Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1 Apr 25, 2007 8:17 am Hi
The rules will change on 1st May to make 5 Star compulsory in a timber floor home. For 2 years these homes have enjoyed a moratorium and remained at 4 Star when everyone else moved to 5. This will mean that from 1st May it is more than likely that a timber floor home will require double glazing to achieve 5 Star. Double glazing could double the price of windows in a timber floor home. Depending of course whose windows you use.... there are huge differences in price, design and quality out there, don't just trust your builder to choose your windows, go and see for yourself. If your builder has a display home check out the windows in great detail, give them the same attention you would if you were buying a car. Ed Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 2Apr 25, 2007 11:42 am Handy info Ed. good work.
I beleive the 5 star energy rating applies mainly to Victoria. More Information can be found here: Building Commission (includes a fact sheet on obtaining 5 star with timber floors): http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/www/html/390-5-star-standard-for-all-new-homes.asp http://www.5starhouse.vic.gov.au/ http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/2035-5-star-homes.asp Cheers Perry 5 Star Extended for Timber Floors to 31st August 2007 3May 03, 2007 1:55 pm The Building Commission has extended the requirement for 5 Star for timber floors to 31st August - which I think is a shame because it means that buyers of timber floor homes get a poorer deal. "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 4May 04, 2007 8:49 pm Can someone explain the objective of this policy? Does it mean that timber= cooler than carpet hence double glaze the windows? in that case does it also apply to tiled flooring? Is it their means of discouraging people from going for timber= 'reduce cutting down trees?' .
cheers VP Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 5May 04, 2007 11:09 pm As far as I know it's to do with the "thermal mass" (maybe thermal capacity in physics) of the concrete slab versus a timber floor. The slab causes a stabilising effect on the temperature by maintaining the heat (or cold) in the home. A timber floor requires underfloor insulation. Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 6May 05, 2007 6:37 pm Mmmmmm interesting conversations.
Have to agree with vpande though. But I would like to see which other directions this thread can go……. Wouldn’t the climate where you live create a difference to the flooring???? Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 7May 06, 2007 10:30 am Energy efficiency is about maintaining the temperature in the home at a comfortable level by using insulation and so reduce the need for energy consumption to heat or cool the home. The concrete slab is a good insulator but a timber floor is not. So overall you will need less energy to cool or heat the home if it is built on a slab. The slab also takes a lot of heat to change its temperature due to the thermal mass or thermal capacity. This thermal performance is irrelevant of the location, Qld or Arctic, the slab will always perform better.
Sorry this is a bad explanation... if I find one on the web I will post it. Ed Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 8May 06, 2007 12:26 pm It’s ok Ed; I know what you’re saying.
Also….some people do not realise what a huge part their windows play in this as well. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 9May 06, 2007 12:49 pm Some years back, I recall seeing a TV show where someone built a semi-underground home INTO a hillside. It seemed to have heaps of great features, especially the thermal efficiency.
Those in Cooper Pedy have lived underground for a good while. Makes ya wonder why we in Australia don't build more sub-terraneously??? Ash. Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 10May 06, 2007 1:12 pm royalblue Some years back, I recall seeing a TV show where someone built a semi-underground home INTO a hillside. It seemed to have heaps of great features, especially the thermal efficiency. Those in Cooper Pedy have lived underground for a good while. Makes ya wonder why we in Australia don't build more sub-terraneously??? Ash. Cost?? Plus as a developing nation we need to be above ground to distinguish ourselves from trolls Matt Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 11May 06, 2007 1:24 pm Yeah, but at least in the USA, they seem to often have a basement for storage. We seem to only think from the ground up here though. Especially with the cost of land these days, its a wonder that we don't start utilising it more efficiently. There's a lot to be said for thinking outside the square! Ash. Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 12May 06, 2007 2:58 pm Without hijacking this thread.... I would love a basement.
