Working With What You've Got
Compared with a new build, any renovation is going to have imperfections and limitations because of the existing structures, design, materials and style of your home.
Potentially there may also be challenges with your site, including access, steepness, orientation to the sun and street, trees and other vegetation, drainage, and exposure to weather and winds.
It is essential to get the best advice – from a Superhome Movement partner or participant, from the Eco Design Advisor at your local council, or from a builder who understands the importance of improving the efficiency and performance of your home.
There will be choices and perhaps some compromises – but these will likely be outweighed by the charm and character of your newly renovated home, and by the benefits from the renovation that you will appreciate over time as you enjoy better quality of life, better health, and lower bills living in the home
“A number of those things with renovation is all the more crucial because you’re starting with an imperfect frame and you’ll never make it perfect, so you’ve got to have a mindset to understand what are the key differences.”
Guy Gillespie: Character Builders
“A common problem we come across is – ‘my friend said let’s do this’, and they get whoever do it... and it’s great, BUT they’ve missed an opportunity to insulate or put better windows in. Sometimes it’s a nightmare to step into those houses where they’ve done a little bit here and they’ve put so much money into it so you don’t want to say: ‘I think we should pull that apart again’ .”
Victoria Mitchell: Statement Homes
“We often get asked ‘how can we make this roof we’ve already got, better?’ It could be an existing steel roof, there could be issues, maybe the pitch is too low, it’s damaged, it’s leaking, it’s just old.”
Jeff Fitness: SealCo
“Looking at the technical specifications, R-values, how to create the thermal envelope in that existing retrofit – it is a bit more complicated, but... working with a good designer or architect to help you navigate that is obviously one of the keys to pulling it off.”
Duncan Firth: Solarei Architecture
“All homes need proper ventilation – systems depend on age and the home, what system works best – heat recovery ventilation... a lot of renovations aren't putting in adequate ventilation.”
Marcus South: Warmth.nz
“Old houses can be damp, have mould issues. What can we do to improve it? (1) add an efficient heating source and (2) add a ventilation system, so you’re bringing fresh air into the building and moving moisture out.”
Tony Biesiek: Imagine Architecture
“The great thing is there are ways it can be done, it doesn’t matter what the house is, there are ways to fix it. If it’s damp and mouldy then just by putting insulation in, getting in a good ventilation system, making sure the claddings are on a cavity, maybe putting some new windows in to get a bit more sun into the house – if we’re getting buildings where there’s overheating then making sure we put shade in place – there’s a solution pretty much for everything.”
Dave Gunter: Coastal Designs
