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Post & Beam Pty. Ltd. - Testimonial

May 16, 2005

To Whom it May Concern

Re:       Timbercrete Masonry

The following are details pertinent to my assessment of and experience with the Timbercrete building product.

1.  Tertiary Qualification & General Building Experience

B.Ec., Dip ME., Grad IE (Aust)., P. Eng
Registered Energy Assessor (Sustainable Energy Authority of Victoria (Australia)
Registered Builder Victoria, Australia (DB-U 3577),
Registered Practitioner Victoria, Australia (DP-AD1293),
Registered Builder NSW, Australia (54693C),
Registered Building Supervisor NSW, Australia (134805).
Earth Building Designer & Builder (30 years),
Earth Brick Manufacturer (30 years),
Earth Building Association of Australia representative on ABCB Energy Efficiency Provisions WGH5,
Member of Standards Australia Joint Technical Committee (BD/83 Earth building).
Sole proprietor of Post & Beam Pty. Ltd. which has been supplying and building homes in Australia for 30 years.

2.  Experience with the Timbercrete Building Product

I have been designing homes using Timbercrete as an external wall medium in my homes throughout the eastern and southern Australia for over 5 years. 

I have seen no appreciable surface degradation of the product during this time. 

I have had Timbercrete masonry in sub-zero conditions where the annual rainfall is approximately 1000mm and there has been no evidence of adverse effects (spalling, surface wear, etc.).  There has also been no evidence of mould or algae growth.

Unprotected Timbercrete, like all other common masonry products will stain, particularly if in contact with non-kiln dried hardwood in rain conditions.  But this is easily avoided if appropriate building practices are followed.  Should this type of stain occur it can be removed with a number of proprietary products.

Internal surfaces of external walls in the above conditions have shown no evidence of water ingress, dampness, mould or the like provided the manufacturers instructions and specifications are adhered to.

Timbercrete has shown no adverse effects when used as internal walls in high condensation areas (eg. bathrooms & kitchens).  Naturally good building practice which provides adequate light and ventilation in this type of application is essential.

My homes have also been built in designated "HIGH" bushfire areas and Timbercrete is an acceptable external building medium in these conditions.

As a registered energy assessor I have found 200mm thickness Timbercrete walls to be a highly acceptable solid masonry external wall product from an energy efficiency design aspect.  The FirstRate energy assessment software program which is now a mandatory assessment pre-cursor to the issue of any building permit for new homes built in Victoria, Australia shows Timbercrete to be a superior external masonry wall product when compared with other conventional solid masonry and un-insulated masonry veneer mediums.  In my experience, the performance of Timbercrete external walls in both the extended cold climate of southern Australia and the subtropical northern areas is very good.

The thermal performance of Timbercrete is a very important aspect of my clients' choice of this product. However, its aesthetic appeal is also of tantamount importance and I am sure that my clients perceive that Timbercrete will enhance the resale value of their homes compared to other similar mediums.     

I am happy to be contacted (refer below) if any further information is required. 

Yours sincerely,

David Baetge
Managing Director
Post & Beam Pty. Ltd.
P:  +61 3 9486 7100
F:  +61 3 9486 2541
E:  david@postbeam.com.au

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