UNDER CONTRUCTION - Coronet St
Blower door test time.
This one came in at 0.86 ACH.
But what does that actually mean?
Very little unintended air leakage.
Less draughts.
More stable internal temperatures.
Lower heating and cooling loads.
A healthier, more comfortable home.
A huge credit to Ned and his team for nailing the details - tapes, membranes, penetrations, junctions - all the invisible work that makes the building perform well.
Definitely a result worth celebrating.
#blowerdoortest #buildingperformance #highperformancehomes
#highperformancebuilding #sustainablearchitecture
Getting the airtight layer right starts long before the Intello goes up!
Here we’re using offcuts of @proclimaau Extasana for starter strips at wall junctions and top plates — creating a clean, sealed surface for the Intello to tape to and keeping a continuous airtight line across the structure.
The spaced blocks behind the junction give us room to run electrical and plumbing services without cutting or compromising the membrane.
These small details make a massive difference when chasing down that sub-0.6 ACH blower-door result.
@performancemembranesau
#passivehouse #melbournebuilder #energyefficienthomes
Preliminary Blower Door Test
Before installing our internal Intello layer, we ran a preliminary blower door test to see how well our external wraps and taping performed — and the results were unreal.
We recorded a flow rate of 98 m³/h @ 50 Pa, which means when the house was pressurised to simulate a strong wind, only 98 cubic metres of air leaked out per hour. That’s the total amount of air escaping through tiny gaps in the building envelope — and the smaller that number, the tighter the home.
That equates to 0.24 ACH₅₀ (air changes per hour at 50 Pascals) — meaning the full volume of air inside the home would only be replaced 0.24 times per hour under test pressure. The Passive House benchmark is 0.6 ACH₅₀, so we’re well ahead of target already.
Why that matters 👇
✅ Steady indoor temps all year round
✅ Lower heating & cooling bills
✅ No draughts or hidden moisture issues
✅ Cleaner, quieter, healthier spaces
Hats off to the boys for a cracking install of the external wraps and taping. This result proves the detail and products you use makes the difference.
@passive_tech@alterecodesign@performancemembranesau@proclimaau@passiveanalytics
#NWBuild #BlowerDoorTest #Airtightness #PassiveHouse #HighPerformanceBuild #ProClima #Intello #MelbourneBuilder #SustainableBuilding #QualityCraftsmanship
Framing differences that make a big impact.
Whether it's a Passive House or high performance, every detail matters — from California corners for continuous insulation, to 140mm studs at 600 centres for strength and performance.
We also insulate every junction and use off-cuts of Extasana over top plates for a clean Intello install later on.
It’s the little things that make a high-performance home stand out.
#PassiveHouse #HighPerformanceBuilding #NWBuild #SustainableConstruction #CarpentryDetails #MelbourneBuilder #Airtightness #EnergyEfficientHomes
Fibreglass-reinforced bars instead of steel? 👀
For this slab, we had to tie in the core-filled blockwork through the XPS insulation. Normally you’d use reo bars—but that creates hundreds of tiny thermal bridges.
Instead, we used fibreglass-reinforced bars. Same tensile strength as steel, but they’re non-conductive, so they act as a thermal break and help keep the slab warmer.
We also placed poly between the slab and XPS—keeping the insulation dry, creating clean separation, and helping durability long-term.
The rest of the pour? Standard process. Finish will be a salt-and-pepper grind—light polish, minimal aggregate exposure.
Another cracking job by @northsideconcrete and the crew 👏
#buildbetter #passivehaus #passivehouse
Stage two of the slab works at our Spotswood Passive Haus.
We’ve laid 75mm XPS over the compacted crushed rock and blockwork creating a fully insulated base for the suspended slab.
40mm XPS wraps the slab edge, giving us continuous thermal insulation right through.
Next up: Poly and steel going in, ready for the pour 💪
Lovely voice over from the best @jackknoonan
#PassiveHouse #passivehaus #SlabInsulation #Spotswood #XPS #ThermalEnvelope #NWBuild #buildbetter
Kicking off a new build in Spotswood, designed by @alterecodesign
It’s been a big few weeks already—ran into some tricky soil conditions, which meant updates to the engineering and a revisit from the geotech crew. Big thanks to @oranik.consulting for helping us get it sorted 👷♂️
This one’s targeting Passive House certification, with a suspended slab on bored piers and strip footings. We’re laying blockwork, then compacting solid fill and crushed rock up to height, giving us a flat base for continuous XPS insulation under and up the sides of the slab.
We’re also tying the slab to the blockwork using fibreglass reo, acting as a thermal break while keeping everything structurally sound.
Exciting times ahead—plenty more to come on this one!
#PassiveHouse #SpotswoodBuild #SustainableBuilding #Altereco #Oranik #BuilderLife #MelbourneBuilder #NWBuild #ConstructionJourney #FibreglassReo #XPSInsulation #buildbetter
Just released: Domain’s 2025 Sustainability in Property Report
The research is clear — energy-efficient homes are reshaping the Australian property market. From higher sale prices to stronger buyer interest, sustainable features are no longer a bonus — they’re a priority. #buildbetter #passivehaus #energyefficiency #highperformance
Soft whites, muted greys, and natural timber flow effortlessly through our Preston project—inside and out. This restrained palette creates a calm, connected space where the indoors and outdoors speak the same language.
Photography: @victorvieaux
#InteriorDesign #ArchitectureLovers #MinimalistHome #AustralianDesign #PrestonProject #NaturalPalette #IndoorOutdoorLiving #DesignInspo #ModernHome #TimberDetails"
At our Bloomfield retrofit project, we’re taking a different approach by insulating the existing double brick cavity of this California bungalow.
We’re using Supafil from @enviroflex , a blow-in insulation specifically designed for this type of application. It has a hydrophobic coating that repels moisture, allowing the brick cavity to function as originally intended.
With an R-value of 1.3, Supafil helps improve both the thermal and acoustic performance of the home—without compromising its character. A smart, cost-effective way to upgrade comfort and efficiency while preserving the charm of this beautiful house.
#Retrofit #PassiveHouse #Insulation #SustainableDesign #EnergyEfficiency #CaliforniaBungalow #BuildingBetter
House in Preston, a modest alterations and additions project, sits comfortably behind a California bungalow and blends seamlessly into the typical period streetscape of this inner-city site.
While retaining the character of the existing streetscape, the additions introduce a more contemporary style of living beyond, offering a thermally efficient and timeless way of living that connects to a generous rear yard.
Photography: @victorvieaux
