Two articles about " housing"
- Thread starter Silent Earth
- Start date
Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:
The geodesic dome partially buried is a cool energy efficient concept. It's similar to a place I saw called earthship home. It was mostly recycled materials like tires filled with rammed earth and such. With the opening facing south to catch the sun it could heat itself and be used as an area to grow some produce. I'd like to try something like that but the cost would still be more than what a do it yourselfer could do.
The flying saucer thing is just kind of way out there.
Nice concept though imagine having to clean the glass.
I hate to admit this but I have a couple windows in this place that still have the stickers on the glass, meaning they have never been cleaned since the day they were put in..... I'm a lot better at building things than maintaining them.
A couple of years ago one of the owners of another Prepper forum based on Yahoo Groups went into business making geodesic biodomes of various sizes for use as homes, retreats, workshops etc I think he used spraycrete to coat the outer shell which created an insanely strong structure.
In my hometown a builder made a whole development of geodesic dome structures. Probably 20 or so. He tried to market them as hi end housing, but no one wanted them as they were just too different from the norm. They eventually became a sort of business park with some small businesses renting some of them, and some just falling in disarray. These were wooden structures covered in asphalt shingles. The brackets were prefab steel connectors, it looked kind of like playing with Legos when putting it together. They say it's really strong compared to a conventional house, but is just too different to be accepted by the mainstream.
too much glass for a post SHTF house, sun shines on the glass which then gives away the location to possible undesireables.
my perfect house would be a part earth ship, part "hobbit" house, made of tyres and Cob mix, mostly underground with just the front façade being above ground.
my perfect house would be a part earth ship, part "hobbit" house, made of tyres and Cob mix, mostly underground with just the front façade being above ground.
Agreed, energy efficient, low visibility, no painting or exterior maintenance other than mowing occasionally. Really sensible design.
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2013
- Messages
- 18,374
These designs may work for some but they're not for me. They're expensive to build and if need be are very hard to sell. I'm going with a traditional stick built two story house with cement fiber siding and shingle roof. Heated by wood with electric by solar, wind and diesel backup generator.
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2013
- Messages
- 18,374
.
The only thing I would consider is a metal roof as it makes it much more fire resistant. Asphalt shingles are made of oil and if hot ashes land on them it's not a good thing. I'm not far from Dollywood, and fire resistance just moved up on my list of importance. 12 dead confirmed now.
Noticed that when we first visited the US, these asphalt shingles used on housing, We dont have them in the UK we use either Kiln dried Pantiles, Concrete tiles or Slate tiles plus the few Thatched roofs . Asphalt shingles would be illegal for human habitation in the UK because of the fire risk..
Some UK houses with flat roofs now have Glass Fibre roofs, Bitumen ( being phased out) Zinc, Copper or even Living roofs made from Sedum.
Last edited:
There are already a few in Finland and Sweden I read about them years ago some were made of interlocking geodesic blocks in an alloy frame, others were of the sprayed concrete over an inflatable former and the others were an alloy frame draped with insulation and weather proof fabrics a bit like a Yurt.
A common and cheap one seen before in your area was a shipping container on log platform for ground insulation surrounded on all sides and top by square bails of hay covered in weather proof tarpaulins.
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2013
- Messages
- 18,374
I've had several homes and barns with metal roofs and for the most part like them. They shed snow very well, maybe too well. My last couple of homes that had metal roofs would shed snow until it built up to the eves. My barn had 14' eves and the snow would build up to a point where I could walk on top of the roof.
My decision to go with asphalt shingles on my new house and barn is so I can add gutters and capture the water. The shingles I'm using have a Class A fire rating. While not totally fire proof they are pretty close.
I don't live in as high a snow fall area now as I used to; only 6-8 feet here compared to 30+ feet at a previous home. Even with the lighter snow load here the roof trusses still need to be beefed up to hold the snow over a metal roofed building. Snow shedding off a metal roof also covers the lower siding of the building causing increased moisture in the siding, which results in rot and eventual replacement.
I plan to have a water tanker with a high pressure pump on hand in case of fire too.
kaks lautta nen village Finland
Harriniva Aurora Glamping site, Finland
Last edited:
Both interesting articles....I liked the UFO 2.0 Houseboat that was pretty neat.
Not much for privacy, but a great view of the stars!
I wonder if the asphalt shingles give off any residue for the water catchment?
I don't understand why people use asphalt shingles. They don't last very long, and are very labor intensive to put on. I like the idea of doing the roof once, and it lasting my lifetime. The shingle companies here now advertise a lifetime warranty. What crap. Try collecting in twenty five years when it wears out and see how many excuses they have for yours not to be covered.
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2013
- Messages
- 18,374
Probably wouldn't be good for drinking without filtering, but I'll be using the stored water for the garden or livestock water.
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2013
- Messages
- 18,374
One reason is the cost. Asphalt shingles are usually cheaper than metal. The roofing I'm going with is considered a 40 year life. I'll be 100 by that time so I doubt I'll ever be replacing my roofs. Since I want to collect the rain water from my roof, and protect the house siding, shingles are the only good option. As far as I know there isn't a good gutter system on the market for metal roofs in heavy snow and ice areas. Personally I'd rather have a metal roof, it just won't work for my needs.
who said they were hippies? anyway don't knock hippies, they know a heck of a lot about surviving off the land and on surviving on a lot less than most of the sheeple could.
they aren't all "happy clappy", some I know are very knowledgeable about nature and what foods are available in the wild- not just food either.
they aren't all "happy clappy", some I know are very knowledgeable about nature and what foods are available in the wild- not just food either.
the ones I knew were the real deal not the "weekend, festival going" lot- these ones lived the life 24/7.
i'm still in touch with some of the "alternative" community, less as time goes on as they keep getting moved on. town councils don't like them because they don't live in houses and pay taxes.
i'm still in touch with some of the "alternative" community, less as time goes on as they keep getting moved on. town councils don't like them because they don't live in houses and pay taxes.
