[Moorf]

This has been a very popular idea for a "Myths Exposed" topic, so I thought I'd add it sooner rather than later! Thanks Tia, Sophia, Willsken and others for their ideas so far!! Keep them coming. PM me.

NZ housing has disappointed many immigrants. There are stories of damp rooms, crying windows, Antarctic temperatures, dodgy heating systems, woodburner-rage and poor construction.

Others have built their own cosy insulated pads, some have re-vamped old weatherboard villas and some have managed to find a warm house and wonder what all the fuss is about.

If you're here in NZ and have experience, good or bad, of NZ housing then tell it like it is!

[nippa&pippa]

I have experienced both side. Our rental house was freezing and damp house, with lack of heating apart from nightstore in hallway..We had someone from charity based in christchurch (PM me if you want details if you got children under 5 and got very cold house, live in chch) came to inspect our house and declared that we got no insulated in wall, roof and underfloor at all!!:exit

Lucky we moved out of rental house just before cold snaps in June/July into our own house and can't believe it how warm our house is compare with rental house :raebanana and warmer than our UK house during day too (mainly down to that UK house is big 4 bedroom house and trying keep cost of gas bill down so rarely use heating during day in winter, while in NZ we got small three bedroom house with logburner on low all day keeping our house warm as well as winter sun bleam lovely warm sunlight into house too)
Only downside with our NZ house is condensation....water on every windows every morning mean use dehumifier or open the windows to air the house if warmer.

[Marie P]

Most of you know that we live in a brand new house [moved in just before christmas].

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5785&highlight=section

We do have gas heating but we only switch it on about 7.30 in the evening when we are all sat in the lounge watching TV.

In the mornings [during the winter] I would say it is cool in the house ,just get up and dressed ,open the blinds to let as much sunlight in ,heating isnt needed then.

We have a little condensation on the bedroom windows in the morning ,but I just leave them open once everyone is up.

Marie x

[Moorf]

In our house we have "selective heating"! The house isn't insulated, it is constructed of concrete filled breeze-block, is half glass (not double glazed), has high ceilings in every room with no roof space for insulation, roof is coated steel.

We have an open fire the lounge and a coal Juno stove in the kitchen/diner. That's it. So, we heat only the rooms/spaces we need in the depth of winter when temps here drop to -1 to -6 at night.

In the summer the sun does most of the work. We have the coal stove on 24/7 from around late April through to late Sept/early October. We get through around 1 ton of coal every 2 mths or so (costs $140 + delivery per ton). I prefer my coal stove to the woodburners we had in other houses, purely as it's more hands-off and belts out more heat and coal is cheaper for us.

Is the house warm? In parts! Our lounge/mezz area is cosy. The mezz in particular cos it's up in the roofspace where all the heat is!

The hallways can get frighteningly cold. Our bedroom is warmed by an oil heater 24/7 and that costs us an extra $100 each month on our leccy bill - it's the only thing that adds to our winter bills. The lounge fire is used at weekends only because we have learned to use the mezzanine during the week. It is weird having to use a house dependent on season and temp but we're used to it now.

Our house in the UK was an old stone cottage so it wasn't that much warmer tbh, despite oil fired central heating.. BUT .. there is a chill in the houses here in NZ that we just didn't get in the UK. On the other hand that sun is soo hot it really can heat your house nicely - "daylighting" my neighbour calls it. If she goes to work and it's an overcast day she keeps her curtains shut - she'll ring me and ask me to go round and open the curtains if the day turns sunny!!

Since we've mastered the use of solid fuel and all the maintenance that goes with it we've had no problems heating our house here in NZ.

Bear in mind, problems are regional too because of the differences in weather/humidity across the country.

[nippa&pippa]

On the other hand that sun is soo hot it really can heat your house nicely - "daylighting" my neighbour calls it. If she goes to work and it's an overcast day she keeps her curtains shut - she'll ring me and ask me to go round and open the curtains if the day turns sunny!!


Do she ask you to close curtain by 4pm to keep house warm???:laugh

That other things i didn't mention above, I find myself start to close all windows and curtains just before sun disappear to trap the heat in the house so the house is nice and warm for evenings.

