Western News: June 03, 2021

WESTERN NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday June 3 2021 9
HOME & HEATING
Ground moisture barrier
under low sub-floor
Now with the colder and wetter weather on
its way, home owners are focusing on ways
to make their homes comfortable, warm
and healthy for their families throughout
winter. Rising damp is an issue that affects
many of our older properties which suffer
from poor, or no, ground moisture barrier.
In Canterbury especially, post-quake, many
people have relocated to homes that suffer
from rising damp which can be associated
with health problems. Independent tests have
shown that up to 40 litres of water can rise
from the ground and enter a house every day,
leading to mildew, mould, condensation and
musty smells. Moulds can produce various
allergic reactions and the frail, elderly and
very young are especially vulnerable.
Canterbury Foam Concrete Ltd is a
locally owned and operated firm. The team
understands the problems caused by rising
damp and are there to help. They will come
to your damp home and pump a lightweight,
flowable foam concrete under your timber
floored home.
While insulation is important, it has been
recognised that it is dampness that is the real
villain in the house. The new Healthy Homes
Standards introduced by the government
effective from the 1st July 2019 now has
a requirement to install ground moisture
barriers, a key element in the armory to fight
moisture in the home.
Dr Larry Bellamy BE (hons) PhD in a
report dated 1988: Foam Concrete Under
Timber Floors: An Energy Analysis assessed
the effects of placing Foam Concrete over
damp soil and had this to say: Condensation
on the underside of a timber floor can occur
where the floor is suspended over damp
ground and the inside air temperature falls
close to the crawl space air temperature.
Much energy is required to vaporize moisture
that penetrates the structure. By avoiding
underfloor condensation, foam concrete can
reduce floor heat losses by up to 90%.
• Canterbury Foam Concrete Ltd can in most
cases, install a Ground Moisture Barrier
under the suspended wooden floor of your
home, even when there is no crawl space.
• BRANZ Appraised; Appraisal Number 961
• Members of the Insulation Association of
New Zealand.
• We offer a free measure and quote in the
Canterbury region with no obligations.
• Assessments can be made in all other
regions by arrangement.
Contact Canterbury Foam Concrete Ltd
now for your free, no obligation quote and
complimentary appraisal of your underfloor
ground moisture barrier needs.
Phone 03 376 4608, 0508FOAMCO or
www.foamconcrete.nz for more information.
The importance
of air quality
The quality of the air we breathe affects
our health and ability to perform. We
breathe in and out approximately 20,000
litres of air every day. It is therefore very
important to ensure good air quality
indoors through adequate ventilation.
Ventilation is the process of air exchange
to provide the necessary air quality that
meets the needs of the occupants for clean,
fresh air. Low oxygen with high carbon
dioxide causes stuffiness in the room
and occupants can feel drowsy. Invisible
harmful substances like a high content
of dust and tobacco smoke are harmful
and can cause various diseases. Even bad
smells can cause discomfort or irritate the
nervous system.
In summer, it’s easy to open windows
for cross ventilation, however as winter
approaches, we start to shut up out houses
to trap in the heat and as a
result, air quality can decline.
Ventilation includes both
the exchange of air to the
outside as well as circulation
of air within the building. It
is one of the most important
factors for maintaining
acceptable indoor air quality
in buildings. Filtered air
supply for summer and
filtered and warmed air in
winter creates a healthy
environment in which to live
and work. In cases with poor
or insufficient air intake from
outside, the oxygen content decreases,
humidity and dustiness levels increase. If
exhaust ventilation is not provided or it is
not effective, polluted air, smells, humidity
and harmful substances are not removed.
To ensure the quality of your air, contact
the experts. Smooth-Air Products can
calculate the required air exchange for
your building requirement. Smooth-
Air offers a wide range of ventilation
equipment, from air vents to ducting
for fans, for both the commercial and
domestic markets.
They have an extensive range of fans
and ventilation components in-store but
they can also provide innovative solutions
tailored to differing requirements.
You can contact Smooth-Air on
0800 SMOOTH (0800 766684).
ATTACK RISING DAMP
Smooth-Air
Ventilation Equipment Suppliers
to
trade
&
retail
Domestic
Commercial
Industrial
T. 03 376 4608 E info@foamconcrete.nz
W. www.foamconcrete.nz
HEAT PUMP
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Axial inline fans
Axial fans Axial fans Bathroom fans
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• We will offer you the best quality brands and
option of heat pump for your home/business
• Providing Heat Pump solutions for over 19 years to Cantabrians
• We personally guarantee all our products & installs for 5 years
(providing annual maintenance has been completed)
Phone us today for your free consultation & quote
41A SHAKESPEARE RD, WALTHAM
PHONE 03 366 0525
www.enviromaster.co.nz
“A local team for local people”
0800 SMOOTH
(0800 766 684)
sales@smooth-air.co.nz
the
right
264 Annex Rd
Riccarton
Christchurch
03 343 6184
for the
product
job
Monday - Friday
7.30am - 5pm
www.smooth-air.co.nz