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Hobbit Home Progress.

Dave Lotte

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posted 1 year ago

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Stone slinger is done !
Now to start shoveling....

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Dave Lotte

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Just realized, i screwed up.

Forgot to insulate around the front porch footings, before the gravel went in.
Gonna have to do more digging ..... yeah !

You have to isolate EVERYTHING from the cold ground - or the inside wall will be cold and damp in that area...

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Dave Lotte

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Home made window one step closer to going in.

Just not sure if i should cut a hole in the R42 front wall just before winter....

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Hans Quistorff

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Only if you need the air intake for the exhaust fan.

Hans Albert Quistorff, LMT projects on permies Hans Massage Qberry Farm magnet therapy gmail hquistorff

Dave Lotte

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Hans Quistorff wrote:Only if you need the air intake

That is one of the things i am finding really cool about this house.
Now that it is almost all waterproofed, the ONLY place air can get in is around the back door.
It is an airtight home.
That will change though, once i start chopping in the rest of the windows. 😁

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Dave Lotte

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posted 1 year ago

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40 wheelbarrow loads of gravel and the back perimeter drain is covered.
Time for a rest.

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Dave Lotte

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Another hour in, and the last 10 wheelbarrow loads of gravel are in place.

Time for a rest.

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Dave Lotte

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posted 1 year ago

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While i await the arrival of the building inspector for the perimeter drain inspection, thought i would put up all my Christmas decorations.

Done for this year. 😁

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Jay Angler

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Dave Lotte wrote:thought i would put up all my Christmas decorations.

You've done better than my spouse will do! He seems to think some pretty red lights are too wasteful of electricity. I will just swap out the white lightbulb by my computer for a red one...

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Dave Lotte

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Jay Angler wrote:pretty red lights are too wasteful of electricity...

The tree on the Hobbit Home is kinda my own personal joke. I tell people who want to see the house, if you can't find it, look for the tree.... if you can't find the 7 foot tall house, look for the 7 foot tall tree ON TOP of the 7 foot house.

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Dave Lotte

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After 15 hours of driving an E35 mini excavator, the majority of the hobbit home is now protected from frost damage.
Before and after.

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Build it because they say you can't.
18 different architect's that said " you can't do that "
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Dave Lotte

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Now that everything is backfilled, and under several tons of earth ....

All the walls on the hobbit home are insulated with R32 - 8 inch thick eps foam.
Should keep the walls warm.

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Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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Over top of all the wall foam, is a drainage matt.
Any water that tries to get to the wall, will naturally fall in between the gap, down to the drainage tile.
Keeping the house dry.

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Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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Talking with the lady on the phone from the stone slinger company, and asked
" can your slinger truck handle top soil ?" " I need to cover a 1,500 square foot roof 8 inches deep".
She replied.... "yes we do handle top soil, and for that area you would need 33 cubic yards - or about 33 tons. "
How much does 1 truck hold ?
22 tons.
So if i order 2 trucks, i will have some too spare...

Cool. The problem of moving 33 TONS of earth up onto my roof is solved.

I think the guy running the truck is looking forward to it 😁.

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Jay Angler

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OK, so just how *hard* does the truck sling it? You've just turned a static load into a dynamic load, although only temporarily... the difference between a rock rolling onto your foot, or dropping from 6 feet up.

I don't know anything about those trucks, I'm just suggesting you check with people who are experienced and consider whether some extra temporary bracing under the roof is indicated.

Other than that, it seems like a brilliant solution for your problem and well worth whatever it will cost you!

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Dave Lotte

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Jay Angler wrote:OK, so just how *hard* does the truck sling it?

Already ran it by the engineer. He's fine with it.

For a quick figure....
This roof is engineered for 12 inches of soil.
I am putting on 8 inches.
If you divide the 33 tons by 2, you get 16.5
You can then add the 16.5 onto the 33 tons ( 8 inches + 4 inches) for a total roof capacity of 49.5 tons of soil.
This is not including the snow load factor ( 3 feet of snow on top ) or any other "wiggle room" the engineer built into this roof. ( wet earth loading )...

The engineer has also given me the o.k. to drive that 1,000 lb. Power wheelbarrow on the roof as well.

Pretty sure it will be o.k. 😁😁

Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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May 1st to Dec 1st. Not bad ...

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Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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My accent lights from the "Wish" app. arrived.

After the covered front porch is installed i will have to decide - "white" or "off white".

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Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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One thing i need to get done this winter is too install the 7 foot round door.

First, i need to make a miniature test build, to work out the bugs.

Left the fun begin !

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Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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Few more things done off my list. 1.

Wanted to test run l.e.d. accent lights in between each beam along the roof.
Going to have to do all the main rooms like this, last picture is ambient light level with just the l.e.ds turned on.

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Build it because they say you can't.
18 different architect's that said " you can't do that "
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Dave Lotte

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Few more things done off my list. 2.

Almost ran into my fence during a snow storm, so time for some movie themed laneway markers.
Gandalf the Whites staff - laneway markers.

Installed 3 out of 4, but the 5th one broke loose last night - ended up with spaghetti.

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Build it because they say you can't.
18 different architect's that said " you can't do that "
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Dave Lotte

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posted 1 year ago

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Few more things done off my list. 3.