[Moorf]

No, she's home by then altho on the odd occasion she's been out she will ask me! It's okay, I've asked her to turn the fires on if we've been away for a few days- I text her on our way home!

We also close all the curtains around the house when the sun leaves that area. It's surprising how quickly you get in to the habit.

Having the thermal lined "duvet" curtains I had made has really helped keep the heat in and cost less than double glazing.

[Moorf]

An interesting tid-bit I picked up from local friends the other day. They reckon they can tell if a house is being built by a Brit or not based on the size of the windows! If the windows are small, it's probably built by a Brit - apparently!!

Just thought I'd throw that in... I love hearing what the locals say about us lot!

[willsken]

I to have experienced both. In fact the rental was so cold, even on some summer days I said to OH, no way was I spending a winter in it. That's why we ended up buying a lot more quickly than first intended.

The house we are in is insulated floor and ceiling. It has big windows that aren't double-glazed. When we moved in it had a built in wall wood burner. It wasn't adequate and we had to run electric heaters in the main room to keep warm. We fully intend to have the house warm for the winter and have now installed a big freestanding wood burner and boy does it kick out the heat! If fact it gets too hot and that’s why as we speak, OH is installing a heat transfer kit to go into the 3 bedrooms. This won’t have the same impact as central heating but it will raise the temp a few degrees.

We do the same with the curtains, close them as soon as the sun goes in. The windows at the front of the house are beautiful wooden ones and TBH I don’t want to replace them, they’re too nice. We need to change the back of the house and the doors so we will probably double glaze these and the bedroom windows. It won’t be cheap as we have a lot of windows and every room in the house, including the bathroom has a door to the outside!

We have a flat attached to the side of the house and OH is in the middle of insulating the walls, ceiling and floors. We were gutting it and replacing everything so it seemed like a good idea to pull the inside walls down at the same time.

Hawke’s Bay winters are said to be very short, so well see this year and if need be we’ll do more next year. It’s not as convenient or as good as the UK but it’s fine and doesn’t cause any problems now we have the new wood burner. :nice1

[Super_BQ]

Yes these are homes with the exterior walls built out of a styrofoam wrap and plaster applied over it. Nortorious for rottening the wood frame of the house as moistured would condensate inside (no ventilation). Quite often these homes had no eves (where the roof overhangs the wall) which promoted more water problems.

I just want to put the record straight. I've been hearing many NZ builders putting the fault at Canada for the leaky houses in NZ. This is incorrect and the original construction techniques came from California.

What I don't understand is if Vancouver had this big problem of leaky homes over 10 - 20 years ago, then why was NZ so slow to learn of the flaws rather than experiencing it 1st hand? How much rainfall does California get compared to Vancouver and NZ?

[Sam B]

We are now living in a beautiful old villa, and I love it, but it is cold. The heating is a wood burner in the open plan kitchen diner and an open fire in the living room. Once the burner has got going, the kitchen diner gets warm, but it doesn't spread into other rooms really. We are going to have a look at insulation options this summer.

The house is great though, full of character, I like it just as much as my lovely old Cornish stone cottage, and I never thought I would. In summer it will be great as it has verandas all round, and doors opening out of every bedroom, and bi-fold windows all round the kitchen area.

Cold houses are character building I suppose.

[willsken]

Sam, you will be amazed at the difference insulation makes. As I said earlier OH is doing the flat at the moment and he has just finished the bedroom. It's a huge difference to the whole feel of the room. :yes

[Lupin]

At the moment we're in a 4 bed villa that is surrounded by trees. In summer it was beautiful, especially as the summer here in the bay is so hot. It stayed cool and shady. Now it's terrible :mad: It's all wooden floors with no underfloor insulation (you can hear us walking around on the pavement outside!), no wall or ceiling insulation. It has one kent burner, which is fab but the lay out of the house means that we can get a really toasty living room and kitchen and cooler dining room (fine) but freezing bedrooms and of course once it goes out or dies down the heat just vanishes. The mornings are like nothing I've ever known :no

We've planned wall, floor and ceiling insulation, a metro woodburner and a heat ducting system in our new house. I really can't wait :)

[willsken]

Lupin, you won't know yourself next winter! :yes

[katandbob]

our house is a brick house with tin roof, rimu floors that are covered in carpet or lino, we have recently had the loft insulated and under the floors have a bubblewrap/aluminium type insulaton underneath, we also cut a small section out of the gib to confirm once and for all that the walls were insulated - they were thank goodness, as I was quoted $5,000+ for injected insulation.

