On Trend - May 2022

Evolutionary platform 

Utecture provides residential building companies with a turn-key digital solution to design, price and visualise directly from the cloud. Using digital twin technology, building companies can load plans, easily make changes and re-price changes in seconds, utilising a custom parts and labour cost database held in the cloud. After design and price changes are complete, you can instantly create a new 3D digital render of the house with a full bill of materials. Builders may also make comparative building code and price checks between timber and steel frames with visualisation right down to the frame work. Utecture is used by volume home builders across Australia and New Zealand. 

Energy-efficient system 

Rheem’s Ambiheat Heat Pump is a smart, energy-efficient water heating solution. Featuring advanced wrap-around microchannel heating technology for uniform and faster water heating, Ambiheat uses heat from the surrounding air to heat water and provides a reliable, efficient and sustainable way to reduce your water heating energy consumption. Ambiheat works day and night as it extracts heat from the surrounding air and doesn’t rely on direct sunlight to operate. With a similar footprint to a standard electric water heater, Ambiheat is perfect for new home builds or as an energy-efficient upgrade from a standard electric water heater. 

Favourite facades 

The LYSAGHT ZENITH™ cladding range is fast becoming a favourite with Australian builders, trades and installers. It provides aesthetically appealing and versatile facades backed by the product quality, technical information and service from a leading building products manufacturer. With six attractive profiles shaped from COLORBOND® steel, there’s a ZENITH roofing or walling product to suit almost any architectural style. Lysaght also provides an extensive range of rainwater goods and flashings to complement the ZENITH range. This range is supported with detailed technical design and installation guides, product brochures as well as instructional installation videos, all available at the Lysaght Professionals website. 

Waffle pods are here to stay 

Expanded Polystyrene Australia’s Waffle Pods have been the preferred system in concrete slab construction in Australia for the past 30 years. Waffle Pods are cost-effective, sustainable, strong and easy to use. Expanded polystyrene packaging from white goods, fresh produce boxes, and other construction off-cuts is actively recycled into Waffle Pods by the industry as part of its commitment to a circular economy. 

Mix and match

Call it daring. Call it stylish. Call it flexible. Villeroy & Boch’s ColourChoice Collection encourages specifiers – and clients – to mix and match different designs and finishes over time. With five different finishes on offer – matte black, brushed gold, brushed nickel, gun metal and classic chrome – the collection also features ColourChoice Universal Bodies. This means that specifiers can decide on both the colour and design in the final stages of building. Then over time, if clients need a new look for the bathroom, kitchen or laundry, the ColourChoice designs and finishes can be swapped out without doing a major renovation. 

Right footing 

When builders and tradies are working on the job, it can be hard to dodge smelly feet, especially in Australia’s unforgiving climate. That’s why Steel Blue has teamed up with Fresche Bioscience to prevent fungi-ridden boots from the get-go. The plant-based water solution actively fights against mould and bacteria, resulting in a compound that’s both effective and environmentally conscious. So, when hygiene concerns and face-to-face work coincides, this may be one of 2022’s brightest ideas. 

Aural therapy 

Danish speaker firm Dynaudio has spent the past 40 years meticulously crafting high-tech hi-fi systems for homeowners and studio professionals alike. Its latest range, the Emit Series, can be seamlessly fitted into a wall, ceiling or a bookshelf. In addition, these stylish speakers emit the best possible sound quality, keeping as close as possible to the true signal. 

Salvaging flood-damaged timber 

The record-breaking floods have devastated communities and severely damaged or wiped-out infrastructure and homes. But all may not be lost when talking timber. Waterlogged timber that could be salvaged is often thrown away. In today’s market, wood is increasingly expensive to replace. WoodSolutions’ timber information is available for free and includes resources that can help determine if a home’s timber frame is salvageable. Here are five tips to salvage flood-damaged timber. 

1. Act quickly – timing is critical 
2. Expose timber to air 
3. Measure moisture content 
4. Seek advice 
5. Get more information. 

For more information, download Technical Design Guide 12 – Impact and Assessment of Moisture-affected Timber-framed Construction. 

Suits all seasons 

Daikin Australia has launched its new R32 Altherma Mono-Bloc system which creates consistent, controllable comfort for homes. Its range of hydronic heating and cooling systems is one of the most energy-efficient ways of achieving even, radiant and draught-free heat. Available in heating-only or reverse-cycle options, Altherma creates the optimal indoor temperature by utilising ambient air. The compact outdoor unit extracts heat energy from the ambient outdoor air, raises this heat to a higher temperature, then distributes the warmth throughout the home. This is via common heat emitters such as underfloor heating circuits, fan coil units and radiators. To cool the home, the reverse-cycle option extracts heat from inside the home and releases it outside. 

Right tools for the job 

The Isuzu Trucks N Series ‘Ready to Work’ range is designed to be driven straight from the showroom to the site. Whether you’re a carpenter, landscaper, electrician or anything in between, there’s an Isuzu Ready to Work N Series model with handy, efficient features. With models featuring rugged tray bodies (Traypack and Tradepack) to sturdy tippers and cleverly designed field service configurations (Servicepack), Isuzu Ready to Work trucks are as tough as they’re smart. Each is available at car-driver’s licence ratings of 4500kg GVM, meaning that everyone from the master craftsman to the apprentice can get behind the wheel for the smoko run! 

Giving full vent 

Tastic Ovation 3-in-1 heat vent and light is the new addition to IXL’s ventilation solutions. It features centrifugal exhaust fan design with powerful airflow extraction to remove steam rapidly. The frosted LED lights provide a smooth glow and the 800W heat lamp with Halo Heat™ technology brings luxurious warmth to your bathroom. Each unit includes a self-sealing back draught stopper that prevents draughts and insects entering the home when not in use. Suitable for 5-star energy-rated homes. Designed and manufactured in Geelong, Victoria, Tastic Ovation was recognised as an ABA100 winner for product innovation in The Australian Brand Awards 2021. 

This content includes both brand promotion and unsponsored editorial content