Frequently Asked Questions
What are your prices for a typical home?
R3.6 ceiling topup from $1250
R1.5 underfloor install from $1250
GVB from $675
Insulfluff removal from $1250
SAYR Ventilation System from $3300
What do I need to do to get a quote?
We need your address and what insulation solutions you require. If you have a Healthy Homes assessment or Building Report please send it through. If your unsure about what R value/correct solution you need, we will need to ask some questions about the situation of the house and then give some advice and options. Sometimes a site visit is necessary or desired by the client.
What products do you use?
We use a variety of brands and products. But the main products we typically install are Fiberglass and Polyester products for ceilings and Polyester blankets for underfloors. Brands we prefer using are Mammoth, Tempertherm and Eliment. Our priority is always best practice and best bang for buck.
How much time does the install take?
Most installs will be completed on the same day. Tighter and lower cavities will take longer. Roof installs need to be done first thing in the morning on sunny days.
What if I can't get time off work on the install day?
This is very normal. We don't want to be an inconvenience and we try to keep things a painless as possible. A lot of clients leave a key out for us. You can also organize a friend or neighbour to let us in.
Is there a cost to get a quote or assessment?
No. We quote and/or conduct an onsite assessment at no cost and is totally obligation free.
Are your installers insured?
Absolutely. This is highly important and why we have so many B2B relationships. We carry $5M of insurance. All staff, assessors, installers, auditors, sub contractors, handymen, etc are fully insured.
What is someone hurts themselves at my property?
We use a variety of brands and products. But the main products we typically install are Fiberglass and Polyester products for ceilings and Polyester blankets for underfloors. Brands we prefer using are Mammoth, Tempertherm and Eliment. Our priority is always best practice and best bang for buck.
How much time does it take?
All staff are highly experienced, fully trained and follow strict Health and Safety policies.
Are you able to offer the Government Warmer Kiwi Homes grant?
Yes. We are a sub contractor under Premier Insulation and have helped hundreds of Cantabrians get 50-100% off their insulation cost.
Do your products have Warranties?
All our insulation products come with a minimum 50 year Warranty
Do you have a Workmanship Guarantee?
Absolutely. We are one of the only insulation companies that give a Workmanship Guarantee.
Are your installers properly trained?
All our installers are trained to both EECA (Government department overseeing the Warmer Kiwi Homes Grant) trained and IAONZ (Insulation Association of NZ) standards. This involves following best practices as outlined in Building Code NZS4246.
How do I know the insulation has been installed properly?
All our installers take detailed photos of their completed work. The photos highlight the quality of install, the lack of gaps, the required clearances, proof of ratings of electrical products in the roof. The team leader also completes a detailed audit straight after the install detailing any specific actions taken and signing off the completed install as adhering to NZS4246. Most importantly, you should feel a difference almost immediately. Nearly all our reviews mention they noticed a difference straight away.
Can I DIY the install myself?
Of course. In fact we sell insulation as "supply only" to DIYers. Again at the "Best Rates in Town". We give advice and copies of NZS4246:2016 to DIY clients when they purchase insulation to help them achieve the best install they can.
Why does quality of install matter more than the actual product used?
Put simply, if a single piece of R3.6 insulation was installed in a roof cavity, it doesn't mean the overall R value of the roof is R3.6. Gaps between the pieces of insulation severely lower the overall R value of the install. Simple things like not installing right out to the top of the wall plates or not insulating recessed roof cavity spaces can reduce the effectiveness to where there is no noticable change in the roof. We constantly meet people who state their new insulation didn't make a difference and it was a waste of time. 99% of the time the install was poor. A good product was used but the install didn't follow code and best practice. A quality install vs a poor install makes that much of a difference. There is also the issue of the products Warranty. It is relatively easy to void the Warranty with a poor install.
Do you sell and install other products than insulation?
Due to our work with Healthy Homes we also have a range of Heat Pumps available, Ventilation systems, Draft Stopping and even "whole home" Water Filtration Systems. One Stop Shop.
Do you have a Price Guarantee?
Yes. Simply put, we will beat any comparable quote. We love our history of being Christchurch's No. 1 insulation company and are proud of the fact "We
Have the Best Rates in Town".
