Time to start thinking about what investment property improvements you can make before the EOFY5/25/2017 The end of financial year is soon approaching which means time is running out to claim any and all tax deductions on your investment property for the 2016 financial year.
Now is the time to start thinking about any renovations or improvements that your investment property may need – things like tiling, new kitchen cabinetry, kitchen splash backs, upgrading the bathroom or creating a tiled or paved patio outside. Did we mention tiles as well? All of these improvements and fixes can be tax deducted immediately and listed on your depreciation schedule. At Nerang Tiles we find that many Australians are choosing to invest in renovations to increase the value of their investment properties. However, many of these clients are still unaware of the tax benefits that can be associated with such projects. It is possible for investment property owners to claim thousands of dollars back after renovating a property which generates income. Renovations can often be quite expensive and exceed the budget so it makes financial sense to take full advantage of the tax advantages that are available. Nerang Tiles advises all our clients with investment properties to keep their receipts and to seek professional advice on tax deductions when renovating their properties. Tiles present a great opportunity to claim a tax deduction. This is because you can claim the labour work as an immediate tax deduction and because tiles become a fixture of the property where you can claim years’ worth of depreciation. Tiles also present the opportunity to increase the value of the property by bringing the home up to date with modern trends and designs as well as giving a bathroom or kitchen a great refresher. Choosing the right tiles is difficult, so ask at Nerang Tiles for the best value for money tiles that can boost the value of your property without hurting your wallet. As the end of financial year soon approaches, it is important to start thinking about what improvements or renovations you can do to your investment property. Make sure your ask the staff at Nerang Tiles for advice on what sells the best and which tiles will the greatest value for money to increase the value of your investment property without exceeding any budget requirements. Nerang Tiles is a multi award winning tile showroom with thousands of quality floor tiles and wall tiles on display at its Gold Coast Tile Showroom. With a complete range of floor tiles and wall tiles and bathroom accessories like tap-ware, vanities and toilets to match, Nerang Tiles is a one stop shop for investment property renovation that can earn you a great tax deduction for the financial year. Visit the Nerang Tiles Gold Coast Tile Showroom today to see the full range and get advice on how to best renovate your investment property to increase its value and get some great tax deductions.
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Do you live in a multi-level complex or building that has body corporate / strata title by laws that regulate noise? Then this article and the products recommended here are important for you. More and more people in Australia are now living in high rise buildings where noise and privacy between units is an important issue. At Nerang Tiles we see more and more people moving away from traditional soft floor coverings such as vinyl, timber and carpet flooring to more hard wearing products such as tiles and natural stones. These changes in design and contemporary trends from soft floor coverings to hard flooring can often create adverse noise impact to adjacent and lower residences. This is where Nerang Tiles can help. There are a number of floor impact insulation materials and ceiling construction elements that become important components in the acoustic treatment to minimise noise in surrounding apartments. It is essential that if you are renovating a unit in a multi-story building that you consider and budget for noise minimisation and insulation products in your renovation budget. Nerang Tiles has briefly described below some important information about noise insulation in Queensland and some products that may assist when renovating your unit. What are the floor impact and floor noise / insulation standards in Australia? Australia currently adopts the standards (ISO) ISO140-7 “Field measurements of impact sound insulation of floors” and ISO 717-2 “Impact Sound Insulation” (AS1276-1). These standards provide field test procedures and procedures for evaluating single number quantities to determine the impact sound insulation rating. The ISO Standards were adopted by Building Code of Australia (BCA). What are your strata schemes or body corporate by laws? The most important thing to check before deciding and budgeting for your unit renovation is to investigate your building’s by laws. The by laws will describe the minimum requirements and limitations on renovating your unit. You should find information on noise minimisation standards, tiling (sometimes the by laws will specify the size and colour to be used in and outside your unit) and the hours of constructions permitted. It is important to understand that when you purchase or rent an apartment you are signing a contract that binds you to the