13 Oct 12 4:55 PM

Whoever you are, keep your head in the sand. I don't need your lectures or assumptions nor this forum. It can turn now into a pink sky platform without discussions and debate, because I am out of here......read more

13 Oct 12 9:38 AM

I don't need to make theories for what I see myself. The building code allows very low standards and NZ companies tend to edge along what is legal at the given time. Defense by denial is the standard ......read more

13 Oct 12 7:43 AM

samoT Still waiting for a post from you which shows some of your technical know how!!! And I have posted the gib link before Dejan. Why don't you go to CHCH and find out why bracing a house with gypsu......read more

13 Oct 12 7:38 AM

Dejan, I will be in contact with you soon, but one has to be very cautious as there are always "people" like samohT appearing who can offer no technical know how or advice but bad rants agai......read more

12 Oct 12 9:40 PM

Have you been drinking or what ????...read more

12 Oct 12 9:37 PM

Dear samohT, I am not sure from in which la la land you live, but all I did was posting a link to something what everyone knew already. I see too many people who suffer from poorly built houses, their......read more

10 Oct 12 7:40 AM

And their slogan: Specify with confidence........ha, ha, ha...read more

8 Oct 12 11:43 AM

And when the slab perimeter insulation becomes standard in 10 or 20 years, todays ignorants (of physical realities) will sell it as the latest discovery..... Ok I resign from this slab perimeter discu......read more

7 Oct 12 12:40 PM

600mm gap ?...just imagine the tension and stress in the concrete?? And the potential mould on the coldspots in poorly ventilated areas such as under furniture or sofas. It is basic physics and it doe......read more

6 Oct 12 4:37 PM

It depends what people you deal with at the council. Some are open minded some are narrow minded. In general this houses exceed the New Zealand building code. We are in the planning to bring in a pass......read more

6 Oct 12 4:28 PM

There is more to it than the 700 $ a year theory. Such as rising energy costs, and other physical implications. If you don't build at all and rent a little house or live in a caravan and invest your m......read more

6 Oct 12 9:21 AM

A good thermal envelope is part of the concept like heating. You keep pushing the heating side without understanding the whole concept of thermal efficiency, comfort and health. Do you walk the street......read more

4 Oct 12 10:27 PM

That's a tricky one if the Maxraft doesn't work. Have you thought about well insulated screed on top of the slab ?...read more

4 Oct 12 8:50 PM

Perimeter insualation is very essential regardless of underfloor heating or not. No perimeter insualtion is short sighted and very very poor practice....read more

4 Oct 12 8:44 PM

And more reading.... http://www.passivhaustagung.de/Passive_House_E/airtightness_06.html...read more

4 Oct 12 12:22 PM

For years I keep telling this: http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/irn-eqgib-branz-225117750.html;_ylt=Ap2N4UiZUurSGaQAjHGhj2VSK5NG;_ylu=X3oDMTQzM2FnMXY1BG1pdANGaW5hbmNlIEZSb250cGFnZSBNZWdhdHJvbgRwa2cDNj......read more

3 Oct 12 8:34 AM

I would not entirely sell myself to the power companies. Wait until the asset sale goes ahead, a 20 % increase will be normal in order to satisfy the greed of the shareholders. Minimise the heat loss ......read more

2 Oct 12 7:44 AM

Those who winge most that they cannot "afford" a basic thermal envelope with perimeter slab insulation, wall insulation with no windwash and insulated windows, are the first who try to sell ......read more

30 Sep 12 7:48 AM

Dear red and black from la la land, there is a big difference whether 10 or 20 % of the housing stock are bad or 80%. How many new build houses in Scandinavia are sub standard and how many in New Zeal......read more

29 Sep 12 11:33 AM

People who need an instruction book to place insulation correctly should broom streets but not work on a building site. The unprofessional, slack and casual work attitude on of some on the building si......read more

28 Sep 12 9:27 PM

Well if you wait for Kiwi companies it will happen in 20 years or never. Insulated windows, good hardware, bathroom gear, central heating, insulation, energy efficiency, passive houses and so on... wo......read more

27 Sep 12 3:54 PM

I have kitset plans here and there are so many thermal bridges in the detailing that I doubt that the people who design those buildings are competent to create a good thermal envelope. So I would thin......read more

27 Sep 12 3:47 PM

Well I live currently in such style house and the way they are constructed makes 21 st century thermal envelope and a modern heating concepts hard to contemplate. Too many basics are wrong in those &q......read more

27 Sep 12 2:59 PM

Ged, thermal break NZ aluminium windows are not good enough as they come with very poor hardware, don't seal well and their E2AS1 installation is a thermal bridge too.... Any insulation exposed under ......read more

