Make your home healthy

While it is easier to build a “healthy home” from scratch, there are steps that can be taken to make existing houses healthier.

Consulting an expert is well worthwhile, as often they will tell you what can and cannot be done with an existing home. If you’re building new, there are now plenty of building companies specialising in that field. Retro-fitting is not always possible, although in most cases there are creative solutions. Again, talk to the experts.

Some opinions will vary as to what makes a healthy home, with aspects such as longevity, climate, and sustainability being taken into account. New Zealand has healthy home standards for rental properties, so they’re a starting point if you want to research the subject. Effective heating, insulation, and ventilation, are among the essentials.

Important in keeping a home dry is to ensure moisture is kept out. A ground moisture barrier (also called an on-ground vapour barrier) will help with this.

Focus on these healthy homes principles:

1. Dry
2. Clean
3. Safe
4. Well ventilated
5. Pest-free
6. Contaminant-free
7. Well maintained
8. Thermally controlled