Gallery | 60k House

: Welcome to 60k House

: The first party on the site – 2009. [Photo credit: Kate Lilley]

: Light filters through smoke on the site

: Looking east – D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island

: Looking west – heritage apple orchard and valley

: Map Report

: Contour and detail survey

: Site Plan sketch – the first design sketch

: Site Plan diagram

: Site analysis diagram

: Preparing the building site

: Leveling the building site

: Removing the topsoil to form the driveway

: The excavator track rolling the gravel on the driveway

: A truck delivering a load of gravel

: The first delivery truck – structural steel for the footings and slab

: The first concrete truck. They look heavy – they are

: Working within the lines – Alan digging the footings under the watchful eye of Greg

: Digging the strip footing

: The strip footings dug with trestle on the left for the string line

: Using the auger to bore the piers beneath the strip footing

: The footings all dug with the trench mesh (steel reinforcing) in place

: The bored pier beneath the strip footing. The line of spray paint is to show where the pier is once the footing is filled with concrete

: The pump truck and concrete truck on the freshly made driveway

: The first concrete is pumped into the footing

: The stressful moment when the concrete pump gets blocked. The thing on the tripod is called a ‘dumpy’ and is used for getting levels on site

: Pumping the concrete into the footings

: My neighbour Josh pushing the steel reinforcing into the bored pier so it is tied to the strip footing

: The blockwork finished

: Setting up

: Equipment and materials for mixing the mortar: sand, water, cement, mixer, generator (power)

: The first block!

: Cutting blocks

: Scott laying the top course of blocks

: Trent ‘pointing’ the blocks (finishing off the joints)

: A beautiful straight, level blockwork wall

: The finished blockwork

: The invoice…

: Wash up after the blockwork has been filled with concrete

: Greg filling the blocks with concrete

: The top course of ‘knock out’ blocks, with the corner block already knocked off

: Preparing to fill: bailing out the water, removing the topsoil and knocking out the knock-out blocks

: Luke on the ‘whacker-packer’, compacting the gravel fill

: The ‘whacker packer’ sits silent as the sand waits to be spread across the FCR

: Forming the concrete strip thickening in the middle of the slab

: Digging the trench for the plumbing

: Is that a smile? First piece of floor insulation in place

: Delivery of sand – the top layer of fill

: Pete moving the sub-slab insulation into place

: Hint of a rainbow: working through the bad weather

: The polystyrene sub-slab insulation can be cut with a handsaw

: Steve and Greg laying the plastic sheet for the concrete to be poured over; Pete using the wheelbarrows as a makeshift sawhorse

: If you want a rainbow you have to put up with the rain: working through the bad weather

: Iron Man! Pete bending the steel reinforcing from the footings back so it can be tied into the slab

: The steel reinforcing in place and straight edge formed for the concrete slab to be poured

: The edge thickening in the slab, lined with plastic

: Steve tying the sheets of reinforcing together; the set down in the slab for the wet area

: Finishing off before the sun goes down

: Early start: stuck behind the first concrete truck while driving to site before sunrise

: More trucks: pumping the concrete to the slab via a pump truck

: Early morning sun: the concrete pour part way through

: Messy work: gumboots are a must

: The morning of pouring the slab: one concrete truck waits for the other to leave

: Pumping, leveling and vibrating the concrete

: Teamwork: Stuart screeds the concrete while Greg removes the excess

: Hands and knees: Stuart working by hand to make the fall to the floor waste (shower) in the wet area

: Flying solo: Stuart pilots the ‘helicopter’ – a mechanical tool for finishing concrete slabs

: Mind the step: the setdown in the slab for the wet area

: A thing of beauty: the slab, poured and nearly finished

: The view of Wineglass Bay from the top of Mt Amos

: Dean fixing the discs to the grinder

: Slow going: working around the slab

: The hire generator (power supply) for the concrete grinder

: Easy access: grinding the edge of the slab

: Collecting water from the dam for the concrete grinder

: Scrape it off: removing the paste made from the water and concrete dust

: Getting there: revealing the concrete finish beneath the sludge

: Looks more impressive when wet

: The (nearly) finished product: the salt and pepper look

: 60k House under construction

: Design inspiration: stacked apple crates at nearby Trial Bay Orchards

: Function and relationship diagram of 60k House

: Simple diagram – complex balancing act

: Apple crates: design inspiration for the cladding to reference the local fruit industry

: Colour inspiration from the bark of trees on site

: Going up: the first wall frame up in place

: Drop-saw setup ready to cut the studs to length

: Kapow! Greg using the nail gun to assemble the wall

: There was still no power connection so we used two generators for all of the power tools and air compressor to power the nail gun

