And even more impressive is this earthquake resistant 30 storey hotel built using modular systems in China in 360 hours...!!

there're cheap, fast, and better alternatives to build houses, but none of these technologies has/will pass NZ earthquake standards and government will tax 1000% on imports of materials

frame houses sandwich panels. 

cheap, fast, warm

So meh, I don't hold any expectations.

kobiak:

 

there're cheap, fast, and better alternatives to build houses, but none of these technologies has/will pass NZ earthquake standards and government will tax 1000% on imports of materials

 

frame houses sandwich panels. 

 

cheap, fast, warm

 

So meh, I don't hold any expectations.

 

I have a friend whose business is building houses (cheaply and quickly) from sandwich panels. He now has a few designs which meet NZ building standards (including earthquake) and several houses built, but it was a huge effort to get through all the regulatory red tape.

IMO nothing really beats conventional timber framing in NZ, when it comes to future proofing houses. eg you can easily cut a hole in a wall, stick in a large window or ranchslider, and stick in a lintel etc. Steel framing, block, or laminated panels don't allow this as easily. With timber framing these days it is all built in a factory, so the framing is all up in a day. You can also use 140 framing to get far better R values. Red tape and compliance issues hold things up and make things difficult.

frankv:

 

 

 

I have a friend whose business is building houses (cheaply and quickly) from sandwich panels. He now has a few designs which meet NZ building standards (including earthquake) and several houses built, but it was a huge effort to get through all the regulatory red tape. 

 

That's interesting. Do you know how much it cost to build house like that?

In Scandinavia and post-soviet countries, prices start from $30000 NZD for 100m2 houses without internal prettifying :)

kobiak:

 

 

 

That's interesting. Do you know how much it cost to build house like that?

 

In Scandinavia and post-soviet countries, prices start from $30000 NZD for 100m2 houses without internal prettifying :)

 

I suspect more than that, transport is pricey too. The benefit of such systems is that it forms framing, installation and potentially bracing. The downsides compared to timber framing are getting services into them, and future proofing. 

One problem I see is the toxicity of the materials in some of these systems, including the insulation used. Some systems and adhesives can offgas into the house for years, potentially affecting peoples health. There are a lot of diseases that have had huge increases in the last few decades

kobiak:

 

there're cheap, fast, and better alternatives to build houses, but none of these technologies has/will pass NZ earthquake standards and government will tax 1000% on imports of materials

 

frame houses sandwich panels. 

 

cheap, fast, warm

 

So meh, I don't hold any expectations.

 

If they pass earthquake standards in California and Japan, then they will be fine here. We do not have special snowflake earthquakes whereby we need our own special standard....and if that is the way we are operating, we need to kick ourselves up the butt.

Geektastic:

 

And even more impressive is this earthquake resistant 30 storey hotel built using modular systems in China in 360 hours...!!

 

yep. We laugh at China. Cheap sh$t. Why is that? Because us westerners ask for cheap sh$t. Go to China, see what they buy. Its good. German car manufacturers are there.

Want an illegal copy of a fancy golf clubs? yes they make them so good you cannot tell. So, China can make cheap stuff, cos we ask for it. But they make good stuff as well, but we don't want that.

kobiak:

 

there're cheap, fast, and better alternatives to build houses, but none of these technologies has/will pass NZ earthquake standards and government will tax 1000% on imports of materials

 

frame houses sandwich panels. 

 

cheap, fast, warm

 

So meh, I don't hold any expectations.

 

Its not about the panels or the costs, its about the bones. 

MikeB4: Lockwood have been building sandwich board homes in NZ for decades

Exactly. I like modular. 1M, 2M, 3M , 5M sections. Same with doors, windows. Coach bolt them. Factory make the modules. Its a timber home still. If NZ developed a standard of modular construction  that would help a lot, both in cost and time. Ads would probably say, don't use modular use REAL building. But modular is real building, and more accurate, and easier to CAD design any home, a cheap box or a fancy nancy home. But NZ wont. We are early adopters for technology, but held back in real world ideas. Hammers are 1970.

Many seem to think old school is best. Not always.

kobiak:

 

frankv:

 

 

 

I have a friend whose business is building houses (cheaply and quickly) from sandwich panels. He now has a few designs which meet NZ building standards (including earthquake) and several houses built, but it was a huge effort to get through all the regulatory red tape. 

 

 

That's interesting. Do you know how much it cost to build house like that?

 

$100K for 3brm 72 sqm house. IIRC, the whole thing flat-packs into a single 40ft container.

http://tuffbuild.co.nz/Tuffbuild/Home.html

In Nelson, the cost is in the foundations.   I know a couple who spent close to $200k on their foundations and storm water retention system.  $50k is not unusual in a new build.

We had read about the ratio between incomes and house prices. These are unrelated. Demand pushes what people will pay, incomes stay the3or current course. 

So, what is the relationship between what houses cost to build and selling prices? If over the last couple of years, cost to build hasn't risen much? Are land prices in AKL racing skywards? And elsewhere? You'd expect that widening gap to be responded to by its cheaper to build as I pay cost to build, cost of land, and builders margin, whereas with existing houses, you may what its worth plus the artificial demand increase? Or are builders inflating the build price to equate to existing properties, thereby gouging?  

frankv:

 

kobiak:

 

frankv:

 

 

 

I have a friend whose business is building houses (cheaply and quickly) from sandwich panels. He now has a few designs which meet NZ building standards (including earthquake) and several houses built, but it was a huge effort to get through all the regulatory red tape. 

 

 

That's interesting. Do you know how much it cost to build house like that?

 

 

$100K for 3brm 72 sqm house. IIRC, the whole thing flat-packs into a single 40ft container.

 

http://tuffbuild.co.nz/Tuffbuild/Home.html

 

 

 

Is that cheap?  $1500 per sqm. 200sqm is 300k, land is say 200k, grass, paths, driveway, garage, fences another 60k? Thats 560k. I guess thats not bad  

Foundation?