And going forward, the bins should

be regularly emptied.

Access to and from the site should be clearly marked and timber

crossovers can be employed to prevent damage to footpaths from heavy loads entering and exiting the site. There should be

designated areas for deliveries and storage of equipment and walkways should be clear of all obstacles.

When your site is set up and ready to work, ensure all trades are inducted before they start; ensure they know the site rules and follow them; and finally: check, monitor & supervise.

It’s hard to believe it’s almost 2016! For many builders that means putting the final touches on the houses they started in 2015 and planning ahead for a new year.

It’s timely then to remind our builders that good housekeeping is key to starting off the year in great condition.

According to WorkSafe Victoria, 50 Victorian construction workers are injured each week and for many, the cause is simply a matter of site safety and good housekeeping not being up to scratch! Injuries include back and neck pain, torn ligaments, cuts and wounds, broken bones, nail piercings, eye injuries and worse. Injuries lead to time off work, delays in construction and a cost to the industry of

over $50 million per year.

Site safety doesn’t just happen. It requires planning, monitoring and supervision. Site rules should be clearly established and communicated to everyone on site prior to commencement and once the site is established proper supervision is critical to ensure everyone is following the rules.

It’s a good idea to tick off a housekeeping checklist at the start of each project. Before construction begins the site supervisor needs to establish whether power is available to site or temporary power is required; that water is available; toilets have been delivered to site and temporary fencing is safely erected.

If temporary power is required, you’ll need to establish whether you need overhead or underground power to site and whether you require domestic, commercial or 3-phase power. The site should then be clearly marked where you need the power pole installed to avoid damage to underground amenities.

You should also mark the site where you would like the toilet placed. Toilets must be delivered to even and stable ground to ensure the proper function of the toilet and to prevent tipping. They should also be clean and ready for use. You should also be aware that toilets cannot be delivered via crane truck to site if the area is

obstructed by trees or potentially hazardous overhanging power lines.

Careful attention to temporary site structures such as temporary fencing, hoarding, site sheds, awnings,

covered walkways and signage is

imperative. Winds in Victoria can gust up to 120km/h and poorly braced or constructed temporary structures can collapse, become detached and blow around on site, fall over and potentially cause serious injuries. Temporary structures need to be designed to

resist severe weather conditions

including uplift and lateral wind loads. Shade cloths for example can act as a sail in the high winds and require extra

bracing.

Everyone on site is responsible for keeping the site clean and tidy.

Plan ahead for the new year and call Bowens Hire today on 9720 6049

Scan the QR code to see how Bowens Hire can work for your next bulding site!

When your site is set up and ready to work, ensure all trades are inducted before

they start; ensure they know the site rules and follow them; and finally: check,

monitor & supervise.

Portable toilets must be placed on even and stable ground

Secure temporary fencing

with sleeves and bracing when required

BUILDERS BULLETIN10

Bowens Hire

Building with Bowens:

Marty HelgensenThis month we interview long term Bowens customer, Marty Helgensen from Helgensen Builders. We caught up with Marty to discover why he has been using Bowens for almost 40 years.

Firstly, a little bit of background on Marty. After he completed his Apprenticeship, Marty joined his father’s business, Helgensen Builders, and they worked together for over 20 years. When his father passed away 18 years ago, Marty took over the business.

Helgensen Builders deals mainly in extensions and renovations, and Marty says he really loves doing what he does, because he

enjoys the diversity of his work, meeting new people, and being somewhere different all the time. Working with a wide range of trades over the years, he says, has also increased his knowledge

in many other facets of the building industry.

Marty has been dealing with Bowens since 1976, originally at the Oakleigh store (now Bentleigh East). He has seen this store go through many changes over the decades, from just an open yard to the modern store it is now. He says he loves that everything is undercover so he doesn’t ever have to load up in the wet and all the timber stays straight.

He says he has noticed that “over the last few years there seems to be a lot more yard staff”, which he says helps him get in early to pick up what he needs and be on his way to the job site, and beat the traffic.

Whenever he needs product delivered to the job site, Marty knows how important it is for the deliveries to be both on time and ‘in full’. Marty explains, “If your deliveries aren’t on time it throws the whole job out. You can’t get everybody else in to follow along. It is most important that everything is delivered on time, which most of the time with my dealings with Bowens it’s been like that.”

As a hands-on builder, Marty says he can’t be chasing everything

up. He makes good use of his Account Manager at Bowens to handle follow-ups and sourcing of products, which allows him to focus on running his business.

Marty appreciates that Bowens is a family owned business that knows what a small business like his needs to make it work, and

the values that go with it: “Every time you see John Bowen in one of the stores, he remembers your name. It’s not as if you are

just another account holder. It does make you feel like you are important to the company”.

Watch the video below to see how Bowens has helped assist builders like Marty.

“Whenever he needs product delivered to the job site, Marty knows how

important it is for the deliveries to be both on time and ‘in full’”

NOVEMBER 2015 11

Tradies Corner

Don’t Miss Out, Join Today!Become a Trade Access Club Member to be the first to know about all the latest Bowens deals and news. Including a free Builders Bulletin subscription. Simply scan the code or head online to sign up. Easy as!

SSCLUB

Bentleigh East 9579 1188Croydon 9723 0394Epping 9408 6566Hallam 9796 3088

Hastings 5979 1267Laverton 9353 7700Mt Evelyn 9736 2588North Melb 9328 1041

Phillip Island 5952 5633Port Melbourne 8538 3350Rowville 9763 7522Shepparton 5822 2364

Taylors Lakes 9390 8899Support Office 9796 3003Prefabrication Plants: TimberTruss 5244 8400

ON SALE FROM 1 OCTOBER TO 31 NOVEMBER 2015. Advertised products are available at participating Natbuild member stores. All advertised products are expected to be available for the duration

of the promotion but unforeseen circumstances may result in delay or unavailability. Some stores may not stock all of the advertised products but those products are available to order. Prices and

models are current at time of publication but may be subject to change. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of products and prices depicted. We reserve the right to correct printing errors.

Sizes quoted in this catalogue are approximate only. Unless otherwise stated, accessories shown are extra. Prices include GST. NATBUILD BIG BUILDER BUYS PROMOTION DETAILS: Promotion

commences 1 October 2015 and entries close 11.59pm AEST 31 November 2015. For full terms and conditions visit www.bigbuilderbuys.com.au. Authorised under NSW Permit No: LTPS/15/06182.

Like us on Facebook & Twitter for the latest updatesBowens Building + Innovation Expo Coming Soon!