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Insulation & Ground Moisture Barrier

From $425

4 hours

About

Insulation



Insulation stops heat escaping from the house. In general, the better insulated a home is, the more it will retain heat. This means:

  • it will usually cost less to heat the property

  • the property will be drier

  • the property will be less prone to mould.


Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025, all private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards within certain timeframes from the start of any new, or renewed, tenancy. Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. The healthy homes insulation standard builds on the current regulations and some existing insulation will need to be topped up or replaced.


Landlords that don’t meet their obligations under the healthy homes standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. They may be liable for exemplary damages of up to $7,200.



Insulation requirements are measured by R-value. R-value is a measure of resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

Minimum R-values vary across New Zealand. Use the map below to check what zone your property is in.



Zone 1 — ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3

Zone 2 — ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3

Zone 3 — ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3


If you don't know how to check your insulation, contact us today to book an inspection. We will check and tell you:

  • the conditions of the existing insulation

  • whether you need to top up

  • what product to use to top up and how

  • a quote to bring it up to standards.



Ground Moisture Barrier



Moisture can be a large source of dampness in a home. This dampness can lead to poor health outcomes for tenants and can be destructive to the quality of a house.


Between 1 July 2021 and 1 July 2025, all private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards within certain timeframes from the start of any new, or renewed, tenancy. Landlords that don’t meet their obligations under the healthy homes standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. They may be liable for exemplary damages of up to $7,200.


If the rental property has an enclosed subfloor, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet that can be bought from most building retailers. We recommand you to use a building professional to install if you do not understand the installing standards.


Ground moisture barriers must either:


  • be a polythene sheet and installed in accordance with section 8 of New Zealand Standard NZS4246:2016 , or

  • have a vapour flow resistance of at least 50MNs/g and be installed by a professional installer.


Contact us today to find out:

  • do I need ground moisture barrier installed;

  • how to install it properly;

  • quote for professional install.



© 2023 by WarmKiwi

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