108 | T T Sue Russell Insulated panels an innovative alternative The PIR foam insert used in the panels is highly climate resistant, creating homes that retain heat extremely well, while reflecting heat coming in during the warmer months. Connect Homes “Not only did they deliver high-value insulation benefits, but the build time was substantially reduced. So it was a win-win.” BUILDING Connect Homes was established in 2020 by experienced local builder Nathan Finlay. Driven by a vision to build innovative homes with a focus on efficiency and creativity, and frustrated with supply-chain issues and spiralling costs, he turned to a product not usually seen in the residential construction space. Structurally Insulated Panels (SIP) have long been used in commercial construction, but Nathan saw their potential for building new homes. Using SIP panels manufactured in New Zealand by Metalcraft, Connect Homes offers a faster, smarter and warmer alternative to traditional construction. The PIR foam insert used in the panels is highly climate resistant, creating homes that retain heat extremely well, while reflecting heat coming in during the warmer months. “The panels, we discovered, gave us two direct benefits. Not only did they deliver high-value insulation benefits, but the build time was substantially reduced. So it was a win-win,” says Nathan. Because these panels are manufactured and completed at scale, the building process is streamlined and not impacted by weather delays. The benefits, time-wise, in construction are massive, especially when compared to traditional building methods. “Once the floor is down, we will complete a house in three months. They are extremely fast to build. We currently have a build on at Pauanui and the floor is down. The feedback we’ve had has been really good.” As SIP panels are such a unique building material, many people simply can’t imagine how a panel house would work until they see it in person. To get the message out about the benefits of building using this revolutionary approach, Nathan took a house to the National Fieldays event, held at Mystery Creek. “That was a good thing to do as we got a lot of feedback. Everyone seemed to like what we had, which was very encouraging.” There have been challenges along the way, simply because no-one else was building homes with SIP panels. This forced Nathan and his team to think outside of the box, and come up with innovative solutions. “We approached the process with a bit of a vision and blazed a bit of a path, creating an industrial look, with exposed cables,” Nathan explains. Nathan acknowledges there’s been a huge uptake of learning happen over a four-plusyear period, but he sees this learning as invaluable. They have tested extensively, and worked with engineers and other specialists to improve and refine their processes and materials. They have even developed and patented a waterproof drainage system, designed especially for their homes. Working with a local architectural firm, Nathan is excited to be creating stunning new homes that are quite simply different from anything else on the market. “We have three more in the planning stage. The Pauanui house will be completed in about two weeks, so it’s a pretty exciting time for us. New Zealand certainly needs to be building more homes.” Nathan says Connect Homes is perfectly placed to fill this need with their speed and efficiency, and with their creative, modern designs. “We’re really making our mark.” Carpet, Vinyl, Cork, Timber, Laminate Flooring Experts 169 Ellis Street, Frankton • 18 Lake Street, Cambridge Proudly supporting Connect Homes Hamilton: (07) 849 0173 • Cambridge: (07) 827 7043 o ce@expert ooring.co.nz • cambridge@expert ooring.co.nz www.expertflooring.co.nz Specialising in Civil, Commercial and Residential / Lifestyle Drainage 15 Mexted Place, Hamilton Phone 027 499 8799 www.titandrainage.co.nz Proud to support Connect Homes
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