People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
#32
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
Add to that the single glazing, the house we are in looks modern but with ducted heating, that goes straight out the windows!!
It was really cold last night.
It was really cold last night.
#33
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
I suppose back before they started playing silly buggers with the economy houses were well-built with thick walls which kept the houses warm in winter and cool in summer. Now they're just cardboard boxes so the temps really get inside.
#34
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
So the house will be stifling if it ever warms up??
#35
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
My house is unbelievably awful in the summer. We have one crap air conditioner that is so old and inefficient I think it must be one of the prototype models from the Edwardian era. If we run it at max we can get the temp down to 28 ish on hot days, but it produces the same amount of noise I would expect from standing under a 747 at take off. The rest of the house sinks into a strange heat-haze delerium - I have measured 38 in the bedroom which is of course above body temperature.
Luckily this is only a few weeks here and there across the summer. Anyway - point is go into one of the 1920s houses with thick walls and it's totally cool without aircon. So now you have half the population burning oil and electricity to stay cool and warm, etc., just because they wanted to save a few quid constructing the houses. False economy.
Luckily this is only a few weeks here and there across the summer. Anyway - point is go into one of the 1920s houses with thick walls and it's totally cool without aircon. So now you have half the population burning oil and electricity to stay cool and warm, etc., just because they wanted to save a few quid constructing the houses. False economy.
#36
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
The original Queenslanders are even worse.
#37
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
I live in a "modern" Queenslander and it has crappy single glazed windows with timber frames that basically allow air to blow through them. Add to that the four sets of double doors onto balconies and you get a house that requires you to open the balcony doors once the sun is up to let some heat in
The original Queenslanders are even worse.
The original Queenslanders are even worse.
#38
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
Yes, surely all the insulation, double glazing, cavity wall etc would go a long way to be more green than the incentives given by the electricity companies?
Am sat in a room with 3 outside walls, 1 of which is doors, ducted heating. So have hot water bottle, blanket and may have to go and sit somewhere else with a smaller tv!!!
Am sat in a room with 3 outside walls, 1 of which is doors, ducted heating. So have hot water bottle, blanket and may have to go and sit somewhere else with a smaller tv!!!
#39
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
Joe there is one in Canberra as well, by the Airport and having been in both it is waaaaaaaay calmer than that middle eastern hotspot which is the Auburn store!! I think a second is opening in Sydney area as well.
#40
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
Thank you very much, absolutely loving it but plans are changing faster than the traffic lights. Thought we were going to robina and then wife trots off to calondra and the sunny coast is suddenly the best place on earth.
One moment we are getting a 60 series LC then a novated lease patrol and now it's a choice between my beloved land rover discos and an 80 series LC
I have never been so indecisive in all my life
Perhaps the biggest shock after a lifetime of drinking Stella is that I actually prefer the taste of XXXX
One moment we are getting a 60 series LC then a novated lease patrol and now it's a choice between my beloved land rover discos and an 80 series LC
I have never been so indecisive in all my life
Perhaps the biggest shock after a lifetime of drinking Stella is that I actually prefer the taste of XXXX
#41
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,217
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
Can't believe there's not one already!
#42
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
Yes, surely all the insulation, double glazing, cavity wall etc would go a long way to be more green than the incentives given by the electricity companies?
Am sat in a room with 3 outside walls, 1 of which is doors, ducted heating. So have hot water bottle, blanket and may have to go and sit somewhere else with a smaller tv!!!
Am sat in a room with 3 outside walls, 1 of which is doors, ducted heating. So have hot water bottle, blanket and may have to go and sit somewhere else with a smaller tv!!!
Double Glazing is definitely set to take off here. I've put a fair amount of my renovation budget into insulation and not that happy with the end result now that we've been through a Winter. I anticipated being able to use a 3.5 kwh invertor reverse cycle heater for 20 mins and that heat maintaining for a major part of the evening... It did heat up well, however the heat escaped somewhere and I'm not sure where, as everything is insulated. I'm looking at the windows in the older part of the house now. I'm not too sure what I can do about my house being made of wood and only 8 inches max from the plaster to the outside elements. Open to suggestions on that one. Only thing I can think of is some kind of vegetation screening.
I'm not going to brick clad a 110 Year old Victorian Weatherboard thats for sure. If I put anymore insulation in the ceiling, I wont be able to see the rafters.
On the poistive side, I am able to heat my whole 23 square house with 9Kwh of Reverse Cycle invertor Air conditioning, which only uses 3kwh of power at max. It's just that the heat is escaping faster than I would have thought. The reverse will definitely happen in the Summer and heat will get in. Vegetation is definitely effective against heat ingress though.
Methinks I've only got the total double glazing option left... However for a Victorian Weatherboard I'd say my house is rated somewhere between 5 and 6 stars. I want 7.
Last edited by ozzieeagle; Aug 3rd 2012 at 9:41 pm.
#43
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
Thank you very much, absolutely loving it but plans are changing faster than the traffic lights. Thought we were going to robina and then wife trots off to calondra and the sunny coast is suddenly the best place on earth.
One moment we are getting a 60 series LC then a novated lease patrol and now it's a choice between my beloved land rover discos and an 80 series LC
I have never been so indecisive in all my life
Perhaps the biggest shock after a lifetime of drinking Stella is that I actually prefer the taste of XXXX
One moment we are getting a 60 series LC then a novated lease patrol and now it's a choice between my beloved land rover discos and an 80 series LC
I have never been so indecisive in all my life
Perhaps the biggest shock after a lifetime of drinking Stella is that I actually prefer the taste of XXXX
#44
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,600
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
Living the Dream.
#45
Re: People from the UK ,how you finding it here??
I would go Sunshine Gold over Gold Coast - I prefer inner Brisbane, but if the kids had finished school and me running them around constantly going North (or South over the NSW border). More sharks here than Um Suqeim Beach or Fujairah though so I tend to stay out of the water.
Left the deposit on a 100 series land cruiser so at least we will have a car on weds