1 - 8 Nov 2017
While Dave and I worked on the interior wall, Rowan and Jade were starting the framework of the 'trombe wall'. A trombe wall is a passive solar heating mechanism where an area of thermal mass has a glass wall placed in front of it in a sunny location. When the sun hits the glass, it superheats the air and the wall behind it. This warm air can then be cycled through vents in the wall into the house, and back out as it cools.
We have two challenges: one is that we didn't take the time to build the south wall in cob - in the end, we had enough bales and just wanted to get the job done - so the wall is insulated but doesn't have much thermal mass; and the second is that we don't want this heating system to operate in the summer - we would boil!
Not too sure what we're going to do about the first problem - maybe build a floor with a lot of mass, or store some water in old radiators painted black? As for the second, we have decided to have a glass wall that can be deconstructed. So Rowan is designing and building what is effectively a very small conservatory with removable glass panels.
While Dave and I worked on the interior wall, Rowan and Jade were starting the framework of the 'trombe wall'. A trombe wall is a passive solar heating mechanism where an area of thermal mass has a glass wall placed in front of it in a sunny location. When the sun hits the glass, it superheats the air and the wall behind it. This warm air can then be cycled through vents in the wall into the house, and back out as it cools.
We have two challenges: one is that we didn't take the time to build the south wall in cob - in the end, we had enough bales and just wanted to get the job done - so the wall is insulated but doesn't have much thermal mass; and the second is that we don't want this heating system to operate in the summer - we would boil!
Not too sure what we're going to do about the first problem - maybe build a floor with a lot of mass, or store some water in old radiators painted black? As for the second, we have decided to have a glass wall that can be deconstructed. So Rowan is designing and building what is effectively a very small conservatory with removable glass panels.
The basic structure goes in: there will be wood panels below the lower bar, and fixed glass in the top section. Six big wood-framed glass panels will go along the front, to be removed when the weather warms up in spring.
Rowan and Jade at work
First stage complete.
Painting on wood-protector - our favourite shade of orange!
While doing the plaster, I realised there was one small area of the wall that couldn't be finished, over the little arched window, as it needed an arched trim to plaster up to. So Rowan took a moment to fashion one for us, so this corner could be completed.
The mini-conservatory from the east, with lots of wood stacked up ready for the next phase, and glorious sunset.
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