CSR’s AFS Rediwall and Hebel PowerPanels provided the winning formula for reducing construction time at a new home project in Cronulla.

Looking to build their dream home by the beach, retirees Bob and Nancy engaged John Hatch from JMH Living Design. Their brief included taking full advantage of the ocean views and designing a home with a luxurious resort vibe. The brief also sought to include a substantial basement garage, a task that required clever consideration on a site with limited access.

Up for the challenge, Hatch and his team collaborated with the builder, Paul Martin Building and structural engineer, Steve Whelan and Associates to deliver an exceptional home that left the clients highly impressed with the final outcome.

The home also received a Commendation in the Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA) 2021 awards, as well as the Hebel Industry Partner Award.

AFS Rediwall provides accuracy

“The builder likes Rediwall because it can be installed a lot more precisely than using blocks or bricks. So it was used for the purposes of accuracy in terms of constructing the lift shaft and the basement,” Hatch said.

AFS Rediwall was used predominately for the basement, lift shaft and chimney stack, with the chimney stack covered with sandstone look cladding. AFS Rediwall is an innovative and versatile permanent formwork system that allows solid structural walls to be constructed through prefabricated interconnecting panels.

The use of Rediwall had a number of advantages for the build, Hatch explained. In the case of the chimney stack, it allowed services like the roof plumbing to be hidden.

Another factor that helped the construction of the Cronulla residence was the ability to construct Rediwall from the inside out on a site with limited access. The formwork was also a preferred solution due to additional components such as corner panels.

CSR products create the winning formula

The materials palette for the Cronulla home included EcoStone, which was used as an accent wall highlighting the beautiful landscaped gardens, and Castec walling used to reinforce the sand base and prevent cracks on neighbouring buildings.

However, it was the winning partnership of CSR’s AFS Rediwall and Hebel PowerPanels that had this Cronulla residence come out on top.

Comparing it to another project he completed in the vicinity with the same builder in 2007, where they used concrete blocks for the basement and brick cavity work for the upper floors, Hatch said, “With the Hebel PowerPanel and the Rediwall, it probably saved us 6 or 7 months in terms of construction time.”

A phenomenal advantage to the clients in terms of money and time saved, with a stunning result.

Photography: Michael Anderson