All guides: Building, Construction and Project Management: Websites

Building and construction resources

Surveying, costing and estimating

Surveying [YouTube video]
Eleven-part series from Buildsum on surveying.
Estimating [YouTube video]
Four-part series from Buildsum on estimating.
The six differences between estimating and ‘guestimating’ - Master Builders Association of Victoria
An estimator's job is to calculate how much a building project is going to cost and how much material and labor is involved. Your numeracy skills must be excellent as well as your ability to organise sub-contractors' quotes etc. Here is an article discussing the difference between estimating and "guestimating".

Framing

Timber types, processing and applications

Wood species from WoodSolutions
Provides details about the timber species and materials available for building in Australia. Includes appearance, common applications, durability, strength, workability termite-resistance and fire-resistance.
Timber applications from WoodSolutions
"Whether in structural roles or used for aesthetic appeal in interior finishes, there is much to discover about the versatility and variety of timber in the built environment." -- WoodSolutions website. You will need to create a username and login, which is free of charge, in order to view the guides on the WoodSolutions website.
The wood database
Excellent website contains a "Wood finder" for identification of wood, mechanical properties of wood, working with wood and general information.

Wall construction

Wall frame components and construction sequence [YouTube video]
From Buildsum, this video shows the names of the members of a typical wall frame and the sequence of construction.
Marking out wall plates [YouTube video]
How to determine the position of wall plates and procedure for setting them out - Buildsum YouTube video.
How to straighten a timber stud wall [YouTube video]
Calculate stud length [YouTube video]
Calculate drop off (eave drop) [YouTube video]
Prepare to install weatherboards [YouTube video]

Roofing, windows and doors

Roofing [YouTube video]
Variety of videos from Buildsum on building roofs.
Doors and windows [YouTube video]
Eight-part series from Buildsum on installing doors.

Carpentry

Woodworking masterclass series [YouTube video]
Professional woodworker Steve Hay guides viewers along the path of fine Woodworking. The primary focus is on hand tool usage and traditional woodworking techniques.
The wood database
Excellent website contains a "Wood finder" for identification of wood, mechanical properties of wood, working with wood and general information.
Carpentry Australia
Australian trade based organisation dedicated to carpentry and carpenters.
Forest & Wood Products Australia
Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), a not-for-profit company, is the forestry and wood industry’s service provider.
Wood Solutions
You will need to create a user registration (free of charge) to gain access to the many publications on this website. Contents include: wood products; structural; standards, codes, and compliance; exterior timber and decking; interior wood finishes; wood species; preservation; environment, sustainability and recycling.

Decks and stairs

Decks [YouTube video]
Variety of videos from Buildsum on building decks.
Stairs [YouTube video]
Four-part series from Buildsum on building stairs.

Professional organisations

Evaluating information sources

The CRAAP test

Evaluate the quality of a range of sources using the CRAAP test.

• Currency: when was it created?
• Relevance: is it on my topic?
• Authority: is it by an expert?
• Accuracy: is it correct?
• Purpose: why was it created?

The SIFT method

Evaluate the quality of web and social media sources using the SIFT method.

• Stop - think before using a source.
• Investigate where it is from.
• Find alternative sources.
• Trace claims, quotes and media.

Fact checking

Find out how to verify the factual accuracy of sources using the Fact Checking guide.

• Assess content created by humans and artificial intelligence (AI).
• Learn how to spot fake news.
• Access different fact checking tools.

Library subject guides

Building, Construction and Project Management