Gabel ends of the front and back wall - had exposed waterproofing membrane - needed to be covered.

Front and back walls are done with vertical 2x6 T&G plank - same as the roof.

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Build it because they say you can't.
18 different architect's that said " you can't do that "
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Dave Lotte

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All 7 laneway markers are done.

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Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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After making a big mess in the middle of the 1,200 sqf main room - cutting Styrofoam - time to make the back porch into what its meant to be - a workshop.

8x8 beam supports with a 2x6 t&g top. Should hold up.
Hydro and ventilation are next.

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Dave Lotte

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Had to install the exhaust fan in the back room.
These are the steps involved for an underground house.
Cut out concrete buck.
Cut off waterproofing.
Cut out 8 inch Styrofoam.
Cut out drainage matt.
Install pipe in 18 inch thick wall.

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Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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Work bench is done !

10 foot bench ✔
20 amp dedicated electrial outlets ✔
M.E.R.V 8 air filter on box fan. ✔
Exhaust fan installed ( for the really nasty stuff ) ✔
Overhead lighting ✔

Onto the round door test build ! ( about time too ! )

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Dave Lotte

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Started on the first layer of the mini test door.
Keeping in mind, the radius of the 7 footer will be huge - compared to this.

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Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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Another 5 hours in, and the first board is notched, glued and wrapped around the mini foam core.
While i was at it, i cut and notched the other 2 boards - all 250 notches...
Now to make up the door frame the same way, but opposite.

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Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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For those of you who have built a rocket mass heater see my build here :

https://permies.com/t/40107/hot-barrel

You know, that once you get the 3 or 4 tons mass up to temperature, it will keep your house warm for HOURS.
This is what i love about my Hobbit Home.
Working on this mini round door test for 5 hours a day in my back porch shop, with the room heated to 60 degrees - up from 42 - i shut everything down and put a fan blowing into the room - to have air movement.
Well, last night, i noticed at 12 midnight - the back porch was still 4 degrees warmer than the main room.
The walls were radiating the heat back into the room - even with the fan circulating the air.
Once i get this building fully insulated with a minimum of R32 all around, it will take me a week to notice if the power goes out.
Cool !

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Dave Lotte

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Well, the door frame idea did not work - the first time.
Going to plan "B" 😁.
On the plus side, the kerfed wood planks are working great for the door assembly.
Cut the 2x10 a bit short, so glued in a fill-in piece. Once it is dry, i can add the second and third plank.
Then i can work on the hinge, and see if this door will open !
Last 3 are before and after.

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Build it because they say you can't.
18 different architect's that said " you can't do that "
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Hans Quistorff

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Posts: 1907

Location: Longbranch, WA Mild wet winter dry climate change now hot summer

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Have you considered that a door that thick will need to pull strait out. It will be almost impossible to get clearance to swing by hinges on one side. In the Hobbit door thread I pointed out that this problem is solved by having a pivot top and bottom in the center of the door and a bar above and below the door to the hinge pivot at the side. This allows for a central door knob to operate a latch on each side and push or pull the door open.

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Paul Stockton

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You might try using 3 or 4" wood lawn edging. It's about 3/16" and very flexible. Make your outside perimeter and then sprial in about 3 or 4" with glue between each spiral, add screws as needed.... It's called "bender board" in theses parts. I do enjoy your project updates....

So, imagine this coil, the diameter of your door...

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Dave Lotte

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Hans Quistorff wrote:Have you considered that a door that thick will need to pull strait out....

This is why i am doing a test build, so far, it may work .... we will see.

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Dave Lotte

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Paul Stockton wrote:You might try using 3 or 4" wood lawn edging....

Looking into something similar for my plan "B". The kerf cutting only works on interior curves.
Just need to find it 10 inches wide 😁

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Dave Lotte

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Hans Quistorff wrote:this problem is solved by having a pivot top and bottom in the center of the door and a bar above and below the door to the hinge pivot at the side.

A double pivot door.... it is an option.

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Paul Stockton

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Dave Lotte wrote:

Paul Stockton wrote:You might try using 3 or 4" wood lawn edging....

Just need to find it 10 inches wide 😁

...discarded, used conveyor belt, clamps, and asphalt glue.... for both frame and door. Incorporate a "step" to facilitate a jam....

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Paul Stockton wrote:...discarded, used conveyor belt, ....

Heck no ! Used 1" thick conveyor belting for the treads on my home made 2/5 scale tank i built - way too hard and stiff to work with. ...

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Dave Lotte

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Wedding cake door is now drying.
Started on the hinges, but need a few more pieces.
Little bit of a gap in the tube, but we will see...
Still tinkering.

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Build it because they say you can't.
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Dave Lotte

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Found the min and max button on the thermometer.
When your cats spark ? - ya know your at 6 % humidity in your house.
Summer time ? How bout 83 % and trying to sleep ?
Hurry up Hobbit Home !

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Dave Lotte

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So I started a new Facebook group, which anyone can join.
"hobbit home deco".
I would like feedback on decorating and hobbit home situations. The group allows me to set up polls and have people vote, which gives me an idea of what level of crazy i should aim for...
Todays poll is concerning the sanding and verethaning of the wooden beams and decking INSIDE the home.
Leave them O'naturàæl or sand em all down and seal em ?.
Hmmm...

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Build it because they say you can't.
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