Every builder needs a mate - have you got yours?

Builder's Mate is written specially for frontline builders - and it's free!

Published every two months, Builder's Mate is full of good-practice building advice, tips, tricks and information and cartoons - as well as news on what's happening in the industry. This 4-page bulletin is brought to you courtesy of the Building Research Levy. Builder's Mate provides frontline builders with building advice and information in a bright, light and easy-to-read format that'll keep you engrossed through smoko - and beyond.

It's available free from branches of Carters, PlaceMakers, Benchmark, ITM and Mitre 10, or your local council office, or click on a link below to download a PDF file.

Every issue also features a competition - check out the competition winners.

Click on an issue number to see a PDF file

• BM43 August 2010: Ground clearances
• BM42 June 2010: Curing concrete
• BM41 April 2010: Shrinkage control joints in concrete floor slabs
• BM40 February 2010: Installing solar panels
• BM39 December 2009: Planning for safety
• BM38 October 2009: Membranes for tiled floors
• BM37 August 2009: Fit for warmth
• BM36 June 2009: Under control
• BM35 April 2009: Do you have a record?
• BM34 February 2009: Indecent exposure
• BM33 December 2008: Temporary bracing during construction
• BM32 October 2008: What to do with treated timber?
• BM31 August 2008: Getting warmer
• BM30 June 2008: When is a concrete slab dry enough to use?
• BM29 April 2008: How to avoid a rusty roof.
• BM28 February 2008: Safe as houses?
• BM27 December 2007: All wrapped up
• BM26 November 2007: Warming to the new insulation rules
• BM25 October 2007: Breaking the mould - Industry News - MS (Modified Silicone) Polymers - A seminar just for builders!
• BM24 August 2007: Getting it on the level. Industry News - Removing LOSP Solvent. At a glance - leads step by step. Timber weatherboards
• BM23 June 2007: Sealing it up. Industry News - Building consent help. Scribing to bevel-back weatherboards. Lead paint.
• BM22 March 2007: Hard as nails? Industry news - New markings on steel. Bull-nose verandahs. At a glance - Painting flush doors. Product information - Supertubs.
• BM21 January 2007: Lets get some order. Industry news - Houses to become more energy efficient. Asbestos. At a glance. Product information.
• BM20 November 2006: A tale of two timbers. Industry news - Eco help from councils. Product information. The importance of underlay with metal roofs.
• BM19 September 2006: The white stuff. Industry news - Apprentices shoot-out. Building Research to further help industry. Step-by-step - Wrap around windows. Building industry bombsites.
• BM18 July 2006: A site for sore eyes. Industry News - Illness and injury cost more. Apprentice of the year. Sharpening and setting a cross-cut hand saw. How not to cup weatherboards.
• BM17 May 2006: Straight up: concrete walls without leans or bulges. Industry news - The NOW home. Giving your hand saw real teeth. Timber weatherboards - some new solutions.
• BM16 March 2006: Cosying up to insulation. Industry news - A tough start to 2006. Step-by-step, Leading the way. Cavities.
• BM15 January 2006: Verandahs - keeping the lid on. Industry news - House Condition. Bug Watch. Get knotted. The Consumer Guarantees Act.
• BM14 November 2004: Concrete slabs and control joints. Industry news - The NOW house, Trend to professional firms. Scribing skirtings and scotias. A good base for concrete slabs.
• BM13 September 2005: Cavities - the inside story. Industry news - Setting standards, Get back to work. Check your ground clearances. A thermal bridge too far.
• BM12 July 2005: Building for a better future. Round in circles. Bending: the rules.
• BM11 May 2005: Teetering on the edge. Care is still needed. The grey stuff. Defend yourself against the weather
• BM10 March 2005: Indecent exposure. At the sharp end. To flash or not to flash.
• BM9 January 2005: A drop of the hard stuff. Mix it up. Smooth Operators. Mind the gap.
• BM8A November 2004: Treated Timber. Lead the way. Watch that bottom line.
• BM7 September 2004: All hands on deck. Don't screw up. Ladder safety. Special prize draw.
• BM6 July 2004: Its a wrap. An unkind cut. Sign up and save a life.
• BM5 May 2004: On top form. Step-by-step: Nailing it. Sill trays made easy.
• BM4 March 2004: Get in on the act.Keeping up appearance. Tanked up
• BM3 January 2003: Tie the lintels down, sport. Know your crane signals. Step on up.
• BM2 November 2003: In support of reinforcing. Tied and tested. Fixed in a flash.
• BM1 September 2003: Correct setting out is vital. Using a laser level. Weathertightness.

Competition winners