Nails – holding buildings together
When Captain James Cook arrived in the Pacific, he found buildings that were woven, lashed or pegged together as there was no iron. He brought with him nails and the opportunity for new construction techniques.
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By Nigel Isaacs – 1 August 2007, Build 101
When Captain James Cook arrived in the Pacific, he found buildings that were woven, lashed or pegged together as there was no iron. He brought with him nails and the opportunity for new construction techniques.
By Nigel Isaacs – 1 April 2007, Build 99
Most hot water is now heated with electricity or natural gas. But in the past it was commonly heated with solid fuels or with town gas made at local gasworks.
By Nigel Isaacs – 1 April 2013, Build 135
Census Data gives us a picture of the materials used in the past for claddings and structure. Although what we know has been limited, the dominance of timber framing is clear.
By Nigel Isaacs – 1 December 2005, Build 91
Although a young country, New Zealand buildings reflect a long heritage. In this series we’re looking at some of the many materials that have been used in our buildings, this time it’s timber slabs and rounds.
By Nigel Isaacs – 1 June 2007, Build 100
Fragile and costly window glass was introduced to New Zealand in the 1840s. Its often picturesque distortions or character has gradually given way to mass produced perfection.
By Nigel Isaacs – 1 April 2007, Build 98
Gold diggers used flax bushes or hotel alleys as toilets but, as populations grew and sensibilities increased, this stopped being acceptable.
By Nigel Isaacs – 1 October 2011, Build 126
New Zealand’s first settlers were slow to depart from their traditional building methods, despite suitable local materials being available. This gradually changed, as a result of both earthquakes and education.
By Nigel Isaacs – 1 June 2006, Build 94
Today we expect to have ready supplies of hot water but this has only been available in most New Zealand homes for less than 100 years.
By Nigel Isaacs – 1 December 2009, Build 115
Relative newcomer Pinus radiata quickly established itself as a worthy substitute for diminishing native timber resources, but not without first overcoming preservation issues.
By Nigel Isaacs – 1 October 2010, Build 120
Steel is now widely used to support buildings – whether as reinforcing in concrete, hot rolled sections for multi-storey tower blocks or cold formed sections for smaller-scale buildings – but iron came first.