passthepotato

joined 2 years ago
[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 2 points 2 years ago

Good luck, stranger! :)

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Oh, true?! Much to learn, I still have.

Thank you stranger :)

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 7 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Except the ones who are dead.

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

Hmm, I don't see it either. Expanding "more" on a reply gives me:

Up, Down, Reply, PM, Report, Block, Fav, View Source.

Maybe we're missing something obvious? XD

TY in advance if we are :)

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 1 points 2 years ago

Thank you also, and welcome to Lemmy! :)

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 0 points 2 years ago (2 children)

The flat roof doesn't suffer water ingress during heavy/violent rain, only because it is a single sheet from end-to-end. This means if water flows backwards, it doesn't go under another sheet, or under any flashings.

The asbestos, fortunately, is in good condition. The advantages: will not burn, does not rot or absorb moisture. It makes modifications a little more time consuming (adding power points, etc), because I have to do a lot of preparation and wear the right PPE, but otherwise it's not a hassle to live with.

To give you an idea of cost, we paid AUD$1100 to have four panels (two inside, two outside) removed + disposed, and replaced with modern cement sheet. (Reason for removal, was so that a split-system aircon unit could be installed on that wall. Removing the asbestos first, meant that the electrician and aircon trades wouldn't have to cut asbestos.)

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 0 points 2 years ago (4 children)

How interesting - the bricks and blocks would act as quite a good heat mass to sort of, smooth out the temperature? (And chimney is the word we use also 😆)

Our cottage is built up on hardwood stumps, with a hard oak frame, and asbestos sheet cladding, both inside and out. The roof is almost flat, just a 2 degree incline, with corrugated iron sheets from end to end. Cheap and hollow 😀 hahaha

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 1 points 2 years ago (6 children)

I'm curious, what is the construction of an average 70s home in your region?

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 1 points 2 years ago (8 children)

I don't believe the government has any running initiatives to improve energy ratings on old houses, but there are certainly standards for new builds like you would have today. Generally speaking, because the summer sun disproportionately heats up our metal roof (and our ceiling cavity is not insulated), it will get to around 2-3 degrees hotter inside than it is outside, if no climate control is used.

The advantage on a sunny winter day, is that it can be 10 degrees outside, and 17 inside if we're lucky :) (but of course that heat vanishes the moment the sun goes behind the trees.)

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 1 points 2 years ago

Ouch, you can keep that! Hit me up if you're ever near Melbourne; we'll take you for a walk through Sherbrooke Forest; if you're here at this time of year, you enjoy cold mornings, and you're very lucky - you may even get to hear a lyrebird song - imitating every other native bird in the forest! 😀

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 23 points 2 years ago

Nice! Contribute literally anything, it all helps. 10 year reddit lurker here, also making an effort to bring something to the table. Until it gets busy. Then I'll fade into the background again :)

[–] passthepotato@aussie.zone 0 points 2 years ago (10 children)

Ahh yes, we also suffer from a lack of insulation. Empty ceiling and walls. The 50s was a pretty relaxed era for Australian housing.

 

So at work today, the discussion of household heating and gas/electricity bills came up (entering winter Down Under), and I commented that we have our central heating set to 14 Celsius (approx 57 Freedoms) overnight, and off during the day/evening. We find that 14 is quite comfortable under a fluffy doona/duvet. I was warmly mocked (well natured), and informed that something closer to 24C (75F) is appropriate, day and night.

Surely not... right?

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