Masons products shine top to bottom on builder’s own home

Adam Johnson of AJ Built knew that building his own Christchurch house on the weekends whilst running his company during the week meant it was going to be a long-running project, especially as he would be doing most of the work himself.

A long-time user of Masons products, Adam is using them from top to bottom on his own build, knowing he can rely on them to perform during construction, and then on through the life of the house.

‘I use Masons wherever I can,’ he says. ‘Obviously, all jobs are different, and architects will spec different products. On my place it’s my choice, and I’ve used Masons Hydro Seal Bituminous Surface Treatment to seal the block walls, Barricade FR Fire Retardant Building Wrap under the cladding, and VHP Maxi Roof Underlay on top, as well as using 40 Below Window Flashing Tape and Masons proprietary fixings.’

Building a home with care and precision

With the single-storey timber-framed house set on an elevated site in Clifton, Adam’s careful attention to detail is ensuring that everything is done right, and the quality of the build matches its location.

‘It’s an absolutely beautiful site,’ says Riki Tukaki, Masons key account manager for the South Island. ‘It’s on the cliff, just above the boathouses on the estuary, so it has an incredible view of the ocean, the estuary, across the city and then over to the Southern Alps.’ For Adam, this made product selection critical.

As part of a system which has stylish cedar cladding over plywood lining, he has used Masons Barricade FR Fire Retardant Building Wrap to control moisture flowing through the wall cavity, as well as offering fire retardance and 60 days of UV protection while the build progresses.

‘I usually use UNI PLUS Flexible Air Barrier on commercial jobs,’ says Adam, ‘but because I’ve got the plywood lining, Barricade FR made more sense. It goes up easily and provides a breathable air barrier to help keep the interior dry. With the 40 Below Flashing Tape on all the openings, everything’s going to be nice and airtight.’

Extra-heavy roof underlay for maximum weather protection

For the roof, Adam is using VHP Maxi Roof Underlay, which is also fire retardant and deflects water and air both during construction and as part of the finished roof.

‘Maxi is our thickest roof underlay at 220gsm,’ says Riki. ‘It’s a nice heavy, self-supporting underlay that holds down in the wind a lot better than the thinner stuff, so you don't get any ripping or tearing of the product.’

Incorporating plastic battens for ventilation and two layers of Maxi underlay, the roofing system is as sound as the walls for weather protection and airflow. ‘I’m not a roofer,’ notes Adam, ‘but it was very easy to install. You’ve got a layer of Maxi, then the battens, the purlins on top of that, and then there's another layer of paper, and then the roof.

‘The underlay is simply stuck down with tape before you put the purlins on, so it’s simple to attach, and it’s nice and thick and strong. We had quite a bit of rain before the roof went on, and it gave me a good bit of protection.’ 

‘It's probably a little bit higher spec than your standard roof, for sure,’ laughs Riki, ‘but because it’s Adam’s own home, he’s doing everything to the highest quality.’

Performance from top to bottom

This extends even down to the ground, with Adam using Masons Hydro Seal Bituminous Surface Treatment as a damp-proof membrane to seal his block retaining walls on the steep site. And he knows that should he need anything extra, Masons and his trusty building merchant will make sure he receives it in good time.

Talk to our helpful team

For more information about Masons products, including installation and pricing, visit www.mpb.co.nz or call 0800 522 533 to speak to one of our team.

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PROJECT CREDITS

Products: Masons Barricade FR Fire Retardant Building Wrap, VHP Maxi Roof Underlay, 40 Below Window Flashing Tape, Masons proprietary fixings, and Hydro Seal Bituminous Surface Treatment

Builder: AJ Built

Writer: Folio