Solarchitecture’s Murrnog project was on the cover.

Solar Installation.

Braemac have inspected and prepared a quote for a 2kw grid interactive array with an average daily output of 10.35 kw.  Excess power will contribute back to the grid . The idea of locally generated power is very exciting, any power that goes into the local grid and feeds local use, reduces consumption by omitting the transmission losses that occur when dirty power is shunted approximately 230 kilometers from places like Hazelwood , Yallourn or Loy Yang.

The School White Board

becomes the Job Task List.

Plumbing

Waste water plumbing will be divided to allow for future reuse. Shower and Laundry Trough (washing machine) water will connect to black water sewer but will have a diverter that allows for future options such as a watt works, which would recycle water to the toilet cistern.

Rain water will also have the potential to be captured in the future.

We are considering an electric solar hot water service with the idea that the 2kw solar array will compensate  the electricity used to boost
hot water. The storage tank will be located in the garage under the toilet to minimize hot water runs (and therefore energy and water waste) before point of use.  For any electricity used over that generated, it is our plan to purchase 100% green power.

To house the washing machine, we created a recess into the stud wall, with a chipboard back, to be plastered, between airlock and toilet to provide adequate space in a tight area.

The pantry was modified to include the fridge enclosure to keep the kitchens sense of openness to the north.  As this is the entry point into the main living space, it was felt that a fridge enclosure here to the north, would enclose the kitchen too much, and compress it’s sense of openness.

Internal Doors

The internal doors are shipped lapped 300×45/35 oregon boards lightly sanded, with a hidden (rebated) top and bottom rail to tie the
door together. The boards will only be fixed at the top and bottom, the shipped lap will remain unglued to reduce the likely hood of warping allowing the boards to expand and contract  independently.

The ceiling at 2600 is suspended using Rondo 301 battens(continuous span) and 315 hangers from 90 x 45 Ceiling Joists at 1200 ctrs. The
plaster will sit 10mm below the lower trusses.

The ceiling height  is lower than the existing window head, so we’ve built a pelmet of 19mm pine, to allow for the difference. We’re not sure yet if we’re going to increase the window head height, or just allow the frameless double glazed panels to disappear up behind the pelmet.

Roof and Ceiling Insulation

Under the existing roof is  Solomit, between the expoed rafters we have placed R 1.8 Fletcher Permastop Blanket, the radiant barrier facing down. Over the new ceiling joists, we will place a R 3.0 Fletcher Permastop Blanket that will unroll over the joists and allow for a cavity to recess lights, without compromising the insulative envelope. The solomit  has an approximate R value of 1.25, which lifts the levels of ceiling and roof insulation above that specified in the first rate assessment.

The Fletcher insulation claims to have a 70% recycled glass component. The reason this product has been selected is that it has an integrated heavy duty foil face, that can be stapled to existing roof rafters and also unrolled over ceiling joists. We’ll put R 2.0 Autex Green Stuff Batts in the walls right to the ridge in the gable to reduce heat gain and loss from/to the roof cavity. The existing walls have a heavy duty sisilation in place, which there is not reason to replace and will help reflect radiant heat back into the building.  An R 1.8 Insulative Blanket with heavy duty sisilation has been placed between the blockwork and frame. This achieves an insulative value of 3.8 without consideration of structural contributions, or existing sisilation (check first rate assessments of walls). Rendered Block, 90mm frame with cladding (hardwood and metal)

New gutters and downpipes

Wall Insulation

Where ever possible we’d typically place a 35mm batten over frame to create an air gap to ensure a radiant barrier has a chance to work as effectively as possible. The blockwork cavity will provide a gap, but not to the interior as space feels a little precious. The idea of a radiant barrier to the interior between frame batten and internal sheet is attractive reflecting up to 90% heat back into the building envelope.  The portables have existing heavy duty sisilation to exterior and interior faces of the frame. It’s such a pleasure to see this material in good condition after decades of use. Modern light weight sisilation, tends to be very vulnerable to age and moisture and deteriorates quickly. Radiant barriers can reflect 90% of radiant heat with the right detailing. They can be applied both internally for retention of winter heat and externally to reduce summer heat. Bulk insulation retards heat being conducted, but radiants barriers actually reflect that heat away or back inwards where you want it (most of the time)

We have purchased insulative blankets with heavy duty sisilation for longevity and performance.

