Minimizing House Costs | Page 4 | Construction and DIY projects | Forums

Gravel Road said
Will be interesting to see what they do to me here once we are built.  My argument will be based on one thing...are they taking into account that my walls are 12 inches thick? ... kind of cuts down my true living space.

they measured the outside when the assesor came.....luickly with current projects it has a repurosed/ trashy cottage feel 😀 Im sure that helped...he gaves us a very fair assessment...shoot ..guy was so cool...i actually showed him the inside he loved what we were doing and thought it was so cool.... that helped too im sure.  Our taxes I feel are reasonalble for what the structure is...alllthough I stilll think with a green roof I could make it cheaper.  I love green roofs latley..if even just a skim of earth (what I think my exsisting strucutre can support.

Gravel Road said
I like that idea of a 'cave like home'.  The kind of thing you could build and it is basically a glorified root cellar, but you could make it really nice.

If I was single I would really look into that...I don't think I could get the Mrs on-board with it though.

...but, that would be so sweet, especially from a financial perspective!

I dont think any misses would live /or stay in this case in a cave like those pictured, but you never know!! I have built her and society (which opinion she seems to care about, a conventional earthbermed home.   NOW its digging caves time...forts ...exploreing farming the area not just our land :D.  I like the idea of using rocks for the walls and raw logs for roof.  I have a spot allready dug out kind of that has the main water line to the house where it T's off into two lines.  This would need to be accessed anyway so ill use this spot which willl gain me the advantage of having water..which would be cool.  It also faces south east so if windows were put on the cave ..excelllent solar gain.  winters can get to the point where i need to get out for the health of everone involved so this is the out :D.  ITs what i was talking about in another thread about the next shelter i want to build, before i selll digger ;D .  Literally a man CAVE!!  I am working on finding an very nice  48volt electric golf cart with lift kit and extended roof to add lithium ion batteries too and solar panels..they are much cheaper then utv/atv AND they have the added benifits of using electric for a while now.   Still decideing between club car and yamaha golf carts.  They sell all sorts of covers for them so It would basicaly be a power generating system that is a tractor/tent.  Inverter for 110 tools like chainsaws..trying to do away with oilly stuff.  I think its going to be about 8 grand when said and done..the same amount Ill have from selling digger at end of this year...a wash.  I allready got the name..."adventure machine" .Adventure machine will get moved into the earth cave shelter for winter.  GOing to modify it so the seats change into a bed.  So where ever i am i'm home.  GOt my orange triangle allready so that takes care of moving it around 😀  So excited.  Ill be sure to post pics and progress for you guys 😀 .  something like this .  Sorry for thread drift icanreachit..although around here we always be drifting

http://www.cnycustom.....ellow.html

Yeah man.  They got kits and stuff.  Here is the one im thinking of.  Comes with roof mounting brackets.

http://www.frugaldou.....ucyorzpqVJ

Here is a picture.

So in my ideal world ill never plug it in. 

They also all have regen braking which is also really cool.  I got thoughts that I could  attach it to a water wheel directly put the brake on and use the regen braking to charge when there is no sun.