One of the first Canterbury group home builders to adopt Masons UNI PLUS Flexible Air Barrier, the family-owned company now displays a branded version on every one of its projects, including this latest four-bedroom, 200 sqm home in West Melton.

"We adopted the UNI PLUS wrap when it was introduced around five years ago," says Today Homes’ Managing Director Simon Sanders. "The additional cost over our previous wrap was minimal, but it allowed us to start interior work before the cladding was finished. That saves us around two to three weeks in the construction programme, and is much faster than working with a rigid air barrier."

Extra thickness for tighter wrapping and better protection

A heavy 3-ply polypropylene flexible air barrier, UNI PLUS is substantially thicker than conventional flexible wall underlay. Highly resistant to air and liquid water whilst allowing water vapour to pass through, UNI PLUS offers 90 days of weather and UV protection when correctly installed.

"The thicker material gives us greater confidence in waterproofing and durability," says Simon. "It also has a longer UV exposure period, making it more robust for New Zealand conditions."

UNI PLUS’ extra thickness allows it to hold its shape well, be pulled tight, and makes it easy to install with Masons’ air-powered UNI Cap Nailer Stinger gun.

"Once builders are familiar with the system, installation speed is comparable to traditional building wrap," says Masons Canterbury Key Account Manager Riki Tukaki. "The only additional effort comes from working with an air hose connected to the fixing gun, but it doesn’t make a significant difference."

Firing 28mm clouts with washers, the Stinger system, along with taped joints and the wrap itself, provides a taut air and weather barrier with very little movement, sealing the exterior so that internal trades can begin working inside.

A strong working relationship helps build homes quicker

With a relationship going back over half a decade, Masons works closely with Today Homes to ensure its extensive build programme remains on schedule.

Simon recalls: "When we first started using UNI PLUS, Riki ran on-site demonstrations with the building crews, covering installation, taping, fasteners and the Stinger gun. The teams adapted quickly and we haven’t had any issues."

"As well as Riki’s on-site assistance, Masons also provides excellent technical support for design questions, compliance enquiries and technical advice, with access to additional specialists when required, and Masons’ product documentation is easy to access."

"One of the strengths of Today Homes is that they have very little staff turnover," notes Riki. "They’ve retained many of the same builders for a long time, both in-house employees and contractors, so they get to know the techniques well and take them from site to site. We also meet with the directors roughly every six months to make sure everything is running smoothly."

For Today Homes, UNI PLUS Flexible Air Barrier continues to deliver the durability, efficiency and technical support needed to keep every build progressing with confidence.

Find out more

Talk with one of Masons' construction specialists to discuss the right air barrier solution for your next project.