[Rabbit]

a) How often do wooden weatherboard houses need painting and how much does it cost on average?

b) Do they have buildings insurance out there and how much does it cost?

c) How many years do "Tin" roofs last for?

d) Do they have termites, wood lice or any other insect problems?

e) What other type of maintenence costs are there that you perhaps might not have in the UK?

[Jo and Andy]

Only know a few of the answers.
a) been told that weatherboard only needs painting about every 10 years, cost ?
b) yes, not sure not done it yet, if if like car insurance it will be cheap.
c) don't know.
d) yes the boarer (? on spelling) worm like wood worm.
e) need to check the building piles(???)

We like the look of the old houses, so are looking into some of it.

we like this house. www.raywhite.com #KA110636

[jubjub]

Can only help a little with the tin roof thing, not sure how long they last but there are posters up round here advertising two coats of paint, tightening of bolts for $850, did not think that was too bad, as long as its not every year!

[willsken]

I have also read somewhere that you have to careful when buying a wooden house as NZ don't allow the wood to be treated. (Sorry I can't remember where I read this, but even I'm not strange enough to dream it! :laugh )

[tigerlily]

Tin roofs last 25 years or so in America, but in NZ with all the salt air it would be less. Tin roofs are considered longer lasting than any other from what I know.

[GeorgeM]

There are tin roofs and there are tin roofs.

On some older properties you see roofs that look like they're made of the sort of corrugated iron that was used as cheap fencing at small town football grounds in the UK years ago. Very thin, often looking quite rusty. I would think that these would be quite high maintenance, and as per normal not everyone does this so they fall into a bit of a state.

In modern homes 'tin' roofs are often made of what they call Colour Steel which is far far thicker and a much superior product.

Our house is 6 or 7 years old and apart from the paint being a bit duller than it must have been when new the fabric of the roof seems as good as new. (This isn't based on standing at ground level and looking from afar at something two storeys up - the layout of the house means that we look out onto the top of the roof from inside some parts of the house and from many parts of the garden, so we end up getting perpetual close ups of most of the roof).
The only thing you need to get used to is the sound of a heavy rainstorm at two o'clock in the morning when you're sleeping beneath one!

[Bean]

Sorry tigerlily.......slate roofs last for 100 years.............
We intend to self build our house in NZ and I think slate isn't an option, my OH has been researching building materials........

Sorry to go OT but we quite fancy buying an older property and maybe moving it to our ideal plot.....anyone done that? We met a bloke who had bought a lovely old house down near Invercargill and moved it to a field in the Catlins.....but not really sure how viable it is....... :yes :no

Bean