Build Your Own House

The sale of my rented work studio has meant that my house building has been put temporarily aside whilst I build a new work studio at home on the Hill House Farm. The studio will be a basic 4 x 12 m space, on a slab with a hybrid of pine frame and post and beam, skillion roof. It will be heavily insulated passive solar design with plenty of cross flow ventilation. Cladding will be in gal corro as I want the 'shed' look and to fire proof it as much as possible. I started 2 weeks ago and this is it thus far....

The raft slab went down pretty easy. Thin long slabs are a joy to pour, I almost enjoy them: lol: almost.....


I have been making all the wall frames on site to save a few dollars. Treated pine for cheapness, ease and termite proofing.


Salvaged bridge timbers that are not suitable for the house have been utilised to 'dress up' the studio. They will add to the Shed-itecture look


The size of the studio was determined by the amount of flat space I could scrap out between the dam wall and the chook yard and veggie gardens; this was the only 'flattish' space with access on the entire farm : cry:

I hope to get the roof framing etc on this weekend (depending if my roof beams show on friday...) and have it to lock up by late next week. I am thinking it will cost about a total of about $12 to $14K all up.....stay tuned for updates.

Steve

Looks good Steve

The crazy weather has slowed me down a bit, way too hot one day, too wet the next, then very windy..... a bit of progress has been made though.


I have most of the roof framing on and clad the back, sides and mid front walls.



My generator broke down andI was left without power (tools) for the last week, I have hired one for the weekend and hope to get the roof on if the wind stays away.

I'll keep at it.

Steve

Had a good run over the weekend and managed to get the roof on. I forgot to allow for the side eves when I ordered the roofing iron so I was one sheet short I will get that ordered tomorrow.



The front eve is extend that far to provide shade cover on the the windows (and doors when they go in...) in summer but allow sun in during winter.

I'll hopefully get a few more days work done later this week on the final 2 frames and the doors. Then I can begin insulating and lining the interior.

Steve

Progress again..... I managed to build the final 2 wall frames and fit them into the last 'holes'. This allowed me to finish off external wall cladding and whilst I was at it I fit the missing roofing sheet. I am now busy making the door frames, another good day or two and the studio will be to lock up. I have started insulating and fitting the interior wall cladding already but need to wait on my mate the Sparky before I complete too much. We have friends staying on the farm for the next week or so, they will either distract me from my work or (hopefully) give me a hand for a day or two so I get it nearer completion. Still need to fitt the gutter and level an area for the tank too....ah the jobs go on forever.

Stay tuned
Steve

Well the christmas guests came and went and held me up from doing any work on my studio.....

Got back to work on it last weekend and managed to get most of the wall insulation, wall linings and stopping done. I decided to use blue board inside as I wanted it to be a tough (bump proof) finish as it is a workspace after all. I don't like Gyprock in such spaces as it is not very durable.

I still have not got the doors in as I was waiting on the jamb timber. It has arrived now and I hope to get onto it this afternoon. My wife finished stripping the windows that came from the tip, she paint stripped and oiled (Sikens) them and they look great, just need some new glass.



Onto the roof insulation and ceiling next.

Steve

Well the doors finally went in despite a few router problems (mainly user error) . so it is pretty much to lock up stage now. I still have to fit the exterior trims around the doors and windows, but that is a pretty straight forward job.



I have fitted the guttering and had a dingo in this morning to level the tanks site. I'll load in a sand base and the tank this arvo and get it all connected (then it will rain??) Sparky still has not showed.... so that is holding up the sheeting of the last wall (where all the wiring is going). The other walls are primed and ready for painting and trims etc.



So I am getting very close, just gotta find the time over the next couple of weeks to get into it. It has been a fun little project, costing about $13 grand so far. The solar set up is about another $5K so I would expect the whole workshop in running order will come in at under $20 grand, not bad for 50m2 of space, that is fully insulated and lined with power and water.

Steve

I got the tank in this afternoon and guess what?? IT RAINED!!!!!! got a good down pour ten minutes after finishing and it has rained on and off since. The tank gods must be happy with me

Not only that , the sparky turned up and completed the first fit so I can crack on and finish the wall lining!! never rains but it pours.

Steve

Congratulations I have never seen a neater more organised worksite. Even the Dog looks like he knows his place. Vege patches already started I see and looking like they are producing. The chickens would have to be the forepersons wouldn't they.

And RAIN just what you need. We have had bucket loads lately and can never get enough. We've got 5 25,000 litre tanks to fill, so I say bring it on.

You should be proud of what you have achieved it looks great.

Regards
OB1&OB2
Kevin & Inez
Inez&Kevin

Thanks for the reply, How are you going with your place, not many post lately?? That is a lot of tanks!!! I have tank envy.

I am glad it is nearing an end so I can get back to work and make a few dollars to top up the piggy bank, building stuff just eats money as you'd know, even using recycled materials costs money. I am looking forward to getting back to building our house though once the studio is done:D

The vegie beds and chook house where already there I have just rearranged them a bit, done a bit of fencing to keep the chooks and goats and cows etc out, that kinda stuff. We have our 50 tree orchard just up the hill from the studio also, so I won't have to go far for lunch whilst I am working.

Steve

Fortunately the tanks were there when we bought the land. Imagine paying for them now. Ow. Lots of our building supplies were there and we can make heaps out of what we have there already.

We have decided to sell the Brisvegas house and move to the land, debt free and self sufficient.

We've been very lucky in that we've only spent about $4k and $2 1/2 of that was for the ride-on. We've had lots of Family and Friends do the kerbside collection and find the most wonderful things that we just needed for the house. FREE is so wonderful. We'll reward them when our orchard is producing and our vege patch is in full swing. The chickens and milker will move in when we're there, too many wild dogs around to leave them unprotected.

We're looking forward to the move. To see it all come to fruition and not have to come to work every day. (I've been with the same company for going on 17years now)

BRING IT ON

Regards
OB1&OB2
Inez & Kevin
Kevin & Inez

Well, that was achievable I'm sending this thread to my OH to get the creative juices flowing. I want a studio (for study, creating and writing), but OH has said it's not a priority. From this thread I can see how it can help to do the 'less important' buildings first, or at least start them first, to identify weaknesses (in design and personnel skill!), strengths and practice sourcing materials cheaply.
Thanks for this thread![/u]

Since my last post on this project we added a small solar system, installed an LED lighting system, several 240V GPO's, and a 24volt water pump off the tank. It has proven to be a very cosy little building, staying cool during the last of the summer heat and suprisingly warm in the cool weather. In the next few weeks we are going to install a gas instant hot water system and a sink, finish the ceiling lining boards and the last of the painting will be done. I'll post a few more pics when I get a chance to take some. It has been a terrific project and we are very happy with the result thus far, very cost effective building and not so hard to build.

Steve