Home Building
Construction
Steel Frame &
Concrete Wall Homes
Rigorous Site Assessment
M Architects + Builders (m-ab) carries out rigorous site checks and assessments including soil compaction test using ultra sound method, geotechnical survey with no limited bore hole depth (unlike the market norms which limit the depth of bore holes), trees roots assessment and installation of tree root barriers to avoid future damage to the buildings, and installation of agi pipes covered with blue-metal gravel and Geofabric around the concrete slab to drain the excessive rain water and avoiding damage to the slab in the future.
Building Over Sewer Line
M Architects + Builders (m-ab) has experience building over sewers main lines by replacing the old sewer line with strong PVC pipe and then concrete encasement of the sewer line which guarantees no leaks for 100 years. We have build concrete bridge beams over the sewer line and then install the concrete slab over the bridge beams to avoid any pressure on the sewer line.
Steel and Concrete Piles
M Architects + Builders (m-ab) sites are strengthened by installing either concrete or steel piles in the ground to ensure the slab load is transferred onto the strongest layer of earth in the ground. Steel or concrete piles are utilised based on the condition of the soil and based on our engineers recommendations.
Elevated Concrete Slab
M Architects + Builders (m-ab) uses elevated concrete slabs sitting over the pilings which transfer the load of the structure to the strongest layer of earth in the ground. Elevated slabs ensure no stormwater intrusion and minimises pest access to inside of the building. This is achievable by utilising the maximum building height within the planning laws and council limits and with the use of flat roofs.
Steel Structure Homes
Steel Frame Homes
M Architects + Builders (m-ab) homes are built with steel frame and steel structure unlike the majority of the market. Steel frames are termite proof, fire proof, rotting proof and literally last for decades without any issues. Steel frame usually costs more than timber frame but it provides much better quality and so more value for our clients’ money. We have made timber frame homes too however mainly due to our clients’ budget restrictions.
Concrete Floor Homes Concrete Wall Homes
M Architects + Builders (m-ab) uses a German engineering light weight concrete system which ensures strength and rigidity of the floor and external walls while providing a high level of thermal and acoustic insulation. Unlike conventional concrete floor which impose a very heavy load on the structure while not providing a good level of thermal or acoustic insulation.
Quality Control
Attention to Details
M Architects + Builders (m-ab) sites are supervised by highly experiences builders and architects to ensure highest level of attention and control provided to both construction process and architectural details.
Each tradie is selected most cautiously needing to pass a strict quality checklist before being engaged in the project with all insurances and warranties checked.
Commercial Grade Double Glazed Windows Homes
M Architects + Builders (m-ab) uses commercial grade double glazed windows to maximise energy and acoustic quality of its homes. We have also built homes with single glazed windows mainly due to clients budget restrictions.
Brick Homes
M Architects + Builders (m-ab) does not recommend brick walls except if it is a solid wall min 230mm thick.
Each building material has an essence and purpose. Brick is a great building material that has been around for thousands of years. However the essence and purpose of the brick is to carry heavy loads. It is not meant to be used as a lightweight material, ie for cladding such as brick veneer wall.
When brick is used as a single layer of cladding (brick veneer) it becomes vulnerable and unstable. As a result it needs to be tied back to the frame every few courses to ensure it does not crumble under wind load, earthquake, and other natural building movements. We have built brick veneer buildings only when the client has emphasised that they only prefer brick veneer.
A significant disadvantage of the brick is its massive embodied energy (the energy it takes to manufacture a brick) which leaves a considerable carbon footprint on the environment making it an environmentally unfriendly material.
Environmental Sustainability
M Architects + Builders (m-ab) is committed to using environmentally sustainable materials and construction method.
Being both architects and builders, M Architects + Builders (m-ab) has a practical control over design process and its relation to construction restrictions such as budget. This has well positioned us to be able utilise environmentally sustainable building methods and materials within the budget.