Researching the materials for your new home or renovation project can be exciting, but also daunting. There are a lot of choices and decisions to be made.

We look at some of the ideas and recent innovations for building warm, comfortable houses, with an emphasis on choosing materials and features that work best in terms of energy efficiency.

Note that we do not give details of specific products. Reputable hardware stores and specialist stores and the manufacturers should be able to give you advice about which products are best for your home. Your designer should also know about all the latest products and design ideas.

Moisture control & ventilation

Controlling moisture and ventilation is essential to creating the right atmosphere for health and comfort. We look at the usual methods of control with an emphasis on energy efficiency.
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Quality assurance

When you spend money on materials and building systems, you want to know that the end result will be hard-wearing and fulfill its function. We point to processes that give quality assurances for products and systems, and we discuss warranties and what you can do if a product does not perform as required.
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Insulation

Whether you are building or renovating, take the opportunity to choose the right insulation for your home – it will help you maintain the best ambient temperatures for health and comfort.
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Floors, wall cladding, roofing & joinery

We look at options for floors, walls, roofing and joinery with an emphasis on ensuring your home stays weathertight.
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Heating

A warm home is a healthy home. We review the options.
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Passive design for energy efficiency

The layout of the house in relation to the sun, and the use of features and materials that don’t use manufactured energy to operate, are important in keeping your house at the right temperature while saving on energy costs.
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Noise control

Features and materials to minimise the impact of noise from both outside and within the home, are important for your enjoyment of your living environment. We look at some of the options.
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Designing for best use of space

Clever design can make the best use of space, even in smaller houses. We suggest some ways to optimise the areas in your home.
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Designing for ease of movement & access

When you are designing a new home, or doing alterations, consider features that will improve access and ease of movement for people with mobility problems and for everyday activities, such as vacuum cleaning.
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Designing for outdoor living

Making best use of the flow from the indoor to the outdoor area can add a sense of space and ambience to your home. We look at what you need to consider for decks, balconies and swimming pools.
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Designing for security

Locks, alarm systems and safes are amongst the options for keeping your home safe from burglary and invasion.
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Designing for safety

You can significantly reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls if your home is designed and maintained  with safety in mind. Here’s some things to think about.
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Designing for fire protection

Smoke alarms, sprinkler systems and fire resistant materials are some of the options for protecting your home and family in the event of a fire.
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Interior fittings

We look at a few of the features, such as glazing and flooring, you might consider when thinking about the inside of your new home.
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'Green' homes

Protecting our environment by building with eco-friendly materials and systems has become integral in the design of modern homes. We look at some of the options and point you to further information.
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