As Kiwis, we are truly blessed to live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, rugged untouched landscapes and a very low population density, most New Zealanders believe they live a quality of life that many other countries can only dream of. 

But what exactly defines quality of life? When it comes to housing standards, NZ houses can be considered to have rather low to moderate comfortable living standards. Bare minimum insulation values, wrong house orientation and poor choice of materials often lead to houses being damp, cold, and uncomfortable to live in, especially during winter.

Quinlan Quality Homes believes that the principles of an eco-homes  design should be a central part of any new house design.  Read below to see how these 3 simple design principles can drastically improve the thermal performance of your home, and your overall quality of life.

Renovating your home is no small task. Other than building your own home, a major house renovation is probably one of the most significant and important projects you could ever take. Considering the factors involved - finances, time, relationships - approaching a house renovation project with the right mindset and tools could be what separates a successful achievement you're proud to showcase, or a total disaster which you wish you had never even attempted to do.

This article is a condensed version of our free E-Book: "What to look out for when you decide to renovate - a step by step guide". For the full in-depth version, please download the complete e-book.