Project

Ngaio home windows and doors retrofit

Big gaps between openable window frame and window sill.

Existing rubber seals were peeling off and ineffective

Big holes in the timber where cold air was leaking in.

Door with no lip or mechanism to stop rain/air underneath door

Visible gap at bottom of door where rain and cold air was coming in

Squaring up the door sill in preparation for a storm stopper

Completed door, repainted and with appropriate storm stopper added to keep rain and drafts out.

Sanding, repainting and cleaning various window frames to square them up and prepare them for the rubber draft seals.

Applying sealant to gaps to block sources of draft and heat loss.

Sealed and repainted finished product

Inspection of roof found there was insulation but that it was minimal and room for improvement

Inspection of underfloor found there was insulation but that it was poorly fitted, meaning it was largely ineffective

Windows were single glazed and leaky around the frames, big source of heat loss

There was an extract fan in the bathroom (a good thing) but it was exposed to southerlies meaning it was essentially an opening in the wall during cold winds

Hot water cylinder was typical, which is inefficient, room for upgrade.

Project description

Typical Wellington house, several decades old, timber frame windows and doors, leaking rain and cold drafts. Wooden window frames needed straightening/squaring, sanding, painting, cleaning, and draft stopping seals installed. One door was leaking rain water and needed a storm stopper installed. Another door had rot which needed removing and waterproofing.

I also did a 'home energy and comfort' assessment for this couple, as they were finding the house cold and needing to use the heat pump a lot. I did a walk through of the house with them, then prepared a short report outlining the main problem areas and recommendations for which aspects they should focus on improving to make the house warm and efficient, while keeping costs down.


Review from client:
"We recently had Tavis from Ecolution SBS work on our home here in Wellington, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.

Before starting any work, Tavis carried out a detailed home energy and comfort assessment. This gave us a really comprehensive understanding of how our home was performing, where we were losing heat, and what improvements would make the biggest difference. It helped us prioritise the right upgrades and feel confident we were making an informed decision.

We originally reached out because our windows and doors were extremely drafty, and we were losing a lot of heat. Tavis came by, took the time to assess everything properly, and talked us through a few different options. We decided to go with fully resealing our existing windows to eliminate the drafts, and it was absolutely the right choice.

Tavis worked quickly and efficiently, but without compromising on quality - everything was completed to a really high standard. He was communicative throughout the process, easy to deal with, and clearly takes pride in his work. He even managed everything seamlessly around our puppy, which we really appreciated!

Since the work’s been done, our house is noticeably warmer and retains heat so much better. It has also made it quieter which was an unexpected bonus - overall it has made a huge difference to our comfort.

We’d highly recommend Tavis and Ecolution SBS to anyone looking to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of their home."

Last updated on 30-04-2026