\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUpdated:<\/p>
18.6.2026<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Share on:<\/h4><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>N<\/span>\u200bew Zealand winters have a way of finding the gaps in a house. If you’ve been pouring money into heaters and still waking up to cold floors and fogged-up windows, chances are you’re solving the problem in the wrong order.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>We sat down with Blair from Eco Home Program, a Christchurch-based insulation and healthy home compliance specialist with over 10 years in the industry and a verified tradie on Builderscrack, to find out exactly where to start when your home isn’t warming up the way it should.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"insulation-for-your-home\"](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/shutterstock_1058535290-scaled.jpg\" "\\"shutterstock_1058535290\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Follow the steps to winterproof your home<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>Where to start with an older home<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>If you’ve just bought or are currently dealing with a 1960s or 1970s home, Blair has a clear starting point.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn easy one: I would have sufficient insulation, ceiling and floor. Then I would have the appropriately sized heat pump. And the third would be to have a suitable ventilation system to control any excess dampness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Insulation, heating, ventilation. In that order. Double glazing can come later, once the foundations are in place.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"old](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/shutterstock_471862388-scaled.jpg\" "\\"shutterstock_471862388\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Older homes typically need all three sorted before anything else<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>Start with draught sealing<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>For Blair, the single most cost-effective fix for most Kiwi homes is also the most accessible, and often a DIY job.<\/p>\n
\u201cWalk around your house and find any gaps or draughts. It’s all going to be a bit of a waste of time if your house is full of holes.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>I think the most cost-effective thing a homeowner can do is to draught seal the property,\u201d says Blair.
\n<\/span><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Cold air finding its way in means warm air finding its way out, and the gaps that allow it are often hiding in plain sight: under doors, around window frames, along floorboards.<\/p>\n
Foam draught tape, door seals, and gap filler are available at most hardware stores. It’s one of the most cost-effective home improvements around, and the results are often felt the same day. The work also makes everything else you spend on heating and insulation more effective.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Post a job<\/span><\/a>Need a tradie?<\/h2>\nTell us about your job, and we\u2019ll connect you with the right tradies.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div>Post a job<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Draught-sealing\"](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/shutterstock_2584832417-scaled.jpg\" "\\"The,Sealing,Process,Is,Essential,In,Any,Home,Renovation,Project\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Draught sealing is the most cost-effective improvement most homeowners can make.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>Get the insulation right, ceiling before underfloor<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>For Blair, insulation should be the next priority. Start with the ceiling and then the underfloor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe lose about 35 per cent of heat through the ceiling,\u201d says Blair. That’s the single biggest source of heat loss in a typical home in the Canterbury region, and the place to address first.<\/p>\n
The common assumption, that insulation is only a concern in older homes, has also shifted. \u201cNot entirely true,\u201d Blair says. No matter how old your home is, the minimum standard now applies.<\/p>\n<\/div>
And when insulation is in place, it does something that heaters and double glazing alone can’t.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\u201cWith good insulation, you’ve got something to hold the heat in that you create,\u201d says Blair.
\n<\/span><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\u201cFor your standard house in Canterbury, ensuring you’ve got sufficient ceiling insulation that either complies or exceeds New Zealand’s minimum standard, I think that would be the best long-term investment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_505040212.jpg\" "\\"shutterstock_505040212\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Insulation is the best long-term investment for most Kiwi homes.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>Choose the right heating<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>Once draught sealing and insulation are sorted, heating becomes part of the conversation.<\/p>\n
Blair points to the heat pump as the more efficient option over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cA plug-in panel heater is obviously only so many kilowatts, whereas a heat pump can be a lot more kilowatts of energy per hour. A heat pump can also heat the house a lot faster, which in turn makes it more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Choosing-the-right-heat-pump.jpg\" "\\"Choosing")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>A correctly sized heat pump heats a well-insulated home faster and more efficiently.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>Where double glazing fits<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>Blair doesn’t dispute the effect of double glazing.<\/p>\n
“It does play a significant part,” Blair says. “It’s probably ranked third on the list.”<\/p>\n
What Blair’s priority order reflects is where the biggest gains are for most Kiwi homes, and Canterbury in particular, where Blair works.<\/p>\n
The ceiling loses 35 per cent of the heat you generate. Gaps in the building envelope undermine everything else you try to improve. Once those are sorted, double glazing becomes a worthwhile upgrade.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"double](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/shutterstock_661931266-1-scaled.jpg\" "\\"double")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Double glazing is a great upgrade once insulation and draught sealing are in place.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>The small things that also add up<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>Blair points to two other things worth adding to your winter checklist.<\/p>\n<\/div>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Close your curtains. Drawing curtains at dusk reduces heat loss through windows. Heavy, lined curtains make the biggest difference, but any curtain is better than bare glass overnight.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Deal with condensation at the source. If you’re wiping down windows every morning, that’s a moisture problem, not just a temperature problem.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul>
