The National Construction Code doesn't change without warning. It updates on a fixed three yearly cycle, the current edition is NCC 2025, and the next full update is already scheduled for down the track. That predictability is the story here. NCC changes are not a random shock that lands on your desk mid quote. They're […]
TL;DR: In Australia, balustrade height requirements sit at a minimum of 1000mm above floor level for balconies, landings and decks, dropping to 865mm above the nosing line on stair flights and ramps. Gaps in the barrier can't let a 125mm sphere pass through, and between 150mm and 760mm off the floor nothing can look like […]
AS 3740-2021 is the deemed-to-satisfy standard the NCC points to for waterproofing wet areas in Class 1 and Class 10 buildings. Get the falls, membrane upturns and penetrations right, understand who's actually allowed to do the work in your state, and keep a compliance certificate on file. Most of the leaks that turn into defects […]
TL;DR: The Property Council of Australia says National Construction Code reform is "vital for productivity", reviving a long-running industry argument about how the NCC gets made and applied. Nothing changes overnight, but the code shifts every few years and each shift touches your quoting, your documentation and your margins. The fix isn't panic, it's a […]
The Housing Industry Association says home building will lift in 2026, but how far and how fast it climbs comes down to one thing: interest rates. That's the headline from HIA's latest read on building approvals and housing starts, and if you're running a building business anywhere in Australia, it's worth more than a passing […]
TL;DR We checked the real 2026 pricing of 16 construction software platforms used by Australian builders. The headline finding: nearly a third don’t publish any pricing at all, Buildertrend, Procore, CostX, simPRO and AroFlo all make you request a quote. Of those that do publish, most charge per user, which quietly inflates the bill as […]
TL;DR: The best construction apps for an Australian builder depend on what the job actually demands. For all-in-one project management, Built Simple covers scheduling, estimating, crew tracking and defects in one mobile-first platform (free plan, paid from $79/month). For field-service trades running maintenance calls, AroFlo, Simpro and Fergus lead. For estimating-heavy residential work, Buildxact. The […]
TL;DR In 2026, building a house in Australia typically costs $1,800–$3,500 per square metre, so a standard 230m² home lands around $443,000 on average, excluding land. Project (volume-builder) homes are the cheapest at roughly $1,800–$3,000/m²; custom builds run $2,400–$3,500/m²; architectural homes $3,500–$6,000/m². Then add site costs, council fees, service connections and a 10–20% contingency on […]
Looking for a Fergus alternative built for Australian builders? Built Simple is the AU-built option: same features, better price, native Xero and MYOB.
Looking for a Tradify alternative built for Australian builders? Built Simple is the AU-built option: same features, better price, native Xero and MYOB.
