Author(s): Alide Elkink

Home Improvement

The book Renovate art deco is the third in the BRANZ Renovate series covering the renovation of houses from different eras. The art deco house of the 1930s was a dramatic change to the earlier villa and bungalow. A flat roof, stucco cladding, rounded corners and reduced decoration all contributed to art deco's distinctive style. These houses are often bought for their style rather than performance. Their stucco cladding and very low-pitched roofs often had weathertightness problems, and without renovation art deco houses can be cold to live in. Careful renovation can retain the popular style while improving performance and comfort. As with the two previous titles in the series, this new book is a technical resource. It covers: * exactly what defines art deco style * how these houses were constructed, and with what materials * typical modifications they have had in the decades since they were built. Renovate art deco also takes you through the issue of getting a consent for renovation work, looking at compliance paths and alternative solutions. Three very brief examples show compliance paths that could be used for renovations such as reroofing a very low-pitched art deco roof, adding a window to an uninsulated existing wall, and adding a first-floor addition. The book is well illustrated, and includes BRANZ easy-to-follow 3D drawings of typical construction details.