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You will find that buying electricity will be much cheaper, around 30cents/kWh to generate vs. 12 to buy. Plus you only have what you have. It doesn't make any sense to generate power for tools w/ pv. Your shop will be run by a generator.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cabincrazy
But if you are like me and predict currency collapse, it will be much better to have an off grid home.
There are many depending upon your life style.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cabincrazy
Septic is not required if you have a composting toilet and a gray water system. Google humanure... It really doesn't smell. We have used something similar for our smaller site...
Drilling your own well is expensive no matter what, but if you have enough rain - snow you can collect water... In Hawaii this is fairly common. Water tanks are about a buck a gallon until you get past 1000 gal... I Hawaii 3500 gal tanks are fairly commom.
Solar and wind can work. If you have running water in those ravines, problem solved... I had to pay about 5 grand for local power. It was cheap. You can also power stuff with propane - Refrig and dryer for example... I bought my 250 gallon propane tank new for 900 bucks and paid $1.59 a gallon to fill it.
Remember, its life style that determines how expensive your infrastructure becomes.
About budgets, get your family discussions so everyone is agreed to a plan and everyone is working towards the same goal. Then the money will work out...
Hi,
My name is Bernie and I hail from Ottawa, Canada. I have always been interested in log houses and all sorts of things construction and renovation related. My mom has been living in a log home for the past ten years and has nothing but praise for log homes. I have been lurking for some time and finally decided to join in the fun here.
welcome Bernie. nice to hear from someone who's got colder winters than we do :)
we do members who've built in Canada. stick around!
just signed up for may class with my son. looking to build upstate ny. anyone that has built or will be building in ny would like to hear from you thanks mike.
What area exactly of NY?Quote:
Originally Posted by logmike
I have built one outside of rochester, NY. there are a good amount of members up there
Indeed there are, although I understand taxes will run you out of the state...Quote:
Originally Posted by rckclmbr428
taxes will be an issue when I start