WINDOWS & DOORS SUPERHOME DESIGN GUIDE

Why Windows Matter

• Up to 50% of heat loss and up to 70% of heat gain is through your windows

• Windows can contribute significantly to a building’s heat losses... They need to multi-task, bringing in light, allowing solar gain as free heat, and limiting heat loss in winter.

Benjy Simmons, Stärke:  
“We do windows and doors because of the effect it has on the building performance – the most significant elements... Up to 50% of heat loss and up to 70% of heat gain is through your windows.”

Darren Ballantine, Metro Glass:
“Windows are a leading opportunity to gain thermal performance within a home and make it a more satisfying and happier place to live in.”

Recessed Windows

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Andrew Krupa, Koffmann Windows:
“Windows should be recessed into the wall where the thermal barrier of the window is connected to the thermal barrier of the wall…  Recessed installation does not require specific builders, tools, or any extra certifications.”

Julie Villard, Christchurch City Council:
“Homeowners sometimes spend more time choosing their new car than their house design.”

Flexibility and Choice

• Each of us is unique – every family has their own priorities

• There are all kinds of ways to achieve what you want and need

• Options, flexibility, choices that are right for you

Hanshu Li, Warmth NZ: 
“It’s not about costing more money, it’s about how to think smarter, how to spend the money in the right place when you’re building a home.”

Duncan Firth, Solarei:
“There's always different ways of doing things and that's relative to the person, site orientation and budget.”

Fundamentals

• Fundamentals to get right from the start

• Focus on the fundamentals – what you need for a Superhome...

• ...Then you can upgrade in different areas depending on your priorities and your budget

Susanne Schade, Architecta:
“There are minimum things you should do that are not negotiable.”

Marcus South, Moisture Master: 
“We can pick and choose but there are some fundamentals that are really critical.”

Affordability

• Investing in quality and efficiency

• Focus on operational performance

• The elegant tapware can come later on

Martin Ball:
“Everyone's borrowed some money and need to make some decisions – do I get the fancy taps or the better windows?”

Guy Gillespie, Character Homes: 
“A need to think outside the square. To value stuff that's a bit different from before.”

What You Need At The Outset

• What you need to make sure of right up front – key things to factor in from the start

• It will often be something you don’t see – what’s behind the walls or under the floor

• Get the basic elements in place – things that will be difficult or costly to change later on

Hanshu Li, Warmth NZ:
“The things you can't change later. The fundamental parts of the home that need to be decided from the get go.”

Andrew Krupa, Koffman European Windows: 
“Once the windows are installed within the building frame – it's really hard to change later.”

How Big Is Big Enough?

• Understanding the space you really need and the ongoing operational costs

• The operations costs of the house are often overlooked

Peter Davis, AD Architecture:
“Why are we building a four bedroom home? What are those rooms going to be used for? Have one spare room and make it a universal room.”

Andrew Krupa, Koffman European Windows: 
“Make it slightly smaller. Save the $3000-$4000 per square metre and spend on quality.”

A Long-Term Investment

• Affordability over the life of the home

• Upfront investment saving on ongoing long-term operating costs

• Lower power bills, free from mould and condensation, steady comfortable temperatures, so much better health and wellbeing

Peter Davis, AD Architecture:
“We can prove to them that the capital cost they make on that is going to an immediate return on the energy efficiency and health of their house.”

Dave Gunter, Coastal Designs: 
“Once you’ve built a house with better insulation, better windows, the heating demand for that house is going to be alot less, so it’s going to save the client alot more money in reduced energy bills.”