vrbanana

2 questions in one thread, I like to get my moneys worth


I’ve seen a site somewhere that gives average annual climate figures for the N & S islands, like a donkey I’ll be dammed if I can find it again, anyone point me in the right direction.

I came across another forum that gives the impression that you’d never be able dry your socks out it’s that damp

The other question is about self builds, anyone with any experience? I’ve haven’t herd a nice word for the NZ homes so would a self build be a good option?

Genesis

Can't help re no 1..can no 2. My mate built a house..costs round about $1500-$2000 per square metre to build..obviously can be done cheaper..can be done much more expensive..depends on the finish.

If you build a house...you must consider factoring in CH, dub glazing and a DVS system..these circulate the house air via the loft space (if you have one).

We bought a 1991 house and have 'built out' all the problems. We have no loft space (with the flat roof )so in winter we run dehumidifiers that deal with the moisture from cooking, washing breathing etc, also run a fan in our conservatory which helps re crying windows (circulating air helps keep crying windows at bay..still air helps condensation).

We have installed dub glazing and have installed euro style CH. We also have had a log fire burner put in which is awesome. Our house is warm, dry and better than any home we had in the UK during winter!!!

Not all NZ homes are crap sheds. Some are very nice sheds that just need tweeking for us warm blooded brits!!!!

ledge

NZ Met Service should have what you want. Here's the climate page http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/...as=climateofnz

RobClubley

True!

Our shed is nice

Has anyone read this month's North & South? I noticed the cover as I walked past a news stand this morning - something along the lines of "Why are we still building crap sheds in NZ"

luvwelly

Yes, I read the expression 'brick veneer' recently..even the few properties which appear brick-built usually have wooden frames underneath!

RobClubley

I've seen UK houses built that way as well - wooden frame and brick skin.
At least it's a better insulator than a bit of weatherboard.

lapsed kiwi

That's so they don't fall down when/if there's an earthquake
Call me old-fashioned, but I think this is quite a good quality for a house to have

In answer to the original question - the BBC has quite a good guide to average weather stats for major cities:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/
Don't forget to add six months if you're comparing NZ to UK cities (sorry if that's stating the bleeding obvious)

Maz

This is done so much in the US (where houses are also wood-framed). They call it "brick cladding", usually do it just on the front, and charge a shitload more for it. Meh.

Bo-Jangles

Only when they say veneer, they mean veneer. They're not REAL bricks at all, they're only about 1 inch thick. Reminiscent of the stone cladding people put to used put on house in the 70s and no better than weatherboard.

That old earthquake story is also another whole pile of baloney, not all of NZ is in the earthquake zone.

CAN2NZ

There is nothing wrong with a wood frame house veneered in brick, which, contrary to the other post are not only one inch thick.

I am glad someone mentioned the BBC website we used it also.

We built a very good sized home for just over $300,000 plus the cost of our section. We have two heat pumps and a gas fire. Our house is not a typcial kiwi home in its internal layout. It is totally open concept from the front door most of the length of the house through the living room, kitchen and dining room. I find that the space is too big for the heating choices. I mean, we use the heat pump primarily as that pretty much does it, but the space is just too big. I put the gas fire on to heat up the middle and front of the house for up to an hour if I need to, well more like if I want to as it really is not too bad.

It is true, there are houses that need tweeking. We didn't want to get into that so decided to build and get what we wanted. We also found that the houses in the areas we liked were either too small and/or did not offer the amenities we expected to be included in the price we were shopping at.

I_Will_Freckle

Are earthquakes so discerning?

Bo-Jangles

Maybe my bad conversion, ours are 70mm and the same as I have seen on hundreds of other similar built houses - seems to be the standard used by the main house builders. Some friends of ours have an older house that has way thinner than ours.

Just something people ought to consider when looking at what appears to be a brick built house, they're put up in such a way that you don't see the half bricks at the corners and joins. So it is quite easy to tell that it is not the bricks that are holding the house up; rather that the house is holding the bricks up.

j19fmm

For years as a child I thought my Uncles house on the North Shore, Auckland was brick built.Wasn't til I went to visit him in 1995 that I realised it was brick cladding!!
Love seeing houses being cut in half and moved on the roads too..

LizaJane

We have been here 4 years and have renovated 2 houses. The first was only 8 years old in a nice part of town 4 beds, 2 baths timber framed with an outer skin of plasterboard costing $320,000 (4 yrs ago) it had very bad condensation, poor heating (bayonet gas) and ventilation, powder coated external door and window frames (doesn't do much for the condensation), cheap plumbing and poor electrics.

The next was a year later bought for $440,000 a 70's build of solid brick construction 4 beds, 1 bath. It had central heating via floor vents (excellent), some probs with condensation due to same powder coated metal frames, some windows leaked water coming through between wall and frame (frames were not sealed properly).On the whole plumbing, wiring etc top notch though old.

Generally I feel the standard of housing here is of poorer quality than the UK, basic problems of damp and condensation should not be so wide spread, almost all homes experience these problems. It is definitely more of a lucky dip when it comes to property here. Have never come across so many children with asthma since living here.

We also built 18 months ago and have obviously built more to our own needs, 15 mins out of town, 3 acre section, 5 beds, 3 bath, study etc. We have 2 huge log burners and are thinking of installing a DVS system to ensure no probs with condensation or we could just get a dehumidifier. Even if you have double glazing here you will find that condensation will still be a problem because of cold metal windows and poor ventilation even on new builds.You can obviously install everything you want/need but at a cost. Our build has cost us approx $550,000 plus the land cost of $150,000 and still spending on landscaping extra, so far a total of $700,000.

Looking back if we were to move houses in NZ again I would most definitely build rather than risk taking on someone elses poor and dangerous DIY project (a lot of them around). What ever the cost, central heating or heat pumps are a must or your home will be damp.

As far as damp goes... areas of NZ are different but we live in Waikato and it is very damp especially in the cooler months and horribly humid in summer. Do not expect sunshine on mass, though it is warmer than the UK and quite hot in the summer it can be overcast and it rains an awful lot, saying that we have experienced drought conditions this summer just gone which was not so good. You can have a mix of seasons in one day here.

The North Island is generally milder than the South, the further north you go the better the weather.

I wondered, were you the person asking questions about moving to NZ and having teenagers in tow?

My kids are now 10 and 12 and we are actually thinking of moving back UK?!

dlmckay

I like to use www.wunderground.com for weather almanacs