Under the direction of Jesus (AJ Miller) and management of David Walsh (Cornelius), the God’s Way Ltd Construction Team has continued work on the Cushnie Function Centre Caretaker’s Residence Renovation Project. During June 2019, God’s Way volunteers insulated the walls and replaced cement board cladding the outside of the house with corrugated steel panels.

Background information and an overview of the renovation can be found in the post Project Introduction: Function Centre Caretaker’s Residence Renovation, and on the Cushnie Function Centre Caretaker’s Residence Learning Centre page (also linked via the Learning Centres menu of this site).

Renovation Tasks

Insulating and Sound Proofing the House

The caretaker’s house is quite close to a main road, so in order to create a nicer living environment, Jesus and Cornelius have included sound proofing measures in the design of the house and surrounding areas.

Sound proofing measures include:

• Insulating the walls of the house
• Installing double glazed windows in the windows near the road
• Strategically placing the water tanks at the side of the house that is closest to the road
• Planting shrubs and trees along the fence-line of the property to create a sound dampening barrier

Planting shrubs and trees will have multiple other benefits like beautifying the area and creating habitat and food for wildlife.

External Wall Cladding

Cement board cladding the outside of the house has been replaced with corrugated steel panels. This time-lapse video shows new panels being attached to one side of the house.

God’s Way Ltd Project Planning & Intentions

All God’s Way Ltd projects and decisions aim to create multiple benefits for people, animals and the environment. This requires careful planning with the goal of doing things properly the first time. This same ethos applies to God’s Way Ltd housing renovations. Further information on the model and methods for all operations of the God’s Way Ltd organisation can be found in the God’s Way Fundamentals Series.

One of the reasons renovation of the Function Caretaker’s property was required, is that the original house was not designed for the local climate which includes extremes of heat in the summer and temperatures that drop to below zero during winter nights. The house was constructed using cheap materials and included almost no insulation in the walls or roof. Maintaining comfortable inside temperatures throughout the year required heavy use of air-conditioning during summer and a fireplace in winter.

The purchase cost of insulating materials for God’s Way Ltd to thoroughly insulate the entire house was roughly $1,600 (this excluded labour which was gifted by God’s Way Ltd volunteers). Had the house had been insulated when it was first built, this upfront cost would have actually saved money (and environmental costs), by reducing the air-conditioning & firewood required annually. This would have also meant that future owners would not need to expend time and energy making the house comfortable and efficient. So of course the renovations undertaken by God’s Way Ltd, to remove roofing, walls and cladding and install the insulation, would not have been required.

Taking the time and spending the money to use quality materials and insulate the house now, will provide long term resource savings for the home’s occupants and the Earth.

Volunteer Reflections

From Jadda:
I’ve seen this type of scenario play out in my own life as I have similar emotions to the previous owner of the house in wanting to get things done quickly, cheaply and with the least amount of planning possible. Since volunteering for God’s Way Ltd, this attitude has been highlighted to me and I’m starting to notice the contrast between how I usually create versus how God creates. I am learning that there is a level of thoroughness needed to create things that have positive long term outcomes.