by-laws of your building. Some strata schemes may have adopted the standard by-laws or Model By-Laws, and some schemes may have by-laws which differ from these Model By-Laws and created their own custom rules and regulations that still fit in to the overarching legislation that exists. All this means is that it is critically important for you to check your by laws before planning any renovation. What do you need to check for in your by laws when renovating your apartment? In our experience by laws tends to be very prescriptive or more prescriptive than general las. By laws are by nature designed to reflect the lifestyle choices of the majority of residents that live under your strata. If you are intending on renovating your unit which may cause potential noise changes then we recommend that you:
What products should I use and make sure my tilers use and budget for when renovating my apartment in a high rise building? There are a number of products out there in the market under the umbrella of numerous brands. Many different tile shops and other companies will have a tendency to go with the best value or cheapest or more accessible product to them. Nerang Tiles has done extensive research into this field and associated itself with one of the leading adhesive and floor covering brands in the Australian Industry. We asked Davco what the best products to use are and discovered it is the same we though. Below is a brief description of the two recommended alternative products that can be used to minimise noise and meet any strata noise by laws that may exist in your apartment building. Davco Sound Zero Acoustic 5mm T5 MatMade specifically to reduce sound transmission through floor tiling systems. It is made from graded and compressed rubber product that sits flat for ease of use. Advantages:
For general living areas, where tiling takes place directly to the mat or where a sand/cement screed is used over the mat. Typical application includes: Office buildings, Airports, Shopping Centres, Hotels, Homes and Apartments. All types of tiles and stone, including ceramics, terracotta, porcelain, marble and quarry stone and other type of flooring such as hardwood or bamboo floor applications. Davco Sound Zero Acoustic 5mm T5 Mat comes in 1.1m x 1.1m mat (1.21m2) Uses Davco Sound Zero Acoustic T5 Mat is ideal for use under ceramic tile, slate, stone and other types of flooring such as bamboo and hardwood floors in many applications. For general living areas, where tiling takes place directly to the mat or where a sand/cement screed is used over the mat. Typical applications include office buildings, airports, shopping centres, hotels, homes and apartments. Surface Preparation All surfaces must be structurally sound, dry, clean and free from movement, oil, grease, wax, curing compounds and any other loose or contaminating materials. Steel trowel finished concrete must be mechanically abraded and all dust removed. Mechanically remove all paint and contaminants and prime with Davco Ultraprime. If the floor is not level, it is recommended to install Lanko 133 Pro Level. This is particularly important if large format tiles are to be installed and directly adhered to the matting. Allow the Lanko 133 Pro Level to cure for 24 hours before covering. Sound Rating: - Impact Sound T5 Sound Zero Mat ISO 140-7 : 1998 & 717-2 : 1998 Weighted Standardised Impact Sound Pressure Level LnTW : 51 CI : -5 BCA Requirements The new BCA Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions require the L’n,w + Cl of a floor to be determined by testing in the laboratory. The impact sound insulation requirements for floors are: L’n,w + Cl not more than 62 for floors separating dwellings and for floors separating dwellings from a plant room, lift shaft, stairway, public corridor, public lobby or the like, or parts of a different classification. The terms to describe the impact sound insulation rating of a floor when tested on-site, is the weighted standardised impact sound pressure level (L’nT,w) plus the spectrum adaptation term (Cl ). L’nT,w + Cl is similar to the laboratory term L’n,w + Cl . For floors tested on-site, the impact sound insulation requirements are as follows: L’nT,w + Cl not more than 62 for floors separating dwellings and for floors separating dwellings from a plant room, lift shaft, stairway, public corridor, public lobby or the like, or parts of a different classification. Sound Zero 2 PartA 2 part, flexible, ceramic tile underlay applied to floors prior to tiling to reduce sound transmission Surfaces Most common substrates; concrete and concrete sides, cement-based flooring compounds, levelling compounds, compressed fibre cement sheeting and timber. Suitable for use with under floor heating and ceramic tiles. Areas Suitable for interior and exterior applications. Commercial and domestic floors in areas such as office buildings, airports, shopping centres, hotels, homes, apartments and other areas where sound transmission may be a problem. Nerang Tiles is a multi award winning tile store on the Gold Coast with thousands of floor tiles and wall tiles on display at discount prices at its Gold Coast Tile Showroom. Nerang Tiles has all tile types that include tiles suitable as kitchen tiles, bathroom tiles, outdoor tiles, pool tiles, feature tiles and much more.