Do you offer Finance or Payment Plans?
Of course. We believe everyone deserves a warm, dry home so have facilities with Q Card and Finance Now. We have plans from 6 months to 5 years to suit everybudget. We even have some interest free deals to help Cantabrians.
Why do other companies come up in Google searches calling themselves "Christchurch Insulation"?
This is unfortunately one of the unpleasant side effects of being Christchurch's top insulation company. Other companies, typically the "man in van with a cellphone operating out of his lounge" will put our name Christchurch Insulation on their google profiles. It can be very confusing for people searching on the internet.
What are the consequences of using a non quality insulation company in Christchurch?
Christchurch has a poor history that is littered with insulation cowboys, fly by nighters and failed insulation companies. The consequence of this is the long list of Cantabrians who have either lost money, received an install that didn't make a difference to their home or are tied up in small claims court. We get regularly asked to assess, audit and report on insulation installs for use as evidence in court. Another concern is the fire and moisture risk if the correct clearances aren't left. Which leads to the question are they insured? A broken water pipe in the ceiling can cause tens of thousands of damage in minutes. An electrical clearance issue can (and regularly does) burn down the house.
What should I look for when choosing an insulation company in Christchurch?
First and foremost is check to see if the flash website actually matches reality. If their "office address" is actually their residential address, cause for concern. Do they even have an office address listed? Do they have a landline office phone number, preferably a 0800 number or is it a cell phone. Did you find their company on a Google search, especially a paid "sponsored" listing and did they choose to use another established companies name to draw you in. Are the photos on their website genuine and theirs. Do they require a large deposit, ie. 50%? How long have they been in business? Are they Government approved? Are they Police vetted? Are they insured? Do they have inspected and verified Healthy and Safety systems in place.
A current case study example. There is a well known (in the industry) "insulation" company in Canterbury that has constant adds on Facebook and Google. Their website makes them look very legitimate until you realize their "warehouse" photos are actually of another companies. Their office address listed when visited is the owners personal residence. They ask for big deposits. The google reviews are all from friends and his partner.
The moral of the story is there are some highly reputable and established insulation companies in Christchurch. They have proper offices and staff. They all have the correct licenses, insurance, H&S systems, etc. The installers are genuine, well trained and have veen vetted. You will recieve terrific service and a qualityproduct and install and can expect to achieve a great result. The price will also be relatively low since these established companies buy in bulk so receive far better prices.
What are the current standards for R values?
Building Code had a major insulation change in 2008. R3.3 in ceiling s and R1.3 for underfloors became the minimum standard in Christchurch. This is now the Healthy Homes Standard for insulation in rentals. In 2023 Building Code increased the levels to R6.6 for ceilings and R3.0 for underfloors.
What are the standards for insulation for Healthy Homes?
All rental require a minimum of R3.3 in the ceiling and R1.3 underfloor. (The drainage portion of HH also requires a ground vapor barrier if the rental has an enclosed sub floor.) The insulation must also be in good condition and compliant with NZS4246:2016. There is an exception for historic install that were completed before 2016. In this situation if the R value for the ceiling isn't known, then the minimum becomes 120mm. For historic installs the ceiling also doesn't need to meet NZS4246:2016. If there are multiple layers then you are allowed to add the heights together (if pre 2016 installs) or the R values together if post 2016. But you cannot add height to R value. It's either a historic install or a modern install. If the ceiling fails then a minimum of R3.3 needs to be installed.
I have R2.9 in the roof, why can't I add a top up layer of R0.4 to achieve R3.3?
Technically you can. The reality is though that R3.6 is the most sold and installed ceiling product in NZ. 1 layer wlll meet Healthy Homes, 2 x layers will meet Building Code. So R3.6 is imported in bulk, purchased in bulk and as a consequence the cheapest ceiling insulation commonly available and used. This is the same reason if you require a Healthy Homes top up due to failing, R3.6 will be quoted rather than R3.3. Simply because it's cheaper for everyone involved.
0800 555 062
BEST RATES IN TOWN
Email Address
enquiries@christchurchinsulation.co.nz
Office Address
47 Nancy Avenue
Mairehau 8052
Free Phone
(0800) 555-062