Below are actual reports from our clients about their homes. We have not omitted any details and as would be expected there are some reports which show how we may have helped our clients better. We have shared these comments to let you know that we will do all that is possible to resolve any design, material or workmanship issues before you build.
What do you like most about your earth walls?
"I like the feeling of solidity and the sense of mass. I also like that I will never need to paint."
- Contracted Job
"The rich color and the way they buffer the light in the day and appear to soften up the electric lights at night. They warm
up nicely from sun and feel like a freshly baked potato on a cold winter's night .. can't be beaten for heat sink effects!"
- Contracted Job
"The general appearance.They give the interior a quiet, calm atmosphere. Also, no ants or rodents in the walls."
- Contracted Job
"The texture, the way they reflect light.The feeling of a dense surrounding. Warmth."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"Earth walls give a living environment like no other building material. It's difficult to explain in words because the effect is a
subtle feeling you get by being in them; serene, warm, solid, less noise, healthier, secure."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"The solidity and they’re warm in winter and cool in summer."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
What do you like least about your earth walls?
"There’s nothing to dislike, how could you? I can’t think of anything."
- Contracted Job
"It’s somewhat silent in the rooms when you have the doors closed. You can’t hear what is going on even in the next room.
But, I don’t even know whether this is a valid concern or not. Maybe I would choose to have certain walls from timber-
frame if I built again."
- Contracted Job
"I wanted to run a cable and I had to trench around the whole house. I didn’t leave many spare sleeves in the walls though.I
wish I had put more in."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
Have you noticed any deterioration of your walls or do you have any other concerns?
"I’ve been in the place for 9 years and there’s been nothing."
- Contracted Job
"No."
- Contracted Job
"My husband used a couple of dodgy bricks, but doing slurry wash has helped.Other than that, no, excellent."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"The only deterioration I have in my walls are slight micro-cracks which don't effect the integrity of the wall
strength."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"None."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
If you were involved with the planning of your earth home, did you experience any difficulties with the building department?
"No, they really didn’t have anything to say."
- Contracted Job
"We had no difficulty with the building dept."
- Contracted Job
"No."
- Contracted Job
"No, just a lot of plans posted over to engineers."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"I had Vince teach me 2 yrs before I started my own building. Lisa drew up the plans and Vince oversaw when I built. So, I
had experience and practical knowledge and no problems in construction or the building dept."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"None."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
If you were to wish for any changes, would you alter any aspect of your walls, such as color or finish, or would you add windows or doors?
"I would like to make one door wider to let more light into the house, which can still be done."
- Contracted Job
"Nothing."
- Contracted Job
"Slurry wash the walls a slightly lighter shade of cream."
- Contracted Job
"No, but I’d definitely slurry the house 2-3 coats before doing any finishing stuff. Even putting windows in if possible."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"None."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
Please comment on the thermal performance of your house?
"Groovy."
- Contracted Job
"As simple as this "Warm in the winter and cool in the summer""
- Contracted Job
"Seems to be cooler inside during hot days. Seems to retain the heat well on cold days."
- Contracted Job
"Fantastic!! Warmest, driest house I’ve even been in."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"My earth brick bungalow is set in the bush on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. When I walk in the door on a cold
winters day the environment inside is warm and cozy compared to outside. We have limited heat from the sun
because of the tree cover so I have installed heating in the earth-slab floor that assists the bungalow to stay at a
constant temperature year round. The bricks also work to cool the bungalow in the hot summer. It's always cool
even in the hottest temperatures we experience."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"It’s a wonderful temperature night and day and year round. Always pleasant for entertaining."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
Do you have any other comments?
"My personal opinion is that earth building is under-rated as a building product"
- Contracted Job
"I’ve visited dozens of earth houses. Each one had considerably different architecture but they were all warm and
charming in their own way. Somebody should start a B&B..."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"When working with adobe brick I found I had complete flexibility in construction to the degree of being able to
change or add into the walls anything from windows & doors to mirrors or bottles or large timbers."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
What do you like most about your earth walls?
