Seaforth House 2015

Seaforth House

Come and visit our 8.5 stars home on a coastal green fields site in Gippsland. Due to its location the house was designed for warmth more than cooling. After a week of 40 degree weather it reached 25 degrees and in winter maintains to 18 degrees.The 246 square metres (26.5 squares) house is constructed with insulated concrete formwork and a concrete slab, incorporating waffle pod design. Windows are timber/pvc composite double-glazed as well as PVC windows in clerestory installed by Certain Teed.

Other features include:
• Insulation above ceiling – R6 Earthwool Batts plus double sided reflective foil under Colourbond.
• Roof – Colourbond light colour to reflect heat. (Classic cream)
• Fans in passage and main bedroom. Airflow from south crossflow through passage to clerestory windows. Clerestory windows open mechanically(4 out of 10) to allow outflow of warm air in summer.
• Central thermal mass wall – concrete blocks filled with slurry. Render on external walls and internal passage.
• Veranda native cypress posts – added before second winter means that winter temperature is reduced slightly.
• Showers open with vinyl floor and walls to splash height – very easy cleaning and no steps or corners for dirt to collect in. Slip resistant finish. Shower panel toughened glass
• Tank water – 2x 5000 Litres
• 6.5 kW solar panels. House is on grid.
• Gas instant hot water units – one for kitchen and one for bathrooms – love it as it cuts down on water loss waiting for hot water.
• Under slab conduit from south side of house into pantry for cooling.
• Solar tube in laundry for lighting in winter months.
• Polished concrete floors in bedrooms, kitchen bamboo floor, ducted vacuum
• Septic tank
• Orientation (north facing living areas), insulation and thermal mass (concrete wall in centre).
• Age ready means flat surfaces and wide doorways (870)
• Low maintenance and easy clean
• Passive heating and cooling – sealing and air flow. Vents above top of bedroom doors
• No windows on west side
• Low energy light fittings (LED)
• Very well sealed – range hood ducted to outside
• Heating in slab planned but pulled it at the last minute due to expense.
• Ecobarn (a barn on a box). Timberbuilt adjoins house – access from shed to house. Shed provides shelter from coastal wind. Roller doors.
• Local tradespeople were excellent. Used local suppliers where possible.
• Acoustics – solid wood recycled doors. Carpet in passage
• Porcelain tiles (dark grey) to soak up daytime heat.