September 28, 2025
As the days begin to warm up and the wind picks up along the coast, spring becomes the perfect time to pay attention to how air moves through our homes. After months of keeping things closed up through winter, stuffy rooms and uneven temperatures start to stand out. This is especially true for home extensions in Kiama, where new spaces are often added onto older houses.
On paper, many extensions tick all the boxes. They look great, add space and give families more room to spread out. But the one thing that often gets overlooked is how the air flows. A lovely, light-filled room that feels great for part of the year can turn hot, damp or stale once the seasons shift. Poor airflow is more than just a comfort issue. It can affect how a room smells, how well it stays cool and how easy it is to live in day to day. Let’s look at how to spot these issues early and make smarter design choices that can fix them.
Good airflow isn’t always something you notice when it’s working. But when it’s off, you’ll feel it right away. One of the first signs people pick up on is stuffiness — that heavy, closed-in feeling even if the windows are open. And then there’s condensation, especially first thing in the morning. Moisture building up on windows or mirrors often points to air that’s not moving enough to dry out a room.
Another red flag is smell. If odours hang in the air longer than they should, or if there’s a bit of a musty edge to the space, chances are the fresh air isn’t cycling in. And with that, you may begin to notice small patches of mould starting to show in corners or behind furniture. This happens when damp air gets trapped and settles into cooler surfaces.
Temperature shifts are another clue. One area might stay cool while another heats up fast, or maybe the heat builds in the afternoon and sticks around well into the evening. These are all small things, but they add up. Identifying airflow issues early means there’s more time to make simple adjustments before they grow into bigger problems, especially over the warmer months.
When new spaces are tacked onto existing homes, airflow pathways often shift without anyone noticing. Openings that once brought in a breeze might get blocked off by a new wall or hallway. What used to be an airy space can become stagnant when something that once helped move air through the home disappears.
Larger rooms added to the back or side of a house often only have windows on one side. Without something across from them to let the breeze in and out, the air tends to settle and stay put. You might get daylight through, but with not enough gaps for air to enter and leave, the space stays still and uncomfortable.
Older homes in the Kiama area, especially those with solid brick or fibro build, naturally breathe more than modern ones. But once new sealed walls or double-glazed windows are added, airflow patterns change. Seals tighten, and small gaps where air once slipped through are closed off. It may improve temperature control, but it can cut down air circulation if not balanced properly.
Getting airflow right doesn’t mean starting over. In many cases, a few smart changes can make all the difference. One trick that works really well is adding louvre or highlight windows up high. These can pull warm air up and out while allowing cooler air to flow in from lower windows or doors. Even a narrow opening near the ceiling can get air moving again.
Layout plays a big role too. Open-plan spaces help air flow more freely, especially if they connect different sides of the home. If the wind can pass through without too many blockages, the room naturally clears itself throughout the day. Adding wide doorways or clear pathways between rooms allows the air to travel without dead ends.
In Kiama, spring and summer can bring plenty of warmth. Roof ventilators or solar-powered vents take advantage of that heat to draw stale air up and out, without the need for extra power. They’re quiet and low-fuss, and they work year-round to move moisture and warmth out of tight spots like ceilings or roof cavities.
Lighthouse Projects & Construction often designs home extensions in Kiama with louvre windows, solar roof vents, and high-clearance doors to help rooms breathe through every season.
The materials that make up a space speak just as loudly as the design itself. Natural materials often work best because they release moisture rather than trap it. Timber, for example, “breathes” more easily than plastics or composites. Plaster finishes that aren’t sealed shut can absorb stray dampness and slowly release it as the air dries out.
Roofing choice matters too. Dark, heavy roofs soak up heat and pass it down into the home. In contrast, lighter, reflective roofs stop a lot of that heat from settling in. This keeps temperatures lower and helps air keep moving indoors.
Solid walls, fences and tight landscaping around an extension can block outdoor breezes, which means air doesn’t have a chance to reach the windows. Instead, consider these features:
- Wide sliding or stacker doors that open fully
- Mesh screens that allow air in while keeping bugs out
- Openings on two or more walls to catch a cross breeze
Little choices like these add up to spaces that aren't just sealed off for looks, but open to what’s going on outside.
Looking ahead to hotter, windier months, it’s worth planning airflow with local conditions in mind. Spring is mild now, but once summer heat rolls in, a poorly ventilated space can become hard to use. Good airflow design is about more than comfort. It’s about keeping things dry, balanced and easy to be in without constant cooling.
When extending your home, think about where the sun hits during the day, and how the wind moves through your block. Even simple things like shifting a window slightly or breaking up a wall with a vent can change airflow for the better. Skylights that open, corners shaped to channel breeze, shaded patios that invite airflow inside — all these ideas help.
For home extensions in Kiama, which often face full summer sun and coastal winds, designing for season changes is important. And sometimes, you don’t get it all right from the start. That’s fine — just make space for flexibility later. It might mean allowing room to add a ceiling fan, roof vent or an extra window once you’ve lived in the space a while and noticed how it behaves.
When building in coastal conditions, Lighthouse Projects & Construction recommends leaving access for future vent installation and designs each extension so clients can add airflow upgrades later.
Airflow might not be the first thing people think about when planning an extension, but it shows up in how a space feels once it’s finished. A steady breeze, balanced temperatures and fresh-smelling rooms make a home feel calm and cared for.
By catching airflow issues early and thinking through smart design for your extension, you’ll stay ahead of summer discomfort and future damp problems. Whether it’s by opening up windows, changing layouts or choosing breathable materials, small changes can shift the way you live every day. With the right choices, your home extension won’t just look good — it’ll be a space you actually want to be in.
Planning to add more space and light to your home? We can help you work out how to improve airflow and natural light from the very beginning. At Lighthouse Projects & Construction, our approach to thoughtful home extensions in Kiama focuses on comfort, layout and liveability that works year-round.