[Nienke]

Our house is fully insulated, no double glazing though. As many other houses here, we have a large number of (big) windows, so double glazing is something we want but need to save for!
Without heating, the sun warms our kitchen area and the bedrooms upstairs, but our lounge stays cold (not much sunshine).
We had two heatpumps in kitchen and lounge installed this year which keep it nice and warm, and when I want the upstairs warmed as well I'll use the woodburner in the lounge (then it gets 26 degrees Celcius in the lounge, pffff :laugh ) which heats the whole house.
In summer my house is nice and cool, except for the kitchen. But we'll have the heatpumps then to cool it down!

[swissmissdesigner]

I am wondering how can be used a California construction technique in the rainy NZ? That's just funny!

[wilson182]

Another option for Double Glazing - this is for Christchurch Im not sure about other areas. If you have decent Window joinery/frames, these two companies replace the glass only with double glazed units.

They are Christchurch Glass and Glazing and Thermoglaz. We are only at the quote stage so if anyone is interested I will keep it updated. For 36 units including two ranch sliders Thermoglaz quoted $11480.00 and Christchurch glass and glazing quoted $6884.00. I think the main difference between the two quotes is that Chch Glass actual make, supply and fit the windows.

Debs

[willsken]

Another option for Double Glazing - this is for Christchurch Im not sure about other areas. If you have decent Window joinery/frames, these two companies replace the glass only with double glazed units.

They are Christchurch Glass and Glazing and Thermoglaz. We are only at the quote stage so if anyone is interested I will keep it updated. For 36 units including two ranch sliders Thermoglaz quoted $11480.00 and Christchurch glass and glazing quoted $6884.00. I think the main difference between the two quotes is that Chch Glass actual make, supply and fit the windows.

Debs

Please keep us updated as this sounds like something I'd be very interested in. :nice1

[Island Moose]

What I don't understand is if Vancouver had this big problem of leaky homes over 10 - 20 years ago, then why was NZ so slow to learn of the flaws rather than experiencing it 1st hand? How much rainfall does California get compared to Vancouver and NZ?


It took a long time for the government in Canada (provincial and federal) to realize that condominium designs suited for cold dry eastern climates were not suitable for the wet, west coast climate. By the time any action was taken tens of thousands of condos had been built, and the writing was on the wall. 5-10 years for a government to acknowledge and act on a problem is fairly normal (excuse the sarcasm).

It really was only the last 10 years that the crisis became fully understood, and even during the investigations more and more condos were built with similar problems (there are many businesses in BC that do nothing but peel off the exterior of buildings and re-build them).

You cannot "seal" a building, if you do, it will rot from the inside out. Condensation on the inside of a window shows you just how moist the air is inside your home. Picture that same puddle of water inside your walls.

[Island Moose]

On a side note....do New Zealanders have a layer of down over their entire bodies or are the British used to really warm houses? I just can't understand this problem with cold, unless NZ is experiencing some sort of global "cooling"?

[jen]

On a side note....do New Zealanders have a layer of down over their entire bodies or are the British used to really warm houses? I just can't understand this problem with cold, unless NZ is experiencing some sort of global "cooling"?

Hee. I don't know about that but for the Americans we have a houseguest from California and he's sitting in our living room in a jacket and a fuzzy hat. So I guess we've already adapted to the frigid NZ home interior climate!

More seriously, I think it's mostly lack of insulation and lack of central heat, or unwillingness to pay the utility bills required to actually use what heating sources you've got.

