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BUILDING » Thermawise Homes
Business Central
Panel system offers a new approach Karen Phelps The technology has been available for decades but it’s only more recently that it’s been applied to residential home builds. According to Grant Senior, director of Thermawise Homes, using pre-manufactured Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) offers real advantages over other systems used to build homes today. “Homes built with SIP are stronger, easier to build and are more energy-efficient, while also being very affordable,” he says. Based in Levin, Thermawise Homes operates using pre-manufactured modular building components that, when assembled, form a complete structural/thermal exterior building shell. Grant says that the Thermawise Homes system and detailing allows the product to be used for virtually any type of building project with no compromises to the final appearance. The advantages of SIPs are seriously worth considering for anyone looking to build a new home, says Grant. He says that due to the insulation value of the panels the homes are incredibly energy-efficient and use far less energy to heat than conventionally framed homes meaning considerable savings for customers over time. “The standard 100mm Thermawise wall and roof panels have an R-value of R2.75. This compares with a typical timber framed wall with standard fibreglass batts insulation of R1.64. Thermawise designs with SIP ceiling and roof have a R5.50 rating with thicker panels up to R8 available. “In addition, because SIP is airtight, no insulation value is lost by air leakage,” explains Grant who says traditionally SIP has been used in commercial construction and in particular in cool stores for these very reasons. Because panel systems offer a dense, uniform and continuous air barrier with few thermal bridges air quality is superior as dust and outdoor pollutants cannot enter. As part of the positive insulation properties of insulated panel noise is greatly reduced over traditional methods and because the
Because the Thermawise Homes system is prefabricated it is rapid to install. panels are extremely strong yet light weight it is hurricane and earthquake resistant, he says. Because the Thermawise Homes system is prefabricated it is rapid to install - Grant estimates modular construction methods mean a home is built in a third of the time of traditional methods - and job site wastage is reduced during construction. The resulting home is low maintenance and looks no different to any house built using more common building methods as a wide range of exterior finishes can be used. All Thermawise homes have individual engineering certification to show compliance with New Zealand codes and all materials have
BRANZ approval. SIP used by the company is manufactured in New Zealand. Thermawise Homes offers customers new home builds, either from the customer’s plans, a custom design by Thermawise or one of the Thermawise read to go plans, using SIP. Grant says the plans are rarely used as –is though with Thermawise customizing them to suit the client’s individual requirements and site. The company can also supply kitsets. Grant, who has had a background in running companies in various aspects of the building industry including roofing and insulated panel manufacture, started Thermawise Homes in 1992.
All Thermawise homes have individual engineering certification to show compliance with New Zealand codes and all materials have BRANZ approval.
Initially focusing largely on commercial buildings he quickly realised the potential of the product for the residential market and produced the company’s popular series of home designs around eight years ago to meet demand. Thermawise Homes can be built anywhere and have been including in the Pacific Islands. As awareness grows around environmentally sustainable and warm homes Thermawise is also growing – Grant says it has doubled in the past year with this coming year on track for similar growth. As a result Grant says that he is currently seeking people to act as agents for the brand around New Zealand.