People automatically assume that a straw bale house is an energy efficient house- but is it enough to pass Australia’s 6 Star Energy Rating requirement? There are good reasons why we don’t build houses like we used to. It is common in Australia, when meeting...
It is natural for people to be curious (or anxious) about the cost involved in building their own home. Clients would often ask Brian how much a straw bale house would cost compared to, say, a brick veneer. Indeed, it was one of the questions he was asked the most!...
This is the story of a dry, dusty town in the middle of a drought, and how said drought broke the year we built our load-bearing straw bale house. (Its ok- enough time has passed that we can laugh about it now). For those of you unfamiliar with the terms, load-bearing...
Buying Land and the Section 32 When buying land, the biggest hurdle initially is to find a block that meets all your requirements. Once you have settled on a location that meets your needs the estate agent has to supply you with a document known as a section 32. This...
The second coat of render is arguably the most important, as it is this coat that establishes the shape of the finished wall. Not only is it the most important regarding shape, it also represents the hardest days’ work in all rendering. There is a lot more render...
