I m sorry for what I said

Transcription

1 I m sorry for what I said when we were building the house If I had a dollar for every time I tell people that we are building a straw bale house and they reply, Oh yes, I have seen that on Grand Designs, we would not have needed the loan to build it! However, for the layperson like me, these lifestyle documentaries have been good for the exposure of alternative building methods. When my husband, Scott, suggested that we build our own straw bale house BY KAREN GOLDIE I jumped at the opportunity, but the romance of setting out to achieve a sustainable home soon cascaded into the reality that he meant WE actually physically build our own straw bale house. An accountant by trade, I did not know a hawk from a trowel. I thought I would be perusing curtain fabric, cushions and accessories, not learning how to operate a nail gun! On the completion of Stage One of our build, I would like to share with you an honest account of the highs and lows, what I learned, what I wish I had done better to prepare and highlight some of the pitfalls encountered along the way. 40 THE OWNER BUILDER 210 December 2018/January

2 The dream Scott and I purchased a four hectare parcel of land on the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula coastline, about 50km south of Adelaide. The dream for me was about starting a small farm for rescue animals, growing our own vegetables and having the opportunity to exercise my obsession with sheep and the use of their fleece for felting projects. For Scott the dream was about building his own straw bale house and being able to experiment with new and different building techniques. Together the dream is about lifestyle; no more power or water bills and creating only a small footprint on the earth. The brief We sought to use a professional architect who had experience in straw bale design and construction. We wanted a modern straw bale house with curved walls to demonstrate the versatility of straw; sustainable elements such as a north-facing aspect and high performing double-glazed windows throughout; and to be living totally off the grid. The block faces west over the ocean, so we wanted to capitalise on the view without compromising the performance of the house. The structure needed to perform in its environment, which has a high wind rating classification and a moderate bush fire rating. THE OWNER BUILDER 210 December 2018/January

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4 27650 PERGOLA STAGE 2 STAGE 1 B DECK PANTRY STUDY BED DINING / LIVING KITCHEN POWDER BATH D WIR MAIN BED E HALLWAY F C ENTRY LAUNDRY A COURTYARD PORCH Floor plan Arrow letters refer to photos B THE OWNER BUILDER 210 December 2018/January

5 Our architect asked all the right questions around lifestyle and getting a good understanding what each room would be used for. It is important to also consider what existing furniture you will take with you and ensure that the measurements are given to your architect for incorporation. I kept a scrapbook of magazine cut-outs of concepts and ideas that I wanted considered for the design; I am a visual person, so this helped me to convey my thoughts. The reality Excitedly we had our plans drawn for a home to a realistic budget and off to the banks we went to get our loan for the build. We received several rejections from banks because they would not lend money for what they considered to be an alternative build any dwelling constructed using logs, mud brick, rammed earth or straw bales! Eighteen months later we were feeling really dejected and almost considered giving up on our dream. We reassessed and, to make the build more manageable, we split the building plan in half and thereby the build into two stages, each around 100m 2. We resubmitted our loan documents to another bank only requesting the funds for Stage One and were successful this time. Sometimes things happen for a reason and now looking back this setback forced us to build an initial dwelling more manageable to our time pressures and finances. What I learned I learned that a noggin is more than just a slang term for a person s head! I am astounded at the building skills and knowledge of building terms that I have acquired. Don t skimp on tools, you get what you pay for and I found that quality tools definitely made the job easier. Same goes for personal protective equipment, and a quality sturdy ladder will become your best friend. Experience as many straw bale homes as you can, especially when you are in the research phase; nothing beats the earthy and homely feeling of walking into one. If you get the opportunity to attend a hands-on workshop I highly recommend it. We built straw bale walls at the entrance to our property so that I could practice the techniques before we started on our house build. This building game is hard work. It was physically taxing on my ageing body. Working a full-time demanding job during this build also meant there were no days off and I became emotionally drained trying to juggle work, building, housework, family, friends and the farm pets. You can t do it all alone. You need experts in each of the fields to offer you help and guidance along the way. What I wish I had done I should have prepared my body better; yoga or tai chi would have been a good start to ensure my body was ready for the physical demands. We committed all of our spare time to the build, which meant that something had to give. For Scott and me it was our health. I thought that being so active I would enjoy the prospect of getting fit; in reality, with us being so time poor, takeaway meals and comfort food became the norm. Too tired to cook on weekends after long days on the tools had us visiting the local takeaway outlets. Comfort food such as iced coffees and doughnuts too became the norm. I would have loved to have had a mum or guardian angel close by who could have cooked us a healthy meal every now and again. As Stage One is now complete, we intend to settle in, catch our breath and enjoy our creation so far. We will take in the sea air, rehome a few more lambs and contemplate Stage Two. At least now I have the experience to ensure that the next stage should be much easier. u Links & resources My top 10 pieces of advice Invest in an architect who has experience in straw bale design and construction and who understands all of the council requirements and can take care of all of this for you. Visit as many straw bale homes as you can for ideas and inspiration. Check the bank will finance for an alternative build before you go through the work of submitting your loan documents. Consider having a house designed which you can build in stages, it will take the stress of your finances and make it more manageable. Invest in quality tools - you get what you pay for, good tools make the task easier. Don t skimp on a cheap ladder. Health and safety and personal protective equipment are very important, after all you want to survive your build to be able to experience what you have created! Prepare your body do yoga, tai chi. Building is physically demanding on the body especially for those of us not used to doing a lot of manual labour. Eat properly, avoid greasy take-away and bakery runs. Set yourself smaller building goals throughout the build and celebrate each milestone. Document along the way and take lots of photos; you ll be amazed and proud when you look back at what you have achieved! u Two Creative Pty Limited Scott Goldie. Natural building, specialising in natural renders and polished finishings , skgoldie@bigpond.com u Bohdan Dorniak & Co. Architectural design, specialising in straw bale and alternative construction , u House of Bales Straw bale building, consulting and owner builder assistance , u G.W. Wittmann & Assoc. Consulting structural engineers THE OWNER BUILDER 210 December 2018/January

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