How much do they cost?
High fire areas, difficult blocks or access or other special zones will cost more. BAL FZ starts at $5000 per sqm.
* These are estimates only for us to build you a natural home (a quote is required for a set price). Site costs are not included.
Please see inclusions for what is included below.
What's included and not included?
External finishes:
Standard steel roofing, gutters and downpipes
Concrete slab finish
Timber frame and strawbale/straw panel walls
External lime render (colour as per materials)
UPVC double glazed windows
UPVC external doors
Internal Finishes:
Internal clay render (colour as per materials)
Standard internal walls
Standard timber internal doors
Ceilings
Ceiling insulation (our standard 55mm R1.3 aircell roof blanket and R3.5 insulation batts)
Kitchen:
Allowance for a standard size custom made timber kitchen
Basic kitchen sink and taps
Bathroom:
Allowance for standard toilet, vanity, bath & shower screen
Allowance for standard bath, vanity & shower taps
Allowance for tiles and tiling
Services:
Internal electrics
Allowance for standard bayonet light fittings, light switches, power points and ceiling fans
Internal plumbing
Solar hot water back up to electricity
What isn’t Included?
Site costs aren’t included
Connection to services – power, water, gas, septic systems
Phone
Water tanks
All weather accessible driveway
Development Application fee
Construction Certificate Fees
Other council fees (including S94 Contribution, Long Service Levy, septic and wood heater applications)
Engineers Fees
Survey
Geotech Reports
Other reports required by council or other authorities
Landscaping
Optional Extras or Finishes – these will increase the cost of the estimate:
Additional verandahs, decks or pergolas
Garages/Carports
Appliances
White goods (fridge, air con, TV, washing machine)
Wood heaters
Solar PV Systems
Hydronic Heating
Insulated slabs
CBUS Electrics
Alarm systems
Building Zones can add costs onto a build
Blocks on slopes
High Bushfire zones
Heritage zones
Remote areas
Inner city areas
Custom Designs
Features which include the following items will add costs onto our estimates:
Above our standard wall heights (anything over 2.4m high is considered non-standard and therefore costs more)
Skillion/curved roofs
Pavilion style (with lots of external walls)
Clerestory windows
Lots of window glazing
Curved or unusual features
Especially if you have numerous custom features such as those above, this will increase our estimate rates. It is difficult to know up front by just how much.
The finishes you choose for your home can really make your home. We understand why people choose expensive finishes such as baths, sinks, light fittings, floor finishes, tiles, bathroom fittings and fixtures. Anything above our standard fixtures and sittings or over the allowance will significantly increase the cost of your home so if you have a set budget like most people do, then watch these items as they will increase the final cost to you above and beyond our estimates.
What's included to lock up stage?
- Slab down/Foundations completed
- Roof & gutters on
- Roof insulation (Roof Blanket but not ceiling insulation)
- External walls installed
- External render completed
- External windows and doors in
- Plumbing drainage under the slab only
- Internal wall frames (frames only)
Not included in Lock Up?
- Electrical rough in or installation of electrical items
- Plumbing rough in or installation of plumbing items
- Installation & connection of downpipes
- Ceilings
- Kitchen
- Bathrooms
- Tiling & waterproofing
- Fitout – architraves, skirting, cornices
- Internal doors and door jambs
- Internal wall cladding
- Window sills or headers
- Floor coverings or special finishes to slabs
- Connection to services such as electrical to mains, solar panels, water to town water or water tanks, sewer to town sewer or septic systems, painting, external stairs, ramps, paths, driveways, landscaping
What's so good about strawbale and earth homes
They’re better for your health, because they’re natural
They’re better for the world as local materials are used (no sweat shop labour, poisons or virgin forests)
They look incredible, they’re different. They’re peaceful and feel like nothing else
They have high energy ratings and surpass most conventional designs and materials
Our designs are solar passively designed so the sun warms your home in winter and it’s cool in summer
Our homes have a high level of qualilty, they’re better built than most project homes!
They’re built to last