Nerang Tiles is also the leading tile store in tiling supplies and advice. Nerang Tiles can source and stocks numerous brands and products that include adhesive, clips, wedges, grout, silicone. primers and many more tiling products suitable for any job you may have including sound proofing acoustics underlay and adhesive options. OPTICAL HAZING
Optical hazing effect is not a new phenomenon. So what is Optical hazing? How does it present itself and what causes it? Firstly, it will present as a smoky, hazy, smudgy type of finish in the surface of polished porcelain tiles, it will only be visible when a direct light source reflects at a certain angle across the surface of the tile. Optical hazing is caused by light. If you could observe a ray of light approaching a mirror you would see it also bouncing or reflecting from the mirror. Where and how it bounces or reflects is referred to as the “behaviour of light as it reflects” and is known as the “law of reflection”. Reflection off a smooth surface such as a mirror is known as specular reflection. While reflection off a rough surface such as ceramic tiles is known as diffuse reflection. Many consumers have expectations that their polished porcelain floor is going to have a mirror like finish. A polished porcelain tile is not a mirror. When the surface of a polished porcelain tile is examined under a microscope, small micro facets are found. Light that strikes these micro facets reflects in a diffused manner giving a “Halo” or “Haze” effect.The amount of haze visible depends on several factors:
It is worth restating that Polished porcelain tiles are not mirrors and such an expectation should not be created during the selling process. It is paramount that the consultants advise the end user of optical haze characteristics that may occur. Credit: http://www.stoneworld.com.au/optical-hazing/ Stoneworld Importer Nerang Tiles imports tiles from around the world to ensure we supply only the highest quality floor tiles and wall tiles to our customers. Below is some great information from the Italy Tile Agency on how to choose the right location for the tiles you have selected.
There are tiles for all environments but there is no such tile that is suitable for all purposes. one cannot just choose at random; the consumer has to make an informed choice. When making your choice, bear in mind:
Design considerations. The tiles must fit in with the furnishings and the range of objects, colors, shapes and activities that exist in the environment. They must also match its shape, dimensions, area and lighting, etc. This choice also depends on personal taste and fashion, so it is difficult, and perhaps inappropriate to lay down rules. Technical considerations. This rule must be followed: the tiles should have technical characteristics and levels of resistance to stress (mechanical, chemical, thermal etc.,) that will be adequate for the environment in which they will be installed. In other words, the greater the probable stress will be, the higher the performance and the more resistant the tiles must be. Let us now look at some practical examples of this principle. First of all, we will look at the rooms in the home - and tiles look good in any room in the house - where tiles with special technical and design characteristics have to be chosen. We will then give some tips on choosing the most suitable floor tiles for public buildings and factories in order to show how tile characteristics must match the use to which they are to be put.
Tiles must therefore have a compact body because of its superior mechanical characteristics and the tiles must be thicker in order to withstand heavy loads. Tiles must be exceptionally resistant to abrasion and chemical exposure and tile surfaces must be hard and compact in order to limit penetration from dirt and to facilitate cleaning and greater hygiene. In areas in which there is a high risk of slipping, tiles with a slip resistant surface must be laid (tiles with a rough or relief surface). Porcelain stoneware or red stoneware tiles may also be selected for this purpose. These brief examples do not cover all the environments that can be tiled or address problematic tiling situations. They are merely intended to demonstrate the best way to proceed and the factors that should be taken into account when choosing tiles. Credit: Italy Trade Agency: http://www.italytile.com/talking_about_tiles.php?page=7 It is always handy to have a quick refresher to remind us on how to and to maintain and clean our floor spaces.
