A hempcrete extension 6 years in the making
Luke Buckle
3 years ago
My young family and I are finally beginning the process of our own home renovation project. I’ve absorbed years of your inspiration thanks to five years working at Houzz, I’ve also had the blessing of Kevin McCloud, and added more photos to ideabooks than anyone I know of… But it still took years for all the pieces to fell into place.
I will try to keep you all updated on major steps and dilemmas - I’ll need your feedback and ideas - though we are about to start building so the plans are well through council. Throw any questions you have at me, anytime!
Points of interest:
- a pitched roof line (butterfly style)
- hempcrete walls
- passive solar design
- a mezzanine level
- cheeky climb-through windows giving kids access to private decks
Hope you enjoy the journey!!
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Help with floorplan for big home reno/extension please?
Comments (32)You are most welcome, I have always said that I haven't been put on this earth to "Hug" toilets, so I'am wondering who is going to clean all of these Bathrooms. Our two kids a boy and a girl had the upstairs "apartment" which they and all their friends loved. I have added a timber stair case for fun, there's plenty of space but you will need to decide what you want to do in the attic and place the stairs to open up into a tall space. I have also turned one of the ensuites into a powder room. Your Jacaranda's only drop once a year!, you used to be able to trim them by 25% each year, you would need to check with your council, we were on the lower North Shore, I think you should consider the patio side of the house and make better use of that, is the front deck something you plan on adding because of aspect, and plant some tall growing hedge ready for the apartments. Our kids Attic desk/study space over looked our pool in the rear garden. With respect to using the formal rooms for bedrooms, you will find that once you have your large family/alfresco and the kids have their upstairs space if you still feel you need it, it would make a great office. You spend most of the time there only using only using the front room in the evening for watching movies etc. I have had another play with my floor plan, I think if your wife sees this you may be in trouble, it's a Master Suite, the free standing bath in the window alcove with white timber shutters for sun and privacy control..... Iam' adding a couple of photos of our old Federation which wasn't protected, when we sold it the new owners removed all of the Fret work & posts replacing them with simple timber posts. The front rooms which we didn't use very much once we opened up the rear rooms into a family area. The room with the Bay window had a Baby grand sitting there, we sold the piano before we took the photo. Cheers...See MoreOption 5 or Option 6?
Comments (75)Definitely an attached garage is always a big plus, particularly in terms of value and resale "tick boxes".........which is one of the benefits of the concept I threw out there a few weeks back that involved developing the more logically oriented extension that connects the garage across where the pool is currently.............which obviously involves moving the pool or removing it for a period of time before it can then be potentially reinstated............ My professional opinion remains firm that for the long term investment that is the superior outcome, better spend and highest value-adding option for the property, even if it takes longer and costs more to achieve......budget limit is one thing, but equally you can spend a certain "budget" limit to simultaneously achieve a "more expensive" & lesser value adding result...........let's say you have a limit of $500K but budget aside the arguably best value concept is more like a $650K exercise. A compromised spend of $500K can be actually the "more expensive" option long term in comparison to a higher cost but higher value spend, that perhaps could be achieved in stages or over a longer period of time, say building first and then eventually finishing off landscaping. Rome wasn't built in a day and I've written before about the time/cost/quality relationship and how managing those one way or the other will influence the long term outcomes for a project, for better or worse....... We'll never tell people what they should or shouldn't want in their homes, but when it comes to resolving/identifying the most logical and profitable and balanced options/solutions for a certain outcome, well that's kind of the business that we're specialised in.............. I am also suspecting that there could be some misalignments/tension on the "client" camp/side (ie his wants vs her wants) of the process that is making it difficult to properly prioritise and robustly shuffle the various project variables........the "in limbo"/"going round in circles" is a classic symptom and ultimately requires resolution somehow............See MoreExtension Advice
