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  1. #1
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    Building your own home out of earth. A picture TR

    I found this incredibly cool! This guy with the help of friends built a home for $5000. Very unique.

    http://ciracar.com/build-a-house-for-less-than-5000
    I think you have me confused with someone who is far less awesome.

  2. #2
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    I'm pretty sure they got booted from that first house by the land owner. But a friend of mine helped out while they built their new home.

    http://www.simondale.net/house/newhaus.htm
    Life is simple. Go Explore.

  3. #3
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    Wow, that really is a beautiful house.
    Flying the Bluehouse colors in Western Canada! Let me know if you want some rad skis!!

    "He is god of snow; the one called Ullr. Son of Sif, step son of Thor. He is so fierce a bowman and ski-runner that none may contend! He is quite beautiful to look upon and has all the characteristics of a warrior. It is wise to invoke the name of Ullr in duels!"

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  4. #4
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    Very cool houses, but I'd feel a bit like a hobbit living in one.
    My orders came through. My squadron ships out tomorrow. We're bombing the storage depots at Daiquiri at 1800 hours. We're coming in from the north, below their radar.

  5. #5
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    I wonder how dry it stays? I saw the one comment about wet straw having a lot of bacteria in it. Shit there are plenty of places you can just buy a home for $50k that is dry with central heating. I think that is the route I will stick with if I need something on the cheap side. I have seen some bitchin homes built into the side of a hill that are along these lines, but they are waaaayyyy more primo and consequently, expensive.
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  6. #6
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    That is pretty cool!!
    The pacifists always lose, because the anti-pacifists kill them.

  7. #7
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    Id love to see how one of these places holds up during a serious weather event.

    Shit just that overblown storm known as Irene would have seriously fucked this guy if it was in VT vs. Wales or whatever bullshit hobbit like place where this was built.
    Live Free or Die

  8. #8
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    I love the concept and design, but the estimate on cost is bullshit. 1500 man hrs on the original dwelling . . . . no small cost there if there was a proper tradesman involved. And on banker's hours, that's approx 200 days - someone must be bankrolling this guy while he is building. Food and the other things must come from somewhere . . .

  9. #9
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    Ive started a couple 'homesteading' esque threads here, so I tend to lean in this general direction, but this kind of back to the earth crap is all sunshine and unicorns when you start talking financials.

    The whole I only used three tools and a lot of love thing is the type of stuff that gets me. 1500 man hours is 3/4 of a year of full time work, or give or take 30k if you use the median wage scale for most developed countries in opportunity costs alone, let alone putting that 5k to work in some other venue. (Plus, thats probably what a contractor would charge in labor for 1500 man hours on a bid) Then, the 5k building costs are always way off, cause, oh wait a minute, you actually need some land to do this on. I mean, the guy has a ladder used in some of the pictures, so you already know he's full of shit on the whole three tools thing.

    Building your own house or going back to the land, or anything in between is more a lifestyle and preference choice, opposed to major financial win. You are replacing money with labor in most instances, but your only selling yourself short if call that free. Nothings free. Time spent farming or building an earth birm home was time that could have been spent working for someone else, to pay for someone else to build the house for you. Either way it costs something, but thats a little to much economics 101.

    There is something to be said for owning everything outright, that does makes super financial sense, but you could buy a 100k fixer upper on a lot that you could homestead on outright as well. Again, lifestyle choice and personal preference.
    Live Free or Die

  10. #10
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    Pick up this book if you are into that Whole Earth throwback style. Lots of cool ideas, although most of those designs would get dropped kicked by the ICC.

    http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=qKTxzL1J7u0C

  11. #11
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    To those who are brining up the man hours comments.

