Wet Patches On The Concrete

Very strange, this past fall, these patches started appearing on the floor (stained concrete), a week or two after the heating system was turned on.
Initially, the obvious was feared, a leak in the radiant floor heating system. After much investigation which included pressure testing the entire floor heating system (everything was fine, and no leaks found) over a period of time.
This problem became baffling (and still is) as we looked into drainage around the house, for the possibility of build up of ground source water etc. We even dug up some of the grading down to the foundation, to see if drainage was the problem. It was bone dry....

Anyway, over the past couple of months these patches are slowly dissppearing and drying out. We still have not figured out what caused them tho.

If anyone has had a similar problem, please comment as this has everyone baffled.

Summer 2008

Well, haven't added anything for some time, so thought it was time to update this blog.

Finally, in July, I got my full occupancy permit! After a long road of compliance etc, I am now legally able to live in my strawbale house!
Just a few notes on the heating system through the winter:
The radiant floor heating was amazing - kept the house at a constant temperature, whatever I set it at. I was able to supplement with the woodstove but that was mainly for 'cozy' effect.
Here is the big news: I estimate my hydro usage for the heating to be a little under $500 for the winter season!! Amazing! This was to run the geothermal system (pump). Because of the insulation factor of straw bales, the house remained at the constant temperature. It was a very 'comfortable' heat too - never dry, or fluctuating, which I experienced in previous homes, when the furnace would come on.
As far as this summer has gone, the temp inside has not gone over 23 degrees C and was more often around 18 - 20 degrees C - I occasionally run a dehumidifier on the really humid days and that is sufficient to keep it very comfortable in here.

My main projects this year have been to work on getting compliance for the occupancy inspection and on the landscaping, which will be a work in progress for many years to come.

Stay tuned, as there will be an extension going in, hopefully next year, or in 2010.

Don't forget this years Straw Bale tour is on October 4th. Check out the OSBBC site at :

http://www.strawbalebuilding.ca

Final Exterior colour Applied

This month we completed the exterior protection: it involved sealing any cracks, applying the Eco House primer sealer, then two coats of the Eco House Quartz Guard and finally, a coat of rainsil. This will in effect 'gortex' the exterior.

I chose a yellow ochre, diluted to 5%.
Eco House web site:

www.eco-house.com

The 'almost' finished product

A beautiful fall sunset, with the colours peaking in the background.

The Ontario Straw Bale Building Coalition's annual Straw Bale house tour is tomorrow, October 13th. Check out their web site for more information: http://www.strawbalebuilding.ca/

My home is available for private tours by appointment if you are unable to make the tour. I will not charge a fee, however, I will be collecting a $50 donation to the Orillia SPCA.
Please contact me thru this web site on the comment area to set up a date.

Wood Stove

Wood stove went in this week - it is a Hearthstone Tribute model. I chose this because it is small (although, it will heat 1300 sq ft approx) and very attractive. It does not dominate the room, as these stove sometimes can.
It is a soapstone stove, which absorbs the high heat of the fire, then radiates it back out in to the room. Once heated, soapstone stays warm for hours to continue warming witha gentle, even, radiant quality of heat that's as comfortable as it is lasting.

Landscaping ready for plants...

Looking west -pathways complete for the first phase.
Pine wood chips
Looking east along the front of the house. Cedar posts, pine woodchips, natural rocks from the property all extending the natural feel of the project.
Front entrance.

More landscaping...

This is the garage end. Slowly building up the grade and finishing off with pine chips. I would have preferred cedar, but could not source any.
Flower bed beside the main entrance.
Main entrance.
Moving the big rock! Thank goodness for great neighbours with the right equipment for the job!

The Evolution of Landscaping..

Landscaping is taking shape. Using rocks off the property and the cedar posts.
There is plenty of good topsoil from when the site was cleared.
Incorporating old tree roots for texture and height.
Pine chips (also called nuggets apparently) were very hard to source but I finally found some.
Most of these plants are annual and will be lifted in the fall, when I will plant perennials.