Posts by RuffTuff • Home Renovation & Building Forum

Re: Backyard Construction ProjectDIY, Home Maintenance & Repair

13 August 2023

Aug 13, 2023 8:55 am

That laser level looks lovely! We bought one for less than a quarter of that price off eBay. It worked really well for us and it's still going now, five years later. After the house was finished we built a garage and most recently a tank stand. Very handy to have around. It didn't come with a tripod...

That laser level looks lovely! We bought one for less than a quarter of that price off eBay. It worked really well for u...

26 September 2021

117

Sep 26, 2021 4:19 pm

We're off-grid here, running from batteries that are recharged by solar panels. The success of all this is based upon management of our power system. We run loads such as the dishwasher, washing machine, electric oven etc based upon the state of our batteries and the incoming solar power. The electr...

We're off-grid here, running from batteries that are recharged by solar panels. The success of all this is based upon ma...

3 July 2021

116

Jul 03, 2021 10:50 pm

It's alive! We've just installed the new fireplace in our studio. And it works better than expected. It throws out so much heat with just a little wood. The granite wall behind absorbs excess heat and radiates it out long after the fire is out. https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/58799_1625315776.jpg Th...

It's alive! We've just installed the new fireplace in our studio. And it works better than expected. It throws out so mu...

Re: OB course - WAOwner Builder Forum

13 June 2021

Jun 13, 2021 8:41 am

We also did the owner builder course (an online version) as a requirement to obtain our building license. It has got nothing to do with actual building, it's just about regulatory compliance. We've been living in our home for nearly a year now and I don't recall ever having used any of the informati...

We also did the owner builder course (an online version) as a requirement to obtain our building license. It has got not...

13 June 2021

114

Jun 13, 2021 8:30 am

We've been living in our house for nearly a year now and just coming into our second winter. Summer was great, the passive and solar active cooling systems worked really well. The highest indoor temperature we saw was just 25 and that was in the middle of a 40 degree heatwave. For winter heating we ...

We've been living in our house for nearly a year now and just coming into our second winter. Summer was great, the passi...

28 November 2020

112

Nov 28, 2020 1:21 pm

We easily got through our first winter, maintaining a warm cosy house with the solar passive design and fireplace. We didn't use any power for heating, even all our hot water was solar heated. But now we're coming into the warmer weather. Last week we had 38 degrees and there'll be plenty more soon ...

We easily got through our first winter, maintaining a warm cosy house with the solar passive design and fireplace. We di...

and 1 other person likes this.

19 November 2020

111

Nov 19, 2020 11:07 am

Throughout the build we've had "free" electricity as we have a 5kW grid feed solar system on our old house. We've had a 47c / kWh feed-in tariff and we made an average $200 per month income from the electricity providers. The feed-in tariff was set to expire in July 2020 (and then we'd be ...

Throughout the build we've had free electricity as we have a 5kW grid feed solar system on our old house. We've had a 47...

1 person likes this.

14 August 2020

109

Aug 14, 2020 10:17 pm

An interesting side note to the slow combustion stove we built. https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/58799_1597405589.jpg Mounted on top of the oven chamber is an old compressor we had collected many years ago and had been sitting in our treasure pile waiting for just the right project. We knew nothing ab...

An interesting side note to the slow combustion stove we built. Mounted on top of the oven chamber is an old compressor ...

2 August 2020

107

Aug 02, 2020 8:35 pm

It's the middle of winter and although the house isn't particularly cold we still wanted a slow combustion stove. So, off to the "treasure" pile and knock something up. Lots of rusty gold ..... https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/58799_1596363481.jpg https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/58799_1596363...

It's the middle of winter and although the house isn't particularly cold we still wanted a slow combustion stove. So, of...

17 July 2020

106

Jul 17, 2020 11:27 am

One of the final internal jobs are our office desks. https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/58799_1594948742.jpg https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/58799_1594948899.jpg I put aside these jarrah slabs when I was milling the structural timbers a few years ago. Perfect to knock up a study desk from. https://forum....

One of the final internal jobs are our office desks. I put aside these jarrah slabs when I was milling the structural ti...

