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Do you have a specific region in mind and is there a reason you chose there?
Yep. Off to the Loire valley. Somewhere between Blois and Angers, but haven't worked out exactly where yet. Outskirts of Amboise or Saumur would be great, but I need to head out there for a proper recce.
Chosen for a few reasons. I worked there just after I finished school, it's not a million miles from my cousin, who lives in Brittany, and it's also not too far from some friends in the Vendée. I also want to age the beer I brew in wine barrels, of which there will be plenty in the region. And there should be plenty of farms from which to source ingredients locally (barley, fruit) - though I may have to grow my own hops. Plus it's not too far from Paris, meaning it'll be easy for the kids to visit via Eurostar/TGV.
I'll definitely bend your ear about energy generation/solutions once I'm out there and the build gets under way. Cheers for the offer of lived experience!
ketsbaia-
Amazing, sounds like you’ve done a whole lot of planning for it and found an area that would tick all the boxes! Good luck in your search for the perfect spot! Feels like the kind of place a farmer may offer some old buildings they don’t us anymore for sale for you to renovate or something. Loads of good kit companies in Europe that you wouldn’t have to pay huge tax and fees on if they’re going to France which could be a good option if you find a good wee spot of land too. It’s probably different there with the climate, but I’m so glad we went for a new build rather than renovating as I feel it would have been a constant fight with old buildings to stop them being damp or cold.
Really excited to hear more about this as it progresses!!
We got cracking on again yesterday, 8mm ply nailed at 75mm centres (phew..) on the gable ends for rigidity. Then we started on the walls which are fermacell fire barrier board because of all the batteries and power electronics. Fitted all the full boards and started on corners yesterday and dad and I will do all the other bits today before they head off this afternoon.
We also fitted 18mm ply to the back wall for where all the inverters and batteries will be mounted.The joiner also finished the last run of cladding on the workshop!! Just needs to router a couple of the corners and then the flashings and solar panels should be going on on Monday which is pretty exciting, we’re getting close!!
Creek_Tebsin
Thank you so much! It has been a bit of an effort to make myself do this when there’s enough going on already, but I’m really glad I did and have it to look back over in time. It’s been a ton of work and stress and I’ve added a good few new scars and things but as we’re seeing the finish line it has been so worth it, and to be able to say “we drew this” or “I put that ceiling on with my dad” feels pretty special.
I’d be really excited to see your plans start coming to fruition as well. Do you have a specific region in mind and is there a reason you chose there? All the best with that endeavour and by that point we should have a proper understanding of how best to manage our system so if I can help out with anything please get in touch!
@dbr unfortunately I’m not as educated on that as I should be.. we told the engineers that we wanted the house to be as low drain as possible and the eco nature of our intentions and this is what they specified for us. We’re hoping that our “least impact” will be that this and our gardens allows us to leave as little a footprint as possible after the impact of the materials that built it.. I know someone on another island doing straw walls but they’re going to be about a metre and a half thick! I’d read about sheeps wool insulation but that can be problematic with it dropping in walls. I’ve also heard ash is a fantastic and fireproof insulator that won’t degrade but I think that’s more in wall panels than the roof.. sorry I’m not any more help..
Yesterday we got the second layer of sheeting on the ceiling and started filling the walls with wool before sheeting them with fermacell. We’ve got loads of 1 inch PIR left so we’ve been cutting and jamming that in where we can too. Done it all along the back wall where batteries/inverters are going to be and have enough for the full north facing wall too. Also got some left over wool so I’ll double stuff that into the frame on the sea facing side as that can have some pretty severe winds coming towards it too, bonus warmth!
The joiner also finished this side of the cladding and has started on the final run on the door side of the workshop. Hoping that will be finished off today or Monday morning. I love our wee wooden box!