Inside seems to take forever

After much thought and some discussion the structure was fitted out for the internal feature wall. The mud brick wall was started and is very slow to go up for every layer the mortar has to set and every other layer barb wire is laid and secured to the bricks to add strength.

More inside mudding and battens go up

Mudding the inside walls we had one coat after a couple of hard working days. Good friends and the following weekends we had the scaffolding and finished to the top

Battens for plaster ceiling.

Happy working bee fold mudding our internal walls had to endure Mr I want to build a straw bale house’s cousin putting up battens in the roof for plaster boards to form our ceiling. With the newly bought scaffolding cousin moved around the house with an electric cord attached to a nail gun which he was using upside down – lucky he was pointing toward the roof. No nothing happened luckily however it was another hinder for 10 people to work around. Oh no the cousin did not work around others not with a nail gun.

Mudding the walls - inside and out

The 1st coat up high on the East wall

The weekend when we put up some of the straw bale walls we were keen to start mudding. Once secure with straps the mud was slapped on the outside. Given it was well soaked earth and wet straw mixture it smelt a bit and the teenagers did not like it at all. The mixture was different each time.

 Another weekend of friends and family assisting with the build to ensure our house progresses. The external walls get one coat of render , firstly to arm reach height and slowly with scaffolding made from straw bales the west, north and south walls have been rendered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 During the next week end, Mr I want to build a straw bale house used his $400 render head he had bought from America. There were 5 large spray holes with  a scoop  for the render. Every scoop (about  1/3 of a bucket) had to be cleaned out due to the stones. Half a wall was completed and the compressor packed it in. – To this day the scoop has not been used again neither the compressor – not sure which one does not work.

 

 

 A few more working bees had been arranged and given it was cold we started rendering inside walls. One of my friends suggested cow poo and Mr I want to build a straw bale house leaped to the idea making the kids (under 10years of age) collect cow dung from the paddocks.

 

The mixture of cow poo, lime, straw and mud caused some issues when swallowed, splashed in eyes and the least popular burning of skin under the gloves. – Lime burns when its wet.

 

Learning over the weekends of incidences an eye bath with water in a squirt bottle was now common attributes on site.

 

In one day the eye wash was used at least 5 times and the water bottle once to was poo out of someone’s mouth. Hope this is not a lingering memory.

Photos of the wall weekend

The straw walls going up

Frames at the bottom of the walls were filled with rocks to stop the moisture and the mice from getting to the bales.

We put up a trial wall in preparation for working bees. After many errors with stacking tie downs and difference of opinions the final small wall was up and secured. This was to form the strategy for future walls.

The bale needles made from an antenna worked well – You have to reduce bale size to make brick like work in the walls. Tying off the smaller bales is the hard part. Thanks to a sailor it was made to look easy. It was beneficial to use paint spray to document the size (in mm) on the remanding bales.


Mr I want to build a straw bale house had around 16 people over the weekend to impart his skills on. Nearly electrocuting himself while trimming a bale, the cook (me) lost all power for the cutting of the extension lead tripped the fuse box. Nobody was hurt but lunch was very late and the water was luke warm for a cuppa.

Once again friends come up and put in hard so that our house walls and concept of the straw was started.

The Windows - Are they see through?

After purchasing windows the past few years, measuring and getting them into the plans there was a lot of work ahead of us to strip, replace glass and paint.
One of our friends who worked on fixing one of the windows suggested that he was not going to work on any windows that did not fit the frame.

After measuring all the windows and the frame only 1 out of 13 windows were going to fit. You may ask how did that happen well…… it turns out that Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House went from measuring in mm to cm. For example where a window measured to the plan and therefore frame was designed and erected was 1506 x 1202 the actual measurement of the window is 1560 x 1220mm. Bit of difference. This was consistent with all the windows. There were a couple of saving graces – the toilet window and another non structural frame could be adjusted.

After getting over embarrassment, Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House sort two quotes for windows. I am very pleased to say that we are the winners for double glazing cedar windows were very affordable and add value to our home.


Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House stated “100% of the windows did not fit” – at least there is consistency.

