[Spooky]

I notice a fair number of houses on real estate sites are 'weatherbound'. What does this mean? Are they flimsier and cheaper than brick houses?

I also read that houses in the north don't need a heating system but should be well-insulated. What makes a house well-insulated? Is that going to keep the family warm in winter?

Appreciate any answers you can provide! :clap

[beth&rich]

Hi,
I've not actually made the move yet, so can't speak from personal experience, however, when my OH was living out there he perpetually moaned about how damp/cold everywhere was in the winter (He was in Hamilton, which is fairly northerly). My understanding is that a lot of NZ houses are not insulated (regardless of whether brick or weatherbound) and that central heating is virtually unknown. Even in the north the winters are cold enough that you would need some form of heating/ insulation and a major problem in a house with poor insulation/heating can be damp....not good if anybody suffers from asthma.

There are a fair few threads on the forum about this, and I think this was quite a useful one:

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=17819&highlight=insulation

Hope this is of some help,

Beth

[kanatakiwi]

I notice a fair number of houses on real estate sites are 'weatherbound'. What does this mean?
Appreciate any answers you can provide! :clap

I think you mean weatherboard. its an outdoor wood siding.

[jubjub]

You do need some form of heating in winter... wherever you are, in whatever kind of house.. but obviously the more insulated it is the less heat you need... and the further north its true its gets warmer!

The house built in the last (I think) 20 years and certainly in the last 10 have to be insulated.

The brick and tile houses are certainly generally warmer than the weatherboard and tin roof ones, as they hold the heat in better.

[Nick88]

Kanatakiwi is right, it is supposed to be weatherboard, meaning wooden siding/ exterior cladding. Many estate agents in NZ aren't very literate. I have lost count of the number of times I have seen houses on 'sort after' locations, and last week I even saw a 'bear block' for sale (they looked like cattle in the picture).

There is nothing wrong with weatherboard if it is well sealed and isn't rotting. In fact wood is a good insulator. It's a lack of pink batts that makes homes here so cold.

[StevieD]

I think "brick and tile" is a bit misleading as you find that the "tiles" are actually steel formed to look like tile roof!!! (a lot of them are anyway, not found many genuine tile covered roofs) And a lot of brick homes are in effect brick effect cladding.

But Nick is right, it is the lack of thermal insulation that can make a home cold.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

It should be noted that brick houses actually are only brick clad timber frames, so the level of stability this provides is, arguably, less than weatherboard as the bricks are not directly bonded to the frame so off little or no structural support.

Ours is brick (actually stone effect) clad on the lower half and weatherboard to the first floor exterior. I'll let you know which falls down first :D

Really choice/preference simply comes down to looks. Strength and insulation factors are really irrelevant as neither form part of this element in a typical NZ home.

[Spooky]

Oh yes, I meant 'weatherboard' - :p, not 'weatherbound' (although after reading all the threads about the cold weather and dampness, we might just be 'weatherbound' afterall, :laugh).

Thanks for the useful link to the thread on insulation, Beth.

I have a question - what are pink bats (I hope they're not what I think they are - colourful flying nocturnal animals)? :laugh

[Leanne]

I have a question - what are pink bats (I hope they're not what I think they are - colourful flying nocturnal animals)? :laugh

It's insulation! Although my last 'batts' were white, not pink. You put it in between the studs of the walls and lay it down in the attic to keep the heat in. And there are different 'R' values, but I don't really understand that part.

[Kim39]

I think "brick and tile" is a bit misleading as you find that the "tiles" are actually steel formed to look like tile roof!!! (a lot of them are anyway, not found many genuine tile covered roofs)



Plenty of true tiles on my roof Stevie:nice1


Kim

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

there are different 'R' values, but I don't really understand that part.

The higher the R value the better the insulation quality of the stuff.

Think of it like 'tog' values for duvets. The higher the number the warmer it will keep you.

[StevieD]

Plenty of true tiles on my roof Stevie:nice1


Kim


Kim, would expect you to have the nearest thing to a "UK" house :laugh:laugh:laugh

Hope everything is ok for you all, settled??