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Home Building Podcast

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by Independent Building Advice

52 episodes

Updated Daily

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Podcast Overview

The Home Building Podcast is Perth's go-to resource for anyone designing, building, or renovating a home. Hosted by Behan Flaherty founder of Independent Building Advice and 25-year building industry insider each episode gives you the kind of honest, practical advice the building industry usually keeps to itself. From choosing the right builder to design decisions, contracts, hidden costs, and everything in between. Independent. No builder bias. Just eal advice from someone who's been on the inside. Building in Perth? Book a free call with our team at independendentbuildingadvice.com.au

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Publishing Since

8/4/2025

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Recent Episodes

July 24, 2026

7 Star Energy Ratings Explained - What It Means, What It Costs & How to Get It Right | Nina Kelly

Energy efficiency is now mandatory for every new home in Australia but most people have no idea how the assessment actually works or what it costs. Nina Kelly from ESD Studio joins Behan to break it all down, from NatHERS ratings and climate zones to solar orientation, insulation, glazing and the whole-of-home assessment most people have never heard of. What you’ll learn: <ul><li>What a 7 star NatHERS rating actually means and how it's assessed </li></ul><ul><li>How climate zones affect your rating and why Perth has two distinct zones </li></ul><ul><li>Why solar orientation is the single most important design decision you can make </li></ul><ul><li>The west sun problem and when to ignore orientation for the view </li></ul><ul><li>How windows, insulation and wall construction affect your star rating </li></ul><ul><li>The renovation trap why changing a window to a door can increase your required star rating </li></ul><ul><li>What the whole-of-home assessment is and why gas hot water almost always triggers solar panels </li></ul><ul><li>Allow $8,500 to $10,000 for energy efficiency upgrades here's why </li></ul><ul><li>What existing homeowners can do to improve their rating without a full renovation </li></ul><ul><li>Why old homes with good orientation often outperform new ones </li></ul> Chapters: 00:24 - What is energy efficiency and why does it matter 03:46 - How NatHERS assessments work 05:40 - Climate zones explained 06:46 - How Nina models your home and what she looks for first 09:25 - Solar orientation 10:30 - Why living areas facing south is a major problem 11:34 - When to ignore orientation for the view 14:00 - Windows (glazing ratios, types and how they affect performance) 17:20 – Insulation - what to include and where it makes the most difference 22:00 - Wall construction - brick vs. brick veneer vs. Framed 28:00 - The renovation star rating trap 33:00 - Eaves and shading 38:00 - Existing homes 48:00 - Whole-of-home assessment explained 59:39 - Gas hot water and solar panels 1:00:37 – When the budget doesn't fit for energy efficiency 1:02:37 – $10K Question About Our Guest Nina Kelly is the founder of ESD Studio, a Perth-based energy efficiency consultancy specialising in NatHERS assessments for residential builders, architects, designers and owner builders. With nearly a decade of experience across new homes, renovations and extensions, Nina helps homeowners understand and meet their energy requirements without blowing the budget. Get in touch with Nina: Website: <a href="https://esdstudio.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://esdstudio.com.au/</a> Socials: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/esdstudio_energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.instagram.com/esdstudio_energy/</a> Thinking about building or renovating, but not sure? 🏡 <a href="https://info.independentbuildingadvice.com.au/decision-checklist-page?utm-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Download our Homeowners Decision Checklist to get started</a> 👈🏽 Want more home building episodes? Visit our YouTube or website <a href="https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/</a> Follow us on socials: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/independentbuildingadvice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IBABehan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@independentbuildingadvice" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a> Disclaimer: The information discussed in this episode is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, site conditions, budget, or local council requirements. Building, design, investment, and rental outcomes vary significantly depending on individual factors. We recommend seeking personalised professional advice before making decisions related to property, construction, or finance.

