New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

[Clippies]

Nice.

 

We currently looking for new rental for end Jan as our current rental has been sold.  Wouldn't mind if there was a new house at the end of the line... well, there will be, but not in 10 months.

 

House prices are going nuts, both my neighbours have sold within the last 3 months. If their prices are anything to go by I am happy I bought when I did, which was only 2,5 years ago!

[patches]

I move to a temporary rental to Silverdale on Monday. Then chill out for 10 months while we build in Millwater.

 

Exciting news!

 It's really nice in and around Silverdale and Millwater! All the best for the build!

[davetapson]

What's with just about all rental downstairs rooms being damp or smelling damp.

Don't they know about damp courses?

[patches]

What's with just about all rental downstairs rooms being damp or smelling damp.

 

Don't they know about damp courses?

 

It's the kiwi way! If it doesn't smell damp, how do you know it's a genuine NZ built house?

 

"rumpus rooms" seem to be the worst as there are generally no/very few windows. and poor ventilation.

[patham]

It's the kiwi way! If it doesn't smell damp, how do you know it's a genuine NZ built house?

 

"rumpus rooms" seem to be the worst as there are generally no/very few windows. and poor ventilation.

 

Isn't "damp" just an inherent feature of the atmosphere in NZ, and it just settles downwards?

 

"Rumpus rooms" in QLD are also generally a poor addition to the house. Either the garage was converted by bricking up the garage door. Alternatively, they have enclosed or re-purposed the underside of the house which is typically not of legal height for habitation purposes. When we were househunting we learnt that if anything was described as a rumpus, just stay away.

[davetapson]

Our current 'rumpus' is is like that in spades - useful for storage and miraculously not too much went mouldy...

Currently looking for a new rental and there have been a number that would have been fine if they weren't damp - but I just think 'would I live in a room like this, or want one of my kids to live in a room like this' and the answer is no.  I'm just wondering if I'm being picky given how prevalent it is.

I used the 'rumpus' as an office during the plague months and came to loathe it...

[davetapson]

Isn't "damp" just an inherent feature of the atmosphere in NZ, and it just settles downwards?

 

"Rumpus rooms" in QLD are also generally a poor addition to the house. Either the garage was converted by bricking up the garage door. Alternatively, they have enclosed or re-purposed the underside of the house which is typically not of legal height for habitation purposes. When we were househunting we learnt that if anything was described as a rumpus, just stay away.

NZ turns to mud in winter, just about everywhere.  One would assume that wherever a house has contact with the ground that some sort of waterproofing layer would make sense.  It's not obvious that it is a practice tho.

[Rocket-Boy]

NZ turns to mud in winter, just about everywhere.  One would assume that wherever a house has contact with the ground that some sort of waterproofing layer would make sense.  It's not obvious that it is a practice tho.

I watch a lot of Scott Brown carpentry on Youtube, he builds in NZ.

You can tell why that is with older houses when they get into the foundations. Fortunately the codes are a lot stricter these days so its probably less of an issue on newer builds.

[davetapson]

I watch a lot of Scott Brown carpentry on Youtube, he builds in NZ.

You can tell why that is with older houses when they get into the foundations. Fortunately the codes are a lot stricter these days so its probably less of an issue on newer builds.

I'll have a look...

[patches]

I watch a lot of Scott Brown carpentry on Youtube, he builds in NZ.

You can tell why that is with older houses when they get into the foundations. Fortunately the codes are a lot stricter these days so its probably less of an issue on newer builds.

 

Scott Brown is awesome! I watch most of his vids and have gained a good few tips, tricks and insights from them.

 

It's also cool seeing the villa and bungalow projects and how he carefully works around these 70 - 100yr old homes.

[Rocket-Boy]

Scott Brown is awesome! I watch most of his vids and have gained a good few tips, tricks and insights from them.

 

It's also cool seeing the villa and bungalow projects and how he carefully works around these 70 - 100yr old homes.

I was pretty surprised at how old some of the homes are, they were built well though.

