Quality of houses
Jun 12th 2011, 5:36 am
#46
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 1,010
Re: Quality of houses
Yeah, nah it ain't all that cold at all! I wonder whatever the shops must all be thinking, packed full to the gunwhales of 'Winter Warming' offers. Heaters of every imaginable kind on display by the front door of every major store; yards and yards of flannelette sheeting in all their full floral glory, the fake mink blankets, thermal undies, hot water bottles, fleecy jamas and dehumidifiers are all totally wasted here, eh? 
One thing I do not miss about New Zealand is having to be an expert on the selection, purchase, chopping, splitting, storage or burning of fire wood.
Jun 12th 2011, 9:59 am
#47
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: In a large village called Auckland
Posts: 5,249
Re: Quality of houses
Last edited by Bo-Jangles; Jun 12th 2011 at 10:09 am.
Jun 13th 2011, 8:08 am
#48
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Island Bay, Wellington
Posts: 211
Re: Quality of houses
I was so surprised at the first winter in NZ living in a rental. God it was cold. Sleeping with a beanie on and heaters going full bore all night long. Never again.
The wife and I spent 2 years looking for the 'right' house and almost gave up, but last June we found one that very nearly ticked every box on our wish list. You have to comp[romise on somethings, so no internal acess and not the best evening sun but good enough.
We spent last summer getting this lot in the loft
And now the loft is fully insulated
We also had the walls injected with Airfoam and that has made a huge difference especially with noise reduction.
A couple of weeks ago we had a few kiwi friends around and they were amazed when I opened the front door and was stood wearing a t shirt and jeans. They could not work out why the house was so warm, and not just one room at a time.
It isn't rocket science!!
The wife and I spent 2 years looking for the 'right' house and almost gave up, but last June we found one that very nearly ticked every box on our wish list. You have to comp[romise on somethings, so no internal acess and not the best evening sun but good enough.
We spent last summer getting this lot in the loft
And now the loft is fully insulated
We also had the walls injected with Airfoam and that has made a huge difference especially with noise reduction.
A couple of weeks ago we had a few kiwi friends around and they were amazed when I opened the front door and was stood wearing a t shirt and jeans. They could not work out why the house was so warm, and not just one room at a time.
It isn't rocket science!!
Jun 13th 2011, 9:55 am
#49
Sleazy Dippin Doodle
Joined: May 2007
Location: wellington
Posts: 1,363
Re: Quality of houses
The plural of anecdote is not data isn't down to me unfortunately!
here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotal_evidence
here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotal_evidence
Jun 13th 2011, 10:43 am
#50
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,298
Re: Quality of houses
I was so surprised at the first winter in NZ living in a rental. God it was cold. Sleeping with a beanie on and heaters going full bore all night long. Never again.
The wife and I spent 2 years looking for the 'right' house and almost gave up, but last June we found one that very nearly ticked every box on our wish list. You have to comp[romise on somethings, so no internal acess and not the best evening sun but good enough.
We spent last summer getting this lot in the loft
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45...P3050432-1.jpg
And now the loft is fully insulated
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45...p/P3050439.jpg
We also had the walls injected with Airfoam and that has made a huge difference especially with noise reduction.
A couple of weeks ago we had a few kiwi friends around and they were amazed when I opened the front door and was stood wearing a t shirt and jeans. They could not work out why the house was so warm, and not just one room at a time.
It isn't rocket science!!
The wife and I spent 2 years looking for the 'right' house and almost gave up, but last June we found one that very nearly ticked every box on our wish list. You have to comp[romise on somethings, so no internal acess and not the best evening sun but good enough.
We spent last summer getting this lot in the loft
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45...P3050432-1.jpg
And now the loft is fully insulated
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45...p/P3050439.jpg
We also had the walls injected with Airfoam and that has made a huge difference especially with noise reduction.
A couple of weeks ago we had a few kiwi friends around and they were amazed when I opened the front door and was stood wearing a t shirt and jeans. They could not work out why the house was so warm, and not just one room at a time.
It isn't rocket science!!
Jun 13th 2011, 10:45 am
#51
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Island Bay, Wellington
Posts: 211
Re: Quality of houses
We have found a supplier for CH and thats next on the list. 
Jun 13th 2011, 10:55 am
#52
It is what it is Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Blockhouse Bay, Auckland
Posts: 2,797
Re: Quality of houses
The plural of anecdote is not data isn't down to me unfortunately!
here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotal_evidence
here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotal_evidence
Jun 13th 2011, 11:39 am
#53
Life is what YOU make it.
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 3,312
Re: Quality of houses
I put gas central heating into my last UK house with a combi system so simple just gas mains water and electric in and rad feeds. The combi even came with the Carbide drill for the wall fixings. So what are if any restrictions in NZ for DIY?
Jun 13th 2011, 12:27 pm
#54
Sleazy Dippin Doodle
Joined: May 2007
Location: wellington
Posts: 1,363
Re: Quality of houses
yuss. if it's outside what you are allowed to do, don't get caught
Jun 13th 2011, 12:39 pm
#55
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: South Auckland
Posts: 2,228
Re: Quality of houses
Jun 13th 2011, 1:02 pm
#57
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: South Auckland
Posts: 2,228
Re: Quality of houses
OK, I'll do an update soon. In summary though, am settling in really well and feel I've made the right decision. Thanks Dannigirl.
Jun 13th 2011, 6:42 pm
#58
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,298
Re: Quality of houses
You need a corgi type thingy to play with gas just like you do in the UK. If it all goes tits up you will have no insurance cover and possibly a nice little court case to deal with. I guess there is nothing to stop you doing everything EXCEPT the gas and getting a fitter to do that bit. I don't think you need consent or ought like that (so long as the gas bit is done by an expert with the right certs).
Jun 13th 2011, 7:49 pm
#59
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 50
Re: Quality of houses
You need a corgi type thingy to play with gas just like you do in the UK. If it all goes tits up you will have no insurance cover and possibly a nice little court case to deal with. I guess there is nothing to stop you doing everything EXCEPT the gas and getting a fitter to do that bit. I don't think you need consent or ought like that (so long as the gas bit is done by an expert with the right certs).
Jun 13th 2011, 8:13 pm
#60
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: Quality of houses
The plural of anecdote is not data isn't down to me unfortunately!
here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotal_evidence
here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotal_evidence
Last edited by ExKiwilass; Jun 13th 2011 at 8:15 pm.