We have used an R 1.8 insulative blanket to blockwork cavity and plan to place R2.0 Green Batts to frame cavity.

140 x 45 lvls at 450 centers fixed to Portable PFC with welded cleats and 2xM10 bolts.

90 x 45 suspended ceiling and a 140 x 45 lvl roof frame.  Joist hangers secure the Purlins to whaling plate.

We’ve reused the doors and door jambs from the portables as the external doors. They are heavy and solid, made to endure the frequent comings and goings of many students and Teacher.  We have fashioned door sills from an old jarrah window sill.

Flooring

Recycled Tas Oak from Trentham Renovators Gold Mine. A fantastic and chaotic pile of wood, bricks, doors, windows in an old Foundry.  We also unearth  a 2.5 meter long x 75mm thick bull nosed  piece of jarrah window sill we’ll use for the airlock door sills.

The Tas Oak for the link will run north south in contrast to the rest of the flooring which runs east west. There will be a diagonal patch in the north west corner of the bedroom wing that will fill a hole that looks as though it once served as an air inlet for some kind of heater.

The infill panels between the portables floors is split and damaged, and the entry porches have non slip rubber over ply, which will become
internal so these will need patching. The floor has been removed and replaced in these areas to walls locations to hide joints (pantry/bed)

More Tas Oak from Dunolly wreckers, a much more organized and accessible range of flooring and timber.

In accordance with the Building Code of Australia, a water resistant floor is required to laundry and toilet. A sealed timber has been
approved by our building surveyor as adequate for these areas, with additional care required between wall and floor junctions into adjacent spaces. The bathroom requires a waterproof floor, so timber as a finish is not an option.

In the bathroom additional floor joists will be added to allow us to remove the flooring . We will then frame in our grades to create fall for shower drainage, set down the floor,  line with a tile underlay, then water proof the floor, the wall skirt and shower recess then we’ll tile.

A folded galvanised flashing provides a continuous termite inspection barrier which will break render. A render bead will be siliconed to the flashing so termite activity will not pass the bead unnoticed.  As with all Termite visual inspection points, regular inspection of the permimeter of the building and sub floor is required to alert the home owner to any termite activity. Garden beds and or organic materials should never be placed against a building, as this provides potential uncontrolled access for termites.

A exceptionally large 600 wide Poly Damp proof course, creates the opportunity to flash from wall to the underside of the external 100 series block, were Weepa weepholes are placed at spacing of  800 mm. Weepa weepholes give us a clean vermin and ember resisting weephole that can be pulled out ofblock perpends (vertical joints) to make rendering around them easier.

Lintels over doors are u shaped blocks that are propped level and secured, then core filled with concrete, similar to the sill detail. The block lintel provides a continuous material above doors simplifying the render detailing. The sill blocks have been cut to provide water shed. The wide cavity means we will have to extend he existing window sills to close the gap.

The 90mm blocks are brick tied to the frame, and have a 50mm reinforcing mesh, specific to the 90mm block every 3^rd course. At openings the block has been returned to the frame to close the cavity.

The portables with steel channel rather than trusses, seemed in better condition, although the web truss design needs fewer perimeter
supports. The channel (PFC) size varies, and this will effect floor levels ifthe base is level blockwork  or similar.  In one of the portables we selected, the flooring had been pushed up by differential movement between the permiter steel and the timber floor.

The portables are a fantastic and simple design, almost perfect for passive solar purposesif oriented correctly. The curse of most portables in schools, is they face east or west, and feel the full brunt of uncontrolled heat gain in the mornings and afternoons. Facing north the eaves clip most unwanted summer sun, but allow winter sun to stream in.

