Month: May 2008

Synthetic Stone Bench Top

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When installing our new double kitchen sink we discovered that the countertop was synthetic stone. For some reason I had just assumed that it was a laminate countertop, but it turns out that I was wrong…

Sythetic Stone Benchtop

The synthetic stone bench top has very similar qualities to solid stone bench tops, but at a significantly lower price. The lower price is due to the fact that it doesn’t need to come from one large hunk of stone, but rather it is manufactured to suit the install requirements.

It is very hard wearing and easy to clean. Despite our best (accidental) efforts we have yet to chip or scratch it, although we have lost a few glasses and plates to the hardness of the synthetic stone.

If you want the look and feel of a granite or marble countertop, but want to save some money, then have a look at a synthetic stone option. It should still probably be professionally installed, but it will look great, and save you a bit of cash.

Install a New Kitchen Double Sink

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Quite a while ago now we installed a new double sink in our kitchen to replace our existing single sink. Our first flat had a double kitchen sink and it certainly made cleaning up easy to handle.

The first thing that we had to do to pick our new double kitchen sink was to measure the exterior dimensions of the old sink. The new double sink had to be the same size, or bigger, than the old sink, otherwise we would have to look at replacing the countertop, which we would rather avoid.

Single Bowl Kitchen Sink

Because our single sink had drains on either side of it we had to get a double sink with drains on both side. It was wider than our single sink, so we had to cut out some of the bench top to make it fit, which was a lot harder than we expected since the bench top ended up being made of synthetic stone, rather than the laminate that I thought it was.

After grinding away at the counter top and making a heck of a mess we finally got the new kitchen sink in. One thing that I hadn’t planned very well for was the drains. We almost had to remove the shelf on the left side of the cupboard under the sink, but after getting the plumbing set-up just right we managed to get around that problem. It’s pretty tight under there, but it’s not too bad.

Double Bowl Sink

Ideally I would have liked a double sink with a drain only on one side, but this worked out pretty well for us.

Get A Free Water Saving Kit …

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but only if you are in Victoria, Australia.

I was pretty excited when I first saw this offer, but then bummed out after seeing that it is only available for people in Victoria. The free water saving kit includes:

  • 4 Minute Shower Timer
  • Water Saving Books
  • Water Saving Tips
  • Information on How to Receive a Free Water Saving Showerhead

We have actually been looking for a while for a good shower timer, and the other three things would prove useful as well I’m sure (although we are about to sell a spare water saving showerhead in a garage sale in a few weeks).

If you are interested in the free water saving kit, and you live in Victoria, then check it out here.

Source: Australian Freebies

Townsville Homes Going Solar

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Looks like this year about 600 homes in Townsville will be going to solar power in an Australian wide test to “demonstrate how solar power, smart meters, energy efficiency and new approaches to electricity pricing could combine to provide a sustainable energy future.”

When I first read this my first thought was “Where do I sign up?”, but we would not be eligible. The government has decided that the homes being selected for the test would be located on Magnetic Island, just off the coast of Townsville.

The idea to use Magnetic Island as a test bed makes a lot of sense. They are isolated and a small community that is already using solar power in a big way with solar hot water. Although Townsville has only about 5% of homes using solar hot water systems, Magnetic Island has significantly more homes on a solar hot water system. This is because most of Magnetic Island residents are long term residence, where as Townsville is known for it’s “transient population”. The savings found in using solar usually comes in about the 5th year of ownership, so it is a long term investment.

During the seven year period of the “Solar City Project” they reckon greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 50,000 tonnes, which is the same as pulling 1700 cars off the road.

Not a bad return for putting a few solar panels on your roof …

Source: Townsville homes goes solar | Townsville Bulletin News