House Planning Help Podcast

Meredith Bowles from Mole Architects shares his experience working with timber as a construction material and explains the benefits and drawbacks of the different build approaches. Check out the show notes for more information.

Alexx Stuart from Low Tox Life discusses the hidden dangers of mold, emphasizing the importance of awareness and moisture control in preventing health issues. The podcast explores individual reactions to mold exposure, the risks of unseen mold, and strategies for maintaining healthy indoor humidity levels. Stuart shares her personal journey with toxic mold exposure and offers advice on mold remediation.

Amelia Lee from Undercover Architect shares insights on avoiding common pitfalls in owner-builder projects. She emphasizes the importance of creating a clear foundation of values and project intentions. The podcast also covers topics like empowering homeowners through online education, mastering the house-building process, choosing professionals wisely, and sustainable building foundations.

Andy Marlow from Envirotecture explains why Passivhaus homes are a good fit for most climates in Australia, how they approach these projects and what is needed beyond shading to keep the homes comfortable when the outdoor temperatures soar. Check out the show notes for more information.

Sarah Lewis, Research and Policy Director at the UK Passivhaus Trust, explains the importance of the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) in architectural design. She discusses common mistakes, challenges, and benefits of using PHPP, as well as the role of clients in energy balance and summer comfort considerations.

Janice Gardiner, an ecologist and Passivhaus project client, discusses her award-winning project, Hazel Tree Passive House. She talks about finding the site, choosing an architect with ecological credentials, using clay plaster as a finish, DIY kitchen installation, challenges faced, DIY plant room design, electricity consumption, sustainable changes, visiting the show notes, and the membership community announcement.

Architect Josh Wood gives us an insight into his own self build project, where the balance between keeping costs low and creating a sustainable home have pushed him to come up with creative solutions. By undergoing most of the work themselves, Josh and his partner Amy have been able to transform their snug, back garden plot, into a comfortable and energy-efficient home. Josh explains how thinking outside of the box may be an excellent option if you are looking to get on to the property ladder with a smaller budget. Check out the show notes for more information.

Architect Kirsty Maguire explains why reusing an existing building is always preferable to demolishing and rebuilding. However, when buildings are in terrible condition or need radical alterations to make them habitable we should be looking to reuse, recycle and reclaim as many materials as possible. Kirsty shows us that with intentional and sustainable design, you can create a new structure with a wealth of history. Check out the show notes for more information.

Jae Cotterell, founder of Passivhaus Homes, explains the importance of the choices we make when considering our construction approach. It is possible to create a high performance home with low embodied carbon that doesn't cost the earth if we understand the process, where the impacts lie and where optimisation can make a huge difference. Check out the show notes for more information.

Andrew Jones, VAT expert for self build and conversions, explains how to reclaim VAT on a self build or conversion project. Topics covered include qualification criteria, reclaiming process, DIY vs seeking help, understanding VAT on new builds vs renovations, and recent changes to the VAT reclamation process.