\u201cThat’s usually due to having excess moisture inside the house. The best and most common way to fix or reduce the condensation is to ensure you’ve got a ground vapour barrier in the subfloor,” Blair says.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then once you’ve got that, you just have to ensure you’ve got adequate ventilation inside your house.\u201d<\/p>\n
A moisture barrier combined with good ventilation tackles the problem at the root, rather than managing the symptoms day to day.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
N<\/span>\u200bew Zealand winters have a way of finding the gaps in a house. If you’ve been pouring money into heaters and still waking up to cold floors and fogged-up windows, chances are you’re solving the problem in the wrong order.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> We sat down with Blair from Eco Home Program, a Christchurch-based insulation and healthy home compliance specialist with over 10 years in the industry and a verified tradie on Builderscrack, to find out exactly where to start when your home isn’t warming up the way it should.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Follow the steps to winterproof your home<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div> If you’ve just bought or are currently dealing with a 1960s or 1970s home, Blair has a clear starting point.<\/p>\n \u201cAn easy one: I would have sufficient insulation, ceiling and floor. Then I would have the appropriately sized heat pump. And the third would be to have a suitable ventilation system to control any excess dampness.\u201d<\/p>\n Insulation, heating, ventilation. In that order. Double glazing can come later, once the foundations are in place.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Older homes typically need all three sorted before anything else<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div> For Blair, the single most cost-effective fix for most Kiwi homes is also the most accessible, and often a DIY job.<\/p>\n \u201cWalk around your house and find any gaps or draughts. It’s all going to be a bit of a waste of time if your house is full of holes.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> Cold air finding its way in means warm air finding its way out, and the gaps that allow it are often hiding in plain sight: under doors, around window frames, along floorboards.<\/p>\n Foam draught tape, door seals, and gap filler are available at most hardware stores. It’s one of the most cost-effective home improvements around, and the results are often felt the same day. The work also makes everything else you spend on heating and insulation more effective.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Tell us about your job, and we\u2019ll connect you with the right tradies.<\/p>\n<\/div> Draught sealing is the most cost-effective improvement most homeowners can make.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div> For Blair, insulation should be the next priority. Start with the ceiling and then the underfloor.<\/p>\n \u201cWe lose about 35 per cent of heat through the ceiling,\u201d says Blair. That’s the single biggest source of heat loss in a typical home in the Canterbury region, and the place to address first.<\/p>\n The common assumption, that insulation is only a concern in older homes, has also shifted. \u201cNot entirely true,\u201d Blair says. No matter how old your home is, the minimum standard now applies.<\/p>\n<\/div> And when insulation is in place, it does something that heaters and double glazing alone can’t.<\/p>\n<\/div> \u201cFor your standard house in Canterbury, ensuring you’ve got sufficient ceiling insulation that either complies or exceeds New Zealand’s minimum standard, I think that would be the best long-term investment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Insulation is the best long-term investment for most Kiwi homes.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div> Once draught sealing and insulation are sorted, heating becomes part of the conversation.<\/p>\n Blair points to the heat pump as the more efficient option over time.<\/p>\n \u201cA plug-in panel heater is obviously only so many kilowatts, whereas a heat pump can be a lot more kilowatts of energy per hour. A heat pump can also heat the house a lot faster, which in turn makes it more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> A correctly sized heat pump heats a well-insulated home faster and more efficiently.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div> Blair doesn’t dispute the effect of double glazing.<\/p>\n “It does play a significant part,” Blair says. “It’s probably ranked third on the list.”<\/p>\n What Blair’s priority order reflects is where the biggest gains are for most Kiwi homes, and Canterbury in particular, where Blair works.<\/p>\n The ceiling loses 35 per cent of the heat you generate. Gaps in the building envelope undermine everything else you try to improve. Once those are sorted, double glazing becomes a worthwhile upgrade.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Double glazing is a great upgrade once insulation and draught sealing are in place.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div> Blair points to two other things worth adding to your winter checklist.<\/p>\n<\/div> Close your curtains. Drawing curtains at dusk reduces heat loss through windows. Heavy, lined curtains make the biggest difference, but any curtain is better than bare glass overnight.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Deal with condensation at the source. If you’re wiping down windows every morning, that’s a moisture problem, not just a temperature problem.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul> \u201cThat’s usually due to having excess moisture inside the house. The best and most common way to fix or reduce the condensation is to ensure you’ve got a ground vapour barrier in the subfloor,” Blair says.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then once you’ve got that, you just have to ensure you’ve got adequate ventilation inside your house.\u201d<\/p>\n A moisture barrier combined with good ventilation tackles the problem at the root, rather than managing the symptoms day to day.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Where to start with an older home<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Start with draught sealing<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
\n<\/span><\/i><\/div>Need a tradie?<\/h2>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Get the insulation right, ceiling before underfloor<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
\n<\/span><\/i><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Choose the right heating<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Where double glazing fits<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>The small things that also add up<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>
![\"Ground](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/shutterstock_1793551969-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Ground")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"blair-eco-home-program\"](\"https:\/\/builderscrack.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Blair-Eco-Home-Program-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Blair")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>