Problem 1: moisture

The home was damp when we bought it, primarily due to poor drainage and inadequate sub-floor ventilation. Water from the yard and driveway flowed underneath the house, causing several piles to rot prematurely.

There was also very little sub-floor ventilation due to bark mulch from garden beds blocking many of the vents around the sides of the house.

The solution

I built a French drain to divert the water. This is a trench with perforated drain coil lying in it. It’s covered with stones, allowing water to seep through into the drain and run away.

Due to the ground slope, trees, and concrete surrounding the house, it was easiest to direct the stormwater underneath the house rather than trying to go around it.

Once complete, I laid a heavy-duty polythene moisture barrier under the entire house. Even then, it took a year and a half for the home to dry out fully. However, the drop in humidity and the rise in the overnight temperature show it was time well spent.

When we had heavy rain, stormwater would run through the carport. Cutting the concrete allows the water to seep through, and it’s then directed into a drain.

The bathroom already had a good extractor fan on a timer.

I installed a shower hood which means there’s no condensation in the bathroom unless the children have a particularly long play in the bath on a cold day.

Source: consumer.org.nz / Photo: Showerdome® RIGHT: Consumer tested out a shower hood for their office shower. A hood requires careful installation, which may mean hiring someone to ensure it's well sealed. However, properly installed, Consumer found the covering significantly reduced humidity.