The walls start to go up

The first wall is the "burnished" block "feature wall." It, along with the steel framework on the other two sides, will support the clerestory windows in a the sloped roof.


The rest of the external walls are SIPs (structurally engineered panels) a sandwich of strandboard and foam insulation. Note the the pre-drilled runs for electrics etc.



The 9' 6" high SIPs are mounted on 2 x 4 floor plates, nailed along those edges, and then vertically connected with a 4" wide "bridge SIP" which is screwed through on each edge. The tops are then connected horizontally with bridging 2 x 4's. The SIPS are also sequenced to allow a 2 x 4 insert in the vertical edge wherever an internal wall will run 90 degrees from it. Window openings will be cut in later.


Note the floor plates for the internal walls, which will be conventional 2 x 4 framing, as that allows easier access for most of the plumbing.

Radiant Heating Install and Slab Pour

A busy three days this week, that firstly saw the completion of the radiant heat installation.




Then the pouring of the concrete slab, which will be our selected floor in several parts of the house, after more finishing and polishing.

Foundations and the first vertical elements

September saw all the foundation work finished and the steel work being installed. These pieces, one at each end of the house, will support the upward slops of the butterfly-style roof, with the top openings holding the clerestory windows.

The one in the photo will be at the end of our living room and will also contain a 20 feet wall of glass, with the center 10 feet being sliders that will open on to the patio.

As I write this, the radiant floor heating is being installed and the slab will be poured this week.