Need tips and overall answers

Hello , so got a parcel of land in my country , which is quite cold at winters and pretty wet in the fall period , there is a half broken 22cm log house , logs are in somewhat decent condition but some have black mold on them and overall not much of them , maybe for real tiny space to rebuild .  
So got few ideas and really would need input from everyone in here  :



1) Thinking about digging about 2 meters deep and laying a slab , and then maybe stacking those old logs covering them in plastic and making something like berm walls around or maybe even making fully underground shelter at least that would be the dream . But overall thinking of something as fully underground kinda like hobbit house or wofati type of house.



Pics for reference what im talking about  



2) Another idea , how viable it is to have fully underground or half underground A Frame house




3)A dome shaped house or a igloo hut house , wood frame and then fiberglass cloth covering it (kinda like making model ships) plastered (maybe , have no idea), half dug in (earth bermed) and attached to the concrete slab .  Honestly checked everywhere did not see anyone even thinking about such thing , only prefab houses  





4) mesh and ferro-cement dome or something similar like so underground .

Really need people who know or tried anything like so or similar on any advice, ideas , criticism and overall knowledge .  Money is the main issue so just seeing what i can do for cheapest and alone , as i don't own any transport and can only order things to be delivered on property .  
My main concern for all the projects is dampness and mold

Lordas, lets sort out your wants and your needs.
- where are you building?
- Will you have heating and water?
- What size will be needed?
- can you ensure water can drain from the site?
- Can you ensure water can be diverted from entering the building?
- You want 2m deep, into virgin soil or on the surface and covered?
- How much is concrete, and can you lay it yourself?
- Are you near a city or town where secondhand materials would be available?
- Could any form of transport be created to help?
- Can windows be established to ensure a flow of air?

Lordas, welcome to the forum.

A picture of the structure in question might help with answers.

Do you have a source for logs, such as trees to cut down?

Do you have the equipment to excavate and move dirt?

Now that I asked these questions I see you said:

Money is the main issue so just seeing what i can do for cheapest and alone , as i don't own any transport and can only order things to be delivered on property .

This one looks best for that situation:

[quote2) Another idea , how viable it is to have fully underground or half underground A Frame house

The one in the picture with the concrete and lumber rather than using logs.

When I post this it will automagically include links to useful threads.

I recommend checking out Mike Oehler's Underground House book. He made some very very affordable underground structures.

Wofati was designed based on his designs but with other considerations in play as well, like how to shed water and use roundwood timber framing.

If the logs have black mold I'd be wary of using them until you kill the mold entirely, which I do believe can be done. Once the mold is dead it's just stains in the wood as long as you prevent it from growing again.

Lastly, I hope I too can one day enjoy at least part-time stay in a hobbit style house. The whimsy and earthiness really pulls me.

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

from Tolkien

L. Johnson wrote:I recommend checking out Mike Oehler's Underground House book. He made some very very affordable underground structures.

Mike Oehler's underground house entryway



Mike Oehler's kitchen



https://permies.com/wiki/48625/Mike-Oehler-Cost-Underground-House

John C Daley wrote:Lordas, lets sort out your wants and your needs.
- where are you building?
- Will you have heating and water?
- What size will be needed?
- can you ensure water can drain from the site?
- Can you ensure water can be diverted from entering the building?
- You want 2m deep, into virgin soil or on the surface and covered?
- How much is concrete, and can you lay it yourself?
- Are you near a city or town where secondhand materials would be available?
- Could any form of transport be created to help?
- Can windows be established to ensure a flow of air?

Building in temperate climate zone in country Lithuania , the soil on my claim is loamy soil/clay
Heating  will be a stove/rocket stove/ fireplace , water got a well on my property
Size in m2 would be about 9 to 20 m2 , height 2.5-3.5 meters
For drainage i was thinking about french drain
2 m deep would be the best but either options and suggestions are welcomed
I can lay it myself , 1 bag of cement is from 2,50eur to 3,50 eur per 25 kg bag
Nope its pretty much lone farm in the the fields  
At the moment i use the bus to get to my spot and then walk 8km or order stuff to be delivered if need boards or something in mass
For windows i was thinking of reusing the old farm windows

Anne Miller wrote:Lordas, welcome to the forum.

A picture of the structure in question might help with answers.

Do you have a source for logs, such as trees to cut down?

Do you have the equipment to excavate and move dirt?

Now that I asked these questions I see you said:

Money is the main issue so just seeing what i can do for cheapest and alone , as i don't own any transport and can only order things to be delivered on property .

This one looks best for that situation:

[quote2) Another idea , how viable it is to have fully underground or half underground A Frame house

The one in the picture with the concrete and lumber rather than using logs.

The logs are mainly from the old farm , not much else were i could source them ,
Excavating mainly by hand , im not thinking about a big structure just a tiny house deal

For wofati type structure i was thinking of  diging in 2 meters deep laying a slab and on sides maybe using these blocks  

120x248x248 mm silicate blocks,   as they are 0.93eur  a piece , and then using old logs for the wofati type of roof structure  > thats one of the ideas , dont know how viable it is tho

I'm not sure about the slab. Whether or not you should have an underground home at all will depend on the water table of the site. Are you planning on putting in a slab in hopes that it will prevent groundwater from rising into the home?

A tip about the roof though:

If you can salvage a carpet from a home remodel that has waterproof membrane backing, it could even be better than the expensive membrane bought in stores since plant roots will mesh into the carpet material making it stronger.

Lordas, you have certainly got some work in front of you.
If I was do that job I would break it down to a few components so each component can be sorted out prior to starting building.
That way mistakes may be minimised, and sourcing materials may be easier if you have a list upfront.
- ground and surface water issues
- Foundations and floor
- wall construction, materials and style
- roof design and construction.
ground and surface water issues
- moisture barrier behind wall and under floor
- trenches behind wall with pipes in french drain draining by gravity
- surface drains to move potential flood water.
Foundations and floor
- waterproofing
- size of edge beams
- delivery of screenings and sand
- concrete mixing process, shovel or mixer rotated by hand or petrol motor.
- tools and water for creating concrete
- finish required
- reinforcement needed?
Wall construction
- Those building blocks look ideal
- reo bars may be required to be attached to the foundation, via the hole in the block to prevent the walls being pushed in by earth pressure.
- waterproofing
- finish and insulating?
roof design and construction.
- earth is very heavy
- an A frame roof may be easier
- roof drainage
- insulation and waterproofing.
Ventilation to manage moisture will be an important matter as well.
It sounds like an exciting project please keep us posted.
I am intrigued by the transport situation, because it will make things harder to do can you please explain your choice?