🏡 New Wellington Townhouse vs. Older Wellington Home

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1. Structure & Safety

Feature New Townhouse Older House

Engineered timber framing ✔️ Modern, treated, seismic rated ❌ Older, less resilient

Reinforced concrete slab ✔️ Engineered for earthquakes ❌ Minimal reinforcing

Seismic bracing ✔️ Meets current NZ standards ❌ Outdated bracing

Fire rated intertenancy walls ✔️ Required ❌ Often non compliant

Hard wired smoke alarms ✔️ Interconnected ❌ Battery only (if any)

Safety glass ✔️ Required in key areas ❌ Often missing

Vehicle impact barriers ✔️ Engineered nib walls/bollards ❌ Not required

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2. Warmth & Energy Efficiency

Feature New Townhouse Older House Solar Panel & Battery

Double glazing ✔️ Standard ❌ Usually single glazing

Full insulation ✔️ Walls, ceiling, underfloor ❌ Often partial or none

Heat pump ✔️ Standard ❌ Not always present

Airtight construction ✔️ Yes ❌ Drafts common

LED lighting ✔️ Yes ❌ Older fittings

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3. Moisture Control & Ventilation

Feature New Townhouse Older House

Ground moisture barrier ✔️ Required ❌ Often absent

Wall wraps ✔️ Required ❌ Older or degraded

Mechanical ventilation ✔️ Bathrooms & kitchen ❌ Not always present

Modern plumbing ✔️ PEX piping ❌ Older copper/plastic

Modern drainage ✔️ Engineered ❌ May be undersized

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4. Exterior & Weather Tightness

Feature New Townhouse Older House

Drained cavity cladding ✔️ Required ❌ Direct fixed common

Modern roofing ✔️ New long run steel/membrane ❌ Aging iron or tiles

Flashings ✔️ Engineered systems ❌ Older, less effective

High performance joinery ✔️ Yes ❌ Older aluminium/timber

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5. Electrical & Technology

Feature New Townhouse Older House

Modern wiring ✔️ New, safe ❌ May be outdated

RCD protection ✔️ Required ❌ Not always present

Fibre ready ✔️ Yes ❌ Often retrofitted

Power outlets ✔️ More, better placed ❌ Fewer outlets

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6. Healthy Homes Compliance

Requirement New Townhouse Older House

Heating ✔️ Meets standard ❌ Often non compliant

Insulation ✔️ Fully compliant ❌ Requires upgrades

Ventilation ✔️ Mechanical ❌ Natural only

Moisture control ✔️ Built in ❌ Often lacking

Draught stopping ✔️ Airtight ❌ Gaps common

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