What a week!  Plenty happening – but not much to see…unless you count a lot of meshing, wiring and never-ending stuffing!!!

We started and finished the northern wall – faux strawbale as it is only 75mm thick – but somewhat easier to stuff with the mesh only partially attached: 

And apparently, the ol’ ‘nail into the water pipe’ trick had to happen ;-)

  

 

 

 

 

(Kent the plumber has already replaced it J).

Plus the guys got the bathroom sliding door in too – in only two takes J:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See why we need to do the stuffing though – big gaps to fill in some bales (…compare seeing wood and not seeing wood):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 But, boy doesn’t it look incredible when it is all done and neat and tidy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think we will all need a massage and a manicure after tomorrow – when the stuffing will be finally finished – yippee!!!!!!

And a big hello to Andy’s folks back in England – he tells me you are keeping an eye on this blog – and can see how hard he has been working!

Well, we are exhausted – but all baled up and progressing well J!

We didn’t quite get all the 150 bales in the walls last weekend – despite our best efforts and the wonderful help of our neighbours, Jo and Craig.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jo and Craig already have bought and live in a strawbale house, but are going to be building an extension soonish so were keen to have a go before they tackle their home.   Thanks so much for your help guys!! (We tried to keep Jo sitting down because she is eight months pregnant – but she still wanted to help and joined me in retying thousands of bales – well, it sure felt like that many!!)

So after that busy, busy, busy weekend, Ryan and Andy were back on site and raring to go – and during the course of the week we have ended up waiting on four different supplies so it was a bit of a roundabout week – doing things as the supplies became available.  But they came through with great progress of course – laundry lined with ply; verandah ceilings all but complete with recycled colourbond (one skinny row to go); 5 windows in place and two external walls meshed and the gaps stuffed with straw (yep, still my job –and I am in pain I tell you! – and that is with Andy helping as he can).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the nicest progress though:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our front door and windows and their strawbales – all meshed and curved and ready to go J.   Loving this so much!!!  

And I can’t wait for the rendering so we can see those gorgeous curved reveals in all their glory.

Just an update to finish – Richard let me know that the R value of the strawbales being ”face-aross” has been measured – and it is higher than stacking them the normal sideways J.