Timbercrete Sydney

We met with Ian Lucas on Saturday to discuss the Timbercrete blocks. He was very helpful even though he cautioned us that we may be purchasing our blocks from the Newcastle franchise of Timbercrete.

We took our plans (sheets 1 and 2 as advised by Peter Lees' notes) with us so he could quote us on them... at least for the blocks!

We were quite pleased with the look of the blocks although we're undecided if we like the mudbrick profile (easy as it has all the service "holes" -- it's hollow -- as well as easier for the brickie); or the slumped sandstone blocks. I think the slumped sandstone ones look larger and more unique. It also has the benefit of being able to be be used in the solid gable as they have the "skinnier" blocks for the top half of the side walls. (We were told that we need to put deeper blocks down the bottom and for the top part we needed less deep blocks -- which is why many don't go for a solid gable, but I like the consistent look and feel).

So when we get the quote back we can fall off our chairs and have a heart attack and work out backwards the cost of building it... let alone the cost of the builder itself!

Last week I also met a lovely man (Ross) on a course I went on who outlined step-by-step how to go about constructing a dwelling or struction, from who to appoint/consult etc and when to go to council. I'll post that up in a couple of days for those who are interested.

Suppliers -- initial thoughts

OK so we don't know who we're going to building with... or if we'll be building it all ourselves. I'm hoping we don't shoot ourselves in the foot as we can only get one OB licence every x number of years.

But some thoughts as to materials and suppliers:

Timbercrete-- fireproof, termite proof, single skin means no need to line inside
Concrete Slab Floor -- termite proof, easier to clean, we can colour it at minimum cost. It is a garage but we have painted and lino'd our garage floors in the past as DH likes working on cars!
Mono String Stairs -- e.g. Like these ones by Iron Bark Black Smithing
Velux Skylights (or something like the Skywindows by Skydome) for upstairs -- Maybe in replacement of the dormer windows! I like the idea of looking out to the sky from inside! Could be hot so maybe only on the southern side?
Floorboards laid on particle board upstairs
Aluminium Windows downstairs for low maintenance (I prefer the look of wooden windows but maintenance and bush fires will make aluminium a better choice)
Colorbond roof -- lined on the inside

Google Maps (Satellite) view

View Larger Map

Plans Opened

OK, I opened the plans (very exciting). There was a thick wad of A2 (?) sheets in the tube and I pulled all of them out. Out popped some stapled A4 booklets (stapled sheets) as well.

It was very overwhelming. And hasn't got better since. I've read through the "Read this first" and the "Building Instructions" and flicked through all the plans. I'm not sure we can do this! I was hoping more like a step by step guide or a recipe style instruction manual. It was touted to be very good for owner builders. I just didn't think it would be this hard -- esp since I've been told "most of" Peter's clients choose to be Owner Builders.

It's only the beginning...

We received our plans! The plans are for a double garage with loft space above. The thinking is that we'll leave all our bits and bobs there and camp out in the garage whilst we save and look at building a more substantial building.

The garage can double up as a commercial "shop" if we end up making the property into a more commercial operation with a cafe and/or gift shop (home for Chocolate Koala?) and/or cabins.

The house plans were ordered from Peter Lees (http://www.cheaphomedesigns.com) on Monday 1st October 2007 and I got them today (Friday 5th October 2007. I haven't looked at them yet as it's in a big Australia Post tube and I had it sent to work... it was hard enough getting the tube out of the office and onto the bus!

I'm hoping to log our experiences for the baby steps we'll be taking to building a home in the sticks.

The ideas surrounding our efforts for the "shed":
sustainable (to a large extent)
cheap to build and maintain
easy to build
modular (to add to the "house" or share things like the sewerage treatment, solar/wind generated power)