Comments (8)Unfortunately townhouses like yours are very limited in scope for extending or reconfiguring, especially if you are on a tight budget. When the developer built your townhouse he wanted to squeeze in as many as he could under the planning regulations of the time to make as much profit as possible, which leaves little opportunity to extend. In addition to navigating the council's planning regulations you will probably also have a body corporate to deal with? I would suggest taking your plan to the local council and having a chat with one of the planners who is likely to confirm that you have hardly any options to extend due to the council's requirement that you need a certain amount of parking and private open space (it can vary from council to council). So while there may be some options that could be suggested on this forum it is unlikely that they will get the approval of council and the body corporate. If you are really stuck with no other option then consider getting a tennant in, and renting a larger home, until the market picks up and you can sell. Best of luck with your research Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls...See MoreFeedback on extension/renovation idea
Comments (16)How ere you proposing to retain the 4th bedroom when you plan to turn it into a separate living area adjoining the kitchen? Your revised plan with the changes only shows the backend of the house, not the full floorplan. From that I assumed that the current 4th bedroom was being repurposed as a dining/living room and you were retaining the original 3 bedrooms. If you look at the original house fllorplan, it's a H shape with what appears to be two equal sized wings. One of them houses 3 bedrooms while the other the current kitchen, 4th bed/study and the dining room. Flipping the house into a mirror image will require moving the walls of the current dining/kitchen and study to create three bedrooms the same size as your existing ones. The kitchen would then be positioned in the [current] centre bedroom space with an open plan dining, living towards the rear. There is no need to install a U shaped kitchen as you currently have. A galley style that runs across the space will be more space efficient and give you a large island to work with. While the front part could be your 4th bedroom or you can relocate your current front living room to that space and put the forth bedroom where the current living area is. It's really not much different to the floorplan you have in mind, it's just a mirror image of it placing all the bedrooms in the south and living area's in the north as is desirable. Unless you are planning to move out during the build it's going to be difficult living in the middle of any renovation. Your builder will have to remove the rear wall of your house to extend and you'll be living in a house with tarps on the backend anyway. Any renovation can be staged to cause least inconvenience. But no matter what, changing the footprint of a house is always going to be a major hassle. Which is why a lot of people choose to move out and rent for the duration of the build....See More
differentways
3 years agoLuke Buckle
3 years agodifferentways
3 years ago
afjp
3 years agoLuke Buckle
3 years agoLuke Buckle
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoIn the interests of reducing our household's dependence on fossil fuels, and reducing energy bills, I am planning to cut off all use of gas (currently used for instant hot ware and for our oven/stove), and am considering this one which enables solar panels to power it. Anyone had any experience with heat pump hot water systems? https://1stchoicehotwater.com.au/product/stiebel-eltron-wwk302h-heat-pump/?attribute_select-your-delivery-location=Sydney&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi9zO397O6wIVz34rCh2lswA-EAYYAiABEgLaQvD_BwE
differentways
3 years agoLuke Buckle
3 years agoLuke Buckle
3 years agoHave been removing pavers by the hundred and had a tree removed last week, followed by a stump grinder. Next step: signing the builder contract, then demolition begins.
Luke Buckle
3 years agoWould you keep this acacia? It has served us well but is now getting in the way in our small front garden that will need a full redesign...
differentways
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoafjp
3 years agoLuke Buckle
3 years agoLuke Buckle
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoLuke Buckle
3 years agoLuke Buckle
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
Looking towards the loft which is over the bathroom
Luke Buckle
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
First hempcrete is revealed by Hemp.Lime (based in Sydney)
Roof line and north-facing area ready for solar panels
Luke Buckle
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
IN the hempcrete living room with builder and lighting designer. The highest point is 5 metres off the floor.
Luke Buckle
3 years agoOur bathroom plan is a clay colour Nood.co bathroom basin, paperrock countertop, and Mutina tape tiles
oklouise
3 years agofianou luca
3 years agoLuke Buckle
3 years agofianou luca
3 years ago
Luke BuckleOriginal Author