AAMI for Strawbale House Insurance

I thought this part was going to be hard. Was trying not to think about it but it had to be done. But one call to AAMI and 5 minutes later and our strawbale house was fully covered. I could not believe it. They were really easy to deal with and did not even make a deal about our house being Strawbale. Thanks AAMI, your help has had a massive load off my mind.

Solar Hot Water

We had the plumber come in and install our solar hot water and connect up the cold water too. Be good to know that the the next time we go down we might be able to have a shower or go to the toilet!

The solar water in an Evacuated Tube System which collects the suns heat better than a flat system because the tubes in the system create a better surface area.

Ahh the simple pleasures.

More Painting

We did some touch up work on the skirting boards around the straw bale walls before the painter started. Chris from Chris Simos Painting & Decorating is a great bloke and did an amazing job painting all the ceilings in the house, our eaves, skirting and walls down the hallway. Looks amazing.

Thanks Chris!

Poo Pipes

We had Greg Cameron from Merimbula Plumbing Services in to start the install of our new sewage system. Had all the pipes laid which had a bit of work involved. Greg just made it look easy. Next step - Install the tank!

Our New Sewage System

We are just about to have delivery of our new sewage system. I can't wait after Biolytix failed us so miserably. 

Thanks to Tony at Wormsmart, (03) 59665613, for helping us out so very quickly with his very advanced system.

The Wormsmart System works so much better than the Biolytix System as it also separates Grey and Black Water as well. Still uses worms as the main medium for breaking down solids too.

We already have our plumber, Greg Cameron, doing the ground work and the system should be getting delivered by the end of the week for install. Will keep you filled in with all the details and photos along the way.

New Fire Place

We have also had our fire place installed as well. It works great and looks amazing. We used recycled bricks on the base, then got the fire place surround that I had salvaged from me Grandfathers place. Secured some mini-orb tin behind it and then in goes the fire place. Makes the place nice and cozy now. Not like we don't have acres & acres of timber to burn.


Thanks to Darren for Heatworks for all the work installing the fire place! Looks amazing.

Grandfathers Old Fire Surround

Recycled Bricks Down

More Tiles

We had our tiler come and put in our Travertine Tiles in our bathroom. They look just as good as the slate tiles in the main areas, they look amazing! Just have to seal them and we can start both bathrooms final fit out with screens, taps & accessories ready to go in.

Tiles & More

Mel went down to seal the tiles last week. They look amazing and just pop with this great glow to them now.

I came down after and we positioned our bath and floor taps and framed up the rear step to hide the tap base and pipes to them. As well as starting on some outside area stuff, stepping stones and sandy base.

Next week we have the waterproofing happening. Michael Deenen from Wet-Seal coming in to water proof our wet areas.

Then the tiler putting in our new travertine tiles in both bathrooms. Can't wait to see them.

We also have the last of our internal walls getting re-rendered too.

Our Kitchen is going to be going in too with a bit of persuasion.

Lights and sockets going in.

And hopefully by the end of the month a new fire place and solar hot water system will be in place.

Bath & Taps in Position

Lots going on. Standby for a busy month!!! 

Sealed Slate Tiles

New Paved Area, Sand Base & Stepping Stones

The Tiles Are Down

From dirty floors to such an awesome floor covering.

Thanks to Alan Grey Tiling in Merimbula for such a great & quick job at laying our slate tiles. Looks amazing. I know who we will be using in the bathroom!

Thanks Alan

Before

After

Finishing Touches

Mum, Dad & I Went down on the weekend to put in all the skirting boards, door jambs & Architraves. We were there for about 2 days but got what we needed done for the tiler to start laying our slate. I think the jambs and architraves really make an impact.

Hall Way

Single Door Frame

Looking Down Hall

Mum also gave our window sills a nice new coat from the walls being touched up but you can see the impact they have and the view is beautiful.

Great Views

The Nice Summer Glow

Paving Our Way

Thanks to Steve at Choice Landscaping for doing such a great job on our front entrance. Using all free & recycled bricks. It looks amazing and now giving us a nice place to sit and have breakfast when we stay down there to do work. Ha ha. Thanks Steve.

