ROOF FRAMING

Once the timber framed walls were secured, the timber roof trusses were loaded onto the Laserframe timber framed walls.  The white strip is  the pro clima INTELLO PLUS connection strip applied between the timber framed top plates and the trusses.

Steel strip bracing being applied.

Pro clima INTELLO PLUS connection strip fitted 

between the  timber top plate and the roof framing.

The roof construction has continued over the large open plan living-area section of the house.  This roof is a timber framed skillion roof, with a generous eave over the large glazed sliding doors.  Care has been taken to ensure the air-tightness layer is managed between elements of construction layers to ensure it is continuous, forming an entire membrane to the structure.

The living area has a high ceiling, and the rafters extend to form a wide eave over the slider door

Rafters are birds-mouthed over the top plate of the timber framing. The Intello membrane that will create an uninterupted layer of air-tightness containing the house interior can be seen sitting between the rafter and the top plate.

Framing extends for the wide eave over the door.

The framing for the eave beyond the top of a concrete block masonry wall

The bulk of the house now has its timber framed roof.

TIMBER FRAMED WALLS

 Construction on the Passive House building site took a break over the 3 week Christmas holiday period, and this week the house has grown considerably - and quickly - with the installation of the pre-cut and nailed 'Laserframe' timber framed walls.

Laserframe Structural Timber is kiln dried, and is a structurally graded timber for residential and commercial construction of wall frames for general indoor load bearing applications. The pine used is grown in sustainably managed plantations, and is available in SG8 and SG10,  and can be treated to different hazard classes including; H1.2 Boron (pink) and H3.2 CCA (green).

Also seen in these pictures is the  pro clima Intelligent Airtightness System (IAS), which is a core part of the construction for this Passive House. The unique airtightness and moisture control properties of the INTELLO vapour check membrane prevent uncontrolled air infiltration or leakage through the building envelope.  The world-wide patented system has the ability to become more diffusion open or tight as required ensuring insulation stays dry and the building envelope is protected from possible structural damage due to moisture.  

These photos show the pro clima SOLITEX EXTASANA wall wrap (blue/black) 
which is used as the connection strip between ground level and first floor for the 
ease of installation of the Intelligent Airtightness System (IAS)

 

The white strip is  the pro clima INTELLO PLUS connection strip 
fitted between the frames.

Carters timber framing - the pink timber is H1.2 Boron and the green timber is H3.2 CCA. 

At this stage of the project, Firth concrete-block walls are being built, structural steel frames are being erected and fixed, and the second section of the house is ready for its timber framed walls.  The Laserframe timber arrives on site fabricated  in  pre-cut and pre-nailed panels ready for speedy erection.

   

Timber framed walls are being erected, concrete block walls are being laid, 
and the structural steel has been positioned in place for the 
structure over the living areas of the middle section of the house.

The timber framing of the upper level of the rear section of the house.

Timber framed walls and ceilings for the Garage at the road end of the house.
The Ecoply Barrier can be seen fixed to the outside of the timber framed walls. 

The  pro clima SOLITEX EXTASANA wall wrap (blue/black)  is wrapped around the timber framing, and sits ready for future window installation. 

Pro clima SOLITEX EXTASANA wall wrap (blue/black) is wrapped around the 
edge of the floor framing.  Ecoply Barrier has been fixed to the outside face 
of the timber framed walls. 
The edges and joins of the sheets are taped for air-tightness.

The Ecoply Barrier is taped to the  pro clima SOLITEX EXTASANA wall wrap.  

The builders!

CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB - SECOND POUR

In January, the second concrete floor slab was poured for the majority of the house footprint.  Using the same construction as the first floor slab, the insitu concrete floor is poured over 'EXPOL' 100mm thick EPS polystyrene insulation which is laid on top of a continuous layer of polythene.  The slab is reinforced with steel mesh, spaced off the EPS insulation boards on spacers that maintain cover to the steel mesh.  Beneath the polythene is a layer of compacted sand on top of a porous hardfill.  Pipework protrusions are made with sleeves to accommodate the necessary services (e.g. plumbing, wiring and ducting for 'Zehnder' ventilation system from Fantech, which will be installed later in the programme) for the requirements of the house design.

A portion of this slab was a suspended concrete floor using a Stahlton precast system.

Service pipes were set into the hardfill, and prepared to be cast into the slab  protruding where needed to facilitate the house services required.

At this stage, the timber framing for the walls and roof of the rear section of the house can be seen in place.  (Refer to the 'TIMBER FRAMED WALLS' and 'TIMBER FRAMED ROOF' sections of this blog for detail on these elements.)

Preparing for the concrete slab - laying pipes and spacing the reinforcing mesh.
At the rear the timber framed walls and roof trusses are visible.
Scaffolding is being crane delivered - viewed to the left of this picture.

Stahlton precast beams for the suspended concrete floor slab

Formwork around the edge of the slab is braced to support the 'Ecoblock' formork.
Reinforcing mesh is spaced up from the layer of grey insulating foam.
Grey and orange conduit for services is ready for casting into the concrete slab



Service conduit protrudes through the suspended concrete slab


 





 

Conduit protrudes through the hardfill and foundation walls 

Polythene, grey insulating foam board 
('EXPOL' 100mm thick EPS polystyrene ) 
and reinforcing mesh are laid over the compacted hardfill. 
The reinforcing bars are bent into the concrete slab.

 

 

  

This rebate is for an 11meter, fully-sealed, PH certified sliding 

glass door supplied by EcoWindows.

Base detail for the fixing of the steel portal frames is allowed
to be recessed into the concrete slab.

Viewed across the area prepared for the concrete floor slab concrete pour,
the reinforcing steel mesh can be seen lapped and spaced off the  
'EXPOL'  EPS polystyrene insulation , the reinforcing starter rods for 
the footings are bent to allow for positioning within the concrete slab,
and service conduits and drains secured.

Preparation for the concrete slab pour is completed, 

ready for the arrival of the concrete delivery.

 

 Concrete is pumped into place

 

Concrete workers move and vibrate the pumped concrete into place

 

 

 

Service pipes protrude through the wet concrete

 Concrete is float finished up to the edge formwork.

 

The concrete floor slab is then floated off.

 

 

The second concrete floor slab is complete, and left to cure. 
To the left of the slab, timber formwork has been set into the slab to 
form a rebate for the sliding glass door supplied by EcoWindows.