FEASIBILITY: The first question that needs to be asked is it even worth renovating?
Consider your sentimental attachment to the home. Do you like the style/character? Do you like the location? Do you intend to stay there long-term?
BUDGET: How much are you willing to spend?
Need to consider where you draw the line, as to avoid overcapitalising. Need to have a proper vision in mind - what do you hope to get out of it at the end. If it’s not realistic, then is it just best to sell/demo or worth only fix the minor problems?
EDUCATION:
Important to educate oneself in the process and reality of what you can afford to do. Is a building consent required? City councils highlight what work can and can’t be done without needing a building consent for renovations. If needed, then a licensed building practitioner needs to be involved. And the right building contract needs to be in place if the budget exceeds $30,000. Utilise quantity surveyors for more accurate pricing.
STARTING OUT:
Get a thorough assessment by professionals before doing anything. Eco design advisors (such as Julie Villiard) can offer free one-hour consultations before starting. Home performance advisors can also offer solutions for interim measures/stop gaps (quick solutions before investing in a long-term solution). Builders can conduct blower door tests and use thermal imagery cameras to highlight weak points in the home. Check for hazards that need addressing e.g. asbestos etc.
SUMMARY:
It is important to consider time frames and investment when renovating properties. There needs to be a clear vision and realistic budget, the duration of stay and personal attachment to the property significantly impacts investment decisions. Need to consider legal requirements for building contracts and the importance of thorough property assessments to identify issues like moisture and drafts. Consider the value of interim measures like insulation and thermal imaging to improve comfort temporarily.
KIWI HOUSE STYLES
Ronnie/Bob, need a good/brief introduction here, saying something that this is a guide only and not every single house style in New Zealand over the ages etc... And mention that there are some basic things to look for etc etc. There will be a button/link taking people to the separate page.
EXPERTS TALK RENOS
A builder's perspective... YES you CAN renovate an existing home to ‘Superhome’ status... Guy Gillespie, Character Builders
If the roof is in a good condition, we can go over existing substrate with our Warm Seal system... Jeff Fitness, SealCo
It’s always the same thing... WHAT IS THE ENVELOPE LIKE? ...Insulation, Windows, Leaks & Ventilation... Simon Fenwick, Nest Residential
Do NOT go for a glass upgrade from single to double glazing within old aluminium frames... Andrew Krupa, Koffman European Windows
RENDER your Reno with a FACELIFT, inside & out. Interior & Exterior Render Systems, Cladding & Construction... Harry Puttock, Sto NZ
Ventilation is sometimes looked as an after thought and something that is easy to retrofit later... Marcus South, Moisture Master
The two main frame types we deal with are Wooden and Aluminium. We generally replace with...., need to check with Martin re types... Martin Ball, NK Windows
If the roof is in a good condition, we can go over existing substrate with our Warm Seal system... Jeff Fitness, SealCo
COMMON CONCERNS
You and your family will already know the kinds of problems with your existing home. Here are some of the problems impacting New Zealand homes – what causes them, and what can be done to fix them. There are a range of options to suit your needs and affordability.
RENO MARKET LARGER THAN NEW BUILD
“It is predicted that 80% of current homes will be around in 2050. To get those homes up to Superhome level you need a Super Renovation – there’s a massive space there. The renovation market is alot bigger than the new build market.”
Gary Peters: Senior Operations Manager, SelectSIP
OLD HOMES HERE FOR A LONG TIME
“There's a lot of old homes out there and they're going to be there for a long time. People in existing houses deserve to live in comfortable, healthy energy-efficient homes.”
Darren Ballantine: Key Account & Business Development Manager, Metro Glass
TARGET WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU
“Don’t necessarily have to renovate everything, but target what’s most important to you. Think about the future, what you can do now to future proof your house for later.”
Julie Villard: Architect and Eco-Design Advisor, Christchurch City Council
TREAT OLD & NEW THE SAME
“You treat the new homes and the old homes in the same way – you’re trying to air tightness, efficiency, acoustic value and comfort.”
Simon Fenwick: Developer and Director, Nest Residential
THERE'S A SOLUTION FOR EVERYTHING
“It doesn’t matter what the house is, there are ways to fix it. If it’s damp and mouldy then just by putting insulation in, getting in a good ventilation system, making sure the claddings are on a cavity, maybe putting some new windows in to get a bit more sun... there’s a solution pretty much for everything.”
Dave Gunter: Director, Coastal Designs
STARTING WITH AN IMPERFECT FRAME
“A number of those things with renovation is all the more crucial because you’re starting with an imperfect frame and you’ll never make it perfect, so you’ve got to have a mindset to understand what are the key differences.”
Guy Gillespie: Director, Character Builders
INSANELY EXPENSIVE TO BUILD
“It’s so insanely expensive to build. Retrofitting existing buildings, I think it makes good economical sense for clients who don’t necessarily want to go out and build a new build.”
Duncan Firth: Solarei Architecture
INCREASE THERMAL PERFORMANCE
“Doing renovation without huge costs... adding thermal insulation dramatically increases thermal performance without dramatically increasing the cost.”
Candice Smith: National Specification Manager, Kingspan Thermakraft
DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE
“The good thing about renovations is you don’t have to do the whole thing at once, you can attack it systematically room by room – get a feel for what you need – think about your end goal.”
Dan Saunders: Director, Dan Saunders Construction and Director, Ecopanel
KEEP THE OLD WINDOW FRAMES
“Villas are quite an easy configuration to retrofit PVC windows. Old timber frames (outer frames) are really good, the issue is the sashes – keep the frames, they’re often heart rimu and really good quality.”
Martin Ball: Director, NK Windows
FRESH AIR IN... MOISTURE OUT
“Bringing fresh air into an old damp and mouldy house and moving moisture out is always going to put better insulation in walls and roof...”
Tony Biesiek: Director/Architectural Designer, Imagine Architecture
COVER THE CRINGE!
“A brick house with a cringe worthy old look... as soon as we put our system on top of it it’s a dry cavity so it makes your house a wee bit more comfortable as well as looking great.”
Harry Puttock: Senior Architectural Manager, Sto NZ
SEAL THE (ROOF) DEAL
“If the roof is in a good condition, we can go over existing substrate with our Warm Seal system. You’re re-insulating the roof and it’s very simple to do. It creates a lot of benefits and a lot of cost savings”
Jeff Fitness: Managing Director, SealCo Waterproofing Systems
KEEP OLD WINDOW FRAMES... NEW TRIPLE GLAZING
“We left the old window frames in, cut everything out, and used a frame with a flange, it works really well. You just push it in, rubber seals, easy, non intrusive, doesn’t damage any walls, and you have triple glazing straight away.”
Andrew Krupa: Director and Manager, Koffman European Windows
KEEP OLD WINDOW FRAMES... ADD NEW TRIPLE GLAZING
“Solar – Installation process is very straightforward on any existing home. We can tailor the system to the lines of the home – old villas that get renovated to modern living standards, all the way through to homes that were designed a couple of years ago.”
Chris Dearsley: Local Business Owner, Harrisons Solar
Superhome Design Guide © 2025