All Free Bricks & Pavers

Eaves

We had Ian Gowing back on site to do our eaves. We are really happy we persisted in raked eaves. I think they look great and Ian did a great job!

Another Visit

Headed down the coast, with the kids, to meet a few people on site and a bit of cleaning. Been run about so not much time for a tidy up of late. Had the plaster in who fixed our outside areas & plastered them. Spoke to Ian Gowing about getting our eaves put up & even managed to sell some let over bales and tidy up a bit.

Outside Ceilings & Gardening

I went down over the long weekend with Mum, Dad & the kids to batten the outside areas and a bit of extra work. We got up all the battens & insulation for the front and back areas. We also sheeted the front alcove. Mum got the window sills sanded and a 2nd coat of seal on them. We also did a massive tidy up, moving pallets to form a compost area, spreading more straw over the batter which should break down with all the rain we have had, cleaning up timber piles, rubbish dumps and laying bales out to stop water flowing toward the house. Have a few pics for this trip, just so much getting done and so much to do!

We Are Painting

We went down with the kids over the weekend to have a look at our new plastered walls. They look amazing. Really makes it look like a home. We went down to paint the walls with there first coat of sealer. Really comes up great with just the undercoat on the walls. Trav & Beth helped out with the painting & Trav also helped with taking some photos. The kids really kept them selves entertained and were really excited to see their rooms and the house as they had not seen it with the internal walls up. Thanks to John at Inspirations Paint & Accessories for supplying our paint. Very friendly people out there that know there stuff. Thanks.

Biolytix Blunder

If you have been keeping track of this blog for long you will realise in the early days I would rate highly the Biolytix Sewage System. So much so, we went out early & purchase a system in full with free irrigation hose, a great offer & could not pass up. The Biolytix cost over $7,200.

At the beginning of this year, Biolytix Australia went into liquidation and we ended up loosing our system & our money. The thing that has upset me the most now is that the Australian leg of Biolytix was purchase by New Zealand Biolytix. They are now trading, in Australia, again. Same system, same name but no supply of systems or money back to anyone that lost out.

I really do like this system. I think it is the best going round but I do not like the Biolytix business ethic. I have contacted Biolytix NZ to see if they were going to help out the people, including myself, who lost out in this Biolytix Blunder but have had absolutely no response from them. If they are going to buy up the remainder of Biolytix Australia & then trade back in Australia, under the same name, then I believe they have an obligation to fill or refund orders lost. At least offer some sort of decent discount on a new system for people that have lost out.

There is no Biolytix news for me or the other customers that lost out any time soon which puts me up s**t creek without a sewage system!

We Are Starting Our Plaster Work

Just wanted to give a wrap to Col Searston Plaster & Peter from Sapphire Plaster. Both of these guys so far have gone above and beyond with helping us on our house.

Peter has been out a few times delivering plaster board, showing us how to apply it on the walls correctly, delivery of battens & metal corners. Great guy and great service.

Col has also been out to quote, show us how to put up battens & insulation. He is starting next week, Monday, so cannot wait to see the transformation with the insulation, plaster board & cornicing up.

Thanks again to Col Searston Plastering & Peter at Sapphire Plaster for all your help so far.

Ceilings & Window Sills

Went down over the weekend to start putting up the battens & insulation for the ceiling. Did not get it all done but about 80% there. Our plasterer, Col, is going to help out with finishing off. We had some help over the weekend from Frex & Dad with the ceiling and Mum with the window sills. Corine helped out as well as we had a problem with the walls. Here are some photos.

We Have Solar

We have our solar panels installed now. I was down over the weekend to fix the power box and watch them finish our solar panel install. Also fitted the last do lock too so the house is now locked up. It's nice to be generating some power too.

Gyprock & Plastering

Over the past few days we had been putting up the Gyprock. Peter from Sapphire Plaster measured up, supplied, delivered & gave us a 30 min run down on hanging the Gyprock. They are a good bunch of guys at Sappire Plaster. Worth a look if you are doing any ceilings or walls in the area. Stud Walls & Gyprock going in.