"I like the feeling of solidity and the sense of mass. I also like that I will never need to paint."
- Contracted Job
"The rich color and the way they buffer the light in the day and appear to soften up the electric lights at night. They warm
up nicely from sun and feel like a freshly baked potato on a cold winter's night .. can't be beaten for heat sink effects!"
- Contracted Job
"The general appearance.They give the interior a quiet, calm atmosphere. Also, no ants or rodents in the walls."
- Contracted Job
"The texture, the way they reflect light.The feeling of a dense surrounding. Warmth."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"Earth walls give a living environment like no other building material. It's difficult to explain in words because the effect is a
subtle feeling you get by being in them; serene, warm, solid, less noise, healthier, secure."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"The solidity and they’re warm in winter and cool in summer."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
What do you like least about your earth walls?
"There’s nothing to dislike, how could you? I can’t think of anything."
- Contracted Job
"It’s somewhat silent in the rooms when you have the doors closed. You can’t hear what is going on even in the next room.
But, I don’t even know whether this is a valid concern or not. Maybe I would choose to have certain walls from timber-
frame if I built again."
- Contracted Job
"I wanted to run a cable and I had to trench around the whole house. I didn’t leave many spare sleeves in the walls though.I
wish I had put more in."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
Have you noticed any deterioration of your walls or do you have any other concerns?
"I’ve been in the place for 9 years and there’s been nothing."
- Contracted Job
"No."
- Contracted Job
"My husband used a couple of dodgy bricks, but doing slurry wash has helped.Other than that, no, excellent."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"The only deterioration I have in my walls are slight micro-cracks which don't effect the integrity of the wall
strength."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"None."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
If you were involved with the planning of your earth home, did you experience any difficulties with the building department?
"No, they really didn’t have anything to say."
- Contracted Job
"We had no difficulty with the building dept."
- Contracted Job
"No."
- Contracted Job
"No, just a lot of plans posted over to engineers."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"I had Vince teach me 2 yrs before I started my own building. Lisa drew up the plans and Vince oversaw when I built. So, I
had experience and practical knowledge and no problems in construction or the building dept."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"None."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
If you were to wish for any changes, would you alter any aspect of your walls, such as color or finish, or would you add windows or doors?
"I would like to make one door wider to let more light into the house, which can still be done."
- Contracted Job
"Nothing."
- Contracted Job
"Slurry wash the walls a slightly lighter shade of cream."
- Contracted Job
"No, but I’d definitely slurry the house 2-3 coats before doing any finishing stuff. Even putting windows in if possible."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"None."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
Please comment on the thermal performance of your house?
"Groovy."
- Contracted Job
"As simple as this "Warm in the winter and cool in the summer""
- Contracted Job
"Seems to be cooler inside during hot days. Seems to retain the heat well on cold days."
- Contracted Job
"Fantastic!! Warmest, driest house I’ve even been in."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"My earth brick bungalow is set in the bush on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. When I walk in the door on a cold
winters day the environment inside is warm and cozy compared to outside. We have limited heat from the sun
because of the tree cover so I have installed heating in the earth-slab floor that assists the bungalow to stay at a
constant temperature year round. The bricks also work to cool the bungalow in the hot summer. It's always cool
even in the hottest temperatures we experience."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"It’s a wonderful temperature night and day and year round. Always pleasant for entertaining."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
Do you have any other comments?
"My personal opinion is that earth building is under-rated as a building product"
- Contracted Job
"I’ve visited dozens of earth houses. Each one had considerably different architecture but they were all warm and
charming in their own way. Somebody should start a B&B..."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
"When working with adobe brick I found I had complete flexibility in construction to the degree of being able to
change or add into the walls anything from windows & doors to mirrors or bottles or large timbers."
- Do-It-Yourselfer
Client Testimonials
