Archive for the ‘Foundations’ Category

Geothermal Installation

Posted on: April 8th, 2015 by Barley Store

 
The Geothermal Heat pump system is being set up by Direct Energy. The heat pump and compressor are being instated and connected to the geothermal pipes. Ventilation ducts are being weaved through the walls to all four levels.
 
The Geothermal Heat Pump System will cover the heating, cooling, hot-water and ventilation of the 5×4 building.


 

Video Diary: Core-filled Block Work

Posted on: October 14th, 2014 by Barley Store

 
Once the slab was down and set, it was time for the breeze-blocks to be laid for the bottom story of the build. These blocks are hollow, and are filled with E-crete for extra stability.


Here’s quick time-lapse of the core-filled block work going up, and then being filled with the e-crete. See the video below, or head to our YouTube channel BarleyStore for the full 5×4 Hayes Lane Project playlist.
 

 

Video Diary: Concrete Slab

Posted on: September 17th, 2014 by Barley Store

 

 
Pilacon did the final preparations to the site for the concreting, and Grand Designs set up to film the pouring of the slab. Ralph had a chat to them about the eco-friendly concrete – or e-crete – we are using.

E-crete is a product offered by Aurora Construction Materials (ACM) that is environmentally-friendly and possibly ‘the greenest’ concrete used anywhere in Australia.
Replacing conventional cements with waste materials from industrial processes, E-Crete produces up-to 80% less carbon than conventional concrete. For more on e-crete and ACM, visit out Project Partners page.

ACM brought in the e-crete, and began to pour the slab. Within two hours the slab was poured, and the guys from Pilacon finished it off by early afternoon.
 
Head to our YouTube channel BarleyStore for the full 5×4 Hayes Lane Project playlist.
 

Video Diary: Boxing and Preparing for the Slab

Posted on: September 11th, 2014 by Barley Store

 
Before the concrete arrived it was important to prepare the plumbing and boxing and make sure that everything was in the right place. The team from Atherton began to lay all the pipes and the Pilacon guys began to build the boxing for the slab. When the steel delivery arrived the mesh was cut to size and installed in preparation for the concrete. See the time-lapse video below, or head to our YouTube channel BarleyStore for the full 5×4 Hayes Lane Project playlist.
 

 

Connecting and prepping

Posted on: September 5th, 2014 by Barley Store

 
First thing in the morning Stewart from Direct Energy came to connect the geothermal loop. The team from Pilacon, as well as the the plumbing guys from Atherton Plumbing arrived to connect the pipes and dig the required trenches in preparation for the boxing of the slab.
 


 

Bored piles

Posted on: September 4th, 2014 by Barley Store

 
At the bright and early time of 7am, the excavating and drilling of the holes for the bored piles began. Once we had nine holes, each at 3.5 meters deep, the piles – or cages – were dropped into the holes. The concreter then filled the holes around the cages, leaving us nine piles concreted in place, and a site ready for the boxing for the slab!
 

 

Measurement

Posted on: August 8th, 2014 by Barley Store

 
The team from Webster Survey Group arrived on site, measuring up the property boundaries and the specifics for the concrete slab.
 


 

Preparing the sites for services

Posted on: August 4th, 2014 by Barley Store

 
Over the course of ten or so days, companies MAXA Plumbing, Telstra and Power Cor laid the pipes for the installation of the services. This includes electricity, water, sewage, phone, data and television.
 


 

Geothermal drilling

Posted on: July 11th, 2014 by Barley Store

 
With the site cleared, the drilling teams from Direct Energy and Terra Test arrive, ready to begin the first geothermal drill. This is the first stage in the installation process of the heating and cooling system designed by Direct Energy.
 


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Grand Designs stood by to film the first steps in the process, and the first 45 meters of the drill went easily and without a hitch. But we did well not to count our chickens, because the next 20 meters got progressively harder and slower. (more…)