Your guide to building a better home (PDF, 6.7M - Upper Hutt City ...

ELECTRICAL
You’ll be surprised at just how much wire goes through
a modern house, but given the number of electrical
fittings, you need it! This is where good planning
can really pay dividends – think not only about what
you want now but what you may need in the future.
Entertainment, Lighting, Home Automation and
Security are all elements of the electrical fitout that may
need specialist attention. Consult widely during your
planning. For lights, light switches and powerpoints
walk through the plans with your designer and project
manager to ensure that they’re in positions that are
convenient and functional.
● Do you have sufficient powerpoints through the
house and in the right positions?
● Are the powerpoints, light switches, intercom
boards installed evenly with each other and other
elements on the wall?
● Is your home entertainment system hard wired
into the walls (no more tripping over wire spread
around the floor)?
● Have you future proofed for new light fittings,
appliances or heating units and installed
appropriate wiring (think outdoor heating, stereo
speaker wire, outdoor lights, etc…)?
● Have you installed computer, security and stereo
or other home automation cabling (better to do it
now than rip holes in walls later)?
● Are they all protected from each other?
Websites to visit for more information:
Electrical Contractors Association of NZ Inc (ECANZ)
www.ecanz.org.nz
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
(EECA) www.eeca.govt.nz
Energy Wise News on Line: www.energywise.co.nz
INSULATION
Insulation has a huge impact on the comfort in your home: in winter it helps keep
your home warm, in summer it helps keep your home cool. Different products
abound here, as well. The measurement of efficiency is rated in ‘R’s – the higher
the better. There are minimum levels but paying a small amount here to increase
the R rating can make a dramatic difference to your comfort levels in the long run.
● Have you got the correct R (heat retention) levels or better?
● Has it been correctly installed – as per manufacturers’ specifications?
● Do you have environmental considerations that may play a role in your choice
of insulation used?
Websites to visit for more information:
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) www.eeca.govt.nz
Energy Wise News on Line: www.energywise.co.nz
GLAZING
If you thought that glass is just glass, you’re wrong! Think about how much glass
goes into the modern home, from the ranchsliders, to shower doors to internal
room dividers. It’s a lot, and as a result, technological innovations over the past few
years have been significant and there are plenty more in the pipeline. External light
plays a major role in creating a wonderful living space, but be aware that you can
have too much of a good thing. Also, be aware that there are inferior products in
the marketplace, as well, so feel free to ask your glazier where the glass is from and
whether it meets the New Zealand standards. Think about what you want and need in
your home: noise protection; reduction in direct sunlight and/or UV rays that can fade
carpet and furniture fabrics or cause wooden floors to dry and crack; heat retention;
privacy – all these requirements can be catered for by different glazing.
● Have you thought of getting a separate glazing quote if installing timber joinery?
● Have you got tempered glass rather than toughened glass installed in your shower?
● Have you considered glass balustrades instead of timber?
● Are your balustrades the correct height?
● If you’re having extensive glass areas in any rooms, such as large ranchsliders and
or windows, have you considered laminated or double glazing for heat retention?
● Are you in a noisy location and need noise reduction glass installed?
● Has the builder protected the glass surface during construction?
Build in your energy savings now
and save up to a further 17% on your heating costs*
Building or renovating is the best time to
include insulation that will future-proof
your home. By using Pink ® Batts ®
thermal insulation you can reduce
the amount of heat loss from your
home. This diagram explains
where the heat is lost
from a home, and what
products to use where.
24% through the wall
Use Pink ® Batts ® Ultra TM
42% through the roof
Use Pink ® Batts ® Ultra TM
Where does
the heat go?
more comfortable home that’s free from
mould and condensation. Also, you can
reduce your home’s heating
costs by up to 17%*
compared to installing the
minimum levels required
by the NZ Building Code.
Internal wall
use Pink ® Batts ®
Silencer ® to
reduce noise
transmissions
We’d love to help
you further
Our Comfort in Style brochure
is full of tips and how to’s for
planning, buying and installing
the correct insulation.
For a FREE copy, email us on
savings@pinkbatts.co.nz.
Include your name and
postal address and we’ll
send you a brochure.
Go beyond the
minimum and save
Install insulation with
higher R-values to future 10% through the
proof your home against floor Use Pink ®
rising energy costs. An
Batts ® Cosyfloor ®
R-value measures a products resistance to
heat fl ow. By installing insulation with a high
R-value such as Pink ® Batts ® Ultra into
walls, ceilings and under your fl oors, you can
create a signifi cantly warmer and
*Test results illustrate
estimated energy savings for
particular scenarios. Savings will vary
dending on factors such as building
design, construction and location. Building
Workshop Architectural Consultants 2005.
Consider sound as well
Use Pink ® Batts ® Silencer ® acoustic
insulation strategically, by building into internal
walls wherever you wish to decrease sound
transmission between rooms; such as
bedroom and bathroom.
www.comfortablehomes.co.nz
Licence No 2504017.
Thermal (resistive type)
building insulants.
Energi 82464a
NZBG 31
82464_NZ Build Ad.indd 1
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