He has a great channel, I love how easy some of the places in NZ are for getting stock, drive through hardware stores are awesome!

[patches]

I was pretty surprised at how old some of the homes are, they were built well though.

He has a great channel, I love how easy some of the places in NZ are for getting stock, drive through hardware stores are awesome!

 

Built well in terms of built to last, but not necessarily to be cozy.

 

I live in a 1950's bungalow and it has native timber hardwood framing, original native timber floors, horsehair/straw plaster ceilings (although I'm slowly getting rid of those). So tough as nails...

 

But they can be drafty, damp, cold, and "uninhabitable" (according to the housing tenancy laws).

 

That said, many people do the old houses up because of the character and "good bones".

 

I'd venture to guess that some of the most expensive houses (per square meter) in Auckland are 1910-1920 era villas in the fancy areas (St Mary's Bay, Herne Bay, Ponsonby, etc) that have had the front restored to look original, then the back of the house is blown out with a modern extension. Not dissimilar to what Scott Brown does for some of his clients.

 

As for the hardware stores, they're great! All the major ones: Bunnings, Mitre10 and Placemakers (Scotts fave) do the drive through materials yards.

 

Currently my local Bunnings is open from 6am - 9pm. I find myself looking for excuses to visit it before/after work 

Edited December 16, 2020 by patches

[Rocket-Boy]

Built well in terms of built to last, but not necessarily to be cozy.

 

I live in a 1950's bungalow and it has native timber hardwood framing, original native timber floors, horsehair/straw plaster ceilings (although I'm slowly getting rid of those). So tough as nails...

 

But they can be drafty, damp, cold, and "uninhabitable" (according to the housing tenancy laws).

 

That said, many people do the old houses up because of the character and "good bones".

 

I'd venture to guess that some of the most expensive houses (per square meter) in Auckland are 1910-1920 era villas in the fancy areas (St Mary's Bay, Herne Bay, Ponsonby, etc) that have had the front restored to look original, then the back of the house is blown out with a modern extension. Not dissimilar to what Scott Brown does for some of his clients.

 

As for the hardware stores, they're great! All the major ones: Bunnings, Mitre10 and Placemakers (Scotts fave) do the drive through materials yards.

 

Currently my local Bunnings is open from 6am - 9pm. I find myself looking for excuses to visit it before/after work 

I have definitely noticed the issues with insulation on a lot of older houses. Nothing between the outside air and inside other than some floor boards. DId you insulate when you took the walls off in the kitchen? I seem to recall that you did.

 

I love the old rough sawn native beams used in framing from the old houses, amazing to see how 100+ year old untreated native timber holds up to the elements.

[patches]

I have definitely noticed the issues with insulation on a lot of older houses. Nothing between the outside air and inside other than some floor boards. DId you insulate when you took the walls off in the kitchen? I seem to recall that you did.

 

I love the old rough sawn native beams used in framing from the old houses, amazing to see how 100+ year old untreated native timber holds up to the elements.

 

Yup, I added building paper and wall insulation.

 

As for the rough sawn native timber, I'm kicking myself! I had heaps of it when I ripped out the old laundry and framed a new wall. I chucked it all in a skip because I couldn't see myself doing anything with it.

 

I should have kept it, removed the nails, and planed it down 

[davetapson]

I have definitely noticed the issues with insulation on a lot of older houses. Nothing between the outside air and inside other than some floor boards. DId you insulate when you took the walls off in the kitchen? I seem to recall that you did.

 

I love the old rough sawn native beams used in framing from the old houses, amazing to see how 100+ year old untreated native timber holds up to the elements.

 

Went cruising around Thailand in a previous life - there were teak houses out in some of the villages that were allegedly over 1000 years old... or so my brain tells me.

[Wayne Potgieter]

Our previous rental was a 40 year old multi storey with really bad insulation. It was cut into a steep gradient and not well insulated between the ground and the walls in the lower levels.

 

Having moved to a 2 year old rental in Silverdale, I can honestly say that old homes can go suck a toffee.

 

I cannot believe how huge the difference is and wish I had moved sooner.