Topic: Build a house for $5000

[hawkiye]

http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/12/01/hand-build-an-earth-sheltered-house-for-5000/

http://www.simondale.net/

I saw this and thought it was pretty cool and illustrates what can be done. However I think there is a better way for near as cheap which I touch on below.

But you could do something very similar for close to the same price using ferro cement (stucco) and rebar and steel mesh and have a much stronger house and less maintenance. Cement and steel are still one of the cheapest building materials around. Low maintenance, very strong, long lasting, and easy learning curve.

http://www.geocities.com/flyingconcrete/

These kinds of houses like in the original article are can be livable but are high maintenance and you must be careful especially of they are earth covered and burmed. Moisture, leaks, and rot are a constant concern and require vigilance and immediate attention if found. Straw bales have been known to compost over time and also mold if moisture is present

I question his roof with being just plastic covered for his moisture barrier then earth covered. If you get a leak it is a major operation to fix it since its earth covered.

As for permits yeah your never going to be able to build something alternative in a subdivision of box stick houses. You have to get out somewhere where the building codes are lax or non existent. There are places like that in Idaho

[crj]

looks like a Hobbits house.
Are you a builder?
Some of this stuff reminds me of some of the things my Dad and Uncle used to put together....

My dad owned a Poly-Styrene plant (Styro-foam to the layman  ) and also a stucco dist business

Anyway you could take 8 inch thick styrofoam sheets- Or whatever size you wanted to cut it into with hot wire. And build little huts. Then basically slop-expoxy chicken wire to it and stucco it. We nver made any big structures just little ice-fishing huts and wood-sheds. Styrofoam is an awesome insulator (which was the nature of his business) but perhaps a little too lightwieght for a real world home.
Anyway just random thoughts and looking at those home reminded me of it. I dont know if you remember the house from Woody allens movie "sleeper" 
http://unusuallife.com/2005/12/28/sleeper-house-for-sale/

But my dads company had something to do with it, the insulation or something.


 

[hawkiye]

 I don't build anymore for a living, however I am currently building a log home up near Idaho city. It was supposed to be an investment property but don't know how that's going to work out now with the economic troubles. I might have to walk away from it.

Those foam structures your dad built will work fine to insulate even large ferro cement homes as long as you have enough mesh and steel reinforcement which is cheap... Do you know where to get the stuff now days?

[crj]

Yeah, you should be able to find it under Expanded Polystyrene or EPS...hold on...
Here's one in Idaho  http://northwestfoam.com/

So with the fancy shapes and stuff its just a mold and you pour the unexpanded little balls into the mold and add steam and it expands. My dads place just had one huge mold: big giant 30 foot tall rectangles and we would just cut them into sheets, as ordered. (great mindless job as a teen) I would think this place in Idaho would have the same type of set-up for basic slabs.

[9Shooter]

I ran across a nice accessory to the earthen house.  Meet the wood-fired Dutch Tub.  Heats up to 100 degrees in 2 hours depending on outdoor temp and the type of wood used.

[hawkiye]

Wow I am surprised WTF hasn't asked if it came with the girl or is she extra