Building – Off Grid Living – Building the Dream

Septic Tank & Sand Filter – Valley Septic are legends

To get approval for the house we had to get a Land Capability Assessment (LCA) done – a survey done by an engineer including soil samples to determine what type of water treatment is required, and what the water distribution field should look like – size and method. The engineer who did our LCA determinedContinue reading “Septic Tank & Sand Filter – Valley Septic are legends”

The Brickies are finished – finally

So about 4 months after the house was ready for them, the brickies finally finished their part of the build. They came randomly for about a month doing a little bit here and there, using rainwater collected from the shed roof into an ex-honey containing IBC (hopefully the mortar won’t attract ants!) and our petrolContinue reading “The Brickies are finished – finally”

Waiting, waiting….

The house was (mostly) wrapped over two months ago, and since then, a little bit of internal electrical and plumbing fit out, but other than that, nothing. Every week we’re told the brickies will be here next week, but no show. The tight well fitting wrapping is degrading and starting to flap in the breeze.Continue reading “Waiting, waiting….”

Build Power Supply

We needed to provide power for the builders to save $10,000 on the contract price. We reckon we can provide it for around $500. (And that’s without installing our solar).

Second hand bricks & water supply for the builders

After a long wait, we love the second hand bricks. And resolved who was going to supply the water required for the mortar.

The frame is up & the roof is on

The frame is up and the roof is on. It’s starting to look like a house. The blue timber looks toxic, but isn’t!

The concrete is poured

The slab is poured.

The house slab is down – waffle pod learnings

Lessons learned from waffle pod construction.

Plumbing and Electrics are in

The plumbing and electrics are in.

The shed is (mostly) up

It took an age, but the shed is finally up. It looks (mostly) great, but its been so painful and were still waiting for a couple of things to be finished, and we’re going to have to do some repairs ourselves. Sigh. The installers were lovely guys, but had never built anything so complicated before,Continue reading “The shed is (mostly) up”