It is no secret that tiles have a huge lifespan which can be further extended if the tiles are cared for properly. Homeowners can do their part to ensure a tiled floor or wall can keep their technical characteristics and continue to look brand new. Porcelain and ceramic tile fitted homes are one of the most hard wearing and durable surfaces that exist today, especially compared to other floor materials that are commonly softer, inflammable or stain or scratch easily. Nerang Tiles recommends taking some precautions when using certain chemicals and cleaning agents and methods for cleaning and maintaining your floor tiles or wall tiles. Below is a list of top tips from Nerang Tiles for homeowners to be aware of and to consider when cleaning or maintaining your floor tiles or wall tiles. Cleaning products Nerang Tiles recommends using safe and environmentally friendly appropriate detergents, such as standard commercial tile care products. In particular, avoid using acid based detergents that are very harsh and corrosive. Even if they do not damage the tiles, acids of this type could damage cement based grouting which can in turn crack the grout or discolour it. Also remember that only grouts made of epoxy materials have good resistance to chemical corrosion. Nerang Tiles has a range of tile cleaning products and can recommend professional tile cleaners to assist you with this process. Cleaning methods When cleaning your tiles or tile grout try to avoid using highly abrasive materials such as metal pads or aluminium scrub brushes. If they must be used, exercise extreme caution. Please make sure you consider the type of material you use when scrubbing your tiles, particularly when you have a glazed or shiny wall tiles. Rough materials can score or scratch the surface and you can loose the aesthetics of a gloss finish more easily. Precautions and protection Although tiled floors are one of the most durable and hard wearing flooring products when laid, tiled floors are not completely resilient to damage. In other words, your floor tiles are only moderately shock proof. Please be careful when handling heavy objects, particularly heavy objects that are also hard wearing or have sharp corners. Every effort should be made to prevent heavy objects from dropping on your floor tiles. Areas on which objects are more likely to be dropped or on which they drop more frequently should be protected with mats. For example, in the kitchen, the area in front of the oven and sink should be protected. Nerang Tiles is an award winning tile showroom with thousands of quality floor tiles and wall tiles on display at its Gold Coast Tile Showroom. With the largest range of floor tiles and wall tiles in Queensland you are sure to find the perfect floor tiles or wall tiles at Nerang Tiles. Tile types on offer include tiles suitable as kitchen tiles, bathroom tiles, outdoor tiles, pool tiles, floor tiles, wall tiles and much more. You will find floor tiles and wall tiles as a porcelain or ceramic that look like timber tiles, marble tiles, stone tiles and tiles that are subway tiles, mosaic tiles, feature tiles and much more. Visit the Nerang Tiles Gold Coast Tile Showroom to see the full range of porcelain and ceramic floor tiles and wall tiles today. If you find that the tiles you have selected for your wet areas like around the pool or in your bathroom are too slippery then do not worry.
You do not have to rip up the tiles and get new ones, there is a solution. Nerang Tiles stock a product called TILE GRIP. Tile GRIP is a liquid specifically designed to reduce the danger of slipping on wet tiles. It is recommended for use on hard, thick floor glazes like mosaics and porcelain or ceramic floor tiles. TILE GRIP is a once only application - meaning that you only have to apply it once to your tiles. All you need to do is pour a small amount of the TILE GRIP over the area of tiles you wish to treat. Spread the liquid evenly over the floor with a sponge ensuring all areas are completely covered. After about 10 minutes you can then remove the liquid through a thorough washing with plenty of clean water. After that you will have a surface with a grip finish that can only be felt when the tile is wet. Visit Nerang Tiles to feel and see the difference this product makes and grab a bottle to apply to your slippery tiles. In many homes today, the kitchen is designed to have spatial and visible connection to the social activities of the household. This increased accessibility means it attracts more foot traffic than almost any other area of the house. Tiles are a natural choice for a floor that must support daily wear and tear and look good in the bargain. If you’re considering tiles, weigh up what’s on offer and how they’ll suit your lifestyle.
