NZ houses

david · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 8:36 pm Post subject: NZ houses

If the majority of immigrants coming to NZ are from UK I would have thought most would want to buy a brick and tile house rather than wood with tin roof. When looking at real estate sites I'd hoped to find a site specifically selling these houses but as yet found nothing. Anybody help on this one.

ENZ · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 8:42 pm Post subject:

Hi David, if your house gets a good shaking in an earthquake, you might be glad of the old (lightweight) coloursteel roof. falling bricks

That said, many of the houses I see being built these days do have tiles.

david · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 8:50 pm Post subject:

I suppose its what we've all been used to but the condensation problems etc.. would not affect brick as much as wood.
Also, on a lighter note can you remember the story of the Three Little Pigs. Ha-ha... Clapping

karltsmith · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 9:18 pm Post subject:

Hi David,

On the search engines on these sites you can usually specify brick and tile in the advanced search options. have you tried open2view.co.nz?

Also you can of course have one built or buy new. I have seen a lot of B&T construction on the North Shore and like you it is my preference too.

Having said that there's B&T and theres B&T. NZ B&T is usually brick clad with a timber frame to allow for settlement and EQ movement!

Regards Karl

david · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 9:47 pm Post subject:

Hi Karl

I think it's what we in the UK are cosmetically used to. A traditional British house looks exceptional and as my wife would prefer b+t, I have to concur.

david · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 9:54 pm Post subject:

Hi Karl -

Just been on open2view and couldn't find b+t search option. Might be me Nutcase

Timbo · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:48 pm Post subject:

ME TOO!!

karltsmith · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 2:13 pm Post subject:

Sorry folks I think it was on another search engine Embarassed

...I'll try and the one I saw it on and post it! Alternatively you can email estate agents and ask for a list of B&T properties on their books!

falling bricks

coastcat · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 2:24 pm Post subject:

You know, I can cope with the idea of wood and tin house construction... but I still can't wrap my head around the concept of houses with 3/4/5 bedrooms and only one bathroom!

Just one bathtub/shower, fine, no problem - but only one WC? Confused

That's going to be the worst bit of culture shock!

Raeven · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:38 am Post subject:

Hi, coastcat,

LOL, I had the same reaction.. we are so spoiled here in the US!!

When I went over to Australia a few years ago, I was impressed with their practice of putting the toilet in a separate room from the actual bathing facilities (bathroom). It was so nice to enjoy a long, uninterrupted soak in the tub while my husband did, well, what people do with toilets in a separate room! I think this is widely practiced in NZ as well, although I did see many bathrooms there with the traditional US arrangement of toilet and bath facilities in the same room. Also, the bathroom/toilet facilities can be very confusing to a Yank when reading real estate ads in NZ.. sometimes when they say 1 bathroom, it doesn't necessarily mean only 1 toilet. And I've occasionally seen 1 toilet advertised but then there is a second toilet off the master bedroom (ensuite). So it's always worth asking the agent about. I would say in general, newer construction will have at least 2 bathrooms with toilet in the same room, the customary (but sort of stupid!) US arrangement.

Re the brick v. wood preference, I have to say that, coming from California, the LAST kind of house I'll be looking for is brick! They're nothing but trouble when the earth moves. You almost never see them here. Wood frame with stucco exterior for me, if I can find it, and I'll appreciate that lightweight colorsteel roof, too! It's almost certain that those of us living in NZ in the next 30 years will be involved in a big, big shake (7.0 +) .. I hope to take as few chances with that as possible. We had a 6.5 quake here last Christmas. The only 2 fatalities resulted from a brick building falling on top of the people inside. They were trying to get out, but it's hard to do when the ground is all over the place.

Keep safe out there, Rae

veronica · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:11 pm Post subject:

Going back to your comment about condensation brick and Tile v timber and tin. I don't think that the condensation is because of the construction, more to do with lack of insulation and single glazing. And we are buying a 4 bed house and thats got two loos a bath and shower. so that not a fixed in stone ratio

BJ · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:49 am Post subject:

Hi all

Just wanted to say I'm glad I read the posts here, as I would have gone for a B&T house when we get to NZ. Coming from the UK I would not have ever thought about earthquakes, the only thing that make the earth move in our house is me

Laughing aside you give some valid points and I will now look at wooden framed houses as well. Thanks all Nice One

BJ

veronica · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 9:08 am Post subject:

the other thing here is that there is not the same stigma or prejudice attatched to timber houses. what part of Essex you from. (we've just left Chelmsford)

karltsmith · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 1:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Veronica, BJ et al,

I think the Kiwi houses suffer from damp/condensation for a number of reasons (already covered) but overwhelminly , from my own personal observations, I have yet to see any type of passive venting built into a KIWI house...e.g.air bricks. These affect the way a house "breathes" dramatically and there absence is I think a big contributing factor in the damp,cold house equation.. Many places are using a forced venting system that costs more money to run and will add to your soring electricity bill. Double glazing is, in my opinion, a must if you are specifying a new build!

Cheers

Karl Nice One

Macs Gold · Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:31 pm Post subject:

condensation has little to do with heat differentials, so double glazing I think has minimal impact on reducing it. In fact it might work the other way by reducing natural ventilation.

The controlled ventilation systems such as DVS and Moisture Master focus on forcing dry air from outside your home indoors. The cost of running these units will in most cases be made up for by the reduced cost of heating (warming wet air uses far more energy).

This website has a good description of the science behind it all:

http://www.condensation.co.nz/

We inherited a Moisture Master unit when we bought our house. When it is on we really notice the difference in air quality. I would recommend it to anyone.

If you really do want to buy a brick and tile house, you are effectively wiping 99% or more of the available houses off your list, and you may not have much of a choice left.

My wife swore when we came over she would not live in a 'wooden bungalow' as she would call single storey houses in the Uk. Needless to say, we have bought exactly that. You get used to it.