10 Things To Consider When Building A House In NZ
Observing and adapting to the circumstances is more important than you might think when building a new home. Building in NZ has a unique set of conditions influenced by geographical location, climate conditions, and legal requirements that need to be taken into account to achieve the very best results!
Unless you’ve built before, navigating your way through these circumstances and the rest of the build process can be somewhat daunting. To give you a helping hand, we have put together this handy guide to the top 10 specific things you need to keep in mind when building a house in New Zealand.
1. Positioning Of The House – Solar Orientation
The local climate (namely temperatures, rainfall and winds), and geographical features such as views, existing vegetation, street access and section size, plus any legal covenants and expected noise levels, are all factors that will play a role in the placement of your hose on its section and design of your home. However, even though they are all important in their own right, the need to balance these factors against the enormous benefit of harnessing the sun’s energy for heating and keeping the home dry should take precedence when considering a house’s orientation in relation to its section or site.
In New Zealand this means in order to make the most of the sun, the most used living areas should be northward facing or as close to it as possible. This includes having the largest glazing in the house (windows and glass sliders, bi-folds or French doors) opening in a northerly direction, as well as plenty of glazing to the east to catch the early morning sun, a little less to the west to avoid overheating in the late afternoon and, of course, limited or smaller sized glazing to the south.
2. Insulation Insulation Insulation!
Quality insulation has been proven to help keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in the summer, resulting in a home with reduced energy costs throughout the year and noise levels and condensation. Well-insulated houses are also less likely to provide a welcoming environment for mould and mildew, reducing the potential for allergens in the home.
When considering your home’s insulation needs, it is important to think about the walls, windows, ceiling, and under the floor. The New Zealand Building Code regulations require newly built homes and renovations or additions to existing homes to be insulated to specific minimum standards. Defined by their “R-value”, various types of insulation products will have different insulation values and properties than others. Your builder will be able to advise on exactly how much insulation is needed and where but it is definitely a case for quality and quantity!
3. Energy Efficiency And Sustainability
Every appliance, automated system or electrical component added to your home has an effect on the ongoing energy costs and environmental impacts in the home. In New Zealand the average household spends over $3000 on their electricity bill per year so it makes sense to put some thought into ways of reducing this expense when building a new house.
The good news is there are lots of ways to incorporate energy efficiency into your home. Today’s marketplace is full of energy-rated electrical fixtures, fittings, and appliances. Aim for LED lighting, appliances with 4 to 5 star energy ratings, flow restrictors for showers to save on water usage, and energy-efficient heating options are a great place to start! Check out these practical tips and resources to improve energy efficiency in your daily life from the EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) Genless website.
4. Site Access And Ground Works
When building a new house the focus is generally all on the features and functionality people want inside the home, but it is important not to forget about the house site. Are you building on a hillside, flat land or hilltop? Does the section size set limitations? In some areas of New Zealand access can be a huge factor when contractors are pricing the job. Can you back a truck up to it? Can contractors get their gear on-site without too much hassle? Are there large trees or other restrictions to accessing the property?
Geotechnical reports have also become important, especially in the Christchurch/Canterbury region, where the land must be cleared as appropriate for building since the earthquakes. Any unexpected surprises in the geotech report can mean the need for extra reinforcing, foundations and major ground works resulting in a huge blow out of the budget.
5. Project Timeline – Delays Are Inevitable!
The length of the build will be dependent on various contractors, sub-contractors, the local weather, changes you decide to make and availability of materials. Any number of these things can cause significant delays or frustrations at any time during the build process. Proceed with the understanding that this is virtually unavoidable and be prepared financially.
It also pays to note the good old Kiwi DIY attitude can be a tempting option when looking to reduce costs, however if planning to do some of the work yourself, keep in mind unless you are skilled in the particular field, it will take you a lot longer than a professional and this alone could cause significant delays.
6. Water Conservation Counts!
Here in New Zealand, we are very fortunate to have access to fresh water, and it is vital that we maintain and respect this resource now and in the future if we wish that to continue. Already many New Zealand rivers and water sources are contaminated, drying up or under pressure from excessive overuse. The financial costs associated with saving water are fairly minimal at the new build stage, but the environmental savings can be quite significant over the longer term.
Considering water saving or recycling techniques not only makes sense, it is becoming the standard for many homeowners. Installing a rainwater tank is the simplest, most inexpensive option if you are had to choose only one option, collecting rainwater is great for use on the garden or even to incorporate into regular household use.
7. Construction Materials And Finishes
To date, most houses in New Zealand have been constructed from timber framing surrounded by weatherboard or brick cladding. However the use of steel framing and concrete has seen a surge in popularity, along with some more minor alternative construction methods, including plasters, plastics, straw bales and earth mixes.
Whatever you decide, be sure to weigh up the local climate conditions, environmental impact, location, availability, and budget implications, as once you have made this decision, it is irreversible. It is also worth noting that the type of construction materials used will also contribute to the completed R-value or insulation of the home.
8. Design Complexity And Size
Think about how your home will work for you on a day-to-day basis; functionality is one of the most important aspects of a new build, especially with custom designs. Think about not only the size of the house itself but also the size of each room. Will the dining table fit in? Is there room for a desk and a bed in the bedrooms?
A good tip is to look at your current house and rooms and use that as a guide to what you like and dislike. Measure up rooms, cupboards and living areas to see what fits and what doesn’t, also consider the proximity of bathrooms to bedrooms, kitchen to dining room, and the ever-important storage space or lack of it. Keep in mind in general, smaller houses are cheaper to build and much easier to heat efficiently.
9. Affordable Heating
In New Zealand, most homes are heated by electricity, gas or wood. All of these options have their own benefits and drawbacks, with many external factors like location, local regulations and even personal preference influencing a homeowner’s heating decisions.
Some forms of heating are considered more energy efficient than others, but all have some impact on the environment, so this is worth taking into account along with running costs, fuel availability and the size of heater needed to comfortably heat the entire home. See here for more tips on heating your new home.
10. Building Contracts, Regulations And Consent
The paperwork takes time and effort to get right! Obtaining building consent is an essential part of any build, as is compliance with all relevant NZ building codes and regulations. Plus you need to have a formal building contract with your builder. Building contracts in New Zealand usually come in two main types: Full Contract, where the building company takes on all aspects of the entire build, and Labour-Only or Managed Labour-Only contracts, where partial responsibility lies with the homeowner.
Your contract should include a detailed description of the building work to be carried out, dates indicating the expected start and end of the build, clauses on how variations will be dealt with, the payment schedule including the stages when progress payments are required, how to pay etc and dispute resolution procedures.
Dreaming of a new home but feeling overwhelmed by the process? Building in New Zealand can be a bit complex, but it doesn’t have to be – the experts at JAR Builders are here to help! We can provide detailed information and guidance on everything from planning and design to construction and finishing. Give the team at JAR Builders a call for more detailed information on building in New Zealand and let us turn your dream home into a reality!