In our case we HAVE central heating but no wall/floor insulation & ceiling insulation that we've added. We have shelter from the southerly Welly winds, but not much winter sun. Our skylights and lovely glass patio doors open to the view give the house a nice light feeling even in winter but we're losing lots of heat through them. Thermal curtains help, though.

Jen

[willsken]

On a side note....do New Zealanders have a layer of down over their entire bodies or are the British used to really warm houses? I just can't understand this problem with cold, unless NZ is experiencing some sort of global "cooling"?

I really don't think they feel it as badly as we Brits do. I go home at lunch time to feed my greedy fire and they all look at me as though I'm either very sad and lacking friends in the staff room or totally barking. :uhoh :uhoh

[ruthyroo]

On a side note....do New Zealanders have a layer of down over their entire bodies or are the British used to really warm houses? I just can't understand this problem with cold, unless NZ is experiencing some sort of global "cooling"?

Ha - there was a small article in the Press a couple of months ago relating to this. A researcher at Canterbury (I think) has been exploring NZ'ers attitudes and perceptions of themselves as a people and how it relates to their fondness for wood fire heating systems (and total reluctance to install insulation, double glazing etc) - kind of 'what makes us a kiwi? what's makes a New Zealander and New Zealander?'.
One of the key findings was that kiwis highly value the perception of themselves as hardy pioneers, people that can withstand physical discomfort, that aren't afraid of hard physical work, that are independent and self-reliant etc. So having a wood pile (preferably one that you have chopped and stacked yourself), feeding a fire with it and huddling round it, saving money and putting (yet) another jumper on, and not spending money on 'unneccessary luxuries' like heating are all part of the kiwi's self image. And that's why there is such an outcry against things like raising the minimum insulation building standards, and limiting the use of wood burners to reduce pollution etc.


I would say this is reflected in the attitudes of many of my kiwi friends - but I don't know many brits who would think they are a better person becuase they don't heat their houses properly! My jaw really hit the ground when a friend of mine told me how she used to worry about her newborn baby getting hypothermia in its cot - and that I was lucky because mine is due in the summer, so I wouldn't have that worry!! For flips sake, heat your b****y house properly then woman!!

[Familyofmonkeys]

RE: double glazing. We got talking to a very knowledgable bloke who works for Maddren homes recently. I specifically asked about double glazing. Aparently there are only 3 main manufacturers of double glazing in NZ, but other companies will buy from them and do fitting. Was told one of these campanies have really poor quality double glazing compared to others....unfortunately can't remember who he said, but probably worth some research. I have asked several people about UPVC double glazing. Most people reply "What's that?". Aparently you can get it here, but it costs about $15,000 more than fitting standard windows to a house of approx 200 sq m. Lasts longer though as it is sealed unit, which some (not all) other types are, as long as it has UK style venting in frame.

[jonSE]

What I don't understand is if Vancouver had this big problem of leaky homes over 10 - 20 years ago, then why was NZ so slow to learn of the flaws rather than experiencing it 1st hand? How much rainfall does California get compared to Vancouver and NZ?

Super BQ

The problem is a general one it seems prevalent in the building industry in NZ (and in OZ). As I work in the building industry I feel qualified to comment.

What seems to happen is that new innovations in other countries (good and bad - and appropriate to the climate or not) are at first ignored under the "not invented here therefore it's no good" rule. Over time and with the migration of workers around the world - or perhaps just the observations of a builder on holiday - the "innovation" gets adopted in NZ or OZ. About 10-15 years after it happened in Europe or the US. By this time of course Europe or the US has already learned the lessons of the bad innovations and abandoned the idea or modified so it works. Of course under the "not invented here" rule OZ and NZ are duty bound to make the same mistakes and learn the same lessons that are now 10 years old elsewhere.

I don't mean to imply that both OZ and NZ don't make their own innovations and make them work far from it.

But it does infuriate me when this happens. It's not restricted to the building industry either - you can see it happening in political life as well - pollies trying to introduce some new way of organising schools or the health service or whatever but ignoring that when it was tried elsewhere it was a monumental disaster. But thats a bit off topic.

