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Qustions about half underground dwelling with no foundation

 
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Trying to work our cheapest and quickest way to build a tiny abode that could be expanded or improved without destroying it .

Questions :
Is the no foundation half dug out possible ?  I ' v got quite a bit of tires laying around and might be able to get some square beam wood , and was thinking if i dig a square hole (for the house area ) , then dug in that hole 4 post holes maybe 2-3 tire's deep and then just put beams in tires and pour concrete mix in , wonder if this is a viable solution ?
At the moment want some kind of shelter that will be extended overtime or built better from inside out , especially as winter coming .

As for why no foundation , lack of money .
I hope its understandable what I'm trying to ask

Later would like to make improvements such as cold storage deeper on its floor  , and make ferrou-cement walls maybe  
Really interested in tips and input how to make this viable

Photo is to illustrate what I'm talking about
And drawing is what i kinda going for as the building goes
hole2.jpg
[Thumbnail for hole2.jpg]
 
Rocket Scientist
Posts: 4527
Location: Upstate NY, zone 5
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As long as the structure will be kept above freezing inside and is partly underground, and the posts are braced to the floor or each other so they can't be pushed sideways, you don't need footings beyond a flat rock beneath each post to keep them from sinking.

What is the soil like, and how moist is it? Is the water table close to the surface?

You can use the tires similar to an earthship and lay them up for the back wall filled with dirt; this would solve the retaining wall damp/rot issue at the same time as roof support. About how many tires do you have? How were you planning on holding back the soil around your post-framed walls?
 
steward
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Location: Pacific Wet Coast
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"Location, location, location" is a saying here in the Real Estate business!

So many of the things Glenn Herbert said:
1. Type of soil. Stability of that soil. Stability of the neighborhood (as in fault lines, mud slides, floods etc)
2. Topography: The most resent successful buildings I've read about have been "earth bermed" rather than dug out. In other words, you start at or very close to the natural soil line, and then dig a pond somewhere else and use the dirt from the pond to build up around your dwelling.  This would be essential in my wet environment. Even doing this, I'd have to make absolutely sure that I *know* where water runoff will go and use gravel - even if I have to sift it myself - to give water a place to percolate and run away.
3. Please make sure your heat source is not between your bed and the door. Ideally have both a door and a window that's large enough for emergency egress.
 
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