Get It Right With Undercover Architect

Hello! This is Episode 297, and in it, I’m continuing my conversation with Jessica Allen from Climasure, and we’re discussing what a WUFI Analysis, and why it’s worth knowing about for your future build or reno! This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/297] If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, be sure to head to Episode 296, where you’ll hear Jessica discuss air tightness, and give a detailed run down of what blower door tests are, how they work, and how you can use them in assessing the air tightness of your home whether building new or renovating.  You can also download a free PDF transcript of Part 1 by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/296. In this episode, Jessica will discuss more tools that can be used as an ‘as built verification’ process during your build, so you can confirm during construction that your home is being built a

Hello! This is episode 296, and in it, I’m talking with Jessica Allen from Climasure, about air tightness, blower door tests and what you need to know for your construction process. This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/296] Climasure is a team of design and construct professionals who have a strong desire to ensure that Australian building stock is created with the correct knowledge, detailing and construction technique informing decisions to produce healthy buildings and peace of mind. Jessica is passionate about: air tightness, condensation management, correctly detailing buildings, and as-built verification opportunities to ensure you’re getting the right outcome on site.  Across this and the next episode, she’ll be helping us understand more about how you can achieve this in your new build or renovation project.  Jess is fantastic at

Hello! This is episode 295, and in it, I’m continuing my conversation with Jeremy Spencer, builder, thermal performance assessor and co-owner at Positive Footprints. This is Part 3 of my interview with Jeremy.  This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/295] If you haven’t listened to Part 1, head back to Episode 293, and have a listen to it, or download the free PDF transcript. You can find it at www.undercoverarchitect.com/293. And if you haven’t listened to Part 2, then head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/294 to learn all about the ‘Whole of Home’ Rating Scheme and what you need to know to achieve 7 stars. Jeremy steps us through it in a lot of detail. In this episode, you’ll learn about how the size of your home may impact your star rating, and what to know in this regard.  We’ll also look at related changes in the code regarding thermal b

Hello! This is episode 294, and in it, I’m continuing my conversation with Jeremy Spencer, builder, thermal performance assessor and co-owner at Positive Footprints. This is Part 2 of my interview with Jeremy. This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/294] If you haven’t listened to Part 1, head back to Episode 293, and have a listen to it, or download the free PDF transcript. You can find it at www.undercoverarchitect.com/293. In this episode, Jeremy takes us through, in amazing detail, what you need to understand and work with to achieve the seven star Whole of Home house rating. He literally steps us through, sharing an incredible wealth of information that will be super helpful for you. We also discuss how these NCC2022 upgrades can best be achieved when working with your professional team, and how this may change from what’s been done in

Hello! This is episode 293, and in it, I’m talking with Jeremy Spencer, builder, thermal performance assessor and co-owner at Positive Footprints. This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/293] Long time listeners to the podcast will remember Jeremy’s previous appearance on Episode 232 and 233, where he talked about low carbon and zero carbon homes, as well as his work in Positive Footprints (and more broadly across the industry) to educate and improve knowledge and execution in this area. He’s back in this series on the National Construction Code to help us understand more about the upgrades in NCC2022, the new seven star rating, what will impact you achieving it, and in particular the introduction of a ‘Whole of Home’ scheme for energy performance. My conversation with Jeremy will run over this and the next two episodes, as he shares so muc

Hello! This is episode 292, and in it, I’m continuing my conversation with Jesse Clarke, Innovation and R & D Manager at Pro Clima. This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/292] If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, be sure to head to Episode 291, where you’ll hear Jesse provide a really great foundational understanding of building science and moisture management in our homes, and what to be aware of. You can also download a free PDF transcript by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/291. In this episode, Jesse talks about the NCC2022 updates and his thoughts on them, and what he thinks is missing and you should be aware of to ensure you don’t create those unintended consequences! We’ll learn more about how to detail roofs and walls, and why you can’t rely on your external cladding to make your home weather resistive.  Plus you’ll get

Hello! This is episode 291, and in it, I’m talking with Jesse Clarke, Innovation and R & D Manager at Pro Clima. This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/291] Pro Clima operates across the globe in more than 40 countries, and enables healthy living conditions by protecting building structures from external and internal moisture damage.  Their extensive range of high-performance weathertightness and airtightness systems help to create draught-free, long lasting and low allergen emitting surroundings for families, schools and businesses. Jesse Clarke is a leader in the industry and has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share about building science, building condensation management, designing and building for your climate, and understanding building systems to enhance thermal performance and moisture management. Many of the NCC2022 up

