Energy efficiency
Less air leaking in and heat leaking out means less heating and cooling, lower bills and a smaller footprint.
Water kills buildings
One continuous barrier, every join taped.
Water kills buildings, so we pay close attention to stopping it. A continuous, sealed building envelope keeps conditioned air in and stops it leaking out through gaps, cracks and unsealed junctions.
Every external wall and roof plane is wrapped in a certified, vapour permeable water resistive barrier from Proclima, the membranes used in Passivhaus construction. It goes on as one uninterrupted layer, with every join, lap, corner, penetration and window reveal taped with Proclima's own tapes.
The result is one continuous air and weather barrier rather than a series of separate sheets. Avern specifies Proclima for every wall and roof membrane on every project.
What airtightness gives you
Five benefits of a sealed envelope.
Moisture control
Less air leakage means far less risk of mould and of damage to the structure.
Quieter rooms
Insulation and air barriers break up the paths sound travels, for a calmer home.
Steady temperatures
Comfortable rooms all year without constantly adjusting the thermostat.
Cleaner indoor air
Pollutants, dust and allergens stay outside, with fresh air brought in under control.
More of the Avern standard
The rest of the envelope.
Concrete subfloors, not particleboard
Where a home is not on a slab we lay AlphaFloor 35 mm precast concrete panels. Rain on site cannot swell them, and they add thermal mass and quiet.
Learn moreStraight LVL wall framing
LVL replaces standard MGP pine in every wall frame. It stays straight and plumb, so the membrane and insulation stay continuous.
Learn moreDouble glazed, thermally broken windows
Our minimum on every project. We push for uPVC or timber frames, which do not run hot and cold the way aluminium does.
Learn moreNo. Airtightness stops uncontrolled leaks, and fresh air is brought in under control. We pair the envelope with a VRV system that keeps fresh, filtered air moving through the home.
Proclima makes high performance airtightness and moisture membranes used in Passivhaus construction, with compatible tapes for every join. Avern specifies it for every wall and roof.
It stops liquid water and air getting into the wall but lets water vapour escape, so the frame can dry out instead of trapping moisture.
Where we are rebuilding walls or roofs, yes. We will tell you at the consultation what the existing structure allows.
Start your project
Talk to us about building to this standard.
Tell us about your site and plans. Whether it is a new home, a duplex or an addition, we will talk you through how we would build it.