The case for tiles Tiles deliver many of the things a hard-working floor needs. In general, they repel water, shrug off most stains, clean up well, resist fading and scratching and are hygienic. The right choice will ensure your kitchen floor enhances and protects the heart of your home for years to come. Properties differ between the main tile types, so get ready to put them through their paces. 1. Ceramic (non-porcelain) Ceramic tiles are classified as non-porcelain and porcelain. For the average tile shopper, ‘ceramic’ usually refers to non-porcelain ceramic. What’s great ° The range of colours, finishes, textures, sizes and shapes is enormous. ° Cutting and laying can be done by a competent DIYer. ° Ceramic is zero VOC (but VOCs may be present in grout, adhesives and sealants). ° Price range is generally lower than porcelain. ° They feel cool in hot climates and underfloor heating creates a heat bank in cold conditions. What to consider ° All tiles have the potential to cause foot fatigue with long periods of standing. This can be reduced by anti-fatigue floor mats and supportive footwear. ° Ceramic adapts to room temperature, so if unheated, can be chilly underfoot in cool climates. ° Sound reflective properties contribute to noise in an open-pla area. ° There is potential for chipping, which is hard to repair without replacement. ° Dropped items almost certainly break. ° Grout may become stained and dingy and require maintenance. 2. Porcelain Porcelain is a high-quality clay-based ceramic that has been subjected to extremely high heat and compression. Porcelain tiles have slightly different clay and mineral composition than non-porcelain ceramic tiles. What’s great ° They are harder and denser than non-porcelain ceramic, and virtually non-porous. ° VOC emissions are zero. ° No sealing is required to water-proof them. ° Glazing and polishing create attractive shine and textures for modern interiors. ° Interior porcelain tiling flows seamlessly to outdoor areas as porcelain is highly weather-resistant. ° Engineering techniques can mimic natural stone and timber, with virtually undetectable differences. What to consider ° Average prices are higher for porcelain than non-porcelain ceramic. ° High density makes tiles harder to cut and requires professional laying, increasing the overall cost. Extreme hardness means precision cutting around architectural features or creating non-standard shapes can be problematic. ° Heaviness makes porcelain unsuitable for certain layouts, for example, brick patterns. ‘Lipping’, or subsidence of a sub-surface under increased weight, can result in an uneven surface. ° Its weight requires a stable and strong substrate capable of supporting it. This restricts its use in upper storeys of buildings. 3. Terracotta Another form of ceramic, terracotta’s recent popularity follows hot on the heels of the 2017 ‘tribal’ trend towards earthy colours and raw textures. What’s great ° It’s unbeaten for its fabulous foot-friendly feel. ° Tonal variations add warmth and interest, softening the look of a sleek kitchen with a cool pale palette. ° Its character mellows with age. ° Although it’s porous, if well-sealed and maintained, it’s extremely durable and stain-resistant. ° It suits both both modern and traditional decor. What to consider ° Sealing is essential and a professional job adds to the cost. Resealing is needed every few years. ° It may be difficult to find a matching tonal palette if a damaged tile needs replacing. 4. Stone Our current love affair with the warmth and beauty that organic materials bring to our homes has shone a light on natural stone. What’s great ° Stone is rugged and adds character and natural beauty to floors, indoors and out. ° Every natural stone floor is unique. ° It’s an investment in the value of your home. What to consider ° Expect to spend. Factor in the cost of engaging a professional familiar with stone laying. ° As no two quarries are alike, grading natural stone tiles is somewhat imprecise.To guarantee your investment, source tiles from stone specialists. ° As with all natural stone tiles, be prepared to do some regular maintenance. Stone Types Granite has the advantage over some other stone products in that it is non-porous. It is on average harder and more stain-resistant than other stones but like all stone, should be sealed in moisture-prone areas. Travertine has survived in Rome’s Trevi Fountain for almost 300 years. It is a porous stone, but when filled, honed and sealed, is a durable material. However, it may scratch. It can be sanded to a smooth matt finish that creates a good non-slip surface. Limestone is considered more durable than travertine. Its palette, from pale silvery white to on-trend greys with delicate flecking, is a natural fit for modern decors. Slate has regained its mojo lately. It offers more grip than many other stones, an attractive hewn look, low maintenance and a ruggedness that suits rigorous activity. A unique earthy palette, from charcoal, pewter and olive to rust-kissed blue-greys, adds to its appeal. Modern treatments hone slate to a smooth satin or matt finish, and engineer slabs to enable narrow grouting, which cuts down on