Tom Linson

Hello,

I have been researching and weighing my options regarding what type of construction to use to build a home. A few facts that might help you understand my situation. My medical condition (permanent) causes my body to not be able to cool itself properly. Imagine walking around in the summer with a winter coat on all the time.

Researching places to build that would be environmentally friendly to me, I found South Eastern Colorado. I love snow, I love cold so it's perfect. There are also places for relatively low prices you can buy acreage. Container homes really appealed to me because I want a berm home. The county where I want to live requires a masonry wall and drainage system installed before the containers.

My questions is this: If I am going to pay a contractor to put in three walls, THEN put my containers in, why not just have them build a fourth wall? Part of my roof will be exposed because I want a greenhouse but it seems like if I opt for cinder blocks to build the wall, it would be good enough for a house.

Am I missing something?

I am brand new to Biodiesel so please forgive the basic question. I have seen numerous non computer diesels converted via internet groups and forums.

One thing I haven't seen and I think it would be an awesome conversion if it's possible.

Royal Enfield has a diesel motorcycle. Small, underpowered but apparently reliable. Has anyone seen one of these converted? Imagine how far you could go on just a couple of tanks!

I realize up front this is a rather vague question so I will try and provide as much information as possible. I am planning on building my own tiny home, the cost is preventing me from purchasing one outright so I (meaning myself and several people vastly more talented than me) will build it in baby steps.

After a design process my first major purchase will be a trailer. Mine has to be mobile, living in New York if it's not on wheels you are subject to a myriad of rules, taxes and restriction.

My hope is to build a 10 X 24 home. I will have a Murphy bed setup because my health is getting to the point where stairs are not an option. A simple stacked apartment washer dryer, frig, and normal bathroom appliances.

I will have a storage space where the loft normally, a ladder once in a while to get storage is fine just not climbing everyday.

As far as the trailer is concerned. Can anyone who has built a similar sized home tell me what weight range I will be dealing with?

New trailers are quite expensive, I have a friend who welds and she has offered her services on the cheap to modify a used trailer to accommodate a tiny home.

Let me know if you need more information. Being a severely disabled veteran this will be my only chance to have a home of my own. I'd rather not make mistakes, I have read the forums and realize they can be rather expensive.

Hello,

We live in an area that if hit by an ice storm we would be the very last on the list of priority for fixing the power. I understand this, it makes perfect sense, we are the only one on our road.

We bought a propane/gas generator and would like to run it inside if possible. Our house is very old and has a small opening midway up the basement wall where a coal chute used to enter the basement. It's about 10 inches off the floor. This is right next to the breaker box so it would be an ideal location for the generator if it can safely be run indoors.

Here are my questions:

Is there a universal type exhaust system you can purchase for generators?

If not, what piping is best used and what material do you use to seal seams?

How far above the ground should the exhaust exit be?

If we can install this would a diesel pipe flapper valve be best to use to avoid water entering the exhaust pipe?

How far away from the house should the exhaust be?


Thanks, sorry for so many questions, just don't want to die of carbon monoxide.

BigPaul

Kyle, I understand your point about he moisture, however, we are planning to cover our earth bags inside and out with a layer of mortar. Would this solve the moisture issue?

Hello,

I am brand new to all this so bear with the simple questions.

My goal is to buy a tract of land and build a earth bag/berm home. I wanted to go back to Washington state but financially that may not be possible. I currently live in upstate NY and started look at NE Maine. The land is quite affordable and it's actually close enough that we could travel up there for a few days and work on the project while still living here.

My big concern is the winters. I have no doubt the earthbag home would provide us with a warm home, my concern is with the expanding and contracting of the soil during the seasons.

How to you address this?

Thanks for any help.

Hello,

I am brand new to all of this so I joined to get more familiar with green construction, specifically earth bag building. I am a disabled veteran (submarine) and have discovered the only way I will most likely have a home of my own is to build it myself. After researching all kinds of construction I decided on earth bag building. My goal is to get some land in Washington state, park a small camper on it and build as I am able.

Apologies in advance for the million questions I will most likely ask.

Paul