[dharder]

But it does infuriate me when this happens. It's not restricted to the building industry either - you can see it happening in political life as well - pollies trying to introduce some new way of organising schools or the health service or whatever but ignoring that when it was tried elsewhere it was a monumental disaster. But thats a bit off topic.

I know you didn't say it was, but this phenomenon extends not only to other areas, but pretty much all countries. 'If it comes from somewhere else, it can't be any good' is an attitude sported all over the place, be it attitudes towards recycling, double glazing, child care, driving, schooling, health care...

Maddening indeed.

Daniela

[stejude]

Just had comment here. I was brought up in Auckland and only experienced one cold winter, this was 20 years ago mind you. When we came to the UK I couldn't beleive how cold the houses were, no central heating in most, wooden windows that rotted and cold damp winters. The comment about kiwis being hardy types does run true now, even with me, I hate central heating, the house we have here is heated by wood burners and open fires, Im loathe to switch on the heating and prefer to chuck a jumper on!!!. Our plan is to buld our own house incorporating all that is best from both countries in house construction. When we visited in December last year I was still struck at the nu,mber of wooden houses considering the climate is very similar to the UK. In any case, you pays your money and takes your chances. Cheers and good luck to all in the adventures. Steve

[kirkandliz]

You can tell the house next door to us is owned by Brits - It has six heat pumps!

[Chiba]

I know you didn't say it was, but this phenomenon extends not only to other areas, but pretty much all countries. 'If it comes from somewhere else, it can't be any good' is an attitude sported all over the place, be it attitudes towards recycling, double glazing, child care, driving, schooling, health care...

Maddening indeed.

Try living in Japan. :roll

[incredible hulse]

On a side note....do New Zealanders have a layer of down over their entire bodies or are the British used to really warm houses? I just can't understand this problem with cold, unless NZ is experiencing some sort of global "cooling"?
I think it is down to 2 things personally; 1. The kiwis mistakenly think they have a climate that is similar to Oz and don't like to admit that the weather isn't actually that great here, and 2. With the cost of heating and size of the salaries it's not that easy to keep warm by putting the heating on,
Steve (Still recovering from my 600 dollars elec and gs bill this month ;) )

[Super_BQ]

What seems to happen is that new innovations in other countries (good and bad - and appropriate to the climate or not) are at first ignored under the "not invented here therefore it's no good" rule.

Hi jon,

Interesting comment and it's something I wouldn't say around my uncle's friends (who are long time builders). Likewise when the subject of investing as kiwis only want companies that pay dividends (rather than seeing a company that pays no dividends and shareholders benefit through growth in the share price (tax free capital gain vs. taxed dividend) - of course that's a different subject altogether.

What I don't understand is we live in a globalised world. Getting access to such information is just a click of a button on the internet. Perhaps you're right about the culture that "not invented here therefore it's no good" rule.

'If it comes from somewhere else, it can't be any good' is an attitude sported all over the place

If other countries are the same, then Canada must be an exception. Despite all the US involvement in Canada (economically), there doesn't seem to be much resentment from the public. In fact, I can't think of 1 industry in Canada that has not been invaded by the US (building techniques, medicine, education system, police, etc.) There's a strong transparency between both countries which is probably why there's not much conflict. It's also a 2 way streak, Canadian celebrities and sport athletes have no qualms about moving to the US to seek their success.

I would of thought Japan is one country that highly regards the US. Look at the past 40 years. They were the best at taking American cars over and completely disassemble them so they could study how to build good cars. Now, they've surpassed the world in building the most reliable cars - and still love Hollywood more than ever. I do know that Canada only exports their BEST grade wood products to Japan known as "JAP" grade, and the locals get the leftovers that go into our homes.

If it was in Borat's case, he would say "Greatest Country In The World US of A"

[wilson182]

Another option for Double Glazing - this is for Christchurch Im not sure about other areas. If you have decent Window joinery/frames, these two companies replace the glass only with double glazed units.

