Navigating challenges and upholding standards: Lawman’s Frame and Truss thought 30 years. By Campbell McInnes Founded in 1994, by Lawrence and Manuel Mizzi, Lawmans Frame and Truss Pty Ltd the inception of the company arose from a vision to address the demand for exceptional frame and truss solutions in local and the wider metropolitan areas. With both founders being builders, Lawrence and Manuel’s ability to comprehend and communicate effectively in the industry ensured accurate quotes and supply that met client expectations. Upon Lawrence’s retirement in 2017, Manuel assumed full ownership ..read more

  Timber lining boards deliver timeless beauty to both commercial and residential builds, in addition to a host of practical and environmental benefits. By Donyale Harrison Jacob Ferrow is telling me about his customers. “They understand that we source our timbers from sustainable forestry and that by choosing timber they get additional boxes ticked, ranging from natural insulation to health benefits,” says the general manager of Timbeck, a Queensland- based timber specialist. “But when it comes down to it, most of them are making decisions based on looks.” Timber lining boards hold a ..read more

Challenges in Australian Timber Production. By Phil Lindsay, Red Stag Timber The Australian Timber Supply Summit in Melbourne last year highlighted the situation for the supply of structural timber for building over the next 25 years. There were a number of presentations showcasing the fluctuating level of expected building in the short and medium term based on economic factors, but the firm longer-term outlook was an increasing softwood timber demand as population inevitably increased. Population growth to between 35m and 40m will increase demand by 40% to 50% which cannot be met by curren ..read more

The future is bright for ITI. An expanding product offering and growing business partnerships are key to ITI Australia’s continued growth offering customers even more solutions. By Nicky Ainley Since its establishment in 1987 by Paul Shadbolt, Independent Timber Importers (ITI) has been on a mission to redefine the timber industry and are continuing to pave their way forward by expanding their range of building and hardware lines. Continuing their commitment to be a one- stop-shop for its customers, ITI remains proudly privately owned and has been operating this way since its inception in ..read more

Focus on these design considerations when creating roof spaces. By Paul Davis Attic trusses are a popular choice for creating extra living or storage space in the roof of a building. You can never have too much storage in a house! They are composed of a bottom chord that acts as a floor joist, a top chord that acts as a rafter and a web of timber members that connect them. However, attic trusses are not as simple as they may seem. There are several factors that need to be taken into account when designing them. Here are some of the most important ones. FLOOR DESIGN LOADS The first thing t ..read more

  Home ownership remains a goal for most Australians, but to achieve it – and adequate housing – we need to change our approach. By George Dolezal, Principal Engineer, Meyer Timber Pty Ltd. 2023 was an interesting year for housing supply in Australia. Multiple interest rate rises softened the housing market but house prices remained firm or rose in most cities. Rental vacancies were at an all-time low and immigration was on the way up again. Families continued the trend of becoming more fragmented so there are fewer people on average living in each home. If you consider all of thes ..read more

Above: The Bokarina Beach development on the Sunshine Coast: Intergrain oils were used to protect the Weathertex cladding for a unified, easy-maintain finish. When Simone Gillies, BDE trade commercial Cabot’s at DuluxGroup in Brisbane took a phone call from local architect Garth Hollindale asking about how Dulux/ Intergrain coating products would work on Weathertex, she admits to a little stalling. “I’d never heard of Weathertex,” she admits. “But I rang them and Aaron Davey, the local BDM, sent me a set of samples, which were super. Garth had said he wanted a natural weathering effe ..read more

Above: The Porta Team that John Pizzey built The family and team at Porta pay tribute to the late John Pizzey and describe how his visionary legacy will shape the decorative timber specialist’s future, maintaining his sustainable goals. Above: John Pizzey guided Porta’s growth since 1979 In the midst of Australia’s rich timber heritage, we take a moment to honour and reflect on the enduring legacy of a true visionary, John Pizzey. His passing on 26 October, 2023, signifies not only the loss of our esteemed managing director and owner but also marks a pivotal moment in the history of Port ..read more

Combilift’s new and nimble electric vehicle can lift up to 7 tonnes and has been designed with driver safety at front of mind. Martin Mc Vicar, Combilift CEO and co-founder, was all smiles as he launched the new Combi-CB70E at Ligna back in May as part of the powerhouse Irish manufacturer’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Another in the ever-expanding fleet of electric vehicles from the design-focused lifting specialists, the new Combi-CB70E offers powerful performance, extensive battery life and unrivalled ergonomics. Add to that it’s the shortest 7-tonne capacity counterbalance truck on ..read more

The right choice in timber connectors can elevate a design aesthetically, make it easier to achieve and even make the building site safer. By Donyale Harrison Beautiful timber structures are made by their connection choices. When the connectors used are designed to work with the architecture of the structure and show off the materials to their best advantage, everybody wins. The homeowner has a result they love, the builder has a show piece to add to their portfolio and the designer looks like a well-informed expert. The good news is how easy this result is to obtain. Leaving aside nailplate s ..read more