Hello! This is episode 290, and in it, I’m continuing my conversation with Building Surveyor, Laura Terrnova, from Deemed to Perform Consulting. We’re discussing Performance Solutions: what they are, and how they’ll impact your project and approvals. This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/290] If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of my conversation with Laura in Episode 289, be sure to do that first, as this one will make a lot more sense once you do. You can find that by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/289 In this episode, we jump into the detail of Performance Solutions. Laura helps us understand more about what they mean, what might trigger the need for them, how you’ll need to go about acquiring them, and who will need to be involved. For anyone doing a custom project, it may be very difficult to do a fully Deemed to Satisfy approv

Hello! This is episode 289, and in it, I’m talking with Building Surveyor, Laura Terrnova, Director of Deemed to Perform Consulting about project compliance, building approvals and updates to the National Construction Code. This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/289] Laura is a consultative Building Surveyor. What does this mean?  Well, you’ll hear more from Laura about this, but in short, Laura’s role on projects is to help homeowners navigate their building approvals more confidently and efficiently by understanding how their design and construction choices will impact their compliance with the National Construction Code. Building Surveyor is a Victorian term. In other locations, this role can be known as a Building Certifier.  In this episode, Laura will share what you need to know about this role, about achieving your building approval

Hello! This is episode 288, and in it, I’m sharing Part 2 of my conversation with Building Biologist, Zara D’Cotta, from The Healthy Home.  This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/288] If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of my conversation with Zara in Episode 287, head back there now to catch up, as this episode will make a lot more sense to you then! You can find it by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/287. Is mould and damp really that big a problem in our homes?  Well, we’re seeing growing awareness of just how much of a problem it can be. And the World Health Organisation has advised, in their latest Housing and Health Guidelines, that dampness and mould-related problems should be prevented or treated early as there is no safe level of exposure.  Gone are the days of timber frames sitting out in the elements getting drenched, and th

Hello! This is episode 287. In it, I’m talking with Building Biologist, Zara D’Cotta, from The Healthy Home. She’s here to talk about healthy buildings and share her thoughts on how recent National Construction Code changes might affect how healthy our buildings are.  This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/287] Australian homes have been described as “glorified tents” with construction techniques changing very little over decades. Our climate is considered ‘mild’ when compared to parts of the world that experience extreme heat or cold.  Consequently, many homes built in Australia are built without the climate in mind. And, as we’ve had rising energy efficiency standards demanding increased air tightness and insulation, it actually poses a risky issue in the health of our buildings, and the health of us living in them. We haven’t heard much

Hello! This is Episode 286. In it, I’m going to share some detail about the specific updates that have been made to the latest iteration of our National Construction Code in Australia. This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/285] If you haven’t listened to my introductory episode for this series I’m doing on the National Construction Code, I’d encourage you to head back to the previous episode, Episode 285, and listen to it first. It will give you context to this episode, and this upcoming series that will be super helpful. In this episode, I’ll be sharing more on each of the updates made based on the parts of the National Construction Code that they impact. I admit, this may be dry listening for some, but it’s going to be super helpful to learn more about the terminology and the kinds of things the National Construction Code has taken into

Hello! This is Episode 285. In it, I’m kicking off a series we’ll be running on the podcast over the next few months all about the National Construction Code. You’ll learn more about what it is, the updates and changes that have and continue to be made to it, and what you need to know about how it impacts your renovation or new build. This episode is part of a special series on the National Construction Code, and NCC 2022. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/285] The National Construction Code (or NCC) is Australia’s regulatory framework for building and renovating all kinds of projects, not just residential homes. It’s a performance-based code that sets out the minimum level of performance that buildings, building elements, and plumbing and drainage systems must meet in Australia.  I know we have lots of non Australian listeners to the podcast. So whilst the introductory episodes I’m doing on the NCC will be specific to Aus

Hello! This is Episode 284. In it, I want to share with you some learnings, some personal experience, and some insights into why your home is so cold. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/284] I’ll be discussing some of the key things to understand if you’re wanting to improve the comfort of your home when renovating, or ensure that your new home is built to provide a thermally comfortable environment. The World Health Organisation states that if your home is, on average, less than 18 degrees per day during Winter months, it’s a home that’s impacting your health and well-being detrimentally. And Australia is notorious for cold homes, with 4 out of 5 homes considered cold across the country. You can definitely change this as part of your renovation or new build project, so let’s learn more. Remember, if you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episode, plus information on the resources we discuss, you can do that by headin

