Grand designs, polystyrene walls.

Glaucus · 23 May 2007 at 21:11

On grand designs now, they have walls made out of concrete filled polystyrene. It's so cool, fast to erect, stronger than concrete blocks and super insulated. But the best thing is, it's so fast to build with.
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/grand-designs/houses/D/devon_south.html
http://www.becowallform.co.uk/web/buildpro.html

Wish I could afford the land to build a house, it would so be with a material like this.

NathanE · 23 May 2007 at 21:14

This show rocks. It's the only redeeming show in C4 IMO

manoz · 23 May 2007 at 21:26

Did they mention anything about life expectency compared to the usual brick and mortar?

My fave episode was probably the one with the Huf Haus(surrey)

The germans builders were awesome in that ep, they'd make Gropius proud

Hedge · 23 May 2007 at 21:30

Dunno about the expectancy of the method, but its stronger than any other standard means, and also better insulated

Wicksta · 23 May 2007 at 21:34

Isn't it hard to get a mortgage on houses built with non conventional materials though?

Noxis · 23 May 2007 at 21:36

Not sure i'd like that, polystyrene tends to be VERY flammable

Glaucus · 23 May 2007 at 21:39

Noxis said:
Not sure i'd like that, polystyrene tends to be VERY flammable

If it's like other materials I've seen. there will be a inch of concrete sprayed on to the inner and outer edges, totally encasing the polystyrene.

Wicksta said:
Isn't it hard to get a mortgage on houses built with non conventional materials though?

You just have to go through specialist, self build mortgages.

Stolly · 23 May 2007 at 21:43

manoz said:
Did they mention anything about life expectency compared to the usual brick and mortar?

My fave episode was probably the one with the Huf Haus(surrey)

The germans builders were awesome in that ep, they'd make Gropius proud

That is one hell of a house. Love it.

WoZZeR · 23 May 2007 at 21:44

They have some great magazines over here on building and materials, a good chunk of new houses around here are home builds.

My 2 faves are 'Habitat Naturel' and 'La Maison Ecologique'.

Some of the materials they use are very advanced and very efficient energy wise..

Glaucus · 23 May 2007 at 21:47

wish we had magazines like that, all though, alternative materials are making an indent, we as a people and the planning permissions are still very much brick and mortar, which is such a shame.

WoZZeR · 23 May 2007 at 21:49

They are very open minded here, these magazines are full of fantastic looking buildings.

They utilise alternative energy a lot more here too.

EDIT They use a lot of those honeycomb type clay blocks to build houses. Very energy efficient apparently.

Glaucus · 23 May 2007 at 21:50

WoZZeR said:
They are very open minded here, these magazines are full of fantastic looking buildings.

They utilise alternative energy a lot more here too.

that's the other thing I would love, is a heat exchange pump and turbines/solar panels for electricity. Need to find a 40k+ job first.

Glaucus · 23 May 2007 at 21:56

It looks greta but 2 things,

1) it's pink
2) I would have a flat roof for sunbathing/bbqs with access from the tower. Looks so crisp and clean with the render on.

Muffin` · 23 May 2007 at 21:59

all those different woods, so so tacky

WoZZeR · 23 May 2007 at 21:59

I'm going to have solar water heating eventually, I bought a magazine here that shows you step by step how to make the panels up from scratch etc.

I'm not sure if I have enough south facing roof for solar electric, I might experiment though when I have rebuilt the roof.

You get massive tax breaks over here for using renewable energy.

Glaucus · 23 May 2007 at 22:00

WoZZeR said:
I'm going to have solar water heating eventually, I bought a magazine here that shows you step by step how to make the panels up from scratch etc.

I'm not sure if I have enough south facing roof for solar electric, I might experiment though when I have rebuilt the roof.

You get massive tax breaks over here for using renewable energy.

if you want heated water look into heat exchange pumps, will be much better than solar heating.

Hedge · 23 May 2007 at 22:04

Respect to the lady on tonights show, she was very understanding and reasonable about the whole thing. Nice woman

Kreeeee · 23 May 2007 at 22:08

Hedge said:
Respect to the lady on tonights show, she was very understanding and reasonable about the whole thing. Nice woman

I agree, and a great legacy to leave behind

WoZZeR · 23 May 2007 at 22:14

AcidHell2 said:
if you want heated water look into heat exchange pumps, will be much better than solar heating.

If that's the same as geothermic then I am interested, will have to read up though, I have only 6 inches of soil in the garden, then it's solid rock.

Werewolf · 23 May 2007 at 22:15

manoz said:
Did they mention anything about life expectency compared to the usual brick and mortar?

I suspect a lot longer than bricks and mortar

IIRC the romans built with a variation of concrete and it's lasted 2000+ years (where it hasn't been pulled down

), as if it's done properly and assuming no major external force (earthquake/war) it can and does last very well (much better than mortar).