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InteriorInterior

Medium-Density Housing: Orientation and Topography

A residential building’s orientation and its surrounding topography aren’t, and cannot sensibly be, regulated by the NZ Building Code and yet these two factors have very significant effects on the internal thermal performance of each dwelling within the building, no matter if they are terraced or part of an apartment block. The same applies to standalone homes.

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24 August 2026
24 August 2026

Do You Want to Be Paid More?

money image sourced from unsplash

I certainly do. 

The easy answer is to charge more. Whether that is for your products or services or by asking your boss for a raise. Of course, reality is much harder than that.

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24 August 2026

Specifying Exterior Timber Finishes: Designing for Reality, Not Just Aesthetics

Screenshot 2026 08 19 at 2.13.19 PM

Exterior timber coatings operate in fundamentally different ways and understanding this is essential to making the right call for each application.

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24 August 2026

The Benefits of Fully Integrated Plumbing and Passive Fire Systems Testing

26Eboss

Integrated testing of plumbing and passive fire systems provides a greater understanding of how components perform together within a building system.

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24 August 2026

Building Consent Requirements for Swimming Pool Fencing

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Residential pool safety in New Zealand is regulated through the Building Act 2004, as amended by the Building (Pools) Amendment Act 2016, which introduced Building Code Clause F9 – Restricting access to residential pools. These provisions are designed to prevent unsupervised access by children under 5, requiring most pools to be enclosed by a compliant barrier.

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21 August 2026

Understanding Your Obligations Under Part 4A Breaches

signing a contract photo sourced via unsplash by scott graham

Understanding your obligations under Part 4A of the Building Act 2004 — consumer rights and remedies in relation to residential building work.

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27 July 2026

What’s Your Square Metre Rate?

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I’ve always said: “if you are willing to give a square metre rate, all it shows is that you don’t know what you are talking about”. But what is the best way to answer this common question?

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27 July 2026

Medium Density Housing Needs Cleverer Design

medium density housing

With the current rapidly evolving move of our new housing developments away from standalone homes to medium density attached dwellings, I consider that there is an urgent need for a new approach to the fenestration forms of these new building typologies. In the past houses had all four elevations exposed to the elements. Now there often are only two or three, and even just one exterior wall. The growing awareness of the summer over-heating problems of these new dwellings requires new approaches to design.

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27 July 2026

An Economist, a Politician, and a Builder Walk into a Housing Summit …

Detailed Blog   matt July 2026

The economist says the market's cyclical. The politician says they've got a plan for that. The builder just wants to know who's paying the invoice. Turns out all three were right: it is cyclical, there is a plan — and yes, someone's paying. Just not before 2027!

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27 July 2026

How to Manage Downpipe Penetrations on Membrane Decks

Allthrough

An area often queried is the management of stormwater passing through a membrane surface, typically a downpipe penetrating a membrane deck or canopy.

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29 June 2026

Preventing Roof Space Condensation: Treating the Problem, Not the Symptoms

EBOSS Roof Space ASV copy

Condensation in roof spaces is increasingly common, but the solution isn't just ventilation. This article explores why controlling internal moisture at its source, combined with airtight construction and above sheathing ventilation, is the most effective way to reduce condensation risk in modern New Zealand roofs.

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