Sourcing the Straw

Trying to support local businesses our first source of bales did not come through. A little bit of rain and not $$ offered for 300 bales seemed not enough incentive to cut and bale the straw. A couple of months went by during this process Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House is not that committed to hassle and the farmer decided to turn the straw back into the paddock. Early April 2012, Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House responded to an ad in the local paper. 2 trips on a Saturday with Claire (16 year old daughter of Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House) with a tandem trailer and the ute around 80 bales each trip. Claire was the stacker while Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House threw the bales 6 or 7 high. This was a 2 ½ hour round trip.

The following weekend Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House and I went to pick up another load. I threw the bales down off the stack, the helpful man who we purchased the bales from, threw the up the Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House who stacked them. The journey was with the threat of rain and after losing a bale or two and stopping to re-tie twice, we decided that to un load on the highway and repack was too much – how could I throw a bale 6 high no way. Un-hooking the trailer for Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House to take the ute load home and return left me at the side of the road – major highway to push bales off the top of the trailer. Attempting to protect the bales from the rain no easy feat. Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House said that Claire stacked them better than he. Not helpful at that point. Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House returned and ute loaded, trailer hitched again and making a 6 hour round trip. – imagine not happy at this point and we still had to unload and stack them in the house. One more load the following weekend – it had rained all week and the house site was muddy and 220 bales were already in easiest access to the house. The ute got bogged. However it was a only a 2 hour round trip including unloaded. .

Mud Bricks for the Making

After the slab was poured (2011), Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House, was pretty proud of the action so far. Me on the other hand thought it would never happen. Friends were invited for the long weekend in March 2012 to make some mud bricks which was planned for an internal wall. At this stage there were no walls, roof or any sign of anything else. The mud brick making weekend arrived and yes over 130 mud bricks were made. Some of our wonderful helpful friends ensured the pile of dirt, that was excavated for the house site, was dwindled down and a pile of bricks was created as the consequence.

The Saturday was the woman's day. 6 of us making bricks having a guess at the recipe and consistency that may produce a workable brick. Of course there was consultation and discussion especially in regards to the mixture. In addition there were lots of accolades and totally a great job. Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House had done some washing and hung out our smalls and other clothing just metres away from the mud making area (I don’t think anyone noticed). I was worried about our clothes being on display net alone the slab was prepared for being polished. This entails the top layer of the concrete slab being shaved off. Concrete dust in the air and piles of concrete lime to use in the mixture was left. The 1st cut exposing the marbles, smashed beer and wine bottles and the opals that Mr I want to build a Straw Bale House had scattered during the pouring of the slab. Very pleased.

The 2nd day the woman who had made bricks the previous day were designated the experts. Until - da da da da!!!! after making a few bricks and some lively competition / perfection we had at least 10 experts. Got love that. The brick making continued. Using people’s expertise and availability there were a number of jobs being

undertaken. Mud brick making of course, sanding and stripping of paint from 2nd hand windows and major repairs to some windows that we purchased that were quite rotten. On the Monday more of the same and the frame started to go up.

I thought it was great for our guests to see progress on the house as they made bricks and assisted with the erection of the frame. 130 bricks and only about 250 to go.

The Slab

The slab was poured between Christmas and new year.

Update January 2012

Well after a few months of living in the van, shed and cabin movement on the house site has commenced.

We have gone from frozen water pipes to unbearable heat in the kitchen area (shed). Its too hot to cook in the shed and the one night a week out for dinner has gone out the window. - Actucally it never really started.

I want a house.......

In mid-October 2011, we were issued with an owner builder certificate.  It did not changed anything..  Mr I want to build a Straw bale house suggested that the printing is incorrect for it has my name on it. I want to be the project manager!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some movement happened in December 2011 – the site was cleared and sand added. It is still wet at this ponit and the neighbours kindly used their tractor to get the sand truck out of a bog.

More sand and then some concrete- at this point I am thinking that our queen size bed will not fit into the bedroom. The house site seems small.

Waiting for the Plumber who suggested he was coming on Monday. After a couple of Mondays passing, Mr I want to build a Straw bale house rang to secure which Monday. The week of Christmas the white plastic pipes went in.  A tad late to lay the slab so what is a few weeks when we have waited years.

Welcome 2012 – The year of house building. Mr I want to build a Straw bale house recently said that he may take it a bit slower in 2012. I still want to be Project Manager.

