Description

Dean sits down with former builder and Passive House tradesman now working with Pro Clima, Stewart Scholten from Scholton Group, to talk about membranes, moisture management, airtightness and the shift happening in Australian construction.

Stu shares his journey from carpentry apprenticeship through high-end residential construction, working with Bellavarde, delivering the first certified Passive House in the Northern Rivers, and transitioning into building science and product education.

This episode is about understanding how better detailing, better science and better collaboration can lead to longer lasting buildings.

In this episode:

1. Why WRBs and membranes have become critical under recent NCC updates
2. The difference between cladding and the true waterproofing layer
3. Risk reduction in modern building
4. Passive House principles and what builders can learn from them
5. Airtightness and why it matters
6. What a WUFI analysis is and why it’s becoming essential
7. The role of mechanical ventilation
8. Natural materials vs synthetic materials in moisture management
9. Education gaps in the building industry
10. Why site management and collaboration matter more than ever

Links & Resources:

1. Check out the Scholten Group: https://scholtengroup.com.au/
2. Smart Plus Academy https://smartplusacademy.com
3. Passive House Institute https://passiv.de
4. Australian Passive House Association https://passivehouseaustralia.org
5. Pro Clima – Building envelope systems https://proclima.com

Hosted by Dean Ipaviz, builder & director at Verdecon, creating high-performance, low-impact homes across Australia. Follow Dean Ipaviz and @_thebuiltenvironment on Instagram and visit thebuiltenvironment.com.au