I wish we had them here!! Maybe the next house..... Matt Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 13May 07, 2007 5:27 pm As Ed has said - in Victoria timber floored homes [ on bearers & joists] are only required to attain a 4 Star rating level - to be revised on August 31.
To presume that homes with timber floors will require double glazing is a fallacy Using the FirstRate software to rate a home, a concrete slab is rated at R1.5 A timber floor with no coverings [in a typical brick veneer home] is rated at R0.7 By employing R1.5 insulation to the subfloor, an insulation level of R2.2 will be achieved. Depending upon the site slope & the soil type, a timber floored home [with insulation] can often be more economical to build than a concrete slab floor, and also have a higher thermal value. Although the overall thermal performance of the envelope of a home is by no means as simplistic as this, the presumtion or inference that in all situations timber floored homes are less thermally efficient is wrong. Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 14May 07, 2007 7:18 pm True Peter,
And what is the easiest way these days of insulating under an existing bearers and joists timber floor? I can get under my place (via holes I've cut in the floors) and would like to increase it's thermal efficiencies via under floor insulation, but the hassles of getting into every Dwarfed walled area is a real pain? Need I say it would make my floor look like woody woodpecker and his 45cm square beak has been there too Steve Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 15May 08, 2007 2:20 pm Retrofitting floor insulation to an existing home will always be a pain steve espec. if there is little subfloor space & more so if it's brick internal walls. Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 16May 08, 2007 3:46 pm Hi Peter,
Don't have internal brick walls, just lots of little dwarf walls under the house that the bearers are sitting on. I still wish to do some areas, for thermal efficiency. - Near the fireplace, living room etc, and I'm thinking the concertina foil or maybe batts suspended on wires/fishing line. Are there any other products out there that people have heard of will work? And don't say carpet !!! Just got rid of that stinky smelly, dust laden stuff!!!! Steve Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 17May 08, 2007 5:33 pm Yak Chat,
The only reason for your carpets to have become stinky and dust-laden is lack of proper maintenance, common-sense care and/or proper professional cleaning! Your choices are your own, but don't blame your carpet for it's condition! If you had a swimming pool that was green with algae and bacteria, would you be cursing the swimming pool? Would you buy a new car and think about changing the oil for the first time after 4 years? Ash (defender of sane floorcovering choices) Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 18May 08, 2007 7:00 pm It's all right Ash, settle down.
I've bought a 1970's original house from people who had dogs that lived in the house for 30 years, so yes the carpets was dirty, stinky and well, worth riping up for not being properly cleaned. Same for the gas stove which had mice poop in every burner ring and inside the oven. Uggg. As for the pool. Well - in fact that was green too, but it's going and I'll put rainwater tanks to replace it, (Fresh and grey wtaer storage) but the algae can live a bit longer while I use the existing pool water for my fruit trees Do I put in more carpet, not for me, I like floorboards and hate that sucky noisy thing that means hard work keeping the carpet clean. Bare boards and a rug suits me much better. And a bit of underfloor insulation to get them thermally back to what carpet can offer. But thanks for you input. I've enjoyed reading it, and responding Steve Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 19May 08, 2007 7:18 pm Steve,
Having taken the bait of your earlier post, I accept your response in the latter!:wink: When I made my intro to this forum, I did state that I have an agenda. Gotta live up to it now, don't I?! Cheers! Ash. PS I just have to say though, a carpet is EASY to care for when you have a good quality vac and know how to do so properly! Re: 5 Star & Timber Floors - the rules are changing... 20May 09, 2007 2:16 pm Hey Ash
Grind away at your axe young man. Hmm maybe not so young - I dunno -!! And seeing as my dad used to install centralised vacs as part of his business in the 80's, and I've put a few in my own houses, I do know the difference between a good vac and bad vac! But I still prefer hard floors. Cheers Steve 1 1923 "is it exempt or do I need to get permission from council" Call your Council and ask them 1 1558 10 years ago was a different software than we use now. it has had a lot of changes over the past years. Improvments to the software and changes to how Nathers models need… 8 1433 |