u/Consistent_Green9329

I'm building a new home and need a geotech report. I got 2 quotes to choose from, one geotech will use hand augering, the other will use a drill rig. The hand guy is cheaper, and he was highly recommended by 2 unrelated builders.

Is there value in paying the more expensive guy to use a drill rig? My build is heavy - concrete slabs, brick, etc. How can a hand tool investigate the difference between class V and class IV III etc sandstone?

Got 2 quotes to choose from, one geotech will use hand augering, the other will use a drill rig. The hand guy is cheaper. Is there value in paying the more expensive guy to use a drill rig? My build is heavy - concrete slabs, brick, etc.

I want to get some stone cladding, wondering what are some suppliers in Sydney with showrooms I can check out?

I'm trying to keep installation costs down and don't want the loose stone products. Wondering if there are some that come as panels or pre-webbed and the installer can stick them on one panel at a time instead of one stone at a time? Any showroom / shop recommendations much appreciated.

Had a conversation with wife today. We were looking at home lifts and I didn't like the idea that the showroom lift had wifi. I thought to myself "that's so stupid, why isn't it connected via ethernet". Got called a dinosaur, but that's ok.

Am I the only one pedantic about this stuff? If it's my house and I'm staying long term, I strongly believe that everything that's permanent should be hard wired in. Wifi is only for phones, tablets, laptops - transient things that move in and out of a space.

Examples: I would not consider zigbee switches for home automation. I don't like how some Daikin's wall panels communicate via wifi. Even a fridge - sure we can debate whether a fridge even needs network access, but if I must buy such a fridge, it better be ethernet connected. The mere presence of a wifi feature actually makes me want that model less - like, the inelegance of its engineering is destroying its value in my mind.

If a product needs network access but doesn't have an ethernet port, that alone is a deal breaker for me when choosing something. No permanent wifi, no permanent BT or IR or radio frequencies - if it's permanent, it needs hard wiring, otherwise I'm not happy. Maybe I'm autistic. Thanks for listening to my TED Talk.

Trying to learn why some lab sapphires are 1000usd and others are 50usd.

I understand diamonds quite well. You've got pavilion angles, crown angles, light return, ray tracing etc. You've got certificates with cut grades, you've got the other 3C's, you can analyse ASET images, assess the symmetry of the H&A patterns, etc etc.

What's the equivalent of the above for corundum? Would someone here care to point me in the right direction, or outline a framework of assessment? Much thanks.

Actually I have the same question for other gemstones I'm interested in - garnets and spinels, but for the sake of keeping goals reasonable, I'm starting with sapphire.

Looking for vivid colour in a lab grown alexandrite that shows nice, clear colour change. What are some good vendors I should enquire to?

Looking to buy something for wife. She's into coloured diamonds. I prefer a one stop shop. Previously bought from Tianyu last year, good experience but noticed their diamond selection was lacking, basically the lady gave me 2 to choose from. Setting quality was good. I've also tried LGD, great diamond selection but setting quality was bad, had to return.

Any other shops I should check out? Looking to make a pink diamond solitaire in rose gold.