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Newsletter May 2010This month (May 2010):
Your Painter Could Be Responsible For Killing Your Precious Plants.The paragraph below is an extract out of our specification for building projects. The painter must never never clean their equipment where the owner may intend to build a garden or plant trees or shrubs. Reason; chemicals in the paint and cleaning products (like turpentine) contaminate the soil and will kill and continue to kill the owner’s precious plants, shrubs, trees and even veggies. When cleaning your equipment any chemicals or paint must be contained and removed off site and disposed of in an appropriate manner or to an approved disposal location. Throughout my 35 year career in the building and construction industry I’ve often witnessed the dumping of small amounts of paints and chemicals around the building site and thought nothing of it, and neither did the painter or anyone else for that matter. The photos below are a classic example of what painter soil contamination can do to your garden. This is the third time this Hebe has been replaced – each time removing more and more of the dirt around and underneath it. The painter, before the gardens and paths were laid, has simply just tipped his waste onto the ground and this is the result. 
How To Turn A Sow’s Ear Into A Silk PurseIs pine (pinus radiata) just a down-grade product or more than a suitable replacement for the native timbers? There is no question that from the humble pine tree an enormous range of amazing products are and still can be produced. Firstly, what are the main advantages; well, pine grows almost anywhere in New Zealand, it’s an ideal renewable resource because of the speed in which it grows, it’s easily managed during growth, and with timely pruning produces long straight knot-free timber is the end result. Another couple of great positives are; firstly that it easily takes treatment which means it can be used in a hugely diverse number of locations on and around the building site, including the ‘build’ itself of your new home - from below the ground level to the finishing and joinery. The other wonderful plus is the colour of the wood gain itself – it’s usually white or just off white, until exposed to prolonged periods of sunlight. What this means is because it’s such a light wood-grain colour it can easily coloured by staining that can make it look like a large number of other timber types. If you go into almost any furniture store what you’ll see on display is many of their products are made from radiata but you’d hardly know because they have been stained and or varnished in a diverse range of colours. Of course what catches my eye is that some companies actually specialise in making reproduction and period furniture. They even purposely dinged and dent it to give the appearance of being aged before staining and varnishing. Moss Brothers too use radiata extensively in our period replica homes. We’ve taken the time to copy exactly and make patterns of many of the skirtings, scotias, architraves and mouldings that are seen in the old period homes and homesteads today. Using radiata means that the mouldings can be painted or stained in exactly the same way as the replica furniture manufacturers do. When you go into the next furniture store have a look, you’ll be impressed. Both photos below are window sills and architraves taken in a Moss Brothers designed and built home using radiata pine. 
How good is this for a period replica?NZ company Broadys have a stunning looking classical solid fuel wood fire with a traditional surround. My guess the fire surround is made of what else, probably radiata pine. 
http://www.broadys.co.nz/gallery_firepower.cfm Story of the monthThis brought a tear to my eye! 
GOODBYE MUM A young man shopping in a supermarket noticed a little old lady following him around. If he stopped, she stopped. Furthermore she kept staring at him. She finally overtook him at the checkout, and she turned to him and said, "I hope I haven't made you feel ill at ease; it's just that you look so much like my late son.' He answered, 'That's okay.' 'I know it's silly, but if you'd call out 'Good bye, Mum" as I leave the store, it would make me feel so happy.' She then went through the checkout, and as she was on her way out of the store, the man called out, 'Goodbye, Mum.' The little old lady waved, and smiled back at him Pleased that he had brought a little sunshine into someone's day, he went to pay for his groceries. 'That comes to £121.85,' said the clerk.. 'How come so much ... I only bought 5 items..?" The clerk replied, 'Yeah, but your Mother said you'd be paying for her things, too.' Don't trust little Old Ladies!!! Kind Regards Julian Moss Oh PS: If having a new build is an option for you what happens next? Gather up any thoughts, ideas or examples of what you may have or would like your old (new) home to be like. I’ll then introduce you to our architectural design team and you’ll be able to pick their brains about what works well in house design or how they can make your own design ideas come to life. The first consultation is absolutely free and no conditions apply. They’ll also have on show a range of house designs to give you other ideas of what else is possible but every house we design and build is unique to what our clients say they want. After that first meeting, you’ll be able to decide whether you want to keep talking or simply walk away – no pressure.
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