Second Hand Cottage 2016

House Notes – Second Hand Cottage

OPEN 10-2

HOUSE TALK EVERY 1/2 HOUR (except 12.30pm)

12.30pm SPECIAL TALK “WHAT TO DO AT THE END OF THE SOLAR BONUS SCHEME”

The aim of our build was to reuse as many materials as possible, buy second hand or from a sustainable source.  We used eBay, Gumtree, friends and acquaintances to source all our windows (except one), timber floor boards (from an old scout hall), doors  and many other materials we needed for the build.  Where we were unable to source second hand, we researched and selected the most sustainable option.

We spent an excruciating amount of time in the design phase, maximising every square centimetre to squeeze in 5 bedrooms for our family of six, all within a compact 150 sq meters.  It was also critical to us that we maintained the heritage values of our weatherboard cottage, as well as ensuring every room had cross ventilation and light from two sides.  A rainwater tank and a monitored solar PV system were also an necessity. Importantly we chose sustainable features that are affordable and available for all.

We built on a tight budget, doing much of the work ourselves and the savings we made from this and the second hand materials, ensured we could complete a comfortable and conscious home.  It took a lot of time to source all the materials and even more to prep them for the build, but it was absolutely worth it.

We enjoy our home every single day and are proud we were able to build it in a sustainable way.