Tuesday 31 January 2012

How to Choose the Right Auckland House Builder



Building a new home is one of the most important milestones in every person’s life and should be created to be an enjoyable and exciting practice. The essential factor to obtain the best quality and design that you ever wanted in your dream house is to choose the right and perfect house builder. Thus, it is very substantial to transact with a house builder who is expert in planning, designing and building and most importantly can meet your expectations and needs at an economical price. 

There are numerous house builders all over the world and Auckland house builder is not an exception. They are that licensed company that you can trust. To know more about the tips, here are some important guidelines that you should consider in selecting the perfect house builder.

First, make a short list and gather the potential Auckland Builder. It would be great to gather some potential builders and create a short list, since each house builder has their own advantages and drawbacks. There are numerous ways to do it. Ask a favor from a friend or a family relative who has previous experiences in certain house builders. Doing this is one way to ensure that you have chosen the right house builders in building your new home. You can also get recommendations from fully-furnished buildings and product suppliers in your place. 

Another option in searching the right Auckland builder is through the internet. Gather at least ten reputable house builders and conduct surveys at every company. In your survey you should include the price, materials used, duration, and efficiency of the builders. Centex homes, Pulte homes, Dal Webb, Richmond American Homes, Auckland house builders, KB homes and Lennar homes are only a few among hundreds of house builders in the world.

The next thing you should consider in choosing the right builders is making a background check. Spare two to three hours of your time to meet every house builder in your list. Discuss with them their attitudes and skills to designing and building. Look for every single detail that they are focused on, what you need to compare in discussing their own interest and asking you to sign up with them. Ask every possible question of whether they are capable to be appointed as your house builder. For instance, if you have chosen the Auckland house builder company, ask them what makes them different with other house building companies.

For the majority of people living in different parts of the world, building a new home is not that simple, since this would be the biggest investment that you will ever make. Auckland house builder is the answer for your problem, since they are the most reputable company which can ensure that your investment is worth more than you ever imagined.

Lastly, if you have already selected an Auckland builder, do not forget to ask for the references of their clients that they have previously worked on. Take some time to talk to them and ask their opinion. Getting a positive answer is a guarantee that you are in the right hand.

Sunday 1 January 2012

Leaky Homes - Which Wall Claddings Are Most at Risk?





There are various types of monolithic claddings or covering systems, yet some of those are apt to leaky home problems compared to others. Those buildings that comprise of structural framing made from non-cavity solid cladding systems are normally at risk.

If these monolithic cladding systems do not have a breach between the cladding and timber framing, water can easily make its way there.  After the water gets in, it cannot simply dry out and the stuck water can be the reason for the wood to rot. This method is called leaky homes syndrome. Because of the unseen water and the moisture hidden, folks are not aware that there is an ongoing problem, thus precautionary maintenance to make the water out is risky.
In a country like New Zealand, most of the homes are made of timber frames and because of this, any problems about changes to standards which may possibly affect the robustness of the framing might be critical. Since the framing is hugely covered, there is the possibility that any damage for leaky homes is difficult to detect until it will reach to a decaying stage. Wood is widely used in New Zealand, as their most important structural material in building homes, because it has huge strength to weight ratio, it is easy to build and is economical compared to other structural methods. Yet the disadvantage of this material is its combustibility, pest, susceptibility to the weather and vulnerability to rot.

Stucco, Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) and texture coated fiber content is some type of monolithic claddings that are on the list of leaky home problems, because they are made of plaster type finish with a water proof coating. However, the issue with this cladding system is not on the cladding itself, rather than the way they have been fixed and finished. If you have any questions you should have to seek advices from an expert.

Stucco is a type of claddings that has been utilized since 1920. It is a cement-based plaster, applied over a selection of backings such as plywood sheeting and fiber-cement. To ensure that it is water-resistant, it should be painted and if you have this material, you should carefully check cracking of the plaster and flashing, and then the location of the plaster that has been penetrated. Another type of claddings is EIFS cladding sheets, which are comprised of polystyrene boards with a plaster as well as a paint finish. You should be careful on the exposed edges and window corners, because the paint finish might crack. Contact and seek professional advice in case this happens, since it cannot be repaired. 


If you are looking for claddings that are made up of fine sand, cement and cellulose, then texture coated fiber cement is all you need. It is important that it should be maintained, because the system only relies on the waterproof coating. This is a way to ensure that there are no leaky homes.


Finally, it is essential to watch out for the indications that water had already inside the claddings, because of the cracks, moss, molds and staining. Washing the cladding frequently will help you extend the life span of the material, especially if you are living near the shore. Check for cracks and damage before washing it to avoid trouble and being a victim of the leaky homes syndrome.