Hi Wafster, We sell Glowstone (Australian trade mark) in Australia and also do some export. Check out details in our website www.nite-glo.com . In the right application, glow in the dark (photoluminescent, charged by sunlight or lights with reasonable uv content) can look and work fantastically. In other situations, a customer may have unreasonable expectations of the performance of the product and can be disappointed. Looking at the photos displayed recently on Houzz, they will definitely have been taken immediately after the glow products have been charged, and look their brightest. Also modern digital cameras enable low levels of light to be picked up, and corresponding photos may look quite a bit brighter than actual observation by eye. In the photos, one has to say WOW, but taken into a home, perhaps not fully charged, with some delay before viewing, maybe with the eyes not adjusted for night time vision, the result may not be as spectacular. Quite a few of our customers are concreters around Australia who use Glowstone for embedding into driveways, paths, around pools etc. If you would like more information or wish place an order, get in touch with me at info@nite-glo.com Charles Hrubos

I don't know how hot it gets in Auckland in summer (I've only ever been to NZ in winter!) but if it gets hot, then go for a pale colour. Dark roofs should be kept for cold places!

We have removed 3 large cherry trees on our side of the fence to the right hand side of the driveway. At the moment the grass area inside the front fence is approx 6 metres. (measured from the fence to the driveway by the garage) The long term plan is to widen that part of the driveway by 2 metres. This will leave a remaining 4 metres for grass & 2 - 3 large trees. For the meantime we have put down a roll-out lawn and we plan to plant trees along the fence line within the 4 meters. Hoping to be able to purchase some well established trees for instant privacy. (The Rhodo will go once there's more privacy from the new trees - whether we plant something else along the angled side fence??? Ideas here also please) The trees need to be able to handle salt spray and a lot of wind (we live in South Taranaki). We don't want something that has flowers that cause allergies. Nothing that drops messy berries like the cherry trees that used to be here! Thinking something similar shape to the tree in the last picture. Suggestions welcome :)

Hi Emily, This does seem quite extreme for such a small renovation. I recommend that you investigate getting a CCTV inspection done. They will put a camera down the closest manhole and follow the pipe along. Make sure if you do this, you ask the CCTV drain inspectors to locate the drain for you and place pegs on site. You may be able to find a solution from there. Second option is to re-look at the floor plan to establish if there is a better place to relocate the toilet without needing another gully trap. 2.5 bathrooms is quite generous so for resell it may not be necessary, although there may be other alterations you could do to improve circulation, flow and functionality. Good luck with your renovations.