My experience of owner building has been with my family in Northern New South Wales. I assisted, along with my parents and brothers in building four homes. It wasn’t always easy working in the humid weather, however, I learned a lot about home building from practical experience. My family also practiced hobby farming in the Tweed Valley area keeping milking goats, dairy cattle, poultry as well as growing their own fruit and vegetables. This wasn’t an unusual way to live in those days my father had grown up herding cows in the Coolangatta hills, and milking them before and after school to help the family.

As a younger man, I trained as an Industrial Arts Teacher in NSW. I taught in that field as well as in Fine Art, Drawing and Art History. Later I worked as a builder carrying out home maintenance and renovations in general.

Since that time, I became interested in what was once called alternative architecture. I have enjoyed working with clients in developing designs which suit their specific needs and tastes. I am a registered building practitioner (designer) and have 21 years experience drafting and designing and specifying home plans.

Lately straw bale building has become more popular due to its high insulation properties, and the fact that it’s a light, natural material. It’s not more economical than other materials unless you build with it yourself. To have a contractor build in straw is relatively expensive, because it's a new material in the building industry.

Mud brick is still popular with owner builders because of its beauty and economy. The exterior walls of sun dried mud bricks may need annual maintenance if they’re exposed to the weather. (That is, without verandahs) Cement stabilized mud brick and rammed earth buildings often don’t need this extra work. Timber is generally the fastest and most economical material to build with. Of course exterior timbers need regular maintenance.

If you hope to become an owner builder, it’s wise to take stock of family support, lifestyles and finances before you begin, to ensure a harmonious experience.

Please feel free to contact me to discuss your design and building ideas.
With best wishes,

John Barton