    Most people who build their own homes work on it during the nights and weekends when they would be out spending money on the bar, or skiing or doing other shit that costs money. If I could build a house in 2 years with help in my spare time for $95K compared to having a contractor build it and do it for $400K in a few months, guess which one I'd choose? I bring this up because this was how my buddy built his house. Cleared the land himself. He, his brother and I did most of the framing (his brother and I were being paid). He did all the plumbing and since he is in the industry knows a lot of other people who work for cheap on side jobs. Sure, this is different than "going back to the land" style building, but there is something to be said about the cost saving of building in your own home with sweat equity if you know what you're doing. Plus, building shit is fun.

    Those who say time is money (I agree to an extent) I want to know, when you get home from your 9-5 or whatever, do you make money sitting on the couch, cutting your lawn, mountain biking, cooking dinner, etc? If you use your FREE time that would go to other outlets not making money and instead spend that time building equity, which is more wasteful? I think you got economics backwards my friends. Like I said Up there, my buddy basically paid $95K for a $400K value home in 2 years. That's $150,250 he MADE per year on top of his base salary if he went and flipped it instead of living in it. It was a lot of hard work and very little sleep, but come on...

    EDIT - the $95K number came up as he was laying the sheet rock so I assume it was a bit more all said and done with the cabinets, fixtures, appliances, ect. I wouldn't be surprised if he was into the place for $150K all said and done, but you get my drift.
    Last edited by advres; 09-25-2011 at 09:59 PM.
    I think you have me confused with someone who is far less awesome.

  12. #12
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    I think I came off a bit harsh compared to my actual feelings on the subject.

    I totally agree with the mindset you present, but still would argue that taking two years to build a house isnt for everybody. That being said, its what I plan on doing.

    Noone is going to argue against your logic, but to say its free is a stretch. This is where my personal preference thing comes in. I think your spot on with numbers game, but two years of work is still alot of work, which he could have done at a second job as well and would have come out pretty close financially (assuming own outright in both instances). Large part of this is time value of money stuff, but you get my point.
    Live Free or Die

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by AdironRider View Post
    Id love to see how one of these places holds up during a serious weather event.

    Shit just that overblown storm known as Irene would have seriously fucked this guy if it was in VT vs. Wales or whatever bullshit hobbit like place where this was built.

    This would be the last house left standing from a wind event. Without a doubt. Big ass oak timbers? What makes you think the average 1 3/4"x3 1/2" 16" on center stick framing made out of shitty low grade pine would hold up better than this? Not to mention it's built into a hill offering it more structure and protection. Sure, this house isn't standing up to flooding, but do you have an example of a house that does hold up to flooding?

  14. #14
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    If you like these kinds of houses and designs, check out Lloyd Khan's books. There are a lot of folks out there making unique, beautiful shelters in stunning places.
    another Handsome Boy graduate

  15. #15
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    Great house. Thanks for posting it. Too bad he lost it.

    I have no idea how you calculate the value of the labor. I suppose I could get a second job instead of watching TV or skiing and in that case the labor isn't free. If you enjoy building the house on your off hours I would call it free labor. If you can't get a job I'd call it free labor. Hell, I'd call it job training.

  16. #16
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    As far as building your own house, I've done two, for the most part, on my own. It took a few years for each, but it was well worth the efforts.

    That sort of organic architecture always intrigued me, and it clearly has a great feel on the interior. I tip my hat to him.
    Screw the net, Surf the backcountry!

  17. #17
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    That's a cool house.

    It's only a matter of time before houses like these are mass-produced out of styrofoam and plywood and Chinese drywall material and sold to the trailer trash hobbit housing market.

  18. #18
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    I wonder how long it takes before the hair starts growing on your feet?
    "We need sometimes to escape into open solitudes, into aimlessness, into the moral holiday of running some pure hazard, in order to sharpen the edge of life, to taste hardship, and to be compelled to work desperately for a moment at no matter what. -George Santayana, The Philosophy of Travel

    ...it would probably bother me more if I wasn't quite so heavily sedated. -David St. Hubbins, This Is Spinal Tap

  19. #19
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    irregardless, that deserves to be in the "shit you built with your own two hands" thread.

    what a cool place to call home.
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