We have decided on the concrete mix for the slab. The promised slab will be poured soon we are up to our third date/guess. Not sure if Mr I want to build a Straw bale house is the great communicator he says he is. The tradesmen are ringing him!!!



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6 successful bricks to add to the internal walls



 Why have a recipe? 

 



We had a trial of making mud bricks – Mud bricks are for the internal walls. Mr I want to build a strawbale house had made a few . The weekend that was set for mud brick making never happened. 20 people that I had cooked for were never invited. Mr I want to build a Straw bale house had not thought of storage issues (oh my god - a layered inclosed shelf made of tyres and he did not think of it) - so he did not buy any of the necessary ingrediants to make the bricks.



Got to love planning!!!!!!!!!!









Is this living or character building????

Bedroom & lounge / toilet

In the early days of living here (in the shed, cabin and caravan) was like camping and after a few weeks I wanted to go home.  My best purchase this year - an electric blanket. One morning getting up to venture off to work, at 6am I couldn’t have a shower for the pipes had frozen. I produced a full bucket of ice to Mr I want to build a straw bale house whilst he was in a snug bed.  Amazingly the whole bucket was frozen – never seen anything like it. Oh yeh now I have showers in the evenings. It seems the coldest and wettest winter for years.

Cooking on the other hand has been a challenge. We no longer have to unplug the fridge to put the kettle on. Cooking in a small toaster and a 2 hot plate element (one at a time) took its toll and not to mention stretching the imagination every meal. “Saved” - June sales. A new fridge, gas/electric stove and a few other things for the new house. The day before I went shopping Mr I want to build a straw bale house activated the joint credit card. I am now cooking. Yippee.

The cabin is the warmest part of our little compound, unfortunately there is nothing worth watching on the TV so the games on the ipad are in demand.

Laundry and the $15 dishwasher



This is something that we will look back and mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

House building update

Roof tiles

We had roof tiles delivered. Yep
you may think progress, alas tipped into two spots to be crushed(by our car) to extend the driveway so trucks can deliver house materials.

It's too wet to spread them using the tractor so a shovel is used or just throwing them is the go.

I said it was wet..........................

Mud bricks – The frames are made and ready to use.

House plans

We have 3 copies of the house plans with a 6.2 energy star rating, a slab engineer okay and I want to build a house has the documentation stating he is now able to be an owner builder. Does this mean planner, building project manager or saving money and experimenting with handy skills.

The future home - House warming / come 5oth birthday

Mr I want to build a straw bale house will either pay for 50 people to lunch with me on my half century birthday or the house warming party will be the end of November to coincide with my 50^th

I win both ways.

House Plans

Mmmmmmmmmm  its all about the plans at the moment. We had quick specific drawings made up a number of years ago. These drawings included the doors I got from my wonderful hairdresser and windows I bought through ebay.  To gain a building permit further detail of the plans was needed. 

About 2 years ago I engaged a friend’s friend who is an architect. Meeting with him over 4 times to ensure the first cut was nearly final.  This was over wine and phone calls to Mr I want to build a Straw Bale house.  We were ready to move soon, ready to build but plans were needed.  After several emails, leaving messages on mobile phone, the first week in January 2011, I finally talked to him. He was on holidays, suggesting to meet up the following week. Well …………………. 6 weeks later we finally made a time. The architect stated he had plans to go and had contacted the structural engineer for the design of the slab. Of course I was excited; turning up to his house only to find a message on my phone that he had to work so postponing our meeting. The next time I did not make it to his house he had given 2 hours grace of cancelling. The next time I spoke to him and suggested he email the plans so when we arranged the 4^th meeting I would have feedback. No plans still. Speaking to him a few days later he then sent the plans.

I got home around 10pm and straight on the computer to open the email up to find a completely different design to what was presented and discussed. Mr I want to build a Straw Bale house laughed and thought the design was in a ‘combie’ style. The walls were exposed, no veranda surrounding the house, not facing North to use passive heating, not seemly energy efficient, access to the toilet was through our bedroom or our daughter’s.

