Focus on renovations
HOW QUICKLY LIFE can change! As I write this, I’m enjoying the relative freedoms of Level 2 while very aware that Auckland is still in a Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown. Nationally, the building industry is struggling with even more supply issues, and timelines for projects are once again challenged – as the production of this issue has been.
Another challenge facing the industry is how to improve our existing housing stock. Evidence from research such as the BRANZ House Condition Surveys has for many years highlighted the dire state of too many of our houses – cold, damp, poorly insulated homes that are unhealthy to live in and impact the health and wellbeing of occupants. Shockingly, these aren’t even always old homes. Bob Burnett mentions homeowners interested in renovating houses that are only 2–3 years old to improve thermal efficiency and comfort – what is going on? Deep-dive low-carbon renovations are becoming more popular.
They will be needed alongside changes to new builds for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet our net-zero carbon goals. We look at what is motivating homeowners to renovate and renovation projects in a range of houses from a 1906 villa to a 2007 earthquake damaged house.
Kāinga Ora continues its retrofit programme, giving state houses a facelift and making them warmer, drier and healthier by adding insulation (walls, ceiling and underfloor), double glazing, increased ventilation and new heating.
Finally, we need your help. It’s time to refresh Build, and I’d love your thoughts on what we currently do and, more importantly, what you think we should do better or differently. Please complete our survey online.
The results will help us shape the future Build.
Ngā mihi
Annemarie Crampton
Build Editor
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Articles are correct at the time of publication but may have since become outdated.
