Comments on: Design Flaws That Can Rot Your House

By: John Livingston

John Livingston — Thu, 05 May 2016 00:59:27 +0000

The 4th picture with the
The 4th picture with the chimney should be easy to monitor any water infiltration. Just lean an aluminum ladder against the electrical service head..water problems just might be the last thing on your mind.

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Wed, 04 May 2016 07:06:03 +0000

Kris, condos and townhouses
Kris, condos and townhouses are starting to be built in those places where developers can buy up a slew of older homes. Lot prices are driving that more than anything because most people can't afford single family homes that would be built on those lots anymore.

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Wed, 04 May 2016 07:03:19 +0000

Glad to hear it's not just us
Glad to hear it's not just us here in the US. But you guys certainly have us beat on the quality of your folk parody duos. If Flight of the Conchords is only the 2nd or 3rd most popular one, wow!

By: Darryl Mackenzie

Darryl Mackenzie — Wed, 04 May 2016 03:10:37 +0000

Yes indeed Tom. I am an
Yes indeed Tom. I am an Architectural Designer with a special interest in high efficiency homes. We are working with SIPs for this on a couple of homes at the moment, I am still working on getting my first Passivhaus off the drawing board.

By: Tom Whiteford

Tom Whiteford — Wed, 04 May 2016 01:54:42 +0000

Good to see there are other
Good to see there are other readers from NZ. Are you in the industry?

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 03 May 2016 18:06:37 +0000

From my own jaded opinion it
From my own jaded opinion it’s a confluence of competing desires on the part of the homeowner. The homeowner decides that they must live in a detached single family dwelling. Then the homeowners want to also live in area X, but the lots are small/narrow, the homes are old, and/or the price is high. So the homeowner buys and renovates, but to renovate without taking a loss on the improvements the homeowner has to do some funky things with regards to the exterior design. The end result is what we see in pic #4 from the top.

A better alternative would be attached single-family (townhome) or condo’s in these areas, but then if the neighborhood nannies don’t torpedo the permitting you’re stuck living in a shoebox that basically looks the same as every other unit which limits price appreciation.

Disclosure: I’ve lived in a townhome for 16 yrs and have wanted to build for the last 5.

By: Darryl Mackenzie

Darryl Mackenzie — Tue, 03 May 2016 00:59:52 +0000

This is an international
This is an international problem. I come across designers of equal stupidity/thoughtlessness here in New Zealand. We have a major industry based around our 'leaky homes crisis' it has two big winners, Lawyers #1 and specialist rebuild companies, and 1 big looser the unaware home owner.