Housearama

We’re currently in the process of obtaining quotes for our alfresco/pergola area.

The solar passive design of the house relies heavily on us being able to open the long area from the dining room down to the end of Christopher’s office to allow for maximum sun exposure in the winter, and cover it over completely to prevent any heat build-up in summer. During the winter the sun will hit the beautiful dark, natural stone tiles and the heat will be transferred into the slab. This is turn will mean that the slab will return the heat into the house when the room temperature is no longer above the slab temperature. It’s all about using thermal mass to regulate the internal temperature.

Likewise, if we keep the thermal mass cool in summer then it should help to cool down the house. This is why we need to protect the slab from any sun, and will likely include us needing to insulate the outside of the slab if we can to prevent heat loss/gain from the sides.

So… The plans (click for a larger version) =)

The blue lines show where we’re planning to have the pergola structure. The red squares show the posts to hold up the pergola. The pale blue shaded area shows where we probably want a permanent roofing system in place (the alfresco), and the green shaded area displays where we want fully retractable shades. We’re considering this product: Shaderunner Retractable Shades

If you or anyone you know would like to provide us with a quote to do this job, we’d love to hear from you!!

The plasterers were still finishing up withthe gyprocking when we were onsite at 5:30. This is what we found 2 hours later!!

The wonky wall. Spoke to our site supervisor about it earlier today, and he said he’d get onto it. =)

An incorrent hole placement, but they’re just so NICE about it!

apparently this piece of wood frame isn’t straight

and this one definitely isn’t straight.

the master bedroom. Roof window above the bed, doorway to robe and ensuite

Alyssa’s play room (photo taken from in my office)

Our plasterers hard at work =)

Kitchen ceiling

The niche in the ensuite shower – there’s also one in the main bathroom.

My office

Roof windows

And the gyprock has arrived!

This isn’t all of it, this is the batch distributed through the house. There’s about this much again sitting in the garage!

R2.0 for external walls, R1.5 for internal walls and R6.0 for ceilings. The installers were amazed and said this much insulation is unheard of in residential properties!! We think it should be much more common!

CBUS, security, sound system and networking terminating in the wardrobe of the spare bedroom. More cables to come!!