July 20, 2026

Do's and Don'ts When Building or Extending Your Home - My 10 Cent’s

25 years of building experience distilled into one episode. Behan runs through his personal do's and don'ts across bathrooms, kitchens, doors, windows, outdoor living, lighting and energy efficiency. Some of it is controversial. All of it is honest. What you’ll learn: <ul><li>Why the bath in your ensuite is probably a waste of money and space </li></ul><ul><li>The vanity vs. bench space debate and why bench space wins every time </li></ul><ul><li>Why a single front door is better for security than a double door </li></ul><ul><li>The $600 upgrade that makes your whole home feel bigger and grander </li></ul><ul><li>Why the kitchen needs to be connected to your outdoor living area </li></ul><ul><li>Hotplates in the island bench why Behan's not a fan </li></ul><ul><li>Outdoor lighting, garden switches and why a hardwired doorbell is non-negotiable </li></ul><ul><li>The 6 star vs. 7 star energy efficiency debate honest take </li></ul>03:33 - Welcome and what we're covering today 05:07 - Do's and don'ts for your ensuite and bathroom 09:30 - Shower tap placement 10:27 - Powder room location and the guest toilet rule 13:08 - Front doors 14:38 - Feature doors vs. flush panels (how to save money here) 15:31 - Raising your door height a $600 upgrade worth doing 22:00 - Kitchen layout (sculleries, sinks and the island bench) 27:37 - Hotplates in the island 31:02 - Kitchen placement and indoor /outdoor connection 32:00 - Alfresco fans 34:20 - Outdoor lighting switches 35:55 - Energy efficiency 6 star vs. 7 star FREE Homeowner Decision Checklist Not sure whether to buy, build, extend or knock down and rebuild? Download our free Homeowner Decision Checklist here: <a href="https://info.independentbuildingadvice.com.au/decision-checklist-page?utm-homebuildingpodcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://info.independentbuildingadvice.com.au/decision-checklist-page?utm-homebuildingpodcast</a> Need design & building advice? Find out more on our IBA website <a href="https://www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au</a> Want more home building episodes? Visit our YouTube or website <a href="https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/</a> Follow us on socials: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/independentbuildingadvice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IBABehan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@independentbuildingadvice" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a> Disclaimer: The information discussed in this episode is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, site conditions, budget, or local council requirements. Building, design, investment, and rental outcomes vary significantly depending on individual factors. We recommend seeking personalised professional advice before making decisions related to property, construction, or finance.

July 14, 2026

Concrete Floors, Benchtops & Aggregate - Everything You Need to Know with Tyron Scott

Concrete is one of the most asked-about topics in home building and one of the most misunderstood. Tyron Scott from Firm Concrete joins Behan to cover everything from slabs and hardstands through to polished floors, exposed aggregate and in-situ benchtops. What you'll learn: <ul><li>The difference between a concrete slab and a hardstand and why 100mm is the bare minimum </li></ul><ul><li>Exposed aggregate types, finishes and what actually affects the price </li></ul><ul><li>Why the sealer matters as much as the concrete itself </li></ul><ul><li>Polished concrete floors what's involved and what to expect long term </li></ul><ul><li>In-situ concrete benchtops how they're made and what they cost </li></ul><ul><li>Why cheap concrete jobs always cost more in the long run </li></ul><ul><li>The architectural grey trend dominating Perth right now </li></ul>Chapters: 05:03 - Concrete slabs vs. hardstands and why 100mm is the minimum 07:12 - Exposed aggregate explained - types, sizes and colours 11:45 - What affects the price of aggregate 15:10 - Why the sealer is as important as the concrete 22:40 - Polished concrete floors - the process and what to expect 30:12 - In-situ concrete benchtops - formwork, pouring and finishing 35:22 - Architectural grey and white benchtops - the honest truth 39:15 - Concrete vs. stone benchtops 42:30 - What goes wrong with cheap concrete jobs 1:05:39 - How to engage Firm Concrete for your project 1:07:57 - The $10K question About Our Guest: Tyron Scott is the founder of Firm Concrete, a Perth-based decorative concrete specialist with 17 years of experience across exposed aggregate, polished floors, in-situ benchtops and large-scale commercial work. Firm Concrete completed the reception area at IBA's Home Base office. Found the episode useful? Please follow & leave a comment. It really goes a long way to getting it to more people like you. Need design & building advice? Find out more on our IBA website <a href="https://www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au</a> Want more home building episodes? Visit our YouTube or website <a href="https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/</a> Follow us on socials: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/independentbuildingadvice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IBABehan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@independentbuildingadvice" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YouTube</a> Disclaimer: The information discussed in this episode is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, site conditions, budget, or local council requirements. Building, design, investment, and rental outcomes vary significantly depending on individual factors. We recommend seeking personalised professional advice before making decisions related to property, construction, or finances.

52 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

What is Home Building Podcast?: The Home Building Podcast is Perth's go-to resource for anyone designing, building, or renovating a home.

Hosted by Behan Flaherty founder of Independent Building Advice and 25-year building industry insider each episode gives you the kind of honest, practical advice the building industry usually keeps to itself. From choosing the right builder to design decisions, contracts, hidden costs, and everything in between. Independent. No builder bias. Just eal advice from someone who's been on the inside.

Building in Perth? Book a free call with our team at independendentbuildingadvice.com.au
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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