What is the role of a residential builder?
Showcase your work
For a vivid showcase of expertise, I’ve compiled this YouTube reel featuring several projects I’ve personally supervised over the past years. It’s not about ego, but a testament to capabilities. When clients inquire about similar projects, presenting a clip is more than just a visual; it’s immediate reassurance.
It instills confidence, paving the way for a productive meeting. Comparatively, saying ‘I’ll get back to you’ or fumbling through pictures just doesn’t have the same impact.
Changes to application forms
This is on the latest: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/building-and-energy/building-practitioner-registration-first-time website so if you have an application pending it may have to be upgraded. Older versions of these forms can no longer be accepted when submitting online. Any applications received online that include a form with payment details will be deleted.
Warning
Don’t be misled by Form 05, which is described as a template. Because there is a line for your role, they do expect an A4 description. You may have worked as a bricklayer or a carpenter, but don’t think that will be adequate. Describe in detail, like this:
We would clear the site with the bobcat and complete earthworks as per plans. After obtaining the compaction certificate, we would set out the site and dig footings, organise termite spray, install vapor barrier and mesh, and pour concrete footing and slab.
Frames would be ordered for the house as per the engineered frame plan and scheduled to be delivered to the site 7 days after slab pour.
I would set out wall locations on the slab using a chalk line, starting with the external walls. To compensate for possible differences in slab dimensions, I mark the inside of the external wall frame positions. I then continue on to the internal walls, checking constantly for squareness. Where perimeter wall frames are placed on a concrete slab-on-ground, I install a durable impermeable membrane between the bottom plate of perimeter wall frames and the slab and extend up the weather side flange of the bottom plate.
I mark out the positions of the roof trusses on the top plates before standing the frames. I drill out any holes in the bottom plate that are required for fixing to the slab. I cut the web of the bottom plate either side of the doorways. When all wall locations are marked out and the frames prepared, I place the frames near their required location as shown on the layout plan. I then stand the frames commencing with an external corner, fixing them together as recommended by the frame supplier. This is typically done with self-drilling screws. I continue to work around the building adding one frame at a time, checking that each frame is aligned with the set out marks and plumb before proceeding to the next. On longer walls, I use temporary bracing to stabilize the frames until the wall and roof framing is complete and fully braced. The frames are then fixed down to the slab using methods and spacings specified by the frame supplier, usually with dynabolts.
I then mark out roof batten spacings and ceiling batten spacings and screw these into place in preparation for metal roof sheeting and ceiling installation. We then install the fascia and gutters. Following this we install insulation blanket and metal roof sheets and we clad the exterior with a building wrap followed by the final cladding material which is usually metal custom orb or hardiflex cladding. Windows and flashings are then installed.
The plumber and electrician then arrive onsite to install the electrical and plumbing through the pre-punched holes in the wall frames and install any other fixtures and fittings that are required at this stage, and so forth………………….