Safe as houses

The concept of future-proofing our houses is gaining greater acceptance as improving technology allows us to bring our existing homes up to date.

One area where the best gains in terms of liveability are being made is insulation, says John Patterson, managing director of Insultech Group.

"If your house is too hot, too cold, too damp or too noisy, Insultech can alleviate the problem with the correct insulation for your property type."

While Insultech can insulate your home at any stage, Patterson says, the most cost-effective time to address your insulation needs is while renovating.

Insultech installs ceiling, wall and floor insulation in new and existing homes in Auckland and Christchurch, as well as removing substandard insulation.

"For walls, the only water-repellant options are a liquid foam insulation or the Qmulus BIB dry-fibre system. We find most homeowners opt for the dry-fibre as, unlike foam insulation, Qmulus BIB is formaldehyde-free and isn't subject to shrinkage," says Patterson.

"To install, we drill 28mm holes in the cladding and pump in the insulating material. The holes are then plugged, sanded, primed and finish-painted.

To contact Insultech Group, PO Box 97700, SAMC, phone 0800 467 852. Email: ak.office@insultech.co.nz, or visit the website: www.insultech.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas