Friday, May 28th 2004
You may wish us a happy anniversary, it is now three years that we have been wed, and it seems that the construction of our house and all the time spent at it has not shaken our happiness of sharing our lives.
It looks as if we have embarked on the largest Roller-coaster that I could ever imagine. Last week we were most enthusiastic, while this week we wonder if we should drop everything until next summer. In any case, I realize that I should provide news more often as everything changes so rapidly that even myself, who is in the midst of it, find it hard to keep up.
Since the last chronicle, we have received a response from the Town Planner, and news about the tire bales. We have to go back to tires filled with packed earth, as the CSST (workers Compensation Board) has requested modifications to the machine used to make the tire bales, so that it takes twice as long and becomes prohibitive.
The municipality on its part strictly obliges us to build on foundations 4.5 feet thick (unless we are on solid rock). We knew about this regulation as our neighbors had mentioned it. But these foundations must be built with concrete, cement blocks or jointed stones. Tires, in bales or otherwise, are not included in the regulations or in Quebec Construction Code. On a suggestion of the Town Planner, I have contacted the Town Council, and they would be amenable to change the regulations about the foundations for a type of construction like ours. A problem still remains: walls made of tires are not accepted in the Code…
Therefore, we are looking for a way to demonstrate that this type of construction meets (or even exceeds) the requirements of the Code, but it seems that unless one is a millionaire (which is far from our case) it is going to be difficult. Engineers have made many studies and all confirm that it is a way to build walls that is fully acceptable. As there are no similar structures in Quebec, all these engineering reports are not valid here!!! Furthermore, those who have built earthships elsewhere in the country or in the USA, if they are architects or engineers, cannot help us since they "sell" their services, and are not recognized in Quebec anyway.
Well! Enough of the blues …The geo-biologist came to check on site the readings that he had made; and to cut the story short, we have completely changed the spot where we are going to build. Vouli on her part is convinced that all of these pitfalls will turn out to be positive (and so am I really). But in the mean time, we wonder whether we should renew the lease before our apartment goes to somebody else. Yet, we are so anxious to move on the site! The landlord would be very happy to keep us; it is our habit to break the heart of people when terminating our lease ;-) to Yann and Teri, we miss them also ;-(
Hum, I said positive! We are henceforth working relentlessly at the new site and, effectively, there are numerous advantages. We will be closer to the river, that we will now see from the house. We probably will build directly on rock: see above, no need to modify regulations, which could take much time, and a less abrupt slope that would facilitate everything. Furthermore, considering the undulating and bumpy nature of the terrain, a number of ideas come to mind. We will have to conceive plans accordingly and it may turn out quite funky as a result. We are quite excited to envision a house all contorted, espalier, and which follows the shapes of the ground.
All that to say that Monday and Tuesday, the big shovel comes to shed light on the situation. I must promise to keep you informed on developments. Besides, there should soon be pictures of the new site, including shots of land clearing and exploratory excavation.
To be continued...
Also a big THANK YOU to André Fauteux of the magazine "Maisons du XXIe siècle*" to whom I spoke following the encouragement of our town councilor. He is enthused with our project and would like to prepare an article about it if possible.
*(Houses of the 21st century)