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Pics/video - opp to take over cash short build...

 
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Well well well

I have an opportunity to take over a build from what my realtor said, simply ran out of cash.

It's called the "kaleden earth ship" close to penticton bc, where we were thinking of moving our lives anyways.

Looking for input, I've embedded a ton of pics of CURRENT STATE, and included a YouTube video of approx where they left off.

Trying to get a feel of what type of plans they were using, def not a textbook biotech plan, looking for input, thoughts, questions to ask etc.

Hope this leads to good discussion!!

Where it stopped:


What it looks like now:




[URLhttp://s46.photobucket.com/user/bigruudz/media/Mobile%20Uploads/A0FA770E-1BBA-409F-8A67-B84FFE3E3169.jpg.html][/URL]














































 
Sean Renoylds
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A link with more initial construction on their FB page... More insight.

https://www.facebook.com/unearthenterprisesltd/
 
gardener
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Score!  Looks like most of the hard work (the tire filling) is done!  Not sure what the good deal really is, as cash and property are relative to many, but if you consider the price right, I'd probably tell you to go for it.  I can't really make sense of all of the wood framing in those pics.  Definitely not a standard build from my understanding.  I have read three official Earthship books and been to a complete Earthship and helped build another one.  If nothing else, you can take apart the wood framing and redesign that part to your liking, so to put it another way, you can use the existing lumber as a resource rather than a blueprint that you must follow.  I'm not saying that the framed structure has no merit, but that I can't understand it fully from the pics and that part of the build is much easier to take apart and re-use.
 
Sean Renoylds
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True yes.

Have a look at the FB link I posted
https://www.facebook.com/unearthenterprisesltd/

There are more pics there...but for 140,000 CAD (what 115 us?) with 2.5acres seems like a serious opportunity...

It's def not your traditional layout, but the YouTube video "kaleden earth ship" helps to clear up a bit? Def not Bermed on all three and lacking winter slanted front... Still trying to find out if it's south facing.
 
Roberto pokachinni
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Ok.  so I watched the 7 minute clip, and went to the facebook page.  hmm.  The framing definitely seems excessive.  Not sure of the facebook page claim that the space will require no heating or cooling.  not without the windows that are not installed and being of high quality, and not without a lot of insulation on those framed walls to keep the heat in.  it's going to be a lot of work, running with his design, to make this into an efficient space.  Penticton has the right climate (sunny in the winter) for an earthship without wood or some other heat, but... just not sure if this is truly enough of an Earthship to get the efficiency.  
 
Roberto pokachinni
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A rocket stove mass heater might be a good idea.
 
Sean Renoylds
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Correct, I'm looking at it as an earth ship at around 70% efficiency.  

There is the opportunity to rework some design layouts and what not, ie rocket mass heater/wood stove to help out. I'm imagining this was laid out to be grid connected

I agree with penticton climate for sure

 
Roberto pokachinni
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On the facebook page, these folks bill themselves as "Beginning in 2003, unearth became involved in real estate and land development. Now in 2014 focus is on building sustainable earth homes."  while the real estate agent connecting you with their first build in 2016 is saying that they" simply ran out of cash. "  then I might be a bit concerned.  While you consider the 70% efficiency of an Earthship worthwhile, they seem to be claiming that the house is potentially much more efficient than that, but with no basis or info to back that claim.  I'm just not sure if they know what they are doing, or if they just think they do, and are trying to market something that is not really worth much... and not really doing that great of a job marketing themselves if they even are.  He mentions the concrete slab (yet to be poured) that will tie into those rebar things that have been rammed into the tires, and says that these will keep the walls upright... YIKES.  The walls should be upright and stable unto themselves with no... I repeat no need for help.  Buyer beware.  I just don't have much more to say.  

Def not Bermed on all three and lacking winter slanted front... Still trying to find out if it's south facing.

You should definitely go there and look at it if your are at all considering it. If you can't contact the builders directly and find out what other projects they have been involved in (other Earthships they may have helped on), and why this one ran out of cash, and what the state of their Unearth Enterprises ltd is presently... I don't know.  Full plans should come with the building/property... No?  The building inspector will eat you alive without the name of the structural engineer who the guy mentions in the video.  You need that engineer to put his stamp on the build.  Period.  I wouldn't go forward without that.    
 
Roberto pokachinni
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not a lot of cheap firewood around penticton, so if you do have to heat with wood... in the desert.... not so great.
 