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20 June 2020

105

Jun 20, 2020 8:22 pm

The bathroom basin and the kitchen sinks are now installed and plumbed. https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/58799_1592647731.jpg We made up our own tapware from odd plumbing fittings and window handles we had laying around. https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/58799_1592648349.jpg https://forum.homeone.com.au/...

The bathroom basin and the kitchen sinks are now installed and plumbed. We made up our own tapware from odd plumbing fit...

1 person likes this.

13 June 2020

103

Jun 13, 2020 2:58 pm

Now we've done most of the bigger dirtier outside jobs we've turned our attention to the finer indoor finishings. And first off, the benchtops. We had the option of timber as there are plenty of slabs from our sawmill but we wanted something more resilient, especially for the wet areas. Like everyth...

Now we've done most of the bigger dirtier outside jobs we've turned our attention to the finer indoor finishings. And fi...

7 June 2020

102

Jun 07, 2020 7:36 am

Our site has a bit of a slope and with recent (and welcome) rains we were able to see how the water moves around the building. https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/58799_1591478957.jpg With the removed vegetation and the reshaped landscape we were getting erosion in some areas and water against our footin...

Our site has a bit of a slope and with recent (and welcome) rains we were able to see how the water moves around the bui...

1 person likes this.

13 April 2020

101

Apr 13, 2020 8:38 pm

For the past few years we have been slowly collecting pavers. Whenever we had the time and energy we would scroll through the free Gumtree ads and haul them back home. It's a heavy, hard work slog but we eventually amassed enough to cover our verandahs. And over the last couple of weeks we've laid t...

For the past few years we have been slowly collecting pavers. Whenever we had the time and energy we would scroll throug...

1 person likes this.

5 April 2020

100

Apr 05, 2020 8:53 pm

We've fitted all the doors to the studio area and it has transformed the area into rooms. That might sound obvious but previously it felt more like a shed . https://forum.homeone.com.au/u/58799_1586083615.jpg These double sliders are the front doors leading into the studio proper. https://forum.home...

We've fitted all the doors to the studio area and it has transformed the area into rooms. That might sound obvious but p...

1 person likes this.

28 March 2020

Mar 28, 2020 8:33 pm

Well, the rest of the studio is now built. It used a lot more mudbricks than originally anticipated due to sizes of doors, windows etc. But the weather has been good for making more, so no problem there. The internal walls have been plastered with white clay, the stone wall backing the fire place ha...

Well, the rest of the studio is now built. It used a lot more mudbricks than originally anticipated due to sizes of door...

Re: Importing materials from overseasOwner Builder Forum

27 February 2020

Feb 27, 2020 12:43 pm

I imported my evacuated tube solar hot water systems. Got a few modifications done at the factory to suit my setup. Saved about 70%

I imported my evacuated tube solar hot water systems. Got a few modifications done at the factory to suit my setup. Save...

Re: Program/app for designing homeOwner Builder Forum

8 February 2020

Feb 08, 2020 7:02 pm

I guess if you're not actually building it yourself ie; engaging others to do the work, then they would most likely prefer computer generated plans. However if you are genuinely doing it yourself then hand drawing the whole lot will give you unprecedented familiarity with the details that you're goi...

I guess if you're not actually building it yourself ie; engaging others to do the work, then they would most likely pref...

Re: Program/app for designing homeOwner Builder Forum

4 February 2020

Feb 04, 2020 12:00 am

A pencil and paper. Gives you total freedom to express your desires without the hassle of conforming to software constraints and without the "learning curve". You've lived in houses before, right? You know what works and what doesn't work for you. Break free of the psychological limitation...

A pencil and paper. Gives you total freedom to express your desires without the hassle of conforming to software constra...

1 person likes this.

4 January 2020

Jan 04, 2020 4:46 pm

Working on the west wall of the studio now. A few years ago a friend gave us a round jarrah window frame. We've been looking for a spot to fit it into the build and this is it! This is a 3.5m high wall and the window is just 800mm in diameter so we were worried it would be dwarfed by the sheer size ...

Working on the west wall of the studio now. A few years ago a friend gave us a round jarrah window frame. We've been loo...