One of the big differences owners of Able Space homes notice is how much warmer they are.
Over the colder months they are much easier to keep warm and comfortable . The knock-on effect of family members staying healthier over winter is also something that owners tell us they appreciate.
These benefits are down to a few aspects of how we build. Great insulation, airtightness and ventilation all add up to a home that is easier to heat. And it’s been proven that warmer, dryer homes are the best for your health.
Insulation
All the elements of Able Spaces homes, floors, walls, ceiling, doors and windows, are well insulated with top quality products. The insulation in each area of our homes meets the latest requirements of the Building Code.
We use:
· R2.5 Expol polystyrene in our floors
· R2 Earthwool in our walls
· R6.6 Earthwool in our ceilings
· R0.47 double glazed low-E glass in our windows
Just using good quality insulation isn’t enough though, it needs to be well installed to work properly. Even relatively small gaps in insulation, or hidden areas of a building that miss out on insulation will let heat leak out of your home.
At Able Spaces we take the time to carefully install all the insulation as well as possible in every home we build.
Airtightness
In draughty houses, the cold breezes that blow through all the gaps and cracks are technically called uncontrolled ventilation. In some old places, uncontrolled ventilation can add up to the equivalent of a whole window missing. No wonder they are hard to heat!
When we build an Able Spaces home, either on site or transportable from our workshop, how the floor, wall and ceiling/roof sections go together creates a structure that has minimal cracks or gaps for the wind to blow through.
The doors and windows that we use also seal better than the old wooden or aluminum ones that most people are used to in older buildings.
The result is that when you heat an Able Spaces home, the hot air stays inside, rather than getting blown away by cold draughts.
Heating
How our homes are heated is a decision for each client to make. By far the most common choice we see is heat pumps. The low running cost, convenience (you can control many models from your phone wherever you are), and ability to quickly and effectively heat our homes make heat pumps hard to go past, but we are happy to work with you to accommodate your preferred heating option.
No matter what heating method you choose, the insulation and airtightness of our homes means that it is going to work better and be cheaper to run than in an older house.
Ventilation
In Able Spaces homes you don’t have the problem of uncontrolled ventilation, but living in homes makes moisture. Cooking, showering, taking baths, and even breathing all add water vapor to the air in your home. If you keep your home nice and warm too, it can end up warm and damp - a bad combination.
It also takes quite a bit more energy to heat a damp house than it does a dry one, and dry houses feel warmer than damp ones at the same temperaure.
The first solution to the problem is minimize the moisture in your home. Using an extractor in your kitchen when you are cooking, and in the bathroom when you are taking a shower or bath is essential. We also strongly suggest people install a shower dome-type cover, if possible, to keep the steam out of your bathroom (they make the air in your shower a lot warmer too).
Next, in an Able Spaces home, you can also get controlled ventilation. We have several different ventilation systems that can be chosen as optional extras on all the homes we build.
Finally, given most places in New Zealand get clear sunny days regularly, even in winter, you can just open your windows and air your home out when the weather is nice. Our windows even have a ‘double latch’ that lets you lock them open a crack so your home can air out securely on nice days, even when you aren’t there.
If you like the idea of living in a warm comfortable and healthy home and want to find out how Able Spaces can help get you into one at an affordable price, flick us an email, or give us a call to discuss your options.