Papanui Super Renovation: Simon Fenwick, FAB Building Ltd

• Poor insulation, poor performing joinery

• Quite dark in the living area

• Noise from the train tracks

• Expensive running costs

Once the problems were defined, it became a simpler exercise to take these on one by one. This started by increasing the size of the living area with the addition of a 16sqm sunroom. With windows all around, a higher ceiling and skylights this meant a big increase in light coming into the living area. This also created a communal sitting area that was not TV focused.  Nice! We then attacked the running costs of the house by upgrading windows, changing to Heat Pump hot water heating, adding solar, MVHR and finally insulating blinds.

As the train noise was an issue, we also triple glazed the master bedroom slider and fatted up the wall to decrease noise.  Carpets were updated, walls repainted as well as changing the kitchen joinery doors away from the ubiquitous ‘builders beige’ colour that everyone did 20 years ago. The result was a much quieter, much warmer, much lighter and ultimately much nicer house to live in.

KEY FEATURES

• 16sqm sunroom added with 2 skylights

• All windows upgraded to double glazed uPVC windows.  Master bedroom triple glazed

• Plastered exterior finish stripped off, insulation increased in master bedroom and weatherboard cladding installed

• Solar panels, inverter and battery added

• Gas heating/cooking removed, heat pump and heat pump hot water added

• MVHR system added to master bedroom so windows don’t need to be opened (to keep exterior noise down)

• Floor coverings, interior paint and blinds updated (insulating blinds)

MANY THANKS TO

• Chadwick Building

• NK Windows

• ITM Building supplies

• Cassidy Davies Electrical (including solar)

• On Point Plumbing

• Roofline

• Tower Kitchens

• Stiebel Eltron Hot water and MVHR

• CBG Concrete