Located 10km southeast of Auckland city centre, Mount Wellington is known for the volcanic peak, Maungarei “the watchful mountain” that rises above it. When designing a new Mount Wellington residence, Riverview Consultants specified James Hardie Secura Interior Flooring, which much like Maungarei, is known for being strong and silent.

With Mount Wellington being a high growth area, partly due to its proximity to Sylvia Park Shopping Centre and access to public transport, Lee designed this two-storey residence as a self-contained, double dwelling for separate tenancies on each floor.

A key driver in the selection of James Hardie flooring products was the assurance of acoustic privacy between the individual dwellings. Lee says, “Secura Fire and Acoustic flooring systems were the perfect mid-floor solution for this dwelling, as it provided the necessary acoustic properties — ideal for reducing noise for downstairs occupants.” The system delivers high-value acoustic performance for multi-level residential buildings above code and achieves a 60/60/60 FRR.

James Hardie Secura Interior Flooring was used in conjunction with a steel batten and rubber cradle to form a structural floor system that meets both acoustic performance and fire rating standards of the NZBC. Lee specified this system over a timber-based option as it provided construction efficiency, as well as superior performance. The system offers a robust feel of concrete with the speed of timber installation. “The material is very solid. You can feel the difference under your feet,” says Lee.

Builder, Reagan Luo agrees. “It was quick and easy to install and it's great not having to use underlay,” he says. The building process also benefitted from on-site training provided by a James Hardie technician. James Hardie Territory Sales Manager — New Markets, Judy Ang, says this service is part of the James Hardie difference in delivering both a superior product and service.

She explains how the system works, “Impact noise is absorbed into the rubber cradles, which means no echo, squeaks or expansion for optimum acoustic performance — perfect for multi-unit living dwellings, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in Auckland and many other parts of the country.”

The flooring is also resistant to rot and damage from moisture or thermal movement and provides superior performance for wet area tiling and most floor finishes, reducing the need for both impact underlays and high-performance ceiling systems. Another benefit of the system is that its acoustic performance has been tested independent of floor finishes, which allows for greater flexibility in the finish, keeping options open for future renovation, without compromising acoustic performance.

For lasting peace of mind, consider James Hardie Secura Interior Flooring.