Sophie Hatter

I'd love to get an update on this idea/plan. Branch isn't too far from me, and I'd love to connect in person with people having this line of thinking.

I'm trying to figure out how to respond to individual posts. Until I do, this is it.  lol

Scott:
Nothing is built, yet, correct. No amenities...nothing. i'm in Central Arkansas in a 20-foot camper suitable for deer camp. Candles/terracotta did fine for me this winter until we had actual snow. Arkansas isn't prepared for weather like that, so it shut down the state for a week. With no way in or out, my daughter made me stay with her that week, so i don't know how well that set up would have performed with those ridiculously low temperatures. As long as the outside temperature didn't go below 20*, i could keep my immediate space at about 40*  When it was in the 40s, I could keep it as warm as 50*. (I moved to Arkansas from Ontario, Canada 5 yrs ago. I don't like cold, but I can live with it.)

The house will be ICF since i'm in tornado alley. I'm looking RMH for whole house, as I want to be as self-reliant as possible. I'm also looking at other natural sources of heat to supplement the RMH, such as capturing the heat on the south wall, though I'm still researching that, so i can't speak intelligently about it, yet. Walk-out basement will mean part of the basement will be underground and somewhat insulated that way. The square footage is 2400 on the main level, and that's what i'm most concerned about having heated. In a pinch/really nasty cold, I have electric space heaters we can use.

Cristobal:
That is VERY helpful info!! I plan a simple gabled roof, so I like hearing that!

I was planning the heater to be centrally located and on the main floor (unless it made sense to put it elsewhere), as I expect that is where we will spend most of our time. I'm glad to hear you say that about the columns. That's what I was imagining, but I've not seen it done anywhere...haven't seen pics or read of one being used on an upper floor. Good to know it can be done! Any suggestions on how to build those columns? The high-rises in Toronto are build with poured concrete with huge rebar cages inside. This is what I've imagined I would need...something similar but on a smaller scale.

I wasn't sure about masonry, but after more perusing and with what you have to say, I'm thinking that's the way i'm going to go. Good idea about kitchen stove placement.

I have a 32 gallon plastic garbage can to collect the rain water that runs off one direction of my camper (as I work on house plans to build). I use it for watering my 4 dogs, mostly, and will wash things that don't need to be "clean" clean. I've not gotten to do a proper set-up to filter it or even keep debris from getting into it, so I'm limited in what I can use it for at this time. When I build, I will have a proper setup and plan to use the rain water for everything. I'm in the early stages of trying to work out how to manage the weight of the water, as I want the totes inside to protect them from direct sunlight and to prevent frozen pipes in the winter. I'm not sure it's going to be feasible, but I hope so.

I don't know how I landed on this thread, but I'm excited that I did!  My land is in the county and large enough I don't have to have permits; however, there are rules about septic and grey water imposed. I wanted a composting toilet system and have been using one for the past year (living in a camper with no amenities), so I've been looking at what i can do to get my way and keep "the man" out of my business. I'll find a way, but for the system itself, i'm very interested in trying this one!! It seems very much like a win-win.

The logic behind the whole government water/waster water boggles my mind. "Poop in your water, send it to the water treatment plan for us to dump chemicals into it, then turn on your tap and shower in it, drink it, and wash your dishes and clothes in it, but heaven forbid you compost it or let it touch your land! Never mind that critters of all kinds are peeing and pooping on your land, and have been since the dawn of time, but YOU, filthy human, may not do that!"

Researching about RMH is how I found this site!  I bought raw land, have cleared a small bit of it, and am working on house design now. Due to the terrain, I've been advised to build with a walk-out basement. My challenges re RMH include: if i put it on the main floor (the living area), what do I need to do to make sure the floor can support the weight? If I put it in the basement, how do i use the heat to heat the main floor? Is there a way to use that heat to make the main level floor like a radiant heat floor? Could i put one on both levels and have the basement chimney meet the main floor chimney to go outside?

I was planning to do the RMH that's the bench style, but after reading this thread and some other posts on here, I'm not committed to that style (the warm seating would be very nice, though).

A new-in-the-box traditional wood stove came into my life before I knew about RMH. Is there a way to utilize that as a component of a RMH?

I'm in no hurry to build this, but I need to decide what I'm going to do asap so I can incorporate it into the house plans (chimney placement re roof, support under main floor, etc). I'd like heat by winter 2026 but I've managed this past winter with wearing/sleeping under layers and heating my immediate space with candles/terracotta pots, so I'm sure I'll survive if i don't get it built before it gets cold. I want to KNOW what I'm doing before i get started on it, so i still have a lot of reading and video watching to do! And suggestions/guidance are VERY welcome!!!