From Filthy & Drafty to Airtight – Full Retrofit Walkthrough

Visit APHI Projects website, go here https://aphiprojects.com.au This is what’s really inside an old Australian home… In this video, we walk through a 1960s brick veneer house in an industrial area and expose what decades of poor air sealing, dust, and uncontrolled ventilation actually look like inside the building fabric. From rat nests and thick dust layers to completely unsealed cavities, this project highlights why so many older Australian homes suffer from poor indoor air quality, thermal discomfort, and noise issues. We’re retrofitting this building to modern airtightness and performance standards using high-performance membranes, airtight detailing, and a full ventilation strategy — aiming for approximately 1 ACH @ 50Pa. This project is also a great example of: • Why airtightness matters in urban environments • How noise pollution can be reduced through proper sealing • The difference between “breathable” vs uncontrolled air leakage • Retrofitting old construction using modern building science principles • Why Australian homes often underperform compared to European standards The goal is to transform this small 75m² home into a comfortable, healthy, and energy-efficient intergenerational living space — without demolishing and rebuilding. Future videos will cover: • Airtightness detailing and membranes • HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) installation • Blower door testing results • Final performance outcomes If you’re in construction, building design, or dealing with comfort issues in your home — this is a real-world case study of what’s actually going on behind the walls. 🔧 Project Collaboration Efficiency Matrix / TightHouse – Airtightness strategy and detailing #airtightness #passivehouse #homerenovation #buildingscience #hvac #ventilation #energyefficiency #blowerdoor #construction #retrofit #indoorairquality #australianhomes #thermalcomfort 00:00 This House Was Letting Everything In… 00:48 What We Found Inside (Dust, Rats, Filth) 01:39 Why Old Homes Feel So Bad 03:03 Structural Problems & Retrofit Plan 04:44 Airtightness Strategy Explained 05:17 Noise, Pollution & Location Challenges 06:18 Old vs Modern Construction 09:58 Why Australian Homes Are Oversized 12:39 Ventilation Strategy (HRV + Airtightness) 15:25 Windows, Sealing & What’s Next