Kajson House: "Why is it green?"

Sunday, February 17, 2013

"Why is it green?"

A visitor asked me recently what the difference was between the 'green' timber she could see being used in our buildings, and the non-green timbers most commonly seen used in economical housing. Easy - these green timbers are anti-termite-treated.

Here are all the base-plates marked out and ready to go for Number 27 Chapman Place. Chalk and pencil markings show positioning for wall studs.

"So, why is it green?" The green (or blue, and any colour inbetween!) stuff isn't the termite treatment itself - it's a dye used to easily identify timbers that have been treated. You may remember from a previous post about foundations why I feel it's necessary to deter termites as much as is practical.

The floor laid for Number 27 Chapman Place makes for a nice big work area for pre-cutting all the wall frames.

So, when you next drive around any housing development with building in progress, you'll easily be able to identify which homes are being constructed with treated timber, and which are not.

It comes off... eventually!

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Carl says...

"I come from a background of high end architectural housing. For me, as a builder, what I do is who I am. I would like to think that whatever I build has the potential to outlast me by generations, long after I have gone. I hope that some people out there appreciate the difference in what I build, compared to the economical housing solutions that many large building companies currently offer. My intention with this blog is to highlight and document these differences which might otherwise be overlooked and lost. A lot of these items really effect the ongoing cost of maintaining a home. If you are considering buying one of these houses, please compare these features with other homes you are considering. Thanks for your interest!"

Tradition and History...

In 1957, my father immigrated from Denmark to Australia with his parents, brother and two sisters. Aged 20 when he stepped on the boat, he could not speak English, had nothing, and knew very little of what the future held. But he wanted to keep the family together, and in those times that meant leaving his life and what he knew behind and immigrating with his parents and siblings. He had just finished his qualification as a carpenter and joiner, with experience in traditional Danish houses and barns, wooden fishing boats and yachts.

My grandfather was a boiler maker by trade an inventor by nature, I still have some of his works in my shed. In his final working years my grandfather worked for my father.

The time spent together working as father and son was one of the most natural and happiest times in my life. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think fondly of those times. I started my apprenticeship the day after I finished school. For myself I could not ask for a better apprenticeship and a better life. My father was a gentle and quiet person, and he didn't consider his opinion any more important than anyone else's. Even if he didn't realise it he was wise, practical, and sensible. If you discussed an issue or problem with him he had an amazing ability to break through any confusion and get to the real issue.

For years my father and mother employed many people, and worked mainly for architects on demanding projects. They worked as a team, and enjoyed their time doing it. I am now attempting to write the next chapter in my family's history. If I am remembered as half the man of my father and grandfather I will have achieved all I can hope for.

I feel privileged to have the opportunity to attempt what I am now doing with these quality small houses, and hope they outlast me by many generations. I believe modern life is much more complicated than it needs to be. To me these houses are a throwback to the ideals of the past but made to live in today, with adaptability for the future.

My fathers name was Kaj.

He built houses.

I am his son.

He taught me how to as well.

This is why I call this blog:

Kaj's Son's house.