Village Squire, 1979-04, Page 11BY ELAINE TOWNSHEND
Near the top of a hill set well back from a country road
south-east of Lucknow, a long, high house built of wood, stone
and glass catches the eye of passersby and commands a closer
look.
The solar house, owned by Tony and Fran McQuail, is unique
because of its heating system and design and also because the
structure was built completely by hand. Cement was made in a
hand -cranked mixer. except for two loads of readi-mix that were
bought. Lumber was cut with hand saws, and all other tools were
hand tools. The farm had no electricity.
Tony and Fran did the work themselves with help from family
and friends; no contractor was hired.
"The co-operative aspect makes the house more meaningful,"
says Tony. "When friends and family come,to visit, it isn't just a
box in which we live it's part of them because they helped to
build it."
Fran adds. "It's satisfying to be able to do something like this
ourselves."
The design was influenced a little by the Pennsylvania
farmhouse, built in the 1800s. that Tony grew up in. He wanted
the new house to be rectangular in shape, tall and long, with
massive fireplaces on the end walls. The three-storey structure
measures 24' by 36' with 8' ceilings.
The work began in 1974. Field stones for the foundation were
hauled from the McQuail property and neighbouring farms.
Tony and Fran taught themselves the art of stonework.
Fran explains. "We used them as they came and didn't cut
any of them. Some of them aren't too flat and I don't think any of
them are square." she laugh,s.
Because of the interruption of farm work. building the
foundation took two summers, and Tony and Fran recall
spending a cold winter in a room above a shed. Before the end of
1975. they were able to move into the house.
On top of the foundation. a framed construction was erected. A
2' by 4' frame was covered with ten -test and sub -siding and filled
with fibreglass insulation. In the second year. offset studs and
another layer of insulation bats were added. With offset studs,
no direct path was left through the walls and wind penetration
was reduced. Pine siding covered the outside walls.
The roof was built in a similar fashion with offset rafters and
two layers of 12' Fiberglas bats. The Two -pitched roof was made
steeper on the north side than on the south side and reduced
north wall space by two feet.
Inside beams were made of rock elm and spruce. and the
upstairs walls were covered with mahogany panelling. Tony and
Fran plan to cover the walls of the main storey with gyproc,
something bright and reflective. and hope to use hard maple for
the floor, which has been temporarily finished with plywood.
Recently Tony added a front porch to the main floor and a
greenhouse to the south side of the basement.
The second and third storeys have no interior walls. On the
main floor, the living room is situated at the west end with a
huge stone fireplace built into the end wall. A tall hutch divides
the living room from the kitchen, and a bathroom has been
partitioned off the kitchen. An open stairway runs along the
north wall.
Three windows face north. while five windows are located in
the south wall. The upper floor has no windows on the north side
but ten on the south. All the windows are large and
double -glazed with screened vents at the top or bottom and with
a slight outward tilt at the top to avoid accumulation of dust and
dirt on the outside. Styrofoam panels can be used to cover the
windows at night or on windy days to prevent heat loss.
Although McQuails enjoy the bright airy atmosphere created
by the spacious rooms and many windows, they will probably
add at least one partition on each floor. It's difficult to carry on a
conversation in the living room. Fran explains. if someone is
talking or working in the kitchen.
Besides the stone fireplace in the living room, a brick one was
built into the west wall upstairs. but Tony admits the fireplaces
are used for atmosphere not heat. He and Fran now realize the
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April 1979, Village Squire 9