Using Local Materials to Build Kiwi Homes
Modern houses in New Zealand showcase a vast range of building materials, collected and curated from across the globe. The humble approach of building homes using locally sourced materials is making a resurgence in housing trends, and there is immense value in this method. In this blog, we talk about why the use of local materials can elevate any new house design.
Pioneering ‘Locally Made’
Using locally sourced materials is the way it’s always been done. There has been a huge move away from these processes as our technologies and capabilities have grown, but this is not to diminish the benefits of sticking to the resources we are given.
Early Māori settlers always built with that they found among the land, living in harmony with their environment. They had no need to even so much as use nails to create sound structures. While we don’t have to return to their methods of building entirely, there is a lot we can learn from the way they utilised our natural resources.
New Zealand is full of opportunities for naturally sourced materials. Colonialism made us believe that imported or man-made materials were essential to building, and as a result, we have founded disturbing corrugated iron towns and a huge asbestos issue in most of our early 20th century buildings. It’s more important now, than ever, to return to a renewable, natural way of building our homes and structures.
Sustainability Factors
Choosing locally sourced materials for your new home build can make a huge difference to the sustainability of your home. For one thing, local materials require far less transportation than imported ones, which is an important yet often overlooked factor to consider when thinking about your carbon footprint.
It’s not hard to imagine just how much energy and resources it takes to transport massive pieces of material across countries. While local materials aren’t always sourced right from your back yard, there will still be the difference between a short truck drive and weeks of cross-ocean transport.
Understanding how your materials have been made, processed, and extracted can also be a huge benefit in creating a sustainable house. Choosing locally sourced raw materials that come from a renewable source are usually processed less, and knowing this can help you reduce the impact of your build vastly. You have the power to shop around, and decide which companies are creating the most sustainable, natural materials that have used less energy during the extraction phase, and at the end of their lives will be able to biodegrade back into the earth.
Convenience Factor
Even if you aren’t concerned about environmental factors, it is also a much more cost-effective option to source locally made materials. It’s a myth that it’s expensive to be sustainable, and if you think about it logically, less interference with the materials brings down the cost by a lot! Additionally, there are fewer transportation costs and taxes added.
When carrying out a bulk and location study, materials that are going to last and thrive in the environment that they are being built in are always recommended. Most of the time, these materials are naturally sourced and are already proving to regenerate and nourish the environment around you. This means when it comes time to get product declarations and resource consent, your materials already give you an upper hand when they’re local.
What building materials are available?
So now you know more than enough about why locally made materials are important, but what options have we got here in New Zealand? And where can we go to shop for the best local materials?
Clay
Earth building is not lost in New Zealand, as many people assume. It can be effective even in our climate, and if built in compliance with the NZ Earth Building Standards, can even survive well in the case of earthquakes. Soil is everywhere, but soils used in earth building must be tested in accordance with NZS4298. This is not a complicated process, making earth a valid and convenient option for any home build.
Timber
In New Zealand, plantation timber from pine, eucalyptus or macrocarpa are all excellent resources for building materials. Find timber that meets environmental requirements for Timber and Wood-based products for use in building. Plantation timber is renewable, and is manufactured with little processing involved.
Use Local Materials in your Next Build
Local materials have got it all; they’re cost-effective, good for the environment, and efficient for any build. If you’re considering what materials to use in your next build, whether it’s a seaside lifestyle property or terraced housing in the suburbs, talk to Gubb Design about local materials that work for you today.
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