Green Renovations

Generally, the largest homes leave the largest environmental footprints.  However, there are many factors you can consider to help reduce the environmental impact of your home.  Some of these include:

• Passive Solar Design; the lay out of the building to help regulate the internal temperature (eg orientation of rooms and location of windows etc)
• Thermal Mass; this relates to a material's ability to store heat in the winter and stay cool in the summer (materials with a high thermal mass need to be placed in the right areas to maximise this effect)
• Lighting; eg the use of natural light to make spaces feel bigger (by opening up a wall between a dark and light-filled room etc)
• Hardwood flooring; this improves the air quality (reduces dirt, dust, allergies and mould).  There are green hardwood options, but often existing hardwood flooring can be found under the carpet
• Grey Water; waste water from the laundry, shower and sinks can be collected and re-used in the garden
• Cross Ventilation; breezes from the outside can be drawn in to cool down the home
• Insulation; this can be achieved through such measures as Pink batts or double glazing windows
• Re-use old materials in the new build
• Buy reclaimed materials (eg salvaged doors)
• Buy products which are durable, easy to maintain and will age gracefully

       Adding Value to your property

Key Points:

• Don't over do the detail
• Don't spend too much on the wrong things (eg a large swimming pool)
• Keep the style of the house consitent throughout
• The style should be modern and not easily dated
• Connect additions and extensions in a uniformed manor to the existing portions of the house
• Make sure any renovations are in proportion (eg 5 bedroom and a tiny kitchen would not be good)
• Make good use of available land, but don't over capitalise (consider a garage for example)
• Similarly make sure the layout of the home makes the best use of the available internal space
• Prioritise work that creates good first impressions (front of exterior, painting, garden)
• Choose elegant fixtures (not just ones that are unique to your taste)
• Effective lighting
• Avoid maintenance nightmares
• Incorporate energy saving (refer to Green Renovations)

Financial Benefits

• An extension could add between 10-50% to the value of your home, depending on it's size and how well it is finished
• Adding an ensuite could add up to 5% on the value of your home
• Uprgading the exterior of your home may add as much as 15%
• A new kitchen generally increases your home's value by 10%

To discuss any of these points, or get further ideas specific to your property contact Greg today on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it