maintenance. Tile Terms Here are some common terms you’ll see when tile shopping. Full-body The composition of a full-body tile is uniform throughout the depth of the tile and will wear consistently. Surface scratches and chips are less noticeable in full-body tiles. Polished unglazed porcelain tiles are full-body tiles. Glazed tiles with pigment mixed throughout the tile may be called ‘through-colour’. Vitrified All ceramic tiles are vitrified to an extent, but a fully vitrified tile has quartz and feldspar added before firing. This creates a glass-like element within the tile and a very low absorption rate of less than 0.5 per cent, compared to 3 to 5 per cent in a standard glazed ceramic tile. Glazed Tiles can have a glass-like surface coating that adds to their durability and low porosity. All non-porcelain ceramic tiles are glazed, porcelain tiles may also be glazed. Glazes are applied to digitally printed tiles, for example, those with a timber or stone print. They protect printed details, but potentially show wear. Polished Polishing is a mechanical process. Polishing porcelain results in a smooth reflective easy-clean surface. It is popular nowadays for a silky sophisticated result. Rectified When ceramic or porcelain tiles are fired, it causes slight irregularities in shape. Rectification creates near-perfect straight edges in ceramic and porcelain tiles after firing, reducing the need for wide grout to allow for slight edge differences. The result is a smooth, almost seamless, look with narrow grouting. Tell us What tiles do you have on your kitchen floor? How are they performing? Tell us in the Comments. Credit: Janet Dunn 10 May 2017 Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid interior design enthusiast. Ex-restaurateur and caterer, with a Professional Certificate in Gastronomy, University of Adelaide. https://www.houzz.com.au/ideabooks/83791470/list/tile-file-a-guide-to-choosing-tiles-for-your-kitchen-floor Nerang Tiles is a multi award winning tile store with thousands of quality floor tiles and wall tiles on display at its Gold Coast Tile Showroom. Visit Nerang Tiles to see the full range of porcelain tiles and ceramic tiles suitable as kitchen tiles, bathroom tiles, feature tiles, outdoor tiles, floor tiles, wall tiles and much more. With perfect imperfections in texture and colour, stone look porcelain tiles can recreate the ancient beauty of natural stone in stunning natural stone look porcelain stoneware. This new stone look porcelain tile is no exception. The veining and natural look of ancient stone is perfectly imitated. Nerang Tiles is a multi award winning tile showroom with thousands of floor tiles and wall tiles on display at its Gold Coast Tile Showroom.
Nerang Tiles has one of the largest stone look tile ranges suitable as bathroom tiles, kitchen tiles, outdoor tiles, pool tiles, feature tiles and much more. Visit the Nerang Tiles Gold Coast Tile Showroom to see the full range. Another new range of timber tiles that replicate the natural veining and feel of wood at Nerang Tiles. The Nerang Tiles Gold Coast showroom already has one of the largest timber tile ranges in Queensland and it just keeps on growing. This new range is available in three different colours that cover a range of interior design options. Available in a large format 295 x 1200, this tile range is best suited for large open spaces and those seeking that rustic / modern look while with warm features while maintaining the easy maintenance and enduring practicality of porcelain tiles. Nerang Tiles is a multi award winning tile showroom with thousands of floor tiles and wall tiles on display at its Gold Coast tile showroom.
Nerang Tiles has one of the largest timber tile ranges in Queensland suitable as bathroom tiles, kitchen tiles, outdoor tiles, floor tiles, wall tiles, feature tiles and much more. Visit the Nerang Tiles Gold Coast Tile Showroom to see the full range. With a fraction of the price of natural marble slabs and tiles, Carrara porcelain tiles are the perfect range to add a touch of lux into your home. Carrara porcelain tiles replicate the inherent natural veining and polished surface of natural occuring marble, creating the most sought after look for every design conscious renovator. Porcelain tiles are stain and scratch resistant while being harder wearing and the perfect replication of the natural stone found in the Italian Dolomites. Introducing a new 600 x 600 Carrara Porcelain tile to Nerang Tiles suitable for indoor and outdoor applications and as a bathroom tile, kitchen tile, floor tile or wall tile in area of the home. Available in a polished finish and an outdoor finish with a non slip application to go around pools or to add that extra textured finish to a feature wall. Ask for the PRE010 in store Nerang Tiles is an award winning tile showroom on the Gold Coast with thousands of floor tiles and wall tiles on display suitable as bathroom tiles, kitchen tiles, floor tiles, wall tiles, pool tiles, outdoor tiles, feature tiles and much more.
Visit the Nerang Tiles Gold Coast tile showroom to see the entire range of floor tiles and wall tiles on offer. |
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