Category: House Renovation

Weekend home renovations came to an alarming halt for a resident on the New South Wales South Coast after he discovered a 30-centimetre-long mortar shell.

Plumber Elliott Doughty moved into his new home in Bulli last month and was digging underneath a concrete slab in his backyard on Sunday afternoon when his shovel hit something unexpected.

“I didn’t know it was a bomb at first, but I hit pretty hard,” Mr Doughty said.

“Nothing happened — thank God — so I assumed it was safe to move out of the way.”

Intrigued by its torpedo-shaped appearance, Mr Doughty carried the mortar over to a nearby tap to rinse off the dirt.

“Once I could really see what it was, I took extra caution,” he said.

Looking back over the experience of the COVID – pandemic, it is no surprise that homeowners are approaching home renovation with gusto. Being stuck within the same four walls of one’s home – working, eating, sleeping, teaching, entertaining and trying to maintain some semblance of sanity – constantly, for two years, has made post-pandemic activities feel like a breath of fresh air.

It’s a different story for the professionals who assist homeowners in designing, planning and ultimately putting the hammer on the nails and the mortar between the brick. Their dark cloud has not been cleared. Some of the effects of the pandemic – specifically supply chain disruptions that resulted in backlogs of building materials, appliances and the electronics needed for contemporary living – are still a part of every project estimate. Unfortunately, some experts on supply chain management feel this will be a challenge for the next decade. Plus, “The Great Resignation,” where millions of workers decided they would rather do something else, is also still a factor in the construction industry.

In an effort to put the future in perspective for both homeowners, who are ready to improve theirs residenceand the professionals who will be hired to