: Down the bottom: damp course and metal strapping

: Smiles all round! The first wall is lifted into place

: Drilling a hole through the bottom plate for a Dynabolt to be driven into and tightened, locking the wall to the slab

: The first wall up, standing on its own (with the help of some temporary bracing)

: The second wall nearly ready to lift into place

: Squaring off the end wall with temporary bracing

: Taking shape: with more walls up it’s beginning to look like a building

: Nailed it: Pete nailing the brace ply to the corners of the wall

: Really taking shape! The first truss in place – helps make the overall shape look less like a Quaker barn

: Walls up, brace ply on, trusses up and purlins on

: A well earned thirst: after three solid days the walls were up and the roof trusses were on

: Taking shape: the roof trusses and framing in place

: Various truss options for a higher ceiling: 60k House has type 3

: Waiting for a lift: truss ready to be lifted into place

: The roof truss and bracing plan, nailed to a wall for easy reference

: Attaching the purlins

: The trusses are tied down to the top plate of the wall with metal strap bracing

: Roof trusses and bracing in place

: The ends of the trusses will be taper cut to reduce exposure of the end grain to the weather

: Working things out: drawing a 1:1 detail of the fascia

: Greg fixing the fascia to the purlin

: Trusses up and most purlins in place

: Installing the gutter brackets

: Sisalation installed under the roof sheeting

: First sheet of roofing up!

: Ian trimming the sheets of polycarb before installation

: Selected for performance: the ‘Opal’ colour polycarb provides diffuse light while reducing heat transmission and cuts out UV

: The ends of the purlins are taper cut to reduce exposure to the weather. The end grain is also oiled to minimise weathering and water penetration

: Out in the open: the range of colours supplied, laid out on the grass

: Fade to white: the gradation of the multi-coloured roof

: End of roofing day 1: half of the roof in place

: This is known as ‘weathering’ and prevents water being blown up the valley beneath the ridge capping

: Finishing off: forming the end of the ridge capping

: Sense of enclosure: the roof on

: Looking over the roof to the apple orchard and valley beyond

: Just build a big roof: an early design sketch showing semi-permanent camping with hammocks, fire pit and outside toilet

: Break-through: after deciding to apply for the FHBB this layout incorporates all of the functions under the one roof

: Fresh eyes: more ideas and suggestions from a colleague

: Looking at a squarer footprint, internal thermal mass walls and the possibility of an upper level loft

: Drawing over the approved Development Application design

: Getting close: nearly the final design

: Close: this is very close to what is being built

: Figuring it out as we go: examining where the cement sheet cladding should sit in relation to the window frame

: Easier than doing it by hand: the excavator covering in the power cable

: Cover up: filling in the trench

: Unwinding the poly water pipe to lay in the trench with the warning tape

: All done: no pole, no overhead wires – underground power connection in place

: Within reach: the ‘upside-down’ meter box with the panels mounted at the bottom

: Cherry picker of a different variety: connecting the power cables at the top of the new pole on the corner of my block

: Adding the fittings to the water tank

: Easy does it: filling up the tank base

: Ag drain covered in geo-tech cloth to prevent it being

: Good timing: the tank arrived just as we finished leveling the tank base

: All wrapped up: the building covered in wall wrap and some of the high cladding

: Light and airy: plenty of ventilation beneath the gable (before it gets covered up)

: The large openings not wrapped

: Overlap: ensure the wrap laps over other sheets, and always the top layer over the bottom layer so water can run off

: Batten down the hatches: vertical timber battens to provide an air cavity and to fix the cement sheet to

: On the level: evening out the timber battens prior to fixing the cement sheet cladding

: Trimming the excess roofing sisalation

: Working it out: resolving the detail of where the face of the cladding will sit

: The first piece of cement sheet cladding being put up

: Neat detail: cement sheet cladding, flashing, window head

: Light and shade: the corner of the building in the afternoon sun

: Wind assisted: high winds ripped part of the wall wrap off the timber frame

: Second wall cladding on: the remainder of the solid wall will be timber weatherboards

: The cement sheet is easily cut with this hand tool

: Enclosure: inside the building feels very different with the wall wrap up

: Sitting pretty: covering in the septic tank

: Thar she flows: all of the plumbing coming out of the rear of the house

: Delivery service: the septic tank being moved off the truck

: Gone: the absorption trenches, covered in topsoil, hardly noticeable except for the inspection opening pipe

: Second time lucky: lowering the septic tank into the hole for the second time

: On the level: the first absorption trench following the contours of the site

: Even flow: the splitter box ensures even flow to each of the absorption trenches

: Location location: the hole for the septic tank

: Preliminary Bushfire Hazard Management Plan for 60k House

: Cause for concern: a large branch fallen from a stringy bark onsite

: Clean: the area to the south of the house cleared

: Colour coded: a summary of the different requirements for each of the BAL ratings. [source: State Government Tas – Department of Justice]

