4. THE BUILDING

These questions relate to the materials that go into creating your home. Most people know that your choice of materials will affect not only the upfront cost of building but also the cost and time required for maintenance in coming years. But you also need to know that the choice of materials ALSO affects how your building keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer.All materials have an environmental impact somewhere, understanding that impact allows you and your architect to make an informed choice.

• Material choice Questions:

  • trending_downQ1. CHEAPER MATERIALS

    I have seen people on TV building their own homes for $100,000. What are the materials they use and why do they seem so much cheaper than everywhere else?

  • loopQ2. RECYCLING

    There is no point throwing good things away. I’d like to reuse materials, including as much of my existing house as possible in my new home. What are the possibilities?

  • youtube_searched_forQ3. MATERIALS RECYCLABILITY

    I guess I should be thinking about what happens to them when my house is eventually demolished. Does “Life Cycle Analysis” do this too?

  • settings_input_compositeQ4. SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

    I saw on one of those renovation shows people making houses out of straw bales. Is that really sustainable way to go? What other options do I have for wall materials that has a low impact on the planet?

  • launchQ5. DURABILITY

    I want my house to be low maintenance and I am interested in which materials are most efficient over their entire life... and maybe it's not the cheapest material. Which last the best? Is that what they mean by “Life Cycle Analysis”?

  • call_splitQ6. COST OR VALUE

    I suppose I could choose ‘better’ materials which might make my house use less energy or I could just use cheap materials and spend more money on my energy bills. Which one will win-out in the long run?

  • import_exportQ7. IMPORTED MATERIALS

    I want to support Australian manufacturing. It is always best to buy locally made products? How can I be sure that materials are produced in an ethical environment?

  • open_in_browserQ8. EMBODIED ENERGY

    I have heard that it takes a lot of energy and water to make concrete (a high embodied energy). What about steel and aluminium as well? Should I avoid using them in my new home?

  • view_headlineQ9. BRICKS

    Years ago my Dad said houses made of bricks were better. I guess there's a lot of energy that goes into making a brick. Do brick houses perform better thermally than timber or steel?

  • view_dayQ10. MUD BRICKS

    I heard they are easy to make and just use the sun’s energy instead of a kiln to set them. Are they able to withstand the weather?

  • polymerQ11. HEMP

    I’d like to build my home from a natural materials, I’ve heard that hemp is good but i am concerned that my builder just wants to smoke on the job. Should I be choosing it?

  • emailQ12. CONCRETE

    We lived in a concrete house when I was a kid and it could get really cold. If I have a concrete floor am I putting a lot of my energy bills into just warming up the concrete?

  • view_weekQ13. FORESTS

    I like animals and I think their habitat should be protected so I’m concerned about illegal logging. How can I be sure that any timber I use has been appropriately harvested?

  • subjectQ14. TIMBER

    There are so many types of timber available: engineered lumber, bamboo, heat treated timber, composite recycled wood etc. How do they compare to the traditional solid timber?

  • report_problemQ15. TERMITES

    I am concerned about termites eating my new home. Is steel framed construction better than timber?

  
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• Wall, roof, window Questions:

  • swap_vertical_circleQ16. INSULATION

    I understand that insulation helps keep me warm in winter. Should we use as much as possible in all places?

  • phonelink_setupQ17. PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS

    I saw a product on TV that is oil but is sometimes solid, they said it worked thermally like bricks and would keep me cool in summer, how does that work? Wouldn’t putting oil inside my walls be a bad idea?

  • system_update_altQ18. HOLES IN WALLS

    I really want my new house to be light and airy! I love a lot of glass. But is glass a more sustainable material than other wall materials? Aluminium is a really good conductor of heat, is it a bad idea to make window frames out of it? Do the types and sizes of walls and windows make a big difference to the size of my bills?

  • launchQ19. GLASS

    I know there are many different types of glass available. I’ve heard that double glazing is a waste of money except in Europe. Is low-e the best glass?

  • shuffleQ20. A BRIDGE TOO FAR

    I’ve been watching all these TV shows that talk about windows that have no thermal bridging... what is that? Should I be concerned about it?

  • replayQ21. REVERSE BRICK VENEER

    A friend of mine suggested I think about reverse brick veneer construction...he said those houses are much more comfortable to live in. What is reverse brick veneer and is it right for my climate?

  
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