27 Sep 12 2:48 PM

heatpumps, smartphone and so on.... great and we make ourselves totally dependant on the big corporations and their pricing.......read more

27 Sep 12 10:40 AM

keep the typos of my last post ;-)))))...read more

27 Sep 12 10:39 AM

With the cscreed you have still access fronmk underneath. Even better because you have nothing between the floor beams. But you need the extra hight for insulation and screed. Do you have a cgood once......read more

27 Sep 12 9:46 AM

The tradidional floor design is not thermally efficient enough to make good use of underfloor heating. Thta's why dry sreed is ideal as it sits on an uninterupted and airsealed blanket of insulation( ......read more

27 Sep 12 7:21 AM

Solarwith a large enough storage tank and a wood fire will work if you build a house with 21 st century thermal envelope. Means no NZ designed aluminium windows and much better insulation and wall des......read more

26 Sep 12 7:13 PM

I would recommend to use fermacell dry screed over the ply flooring boards with hard foam insulation instead of the leveling compound in the movie. The dry screed comes also with underfloor heating op......read more

22 Sep 12 7:15 AM

Lime gives additional protection against fungus, mould etc...while clay has great abilities to absorb and release moisture and it improves the "room climate" And for drywall construction, th......read more

20 Sep 12 4:31 PM

If add some lime to the clay you have the perfect plaster material for NZ conditions. ...read more

14 Sep 12 8:38 AM

Problem is that by the end of their training most of those students will learn the code by heart and carry on. And they will not work to best knowledge but for the interests of those (the old establis......read more

14 Sep 12 8:30 AM

Wood fibre board under a vented roof works also very well to keep the house cool in summer http://dataholz.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/dataholz.woa/2/wa/bauteil?language=en&kz=sdshzx01...read more

13 Sep 12 8:41 PM

Modelling is good once the obvious physical shortfalls (in the code) are eliminated. A bit like changing worn tyres or defect light bulbs or other obvious defects before taking the car for a warrant. ......read more

13 Sep 12 11:02 AM

Matthew, if a wall is designed according to code standard the insulation will perform very poorly due to windwash. If the windows are installed according to E2 AS1 the window surrounds loose heat. If ......read more

12 Sep 12 4:01 PM

By presenting the relevant certificates. Many suppliers in Europe are exporting to many places in the world and have the paperwork readily available. Not much difference to NZ lamb or butter sold over......read more

12 Sep 12 2:21 PM

Again if you import 140/60 framing, OSB board , insulation and many other things, you can achive better results with better quality materials for the same or lesser money compared to the 90mm joke. it......read more

12 Sep 12 12:55 PM

The bank will be happy once it is in the country and installed. If you build with a bank loan you need a valuation at stages anyway in order to get the funds payed out....read more

12 Sep 12 9:52 AM

To save further cost you might want to think about importing a container load of material to escape the excessive prices for material here....read more

10 Sep 12 9:19 AM

Try to reduce the size of the house, which is most likely too big. This way you free funds for all means of a thermal envelope including uPVC windows which are better insulating than thermally broken ......read more

9 Sep 12 9:03 PM

It is very important to have a consistant thermal envelope. And with the walls you need to make 100% sure that no rodent can enter whatshowever. Rodents can cause very very expensive repair cost to th......read more

9 Sep 12 7:38 PM

Condensation and heat loss at night is not relevant to south north west or south. Thermally broken everywhere is the least. Otherwise your thermal envelope is like a sieve....read more

9 Sep 12 2:43 PM

Early this week I have been working at a house where a piece of brickwall was taken of and the devastation by mice and rats inside the framing and insulation was just unbelievable. I have seen it befo......read more

31 Aug 12 8:13 PM

In Europe the ali windows are often highest cost of all materials. They are well insulated with great performance which can only be achived at a cost. New Zealand designed ali windows are cheapest bec......read more

31 Aug 12 4:41 PM

Good stuff for insulation and miles better than gib, however the detailing has to go some way yet........read more

18 Aug 12 8:32 AM

External shading (shutters or blinds) on windows is far more effient to avoid over heating than internal shading. Another big plus for inwards opening tilt and turn windows over the awning casement st......read more

4 Aug 12 8:48 AM

What might sound like an idea will most likely turn into a disaster unless you find a designer who has designed such buildings in Europe or perhaps North America. This system is very unforgiving with ......read more

1 Aug 12 10:02 PM

Good point evert. Smoke, dust and ashes from a wood boilder can make a mess inside the house....read more

1 Aug 12 2:33 PM

Well if you install a larger storage tank you have hot water without having the fire going all the time. The wood boiler has a longer lifespan if you have a decent fire for periods of time rather than......read more