Conventional vs. a Viva Home, what are the differences?

Conventional house

Sustainable Viva Home

Materials are chosen for being cheap: sourced from anywhere around the world. Could be using rare resources or cheap labour, materials can be treated by chemicals

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Materials are sourced as local as possible to where you live, otherwise made in Australia. We know where and how materials are treated. Your money goes to your local trades, not overseas

Chemicals, pollutants and carcinogenics can be used in the materials you use. You breathe these in as they off-gas over time. Have been proven to be harmful to your health over time

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All natural products make it a healthy home. Clay/earth used in the walls absorb any pollutants in the air making them healthy to live in. Even better for people with allergies or who are sensitive

Carbon emissions are therefore higher due to the costs of overseas transportation and the use of precious natural resources

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We use natural materials from local sources, therefore carbon emissions are lower

Require a means of cooling or heating the house in summer and winter, as most are designed for cost and to maximise space, rather than designed to use the sun

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The homes have been designed to be warm in winter and cool in summer. To utilise the sun’s efficiency to be solar passive. They can be tailored to your land and rotated easily for the sun, the views and street entry

Energy use and costs are therefore higher via the use of air conditioning or artificial heating & cooling

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As you’re using natural means to keep a constant, regular temperature via the sun, design,  double glazing & cross breeze: energy costs are greatly reduced, saving you money in the long run

If all homes in the west were natural and sustainable, global warming could be reduced through the reduction of energy use and therefore carbon emissions

The current average life span of a house is 35 years. The quality of your house depends on the materials used and the trades who built your home. If you buy for price only you may not get good quality or outcome. As an example, insulation used in conventional homes are rated at R 2-2.5, you can specify R3.5 if you ask & pay more. Straw is rated at R11!

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Straw bale homes are still standing in the US and are well over 100 years old.

Our render coats use the same principles as those that have been used in Europe for centuries. The materials and skills we use are of the highest quality. We can say they will last just as long, if not longer than any other conventional house. Plus, straw is the best insulation in the world!

Warranty is 7 years for building defects. You’ve got to choose a good builder to get a good result

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Our warranty period is the same, 7 years for building defects. A licensed Master builder

Building practises are governed by the Building Code of Australia and local councils

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Our homes comply with the BCA, federal, state and local councils just like any other conventional house

Aesthetics and feel of conventional homes are identical to each other as they’re built the same way using the same materials, over and over

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These homes feel and look different to any other home. Some say they’re peaceful and relaxed, most can’t explain how they’re different, but they are in a really great way. “They have character, soul”... “they’re unique and not like everyone else’s”

Costs are spent on local and overseas materials. Quality is not governing factor of choice, nor is where it comes from or how it is treated. Costs can be cheaper as they choose mass produced materials. The cost to install these products can be cheaper as well as they have been made to fit together easily.

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Locally sourced materials means we prepare the materials ready for use, being natural they can be cheaper. Labour can be more expensive as your home is built from the beginning. If you help with labour, and use the community to help build for you, you can expect the same building costs as a conventional house.

Costs upfront may be cheaper because of the massive buying power of the big companies and where they source their materials. In the long run though, your energy costs will be higher, the build quality not superior, with the same warranty period. Energy costs will only increase for conventional houses as the costs of energy will increase in the future

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Building a Viva home cost wise is comparable to a standard home, plus you’ll have reduced costs on energy use for years to come. At the very worst it may be slightly more expensive upfront, however this is outweighed by reduced energy running costs over the long term

Average costs to build in areas in the Blue Mountains is $2,000 per sqm and up to $8,000 per sqm in Balmain, depending on finishes. For renovation costs, it depends on the type of renovation (2 storey, brick, weatherboards etc) and can vary

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Average cost of our homes is $1,800 per sqm. Renovations may cost more per sqm compared to a new home. If you put your own labour in, you can reduce these costs.

Resale value is limited to the market rates for that home and land as it is a standard house, just like all others. Perceived value is fixed as it is a stock standard finish. Unless you spend more money on fittings and fixtures or other improvements which all increase the cost of the renovation.  

As it is a smart, architecturally designed house, using solar passive principles, great natural materials, has character with a non standard finish (compared with standard houses), these homes can be sold for more than conventional homes. A client sold a straw home and it was the most expensive sale on the street! As they are unique with a professional finish, there is more room for adding perceived value which you cannot otherwise do with conventional building methods.

Getting a standard home built can be easier for tradespeople as they know what they’re doing and have done it before. The builder then has to ensure their quality meets the quality standards which is where a lot of cheap, project homes fall down.

The trades we use have worked with our houses before and if they haven’t, we can show them in no time at all what they need to do. So it is actually easier for them than a standard house. For instance, running electrics in a straw wall means pinning the conduit to the straw which we render over. The same for an earth walls. It’s easy!