They are Christchurch Glass and Glazing and Thermoglaz. We are only at the quote stage so if anyone is interested I will keep it updated. For 36 units including two ranch sliders Thermoglaz quoted $11480.00 and Christchurch glass and glazing quoted $6884.00. I think the main difference between the two quotes is that Chch Glass actual make, supply and fit the windows.

Debs

Ok as promised an update on our window's. At the begining of October Chch Glass and Glazing replaced all of our glass units with Tinted, Double glazed units filled with Argon gas. The cost was just over $7,000.00 and that was to replace 36 units (including two ranch sliders)

The technique is basically to take away the beading from the Aluminium frames, take out the single glass unit and replace it with the double glazed unit. They then replace the original beading with adapted beading. The only difference being the openers, for some reason (they did explain it but it went over my head) they can't do this so the unit sits in the original window frame (see the picture).

Very happy with the service we received. The whole job took two days, and they arrived promptly at 8am both days and only stopped for lunch. They were clean and tidy and very friendly.

This is a before and after shot of the opener:


Before
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/wilson182/Dsci0071.jpg


After
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/wilson182/Dsci0078.jpg

This is the before and after shot of the ranch slider - Please note the Permanent removal of the Horrid orange 1970's plastic glass stuff in the door!!!!!!


Before
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/wilson182/Dsci0072.jpg

After

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/wilson182/Dsci0077.jpg

As the windows were replaced at the begining of October, basically the begining of summer Ill have to wait till winter to feel the full effect. I can feel that the rooms hold their heat better, and the problem of condensation on the windows has been all but eradicated. The frames still get a bit wet because they are aluminium.

The next step is to get the walls done, does anyone have any knowledge/comments on the injected foam stuff in the walls?

Debs

[Tay]

The main difference is this...

NZ houses are built for Summer and UK houses are built for Winter.

NZ houses have great indoor outdoor flow, nice big windows to allow natural light sunshine in. But have rubbish heating.

UK houses are dreary brick monoliths that look like someone has some wierd brick fetish and a hatred of windows, they are rubbish in summer.. but in winter they are lovely little cocoons of warmth.

[incredible hulse]

The main difference is this...

NZ houses are built for Summer and UK houses are built for Winter.

NZ houses have great indoor outdoor flow, nice big windows to allow natural light sunshine in. But have rubbish heating.

UK houses are dreary brick monoliths that look like someone has some wierd brick fetish and a hatred of windows, they are rubbish in summer.. but in winter they are lovely little cocoons of warmth.

If the nice big windows were double glazed the rubbish heating would not be as relevant as the winter temperatures (and summer in a lot of cases) are not as extreme as the UK

[Carol]

If the nice big windows were double glazed the rubbish heating would not be as relevant as the winter temperatures (and summer in a lot of cases) are not as extreme as the UK

tis true.....

:nice1

[Super_BQ]

Very happy with the service we received. The whole job took two days, and they arrived promptly at 8am both days and only stopped for lunch. They were clean and tidy and very friendly.

So glad you're so happy with the craftmanship. $7000 seems like the right price for what was done. If you looked at getting complete new windows (sash and all), expect 3 times the price. Also, better now than later because the whole NZ building industry is going through the registration stage which = higher compliance costs -> larger bill to the customer.

I wouldn't buy into the idea of homes built for "summer" and "winter" conditions. What would be more relavant is how constant the inside house temperature can be kept throughout the winter and summer months. A house with too many windows (no matter if double or triple paned) is pointless in the summer time as you're just as better off living in a greenhouse.

I've found the housing concepts here are completely different in N. America and more comparable to older UK homes. Just stay away from the leaky homes based on California weather.

Again, just my opinion...

[Tay]

Same could be said for the UK where a fetish for small windows is rampant.....

[Tay]

I've found the housing concepts here are completely different in N. America and more comparable to older UK homes.

Eh? Have you seen older UK homes? They are absolutely nothing like NZ homes.. not even in the same ball park.

[Super_BQ]

Seen? Perhaps let's talk about the features? How many 30 year old homes in NZ have central heating (of the whole house) - I'm pretty sure the UK is no different.

