The Eastertown Eco-Build Straw House.

Eco Build - Straw Build - I don’t think the 3 Little Pigs felt so stressed!

Well! - 2024 was quite eventful in respect of building a house! Bad weather and other complications meant a delayed start, but things are progressing well now due to the hard work and diligence of John Hopkins who is overseeing the project and building the main timber frame. We are very grateful for John’s expertise and contacts, and we are happy that everything feels in safe hands.

It has been a real learning curve for us! So much paper work and things to organise.

We have managed to find a straw build expert living in Winscombe - Nico from Red Kite Design and Build. He is going to install the bales in the timber frame for us - a skill that needs experience.

Photos 1-7 show the development of the build, from a field to the scaffolding going up.

March 2025 - George and Sarah are making great progress with their eco-home. In the last weeks the haybales have started to go in and the interior layout is taking shape, along with the completion of the roof (photos 8-14).


May

The house has been insulated with wood fibre insulation, the roof, floor and all voids. Redkite has had a team of between 3 - 6 working on it daily and it is taking shape. Many of the team are staying in our field in a caravan or a tent as they come from various areas. They are lovely and interesting people and it is lovely having them here.

Roger Coles - our electrician and also George’s cousin has put all the wiring in place ready for next steps.

The lime render has started, spraying the first coats outside. It will take 4 coats for it to be completed. The house looks really so much more together with this on!

Windows! Chris Shergold from Shergold Conservatories has done a beautiful job supplying and installing the ground floor windows - they look amazing. The upstairs will have to be done once the cladding is on the upper part of the house. It is coming together!

Still no water connection - there are a lot of hoops to jump through if you put the pipes in yourself and ask them to connect only. This is understandable as it has to be done correctly. Lots of photos taken and email exchange, but it saves some money in the long run!

June

The upstairs windows are in - they do look good and I am pleased with the colour we have chosen.

27/6/25 The floors are being completed this week - this is a big step as Dan the plumber can start work properly on the under-floor heating.

I have completed so many forms for the air source heat pump and we are at the point where they can deliver. We are hoping to get a grant towards the pump itself as it is a new build. This will help as the magic money pot hasn’t appeared yet!

Roger has been sorting the wiring in preparation for everything - he is super organised which is brilliant.

The cedar cladding is on the gable ends and looks really lovely. The Redkite team is doing an amazing job, they have put so much love into the house.

We still have no water connection and I am batting emails back and forth - you would think this would be easy, but it has been very complicated!

July

Chlorination carried out on the pipe and certificate sent to Bristol water.

04/07/25 - The water is being connected today!

The house is looking very pretty! The scaffolding has come down so you can see it properly. The inside is still a bit of a shell - but the internal frames for the plaster board are up so you can see the layout of the rooms.

The upstairs eves are being plasterboarded, which is a fiddly job, but it is coming together.

September

We are nearly finished!


Jobs still to do:

Finish ramp and hard standing for disabled access to comply with building regs.

Air tight test - Also a building regs requirement.

Air source heat pump to be signed off.

Electrics to be signed off.

Exterior paint to be finished.

Small internal jobs - boxing off plumbing and other pipework/doors to eaves storage.


The paint we have used for the lime mortar is Earthborn - it is a specialist breathable.

It has been quite a journey and we have learned a lot!

Hopefully we will be able to move in on time. George has plans for the garden and surrounding area - but that will take a back seat for a while.