: Open wide: all awning windows are fitted with metal mesh flyscreens to prevent embers entering the building

: Shade seekers: outside under the roof on Christmas Day

: Just in case: some more gravel for the driveway before the birthday party

: Primal: there’s something that draws people to fires

: Meat: the cornerstone of an Aussie BBQ, seen here stacked on a pile of recycled bricks

: Can’t have a gathering without a fire

: Four of a kind: tradies quenching a well-earned thirst

: Cool: setup for comfort on a scorcher summer day

: Human nature: in the heat, outside under the roof

: Welcome entry: Tas Oak timber floor boards supported on a timber frame

: Setdown: the timber frame for the floor

: Nailed it: nailing the floor boards in place

: Smooth operator: sanding the floor boards for a smoother finish

: Shiny and new: Greg applying the first coat of the wax

: A thousand cuts: cutting the ends of the floor boards to make way for a a bead of silicone where the two materials meet

: Assortment: second hand sheets of roofing used to enclose the building to protect the timber floor

: Room with a view: looking out above the temporary screen

: Right to the edge: Dean grinding the floor

: Sign of the times: home made sign indicates not to do the Tassie two-step dance on the wet floor

: Done: the finished polished concrete floor

: Pipes in the bathroom

: Run dem cables: Alan running the electrical cables through the wall

: A whole lotta love: some of the cables for the lights and power points in the kitchen

: Bend it like Beckham: Ian bending the copper pipe

: Easy to reach: Ian working on the shower taps

: Pride of place: the first item connected and installed in the house

: Best spot for a signal: installing the TV aerial

: Coming down: pulling the coaxial cable down from the aerial through the roof

: Straight ahead: pointing the aerial between the trees

: Playtime: Ian working on the laundry trough before installation

: Power it up: Alan installing a power point inside

: Quick and easy: temporary plumbing waste from the laundry trough

: The calm before the storm: the site the morning that construction began

: The plywood ceiling installed, with the electrical cables for the lights poking out

: A drawing! Working out the detail of the material junction between the ply wall lining, the plasterboard ceiling and the ply ceiling

: Pack it out: Greg nailing up timber battens to get the depth right for the shadow line between the different materials

: Greg fixing the furring channel for the plasterboard

: Packed to the rafters: the ceiling insulation held in place by the furring channel

: Stick it: applying the adhesive to stick the plasterboard to the metal furring

: Ready to go: insulation installed and adhesive in place – ready for a sheet of plaster

: As well as the adhesive the sheets of plaster are also fixed with screws, which are then plastered over for a smooth finish

: Demonstration: Greg plastering the first join – it was the only plastering he did…

: Straight cut: Greg cutting an edge of sheet with a hand saw

: Plane sailing: Greg using a hand plane to aris the edges of the plywood sheets to conceal any inconsistencies along the edges

: More battens: Greg fixing the ceiling battens to hold the flat plywood ceiling

: Getting there: half of the ceiling insulation installed and the battens for the plywood ceiling

: Filling up: the ply sheets cover a lot of area – a large part of the ceiling was done quickly

: Gun control: Greg using the nail gun to fix the plywood sheets in place

: Little ray of light: the reflected sunlight on the ply ceiling

: Done: the ceiling in place, just needing a sand and some paint

: Nearly done: lining the end wall of the bedroom

: Line ’em up: the wall batts fitted in between the timber studs

: Caution: take care when cutting batts around electrical wires

: Poker: stuffing the batts in between the stud and window frame

: Jammed tight: batts cut to size

: Made by hand: Greg arised each edge of the ply sheet with a hand plane

: Lining up: the stacked apple crate reference extends inside to the sheets of ply

: All over: batts packed around plumbing pipes and electrical wires

: Contrast: the black kitchen and light ply walls

: Fun for the whole family: a blackboard splash back can be useful for lists and creative pursuits

: Ebony and ivory: the two toned wall to the kitchen

: Complete: an entire wall lined

: Kitchen installed: the joinery units fixed in place

: Food store corner: the fridge and pantry will go in the corner; the stove in the gap between the units

: Working drawing: a quick sketch of the kitchen joinery construction

: Kitchen delivery: the joinery units being unloaded from the back of Greg’s ute

: Kit of parts: the kitchen units and the tops, ready for assembly

: On the level: Mark leveling the kitchen units. He said the floor was one of the flattest he had ever seen

: Exposed: the edges of the plywood left untreated

: Gunning it: Mark caulking the joins in the bench tops

: Used kitchen: the aftermath of Xmas

: Attention to detail: the black sealant between the joins in the bench tops and around the flush edges of the sink and trough

: Temp job: the waste outlet from the laundry

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