buying land...
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- kyl3
anybody bought land and built their own house.
I want to do a modern style strawbale house with radient heat floors, simple open plan with a loft at first.
then add as we go. Any experienced folks out there?
- khilled0
interesting topic
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings…
somewhere on this site there's an episode about a guy who made an enviro type of house based on all his patents...truely a genius house
- kyl30
sounds interesting, any other hints to find the article? search but couldn't find
- elms0
- subversve0
if you're looking into buying land, buy something with a house on it. that way, you can get the tax benefits of home ownership, which you won't get by just buying land. i would recommend either buying a large plot with a small house on it and building your dream home somewhere else on the land, or adding onto the existing home and demolishing the existing part later on.
- elms0
what subversve said. if you have an old house, you probably have water, electricity, road, etc...
- khilled0
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings…
i'm pretty sure it was this episode...it doesn't mention his house but that's the guy. there's no corner in the entire place and he used some sort of cement that resembles the flintstones made from rocks near by...he has his designed fridge and all sorts of crazy stuff, right on some water too
- khilled0
i was in a rush when i posted the link the first time...didn't mean to be so ambiguous :)
- khilled0
" So harnessing renewable sources of energy is as important as conserving energy through design, as Bill reveals in his own underground house. "
- kyl30
thanks chilled.
Unfortunately the houses arounds here are 300k for anything decent.
There a 9 acre lot for 65K and I know I can build the first phase for about 100k. which means dream house for less than 200k on 9 acres, solar powered, green construction, bleh bleh bleh
- kyl30
sorry I meant 'Khilled'
- khilled0
pronouced chilled of coarse
- khilled0
are some of these alt materials cheaper ? or do they just save in the long run type of thing ? what's a strawbale house with radient heat floors ?
- khilled0
i wonder how many architecks and building/interior designers are here...every one seems so graphic / web orientated, i think the sensibilities match sometimes
- kyl30
strawbale home are twice as efficient in their R values(insulation) and the bales cost almost nothing(byproduct of farming.
I would pour a concrete floor with hot water pipes running throughout for heating(most efficient heating system) then stack the bales as walls and mud or stucco them.
- khilled0
definitly sounds cheap ... are you going to work with contracters at all?
- kyl30
we have a friend who does strawbale as a contractor so probably consult with him. and for stuff lke concrete, electric, plumbing, yes. I don't have enough experience with that type of stuff.
my father in law is a structural engineer so that helps too. :)
- kyl30
i wonder how many architecks and building/interior designers are here...every one seems so graphic / web orientated, i think the sensibilities match sometimes
khilled
(May 13 06, 11:24)several NT'ers are trained architects
TK, ivancook, anyone else?
- kyl30
- niconico0
truly green construction is actually more expensive 8 times out of 10.
the industry isn't really set up for it, and that's why it's usually more costly. the current "green" architecture is usually just a synergy between energy-efficient materials, innovative technology, and standard construction techniques.
but if you're going for strawbale, it's usually not too pricey, it just takes some expertise. but you do get the whole "earth-hippie" look.
:) maybe that's what you want.