Building your new dream home is exciting. Our homes are mostly our single most significant investment for most people. For this reason, we have formulated a list of essential things to consider when building a new house. We have all these fantastic ideas about how good the home must look. And that’s great, but there are a few practical things that we do not think will cost a lot more after the build has taken place. Very seldom will homeowners look back after a year of living in the new home say we did everything we wanted?
Things To Consider When Building A New House
Building a new home is stressful and fun at the same time. For this reason, the things to consider when building a new house are essential before the building starts. It is too late to make crucial changes when the building work and plans are completed in many cases.
We all know electricity is becoming more expensive than ever. In most cases, we think about the looks of the home and the furnishings. We don’t think about the practical things that will give us many years of comfort and energy savings. Home comfort and energy efficiency are at the top of the list.
With global warming and climate change becoming a genuine factor, many architects are designing more energy-efficient homes. Why is this important? As energy costs are rising, we certainly don’t want to fork out thousands a month just for home comfort. For this reason, we will cover the essential things to consider when building a new house for a lifetime of comfort and energy saving.
North Facing Homes
The Important factor o consider when building a new house is the direction the rooms are facing. In the Southern Hemisphere, North facing homes are essential. North facing homes give a lot more light in the home as well as more warmth in winter. North facing houses are far more energy-efficient.
In some cases, the plot of land does not allow for north facing. If this is the case, one needs to have some areas facing south. Make sure the rooms facing south have more oversized windows and are not in use extensively.
Double Glazed Windows
Undoubtedly, double glazed windows are one of the most important things to consider when building a new house. Installing double glazed windows reduces heat flow by a staggering 54 to
64%. As a result, double glazed windows will improve the indoor temperature in summer and winter. For excellent service and quality, try these guys for double glazing. Also, read this article on Double glazed window benefits for more information.
Benefits:
- Insulation: Double Glazed windows act as insulation between the outside heat and the home in summer. Also, in winter, the warmth in the house is not lost. For this reason, the house will have a far more comfortable temperature in summer and winter.
- Noise Reduction: It is a known fact that double glazing reduces noise pollution. In addition to reducing noise pollution entering the home, the homeowners can turn up their music and enjoy the sounds of music and movies without annoying the neighbours.
- Increased Security: Double Glazed windows are much harder to break than traditional windows. To enhance security, choosing laminated or toughened glass makes the windows even more difficult for intruders.
- Reduce energy bills: Homes fitted with double glazed windows will enjoy the benefits of reduced energy costs.
- Reduce condensation: Reducing condensation and mould because of the more even temperature in the home.
- Aesthetics: Double glazing is an excellent way of creating curb appeal.
- Eco-friendly: Global warming is a fundamental factor. Having double glazed windows reduces the need for heating and cooling and is therefore regarded as eco-friendly. The fact that we use fewer energy results in not only energy saving but also reducing carbon emissions.
- Increase Property Value: There is no doubt double glazing will increase the resale value of the home. Property agents claim that many new home buyers, particularly the younger buyers, are looking for double glazed windows and roof insulation installed in the house.
Under Floor Insulation
Without adding too much cost to the build, underfloor insulation improves comfort and thermal balance in the home. The best products for these applications are EPS ( expanded polystyrene ) or Isoboard XPS. Ideally, a fitting 50 – 100 mm later is best. When pouring the concrete slab, fit the underfloor insulation above the first layer.
Why should underfloor insulation be installed? In particular, with homes in colder climate areas, underfloor insulation will make a significant difference. Also, homes fitted with underfloor heating will have substantial energy saving due to the underfloor insulation.
Wall Insulation
Years ago, builders were required to do an apprenticeship before building homes. The result was following strict building practices. However, today any labourer on the street corner looking for work could potentially be laying bricks for your new home.
Importantly the cavity space between inner and outer walls has become a dumping ground for excessive building cement. The cavity space is essential for the heat from the outside walls to be lost, resulting in a more comfortable home in summer.
Have you ever gone to bed at night and wondered why your indoor walls are still warm. Put this is because the heat baking the outside walls has no escape. For this reason, the internal wall retains the heat for hours after dark.
To reduce this heat loss or heat gain, we should fit a 40mm Isoboard between the walls.
Doors
Selecting Doors for the home must be either double glazed if PVC or aluminium framework or solid wood.
Roof Ventilation
In South Africa, we seem to overlook roof ventilation. We fit less than one home in a thousand with roof ventilation. The Roof Ventilation must be top of the list of things to consider when building a new house.
Roof Ventilation Benefits:
- Roof Ventilation removes excessive heat from the roof space.
- Improve indoor heat in summer.
- WhirlyBird roof ventilators reduce the potential for condensation and mould in the roof space.
- Moist damp air is exhausted from home in winter.
- Importantly roof ventilators do not need wind to extract heat from the roof. As a result of heat build-up in the roof space, the pressure activates the roof ventilator.
Roof Insulation
Importantly when considering things to consider when building a new house, roof insulation with double glazed windows should be top of the list. In South Africa, we install several roof insulation products in homes. However, in Hospitals and Schools, only roof insulation products that are non-combustible may be installed. The reason for only A1 “Non-combustible” insulation is purely for the safety of large volumes of people.
However, in your home, it is easier to escape in the case of a fire. For this reason, installing insulation that is combustible insulation like polyester insulation and blown-in cellulose insulation is allowed.
Types of Roof Insulation
As much as 45% of all heat gain and loss is via the ceiling. We will look at the combustible insulation products as well as the non-combustible insulation for roofs. For all insulation prices, visit our price list.
Non-Combustible Roof Insulation:
Aerolite Insulation: Now regarded as one of the most advanced insulation products for roofs. Produced with TEL Fiberizing technology, the new Aerolite has superior thermal properties. Aerolite Insulation is one of the most important things to consider when building a new house. Get Aerolite prices here.
Aerolite Grade: A/1 Non-combustible.
The specified insulation for hospitals and schools is Aerolite Insulation.
Aerolite is one of the most advanced Thermal Insulation available.
Excellent noise reduction properties.
Isotherm Insulation: Sadly no longer SABS approved. The polyester insulation is dust-free ceiling insulation. Installing Isotherm insulation in homes is acceptable—however, you may not fit Isotherm in hospitals and schools. Get all the Isotherm Insulation prices here.
Cellulose Insulation: Cellulose Insulation is dust-like fine paper insulation. Not very popular in South Africa because of the dust factor, and most homes have downlights. It results in endless amounts of dust entering the house. However, the main danger is the 20% chemical mix in cellulose insulation.
Cellulose Insulation is Combustible with a BB/1/2 FIRE RATING.
Installing Cellulose insulation in hospitals and schools is not allowed.
