This is what we're aiming to build! It's a very simple shape to make it easy tobuild and keep it affordable. It's also a bit like a low traditional irish cottage...
long and narrow so all the rooms have light on two sides and southerly aspects. (We are also not on top of each other) There are also no corridors. It's my design but Jeremy added the excellent balcony section.
Digger arrives to clear the site
It was very boggy!
and it got boggier...
and deeper...
but Pat made it safe for a house
and nice and flat.
The laser level was a big help
Once it was level Alex started making the forms for the concrete pads.
While Pat started on our terraces
Here's Ben checking we're still level
and straight
This is the only concrete in the building.
Isaac drove the digger
The forms all ready to be filled with concrete
Forms off and blocks on. Terracing in the background now finished
From above
From the West
Starting on the floor. It's suspended timber to reduce the need for conrete and plastics membranes etc. This way we can do an entirely timber and wood fibre based structure. (More details as we go...)
Magnificent compost loos
More floor
Starting on the frames. (All Swedish and Irish timber)
More frames and lovely weather
From the East
The first walls!
Ben sanding the oak posts (from Manch estate - wind blown oak)
Ben's tasty joints.
More walls!
View from a window
Oak frame ready for raisiing
View to the sky
A bolt for reassurance
Tasty joint - all 4 joints in the main posts fitted first time - nice one Ben!
One post up with the help of Pat the digger
2 Posts up and no injuries yet
3 posts up. This section will be open to the apex of the roof and have a balcony. Should be gorgeous.
three posts up - and the sun is still shining
pat the digger came back to landscape the lake
we decided to raise the water level by 60cm - so we're lining the bank with clay and finding nice building stones.
ben making the most of the posts
richard's amazing fire pit
First floor joists going on
Dead level so far!
Alex looking the part
Working on the first floor!
Looking a bit autumnal - see how the ash tree has only one half in leaf. That was the result of a harsh frosty wind in June that killed the leaves.
Pat moved mountains and raised the lake by 2 feet
Rafters starting to go up and pallets of Softboard in the foreground (much more info on softboard to follow!)
Rafters on! (That was fast!)
Stones steps up the terraces
Stone wall taking shape at terrace base
Lake without huge piles of stuff... - the clay is now strategically placed around the site to make cob buildings and paths
"But won't the rain get in?"
"You mean I've got to put in that many nails?!"
Softboard going on roof - 80mm thick - prevents cold bridging, no felt or membranes needed.
More softboard.
Happy heights
Lovely weather still
Nice view
Nearly all the softboard... big area in middle of roof for solar panels.
Boards on inside - act as vapour barrier and racking strength. (It's formaldehyde free OSB from local timber my new favorite eco product!)
Tasty oak and pegs
It's quite big upstairs
Tony starting on the slates
Doors and windows arrived.
Slates going on
Putting the 60mm thick Gutex softboard onto the outside of the walls. It's locks together T&G. The chalk marks are so we know where to screw battons through.
Sheep's Wool insulation in spaces where we won't get Warmcel in from the inside.
Slates on the south
Straps are for solar hot water panels
Nearly finished slating! (About 10 tons of the things is my best estimate)
Over Christmas Ben worked away making a beautiful wall on the bottom terrace. This photos doesn't do it justice!
With the roof on we have a big dry place to work. The doors an windows are in too which makes a difference.
We insulated around the windows with sheep's wool. The metal strip is a trickle vent in the window - should be all the ventilation we need with the hygroscopice buffering capacity of the softboard(!)
Lots of rafters and collar ties have made the roof very strong. Insulation next.
Back door in - it's a stable door so we can the top half open without letting a huge draft blow in.
We spent a long time making copper window sills. Very happy with what we came up with.
Finally looking a bit tidy!
And now the cladding is flying on. It's cedar so should outlast me!
Here's Ben keeping things nice and level as always.
This will look even better when the scaffolding's gone.
Now to clad the front, put the solar panels on, fit the chimney remove the scaffolding and a few other small jobs... more soon.
So we're in mid March and things don't look very different. But lots of small things have been done. Stu's been helping out for a few days - here he is cutting Bitroc to go under the floor..
We've been dreading this job! 3 days under the floor attaching boards from underneath. The nailgun was very handy!
Here is the finished article. Also drainage pipes are now in place.
Alex has been working away doing the trim and reveals around the windows - they look great.
A part of the house that is now finished!
The scaffolding is now down.
Sun reflecting on the cedar which is already changing colour.
The coiled snake on the roof is pipe for the solar panels. No scaffolding! Now to make some decking.
A deep trench!
Drainage for slope above and also to prevent compost loo flooding.
The insulation has arrived!
It's cellulose - recycled newspaper with borax as fire retardant and preservative. Made locally.
Here's the machine that blows it in - like a big hoover in reverse.
The machine has a remote control to start and stop it!
It's quite dusty...
Alex drilled lots of holes so we can fill the walls.
Here is a section that's been filled.
225mm of insulation in the floor - should be warm!
Alex - tooled up!
Alex and Ben finishing off the plasterboarding upstairs.
Steps up terraces now finished - thanks Ben!
It looks lovely round here in May - very green...
Alex putting down adhesive for the level access shower tray
everyone watching!
mike putting up some softboard
pipes for the shower
everyone staying in the house!
Solar panel frames
Dink connecting the plumbing
Me insulating the pipes
Tubes installed - 60 evac tubes. Seem very impressive even in November sun.
Solar pump and plumbing
Alex slabbing
Plasterboarded upstairs
Plasterboarded downstairs
On the landing
Temporary office with wireless broadband through a yagi antenna
Ruth filling and taping plasterboard
Isaac by the fire!
Outside with a chimney and solar panels.
Blimey - it's June and the last house photo I put up was in November... We moved in at Christmas and are loving living here. It's summer now and we're enjoying the garden so the last few shots in this 'House building' album will be of the garden...
Looking up the terraces with herb pots on the steps
Can you see Fionnuala watering plants?
Autumn raspberries and blackcurrants - looks like I need to mulch them again!
Veg garden on the terraces - well done Ruth!
Tomatoes and salads in the tunnel
