Guides, how-tos and explainers, sorted by need

We publish plain-English guides, how-tos and explainers for readers who want a straight answer without jargon or a sales pitch. Nothing is sold or booked here. Everything sits in one of three reading lanes, so you can choose where to start based on how much you already know and what you need to get done.

Every piece is checked before it goes live, and we show our reasoning, not just conclusions. When the honest answer is ‘it depends’, we say so and tell you what it depends on.

Start here
Guides, how-tos and explainers, sorted by need

Which reading lane suits you?

Start here

For first-timers and curious non-experts who don’t know the vocabulary yet. These beginner guides assume no prior knowledge, give practical next steps and are written to be read in order. See how the Start here guides work.

Hands-on

For readers with a specific job or plan in front of them. Hands-on how-tos are concrete walkthroughs with checklists, and we update them regularly. Recent examples cover water-wise driveway and path cleaning in Australia, the best seasons for roof and gutter maintenance, and planning where to stay on the Coral Coast for a Ningaloo Reef trip. Browse how-tos.

In depth

For confident readers who know the basics and are weighing up options. In depth pieces are longer analysis that sets out the trade-offs, so the decision comes from your situation rather than someone else’s enthusiasm. Go deeper.

Not sure where you fit?

Not sure where you fit?

Two questions usually settle it: how much do you already know, and do you need to get a specific task done now?

  • If you’re new to the topic, read Start here first, in order.
  • If you have a job to do, go straight to the Hands-on how-to for it.
  • If you know the basics and you’re comparing options, In depth is the place.

A common route is Start here first, then a Hands-on how-to for the task, then an In depth piece when you’re ready to weigh up the trade-offs. If you already know your way around, skip straight to the how-tos or In depth.

How we keep what we publish honest

A guide is only useful if you can tell whether it’s still right. So we:

  • check every piece before it goes live
  • review explainers in quarterly batches
  • mark meaningful updates in the opening lines of the page
  • update pages in place, so saved links keep working
  • link out when someone covers a topic better

Nobody learns a subject from one site, including this one. Our guides are general information, not professional, safety or legal advice. Rules can differ by state, council and water authority, and for some jobs the right call is a licensed tradesperson. Read how we review and correct pages.

Questions, ideas and corrections

Maybe a guide didn’t cover your situation, you’ve spotted something out of date, or you’d like us to cover a topic we haven’t written about yet. Whichever it is, a real person reads what you send. Find out what to send us, or have a look at the latest articles first.

Start here