Demolition

Strip masonite linings and hardwood ship lap cladding where required.

Save Blackboards and blackboard stands for pantry wall.

Strip lights, switches, fans and reverse cycle air conditioning

Pull up damaged floor

Remove windows.

Remove gutters

Weeks of work with a bobcat, 5 ton and 15 ton excavators.Finally, we have temporary access to the site and our site cut to proceed.

Spray Goarse and Blackberries

Cut down plumbs and pines

Fritz Hammersly Plants a variety of local grasses, shrubs and small trees locally sourced and grown by  Frances Cincotta in Newstead. Guard and water.

10 meter high local wattles, will help soften the northern approach and view .

Garage Slab

Goldfields Concrete Poured the garage slab and placed starter bars for the block work retaining walls. On the upper level the Rock was so
hard, it was easier to box and pour rather than excavate. The steep drive meant  we needed the concrete truck that was a double wheeled boggie.

Blockwork to garage and subfloor. The engineered 290 wide
Garage door lintel is a triumph.

Flashing as Termite detailing. Also provides a break in lime render which will make rendering easier as the extent of the wall would become
challenging for a small crew.

1 dilute coat and 2 full coats of Gripset to help protect the garage from moisture entry.

Protection of tanking with Plastic Core Flute from Concrete Protection.

90mm Slotted pipe at base of wall to help with drainage.

Backfill with 50mm blue metal. (slotted pipe in a levelling bed of quarter minus)

Ambah

Western View

the plan: to build a 3 bedroom home, based around recycling 2 school portable buildings.  Solarchitecture’s Architect,  Andy Mcleod, has created a 7.6 star energy rated design and we plan to add more goodies to boost the efficiency of this home, including a 2kw grid interactive solar array

asthetically this house will not resemble anything from it’s school days past. the structure is to be clad in block and finished with a white lime render, internally the beautiful hardwood floorboards will be lovingly refinished. Overall you can expect a crisp bright interior featuring natural timbers and some fun reclaimed elements from the old school room. that will of course come much later…

challenges this slope is very steep, Andy’s design makes use of the slope by nestling a garage underneath the bedroom wing of the building. Excavations proved to be a challenge when hard rock was hit, and rain made things taking longer than anticipated. this has now been overcome and we are out of the ground, with some lovely rock to use for landscaping.

location location location I love this area, only just over an hour and you’re in Melbourne, or 3 kilometres to Castlemaine, with it’s shops and railway station. Closer is the popular Saturday morning market, a short bike ride if you like. Enough space between the block and the bush to feel confident in the fire season, but a short stroll and you can experince the wonders of the box Ironbark forests, blooming with wildflowers at this time of year. Chewton swimming pool just down the road or the Golden Point Resevoir a little further on.

Ambah

Andy’s comments

Limited space to the sheer rock face, required setback from street, vehicle access and the desire for outdoor living drove the choices of
the final building location. The site was a challenge, once quarried and/or mined, there were large pits where rock had been removed. The sheer rock faces are fantastic, but the slope, weeds, pits and debris made it difficult to get under control.
Wet weather exasperated the difficulties, as the clay we excavated turned to soup and was virtually untrafficable. One of the previous owners, said to us, he’d only ever have thought mountain goats would inhabit this site.

The fast rail snakes its way into Castlemaine.

Kangaroos use the site as a corridor over the hill from the creek flats.

Fantastic views of the  Chewton Hills to the north and the south.

The reef is not far below the fill. The site begs to be terraced further by revealing the reef where ever practical to emphasis this, and break up the slope, and slow down water movement.

On top of the hill large quartz crystals were  found after excavations. Small pottery shards, pick heads and broken glass bottles litter the fill in the site. Old diggers have come up and talked about prospecting on the site, telling us gold was found as small nuggets in the black shale. The black
shale, sits next to stone that doesn’t chip with a hammer on a excavator, it powders. It’s extremely hard.  In some of the reef, there are holes from pneumatic drills bored for blasting.

This was once the site of a Chinese camp according to some old mining maps