I think the concept is similiar between NZ and UK in that during the winters, people would heat their rooms individually - either wall installed or portable oil heaters.

I grew up in a house in Canada built in 1974. It has full central vacuum system built at the time the house was built. Would I be wrong to say UK or NZ homes having the same features back then?

[Tay]

Seen? Perhaps let's talk about the features? How many 30 year old homes in NZ have central heating (of the whole house) - I'm pretty sure the UK is no different.

You would be wrong then.

They are not remotely the same, different materials, different cladding, different style, diffferent window types, different window frames, completely different goals as an abode.

Its just totally eroneous to give people thinking about moving to NZ the impression that houses in NZ are like houses in the UK.

[Super_BQ]

They are not remotely the same, different materials, different cladding, different style, diffferent window types, different window frames, completely different goals as an abode.


Show me specific design goals that are different between UK & NZ homes? Are the roofs open ventillated (ie the eaves vented). A lot of houses in the UK have ceramic tiled roofing (reminds me of Corronation Street on TV) - no different than the NZ state built houses.

Thoughout N. America majority of houses use tar shingle roofing, the roof itself is built air tight - ie no gusty winds blow between the cracks of those ceramic roof tiles we see here.

How about current framing techniques. Do houses in the UK still put in 'dwangs' between the wall studs like they do here in NZ?

Would brick laying be much different for both places?

I would believe NZ has a stronger tie with England in the past than any other country. A lot of these building techniques did come from the UK as skilled trademen came over to NZ during the past century. Or maybe it's not safe to assume these building ideals never came from anywhere and they were all Kiwi Ingenuities...

[Tay]

Show me specific design goals that are different between UK & NZ homes? Are the roofs open ventillated (ie the eaves vented). A lot of houses in the UK have ceramic tiled roofing (reminds me of Corronation Street on TV) - no different than the NZ state built houses.

Indoor outdoor flow is completely different.

Thoughout N. America majority of houses use tar shingle roofing, the roof itself is built air tight - ie no gusty winds blow between the cracks of those ceramic roof tiles we see here.

The majority of roofs in NZ are iron, not tile.

How about current framing techniques. Do houses in the UK still put in 'dwangs' between the wall studs like they do here in NZ?

NZ has mostly aluminium frames, hence the condenstaion complaints.

Would brick laying be much different for both places?

Stupid question.
The use of bricks in the UK is on a completely different level to NZ. I am seriously beginning to doubt you have ever even been to the UK.

I would believe NZ has a stronger tie with England in the past than any other country. A lot of these building techniques did come from the UK as skilled trademen came over to NZ during the past century. Or maybe it's not safe to assume these building ideals never came from anywhere and they were all Kiwi Ingenuities...

Sorry where did Canada and USA start from???

Please just stop while your behind, you are giving potential UK immigrants the completely wrong impression about NZ houses. You might be trying to look clever, but your just feeding incorrect information.

Look at this thread and then tell the brits in NZ that NZ houses are similar to British ones in design and construction.

[Carol]

Why the aggression?
Have you imported yourself from another forum just to wind people up?
There's already been one thread closed down because of your caustic comments...at this rate we are heading for another.

Have a lovely day!
:p

[james the mechanic]

Please just stop while your behind, you are giving potential UK immigrants the completely wrong impression about NZ houses. You might be trying to look clever, but your just feeding incorrect information.

Look at this thread and then tell the brits in NZ that NZ houses are similar to British ones in design and construction.

I afraid I have to 100% agree with this quote, but calm down guys. Its only a forum.:D
Have you been to the UK super BQ?
‘Dwangs’ are known as ‘noggins’ in the UK, I don’t watch Coronation Street but I could swear the roofs are slate tiled, not ceramic tiled as you claim and I think you may mean concrete tilled anyway.
I’m always curious as to whether people are talking in their opinion or from their personal experience; as believe me there is a difference.
Now please interact in calm, considered, informative and friendly manner.
Lots of love :nice1
James

[Tay]

Why the aggression?
Have you imported yourself from another forum just to wind people up?
There's already been one thread closed down because of your caustic comments...at this rate we are heading for another.

