Good Repair Guide: Construction stains

Approximately 10% of New Zealand households rely on rainwater collected from roofs for their water supply. Typically, these are rural residential properties but may include country schools, camping grounds, marae and other community buildings. A number of fairly simple and relatively inexpensive measures can be introduced to existing systems to improve water quality

This Good Repair Guide looks at upgrading options and maintenance requirements for existing rainwater storage systems to ensure a quality potable roof water collection and storage system is maintained. 

This guide covers important choices facing designers and homeowners in selecting active energy systems such as water heating, space heating and lighting and looks at options such as photovoltaic electricity generation. Considerations include what different technologies can achieve and which options are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than others.

It explains the requirements of the New Zealand Building Code, standards and other obligations that need to be met while pointing out that going better than the required minimum typically brings benefits in comfort and ongoing cost savings.

Note that since the publication of this book the energy efficiency requirements in H1/AS1 and the water heating requirements in G12/AS1 have both been amended.

Hinges for timber doors and windows are frequently overlooked hardware items. It is not until they fail to operate properly that attention is paid to them. By the time this occurs, they are sometimes beyond refurbishment, and replacement is the only option. If problems are addressed before they become too serious, hinges can generally be refurbished and restored.

This Good Repair Guide looks at the types of hinges used with timber doors and windows, the problems that can occur and how they can be refurbished and, if necessary, replaced.

Many of the country's 85,000 villas, built before World War 1, have already been upgraded and renovated to some extent. In their original state, they are typically cold in winter and draughty, their spaces have a poor relationship to sun and site and their service areas such as bathrooms are not well related to other rooms.

This book is well illustrated with crystal clear drawings showing typical construction methods for framing, roofing, windows and interior building elements. The workings of double hung sash windows alone are shown in six drawings and two photographs.

Typical building materials and construction methods, including match lining, lath and plaster, pressed metal and moulded timbers are explained.

Common problems are outlined, with options given on the appropriate repair or renovation.

This module focuses on the concepts and features critical to the design of cavities in buildings.

Topics covered in this self-paced module: 

• What are drained and vented wall cavities?
• Why are cavities important?
• How do cavities work?
• How should a wall cavity be designed?
• Library of useful materials

Gain 100% in the test at the end of the module, and you'll receive a record of your completion that can be submitted as part of your CPD activity log.