Owner(s): Ben Polley & Jen Woodside
Region: Guelph/Kitchener/Waterloo
Municipality: Guelph
Email: ben@evolvebuilders.ca
Web site: http://www.evolvebuilders.ca

Number of bedrooms: 3
Number of bathrooms: 2
Usable floor area, square feet (interior): 1450
Building footprint, square feet: 1200
Number of stories: 1 1/2
Occupancy date: Oct 2009

Builder arrangement: Contractor
Main contractor name: Ben Polley
Main contractor company: Evolve Builders
Straw bale wall system subcontractor name: Dan Indoe
Straw bale wall system subcontractor company: Harvest Homes
Plaster subcontractor name: Rob Loubser
Plaster subcontractor company: Harvest Homes
Designer's name: Ben Polley
Designer's firm: Evolve Builders
Structural engineer's name: Carl Lankinen
Structural engineer's firm: RJ Burnside
Length of time to build (start to occupancy): combination gut and reno of existing heritage home with new straw bale addition - 10 months
Volunteer participation: no
Ease of obtaining a building permit: Very easy

Other foundation info: Insulated frost wall, partial earth bermed walls


Other roofing material info: eastern white cedar

Other insulation materials used: soy foam

Straw type: Wheat




Paints used on bale wall plaster: silicate paint

Mechanical systems info: Latent heat storage medium for combo evacuated tube solar HW collectors and 3kW electric backup for 100% domestic HW & primary space heating. Backup space heating by antique wood cookstove.
Other green features: Original structure wide plank wall sheathing remilled into flooring or used as visible wall boarding. All exposed wood finished with natural oils and/or waxes. Unsealed polished concrete floors throughout addition. Recycled wine cork flooring in new bath. Original softwood flooring refinished in natural oil.
Anything else you'd like to share?: Heritage designation on orig structure dictated form, size, composition, materials for new addition. Antique doors & hardware, plumbing & lighting fixtures sourced for addition to complement original.