After I disagreed with you in the other thread, I am not surprised to read this.

I am not interested in a slanging match with you. If you want to talk about housing rather than me, might be best.

[Tay]

I afraid I have to 100% agree with this quote, but calm down guys. Its only a forum.
Have you been to the UK super BQ?
‘Dwangs’ are known as ‘noggins’ in the UK, I don’t watch Coronation Street but I could swear the roofs are slate tiled, not ceramic tiled as you claim and I think you may mean concrete tilled anyway.
I’m always curious as to whether people are talking in their opinion or from their personal experience; as believe me there is a difference.
Now please interact in calm, considered, informative and friendly manner.
Lots of love
James

Fair enough.

I am a New Zealander and can readily admit the many differences/deficiencies of NZ houses. Any Brit coming over here will be surprised at the differences and to indicate otherwise would lead to a likely unpleasant surprise.

I have been preparing my wife for the last few months..... even organised the gran to knit some bed socks...

[Sam B]

Tay, you seem a temperamental sort of person - you keep jumping on everyone at the slightest provocation. I didn't get the chance to say on the other thread because it got closed down, but accusing Jo Jo of being rascist is ridiculous, she is probably the last person on this forum I would think of as a rascist.

Chill!

[james the mechanic]

Tay, you seem a temperamental sort of person - you keep jumping on everyone at the slightest provocation. I didn't get the chance to say on the other thread because it got closed down, but accusing Jo Jo of being rascist is ridiculous, she is probably the last person on this forum I would think of as a rascist.

Chill!

Oh please,’ the reason you didn’t get the chance to say in the other thread;’ is because as you say it was closed down. Please do not bring that argument to this thread.Send the guy a PM; tell him his short comings in private, because I don’t want to hear it, however I do want to hear about NZ housing.
Now as I said;please interact in a calm, considered, informative and friendly manner.
Lots of love:nice1
James

[Super_BQ]

To the moderators of this forum, my apologies for starting any agression. I've been away for over 2 months and somehow used the wrong hat. I'll choose my replies more wisely next time.

I won't add more fuel to the fire so no replies from me on the house specifics between here in there.

However, I do want to bring some light on the changes in the NZ building industry. As the usual disclaimer, what i've heard is purely 'hearsay' so please be kind.

As we are all aware, there has been a lot of hardship in the past few years ranging from leaky houses to dodge trademen from con artists that fold up and flee overseas - we've seen it all on Fair Go. Many home owners were hurt, more so recently than in previous decades and, enough to bring attention for the NZ gov't to step in.

Their answer was simple. COMPULSORY REGISTRATION

The issue may not be pertinent to the houses we live in now, but it will have a remarkable impact in the future in terms of building new houses or future renovations. Registration means every trademan, engineer, inspector, & artchitech, would have to be certified before they can touch a home. This means to a newly graduate artchitech - you can't call yourself an artchitech no matter how many letters behind your name unless you're registered with the builder's association. Why? Because under the watchful eye of the gov't, only certified people are allowed to work on houses - no different than only WOF passed vehicles are allowed on public roads.

Furthermore, to a builder that are currently working and have worked on houses for say over 30 years, they too are no longer qualified to do anything unless they're registered.

Of course we all have to start from somewhere. However what i've found particularly interesting is the organising body that is responsible for overseeing the whole registration process (for ALL of NZ) does not belong to NZ. Instead, the contract was awarded to an AUSTRALIAN firm that specialises in aircraft engineering. Doesn't sound very Kiwi does it eh?

Furthermore, for those living in the Cantabury region will find it interesting to hear that the local body corp at City Council - the guys responsible for issuing out the building permits will also have to be registered. But what is really interesting is that not ONE SINGLE PERSON on that board has had any experience in building houses. How else would they if they've spent all their time pushing papers and doing inspections? While an existing tradesman can show and demonstrate what works in building a house (as part of the registration process), the same can not be said for those that approve permits and consents. So I believe there will be a whole new crash course for these council workers to pass before they can be certified.

But all in all doesn't all this sound ironic?