Tag: weathertightness
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274: Doing Windows Well
There are not many new ideas in the building industry. The basic concepts have been around for a while. ‘High-performance’ products and design details that might be described as ‘innovative’ here in New Zealand are likely to be standard practice somewhere else. With building experience in Europe and Scandanavia Richard Eden is well placed to…
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262: Weathertight is Better Than Waterproof
Unless you live in a submarine your home is likely not waterproof. And that’s ok, as long as the majority of it is weathertight. To make something completely waterproof requires all sorts of seals and intricate design, often with second and third lines of defense against the pressure of water. Think sports watch or a…
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213: What’s so Good About uPVC Windows and Doors?
The uPVC window market is relatively small in Australia right now, but it’s growing fast. I caught up with Kathrin Sender, Managing Director at Integra Windows recently to find out what’s so good about uPVC windows and doors. uPVC This isn’t the first time I’ve featured a uPVC window supplier on the show (see Warm…
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201: Becoming a Passive House Designer
How and why would a successful Building Surveyor, retrain to become a Certified Passive House Designer? Building surveying is interesting work. Building Surveyors are not the people who stand out in fields with theodolites. They’re the people who are trained to diagnose problems with existing buildings. I did it for a while myself and learnt…
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185: What is Airtightness and Why do we Need it?
The topic of airtightness keeps coming up. Derek Ward of Clioma House shared his thoughts on the topic back in episode 103 and Jon Davies of Pro Clima went into some detail in episode 163. This episode is a reading of a presentation I prepared recently on the topic of airtightness, why we’re scared of…
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167: Should I buy this house?
A building surveyor is trained to investigate potential issues and provide a prioritised list of maintenance for a building as part of pre-purchase inspection. When looking to buy a property, don’t take the real estate agent’s word for it. Find your own, reputable building surveyor to get an honest assessment of the building. You’ll still…
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143: Why is foam such a good building material?
Many people have concerns about using foam (polystyrene) because of the chemicals used to make the stuff. In fact some of those chemicals are on the Living Building Challenge Red List. So why is foam such a good building material? Foam is a Great Insulator It’s all about R-value. Foam is an incredible thermal insulator. For…
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How big should eaves be?
Eaves are the classic case of form following function. In this podcast I lay out my three key reasons for having them, but a key question is, ‘how big should eaves be?’ Why have eaves? Radiation – They help shade you and your home from the summer sun, while still allowing light and warmth in…