Hello! This is Episode 283. In it, I’m going to discuss builders’ margins, what they are, what they should be, the difference between markups and margins, how much you should be told, and what this information all tells you when choosing a builder. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/283] This will be really useful for you if you’re frustrated that a builder isn’t telling you their margin, or if you are simply expecting it to be 10% and that’s it. It’s also going to be helpful in providing some great questions and opportunities for discussion with potential builders, so you can find out more about their business and how it operates. Remember, if you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episode, plus information on the resources we discuss, you can do that by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/283. Now, let’s dive in! SHOW NOTES: If you’re struggling with understanding the overall steps for your project, what you sho

Hello! This is Episode 282. In it, I’m going to talk about getting a second opinion on your design, and whether it’s something you should consider in your project. I’ll share the main reasons I see homeowners seek them, and the mistakes to avoid in sourcing second opinions on your home design and project. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/282] And, I’ll also share some quick tips to help you audit your home design yourself. This will be super helpful if you’ve been trying to decide whether you need a second opinion on your home design or something else happening in your project, or if it’s going to be a useful thing to access at some point in your project journey. Remember, if you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episode, plus information on the resources we discuss, you can do that by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/282. Now, let’s dive in! SHOW NOTES: If you’re struggling with understanding the overall st

Hello! This is Episode 281, and in it, I’m continuing my conversation with Dylan Viviers, National Specification Manager from Holcim, all about low carbon concrete. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/281] If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of our conversation, be sure to head back to Episode 280 to catch up on that. You can find that by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/280. This episode will make a lot more sense if you listen to Episode 280 first! In this episode, Dylan and I talk in more detail about the workability of ECOPact, and what to be aware of.  And I follow up with some questions you may have about using a concrete like this in your project, including for polished and burnished concrete applications, or using oxides to colour the concrete as well. If you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episode, plus information on the resources we discuss, you can do that by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/28

Hello! This is Episode 280, and in it, I’m talking with Dylan Viviers, National Specification Manager from Holcim, all about low carbon concrete. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/280] Concrete is one of those tricky materials as far as sustainability is concerned. It’s super durable and long-lasting, so from a longevity point of view, it’s a great performer, which can be an asset for sustainability. However, concrete has a high carbon footprint, largely due to its cement content, as you’ll hear more about in this episode. Even though cement only makes up 11% of the ingredients in concrete, it generates 80 - 90% of its carbon footprint. What’s super exciting about this conversation is that you’ll learn about how much a company like Holcim is doing to lower the carbon footprint of concrete with their ECOPact product. You’ll also learn how accessible it is for you, doing your renovation or new build project, to specify low c

Hello! This is Episode 279, and it’s the third episode of my series with Steve Marskell from Rescom Building Products about Magnesium Oxide Board. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/279] If you haven’t listened to Part 1 and Part 2 of my conversation with Steve, head back to Episode 277 and Episode 278. You’ll hear more about the benefits of Magnesium Oxide Board, and the various applications it can be used for. So be sure to check out those episodes. In this episode, Steve and I dive down the rabbit hole of the negative information you’ll find about Magnesium Oxide Board the minute you start researching it online.  This is so worth listening to, as it’ll arm you with some key information if you’re wanting to use Magnesium Oxide Board, but also want to ensure you’re getting the best outcome for your project, and choosing the best product and installation methods as well. If you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episo

Hello! This is Episode 278, and in it, I’m continuing my conversation with Steve Marskell from Rescom Building Products. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/278] Rescom Building Products was founded in 2009, and today produces the world’s #1 ISO:8336 Certified High Performance Magnesia Cement Building Products. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of my conversation with Steve, head back to Episode 277, where you’ll hear more about the benefits of Magnesium Oxide board, and what Steve and Rescom have done to develop the product since 2009 with their extensive testing and product development. In this episode, Steve and I will talk specifically about the applications of Magnesium Oxide board: where it can be used, how to use it, and what to consider in your specification of it. Magnesium Oxide Board is one of those products that keeps cropping up for me. And, in my research, I’ve definitely found that Magnesium Oxide Board produc