If you look hard enough you may find a spare bedroom or is it a space?  What about the simple things like somewhere to put our couch/heater/ TV and the 1^st room you see when you walk in is the Laundry.

I was in shock and angry and could not ring him for over a week.  I was calm when I spoke to him stating that it was not what we wanted and he suggested we find someone else.  He sent back the package full of duplication of documents that he kept requesting including 2 copies of the original planning permit documents.   It could be said that he did not look in the package or given he is an architect he has the right to make his stamp on our house. Oh no he doesn’t.

Relieved but still with no plans we have engaged a company of drafts people only about 25kms from where we live. They say the plans will be ready within 2 weeks – Since we are now sooooooooooo behind schedule we are going to spend winter in our temporary accommodation. I think doing time in the coldest area of Victoria could only add character and create more stories.

Moving onto the block - Temporary Accomodation

The day had finally come when plumbing and electricity was all connected and there were no more excuses to stall and remain in the warm comfortable house that we had sold not 8 months ago.

Mr I want to build a straw bale house’s cousin was adamant he was going to move us and would bring someone to assist with the heavier things. The day arrived and we still had mild and all the food in the fridge, empty boxes and the study full of things we had not got around to sort. I guess we are like everyone else who has to move out of a house they have inhabited for over 12 years.

Well the move went as expected, empty boxes were carried to and from the truck and of course placed in the middle of the rooms so double handling was a must.

The first night in the shed as a kitchen, bungalow as the bathroom / lounge and the caravan as the bedroom, was cold and there were different noises to endure.

Getting up and going to work the next day was interesting, given you have to step outside onto the cold bricks in the rain to walk to the bungalow to shower. Then return to get dressed. As you could imagine there is limited space in a caravan even though it is 24ft in length. Where do you put clothes and how do you make decisions on what to wear when you are shivering because the wet towel is no comfort.

Arriving home from work is not really inspiring when there is power cords all over the place. We had blown up the metre box. Well not that drastic but no power to the kitchen therefore to cook or do anything with electricity we had to unplug the fridge. We did this for a week waiting for a new switch for the metre. It is amazing how much you rely on power to run things like the phone, computers, cooking appliances and entertainment such as CD or radio. It was a tad like camping and early to bed for now it is dark by 8pm.

One of my stories is that Mr I want to build a straw bale house packed the pantry. Well that is overstating the task. In less than 10mins it seemed like everything had been thrown into this small cupboard and to get to anything to eat taking items out or letting them fall out was the trick. It took me a week to get up the strength to take it all out to label and pack it to a reasonable state.

It is now 2 weeks of bliss in the temporary accommodation. Electricity is restored, we drive to the clothes line, the dogs are not yet in a run, TV has not been connected, we replaced the dishwasher, (with an ebay special of $15) and its getting colder at nights. Do we plug the heaters in an risk further issues with the power board?

Bring on camping – We are now official Trailer trash.

The worm farm for poo control

 Searching for a ‘green’ septic tank is not so easy. You may ask how to turn your poo into useful material and reducing the carbon footprint. Well - Mr I want to build a Straw bale house and I have been to a number of environmental events that showcase building material, solar, fences, and 2 types of green clean septic systems. We picked the worm farm.  The worm farm company did all the permits and yes it rained the day of installation.

 The worm farm is a huge plastic container buried underground with a compost bin on top of it – This is for all our food scraps and paper.

Oh yeh when we were investigating the worm farm, Mr I want to build a Straw bale house asked if the tank could take dead cows. The answer was I guess so, I think it was sold then.  Given we are situated in a water catchment area the sand pit had to be one of the largest the company has fitted so far. Of course this costs more money than the average system.

The green living seems as though it is triple the cost of chemicals – we need more incentives, more rebates and a greater understanding of environmental impacts of the cheap solutions.

Mr I want to build a Straw bale house and I were on site when the 1^st phase was installed and the left it up to the company to do the 2^nd and 3^rd phase in the rain by themselves. Trucks entering and digging up bits of the land caused more slush.

We have not used it yet given the trenches have not been dug for the sewage. – its still raining.  We have fed some of the worms with compost so I hope they are not drowning for we have not got the rest of the system connected for we need electricity to pump the waste through the sand pit then through the pipes to water the paddock.