In the deep-green Towac Valley, at the foothills of Mount Canobolas and 40 kilometres from Orange, NSW, Simon Williams and his family have built their dream home. But the two-year journey to completion wasn’t without its frustrations. As well as juggling their own build with paying work and undertaking a massive six-month excavation, getting certain materials to the site proved to be a bit of a challenge.
“We chose to put large lengths of cedar around the reveals, so we had to go to a joinery shop in town. Then we had to have them delivered,” says Simon. Fortunately, the couple’s window and door fabricator, Taberners, was able to provide them with a truck for deliveries. They then cut the timber on site and fit them to the windows.
“Throughout the process we had plenty of direction through Taberners as to how to make the sub-sill tracks work. Piecing it all together was not difficult at all.”
Simon and his wife were particularly keen to ensure the home was as thermally efficient as possible. As a result, all windows are double-glazed. Given that many of the windows face west, the home is in the direct line of the scorching, late afternoon sun in summer. To limit the amount of air-conditioning required, the owners chose to install a raked ceiling, pitched to around eight degrees, and fitted with high, electrically operated windows. This has enabled the use of natural breezeways to let hot air out when required.
“I think, in any project, that windows can really make or break a job, so I don’t think it’s an area that should be skimped upon. The part I love most about this place is when you wake up in the morning. The windows allow us to encompass all those views!”
I think, in any project, that windows can really make or break a job, so I don’t think it’s an area that should be skimped upon. The part I love most about this place is when you wake up in the morning. The windows allow us to encompass all those views!
Simon Williams
Owner/Builder
