Building Design, Prime Time

A builder heats up a set of continuous reinforcing steel with an oxy torch just to bend it out of the way for a downpipe. A different building surveyor tells Frank a laundry needs the same waterproofing as a bathroom, then another one says he's completely wrong. A plumber quietly redesigns a footing detail on site at 6:30 in the morning, and it turns into a shouting match loud enough that the...

 In Tasmania right now, a process that used to take two and a half weeks can stretch out to six or seven. Frank explains exactly why. You're not imagining it, and you're not being lied to. In this episode, Frank and Amelia pull back the curtain on what's really happening behind the scenes of your council approval, and why the timeframes you're quoted today look nothing like the...

Most people hear the words "building surveyor" and picture someone showing up once or twice with a clipboard. But is that really the whole story? In this episode, Amelia and Frank to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood roles in the entire building process. Why does a building surveyor never actually issue your permit, even though everyone assumes they do? What is a Cer...

Frank once had a client rack up 24 revisions on a single project. Twenty-four. And it still didn't end well. If you've ever found yourself endlessly tweaking your floor plan, second-guessing a window choice, or scrolling Pinterest at midnight wondering if you've really nailed the design, this episode is for you. Amelia and Frank dig into one of the trickiest parts of any build or re...

There's one design decision that can quietly cost you tens of thousands of dollars later, and most homeowners never even know it's being made. It's not your kitchen. It's not your bathroom. It's something far less obvious, buried in the layout of your very first build. In this episode, Amelia and Frank tackle the question every homeowner is facing right now: building costs...

Downsizing isn't just about buying a smaller house. In this episode, Frank and Amelia unpack what actually makes a downsized home work, and it's rarely what people expect. Most people planning their next move focus on bedrooms and floor plans. But Frank explains why one overlooked design detail determines whether you can comfortably stay in your home for the next twenty years, or whether...

How well do you actually know your building facts? In this episode we're flipping the format and putting ourselves on the spot with a run of true or false questions, pulled straight from the things people assume about building, buying land, and designing a home. No long explanations up front, just a call: true, or false. And some of the answers aren't as obvious as you'd think. We m...

If your house has ever felt like it's wearing a jumper full of holes, this episode is for you. Amelia and Frank dig into part two of their windows and glazing series, this time turning their attention to renovations rather than new builds. They walk through the eras of Australian windows, from the huge steel-framed and timber sashes of the early 1900s through to the thin single-glazed alumini...

Most homeowners will spend weeks agonising over kitchen benchtops and splashbacks, but only about ten minutes thinking about their windows. That's a costly oversight, because windows are the single weakest thermal point in your entire home, and getting them wrong can mean sweltering summers, icy winters, and heating bills that blow out for decades. In this episode, Frank and Amelia unpack wha...

It's one of the most expensive decisions in your home, and most people make it in a panic. Your hot water system dies. The plumber asks what you want. You say "just replace the old one." And just like that, you've locked in years of unnecessarily high power bills without a second thought. In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Frank Geskus and Amelia sit do...

The price looked amazing online. The photos looked even better. But before you hand over a cent for a kit home, there's a lot Frank and Amelia need to tell you first. In Part 2 of their kit homes series, Frank Geskus and host Amelia pull back the curtain on the traps, hidden costs, and hard-won lessons that most people only discover once it's too late. Frank shares real stories from the...

Thinking about building a kit home? Before you fall for that eye-catching starting price online, there's a lot more to understand than most people realise, and Frank and Amelia are here to cut through the noise. In this first of a two-part series on kit homes, building designer Frank Geskus joins host Amelia to break down what a kit home actually is (and what it absolutely isn't). From m...

 The Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, hosted by Amelia and Frank Geskus, explains why "just getting plans drawn up" is a significant misconception,  construction documents involve far more than drawings, including site investigations, soil tests, surveys, bushfire assessments, and planning compliance.  Frank and Amelia answer the questions nobody thinks to ask until it's too lat...

If you’re planning a renovation or home extension and wondering whether you can survive living through the chaos, this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast is a must-listen. Amelia and Frank dive into the real, unfiltered experience of renovating while still living in your home, from dust, noise, and tradies arriving at sunrise, to decision fatigue, budget blowouts, and the emotional...

Ever wondered why you can’t start building even after you’ve “got your permit”? This episode unpacks one of the most confusing parts of the building process—planning permits vs building permits, and why misunderstanding the difference can cost you serious time and money. Amelia and Frank break it down in a simple, no-jargon way, explaining how planning approval is all about what you’re allowed to...

In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank dive into a topic that many homeowners rarely think about, the hidden contaminants that can exist in homes, particularly when renovating or extending older properties. If you're planning a renovation, extension, or even a simple demolition project, there could be hidden contaminants that impact your health, your time...

In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank tackle a surprisingly common mistake homeowners make spending money on features that don’t actually add value to their home. From luxury upgrades to bold design choices, it’s easy to assume that investing more money into your home will automatically increase its resale price. But is that really the case? Frank shares real...

You drive past your new home, expecting progress, and yet, nothing seems to be happening. No trades on site, no deliveries, no visible change. What’s going on? In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Frank Geskus and Amelia Roach take you behind the scenes to uncover the real reasons a build can stall, and why so much of the work isn’t immediately visible. From scheduling confl...

Building your first home should be exciting…but it’s also where the most expensive mistakes happen. In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank unpack the real-world errors they see first home buyers make again and again, and why they can cost far more than you expect. From choosing looks over functionality to underestimating hidden costs, this episode pulls back t...

Are homes today actually better than they were 25 years ago? or just more complicated? In this episode, Frank and Amelia unpack the real impact of modern building regulations and what they mean for homeowners, builders, and anyone planning to build or renovate. From bushfire compliance and thermal performance to condensation risks and accessibility standards, this is a raw, honest look at how the...

Ever wondered why your building project suddenly hits delays, unexpected costs, or confusing requests from councils and authorities? In this episode of The Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank unpack one of the most misunderstood, yet critical, parts of the building process: RFIs (Requests for More Information). While RFIs might sound boring, they can have massive impacts on timel...

When is a building project actually finished? Most people would say when the keys are handed over, the final payment is made, and you’ve moved in. But legally and financially the answer is very different. In this eye-opening episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank unpack one of the most misunderstood and costly aspects of building, renovating, and extending: legal comp...

Cost Estimates vs Final Build Costs – What You Really Need to Know Before You Build Why do so many building projects blow their budget? Why does the “estimate” you were given at the start look nothing like the final cost at the end? And how can you protect yourself from nasty surprises when you’re investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into a new build or renovation? In this episode of the Bui...

In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank dive deep into one of the most misunderstood (and stress-inducing) parts of building and renovating: variations. If you’re planning a new home, renovation, or extension, this is a must-listen episode that could save you thousands of dollars and a lot of frustration. Frank breaks down exactly what a variation is, why they...

Kicking off 2026 with a bang, hosts Amelia and Frank Geskus return to the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast to tackle one of the most overlooked, yet most critical parts of any construction project: budgeting for the unexpected. Whether you’re dreaming of a brand-new home or planning an extension, surprises lurk beneath every slab and behind every wall. From hidden rocks and rogue plumbing to su...