Sean Renoylds
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While I agree with proceed with caution,
I am a business owner the past 10 years and I can attest that sometimes, "things happen."  I don't know how many times I've risked it all...a lot, sometimes business doesn't work out although you had the best intentions...

I can visit the site in about 25 days.  It's a 5 hour drive for me.

Firewood I'm not too worried about.  I'm very creative and have friends all over the place with plenty of access to year round wood.  A few large trailer loads and good.

I'm more concerned with the plans, obviously they are included, they are engineered stamped and they had all permits/warranty...this is confirmed.

It's an attractive option to take over, as long as the work was done right I think.

I'll be taking a lot of pics and videos on this trip, and meeting with the current seller to chat.

 
Sean Renoylds
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Quick update
Talked to the structural engineer and he sent me the actual stamped plans, 12 pages and trying to go through it and understand what they were doing.

I also got the contact for the general contractor who can tell me exactly where everything left off.

I'll be able to visit the site in 3 weeks.  But the same thing was said by the engineer:

Started off with some bad drawings and bad construction ideas and he came in and made everything good.  Is very happy with the end design and what was reworked and wouldn't hesitate to put his name on it again.

Also, reiterated the fact that it was a cash shortage, I didn't even ask him about it, he just stated it himself
 
Roberto pokachinni
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It does seem relatively attractive as a initial visual.  And Certainly to have the tire work done is a major hurdle if you are set on having an Earthship time structure..  My main concern is that the structure has so much framing.  This will require good quality glass, and lots of it, in order to efficiently charge the mass of the tires, and those framed walls would also need insulation, as will all the roofing not yet completed.  The cost of doing so, may be quite high, thus negating a great deal of the attraction, in my mind.  Maybe not.  It will be interesting to read what you have to say once you sit with the drawings, talk with the contractor, visit the site, and price out the materials to finish the build.  My thinking is that the latter may be the deal breaker, but maybe not.  
 
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I could only see the video , here at work, looks pretty interesting. My questions would be... Not necessarily looking for answers just brainstorming things to think about.

Are there materials on site to finish the shell? Beams, glass etc. or will you be supplying them? If so what will that cost , where will you find those things?

He talked about finding the glass and then rebuilding the wood frame to fit them. Seems like an opportunity to change that thinking . Seems like they were getting ahead of themselves and would be doing a lot of reworking.

Some of the flooring is not done. Could be an opportunity for hot water heated flooring?

With the house going up hill like that will all of the heat rise to that small upper room?

Would you want to do more "earthship" walls and get rid of all of that lumber ?
 
Sean Renoylds
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That's what I was thinking

Load bearing in mind, would be great the be able to do cob interior walls instead of the framing that's up for standard drywall.

From what the engineer told me, there was too much heavy bedrock to blast up there on the lot, that's why they had to adjust the original plans to make it terraced.

In floor heating, yup for sure opportunity is there as there is no slab yet.  

That end wall that's all wood framed you cannot berm it unfort as its on an edge close to a ridge...so the berming is not doable.

Pros:
Cisterns done and Bermed
Septic done
Tire walls done
Over half the front face is done (needs glass, I'm guessing not cheap.
Opportunity to change things as your not too far along in the build to adjust some things
warranty and permits are to be re-activated with purchase

Those are some good pluses with a lot of the hard work done. Looking fwd to seeing it
 
Sean Renoylds
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If I was to do more walls, I would rather earth bag it if possible, but as you can see the west side isn't able to berm...as she's at the end share she goes down
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My family and I moved to Penticton about 2 1/2 years ago from Calgary, so those are the two main climates that I know as a reference. First of All, it would be great to have more permies in the area! A friend of mine worked on the Kaleden Earthship and it sounds like the construction group were excited about the project, so it's a shame that they ran out of cash. I didn't get a chance to visit the site when they were building but it's a beautiful area.

Have you had a chance to see the property? I'm curious what the land is like.

As far as being sunny in the winter, the reputation here among the locals is that winters are overcast and socked in here in the valley. Compared to Calgary which is very sunny but cold in the winter, we find it somewhat darker in the winter but not as bad as many others seem to feel. A lot of people try to get up to the ski hills just to get some sunshine.

If you do get the place, I'd love to come out and have a look! Good luck.
 
Sean Renoylds
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Interesting!

  Nice to hear from you!
 
  I'm gathering info about the build but the big thing I'm really disappointed in will be the lack of thermal battery being that it's not fully Bermed ie -west side/east side.
  Are you able to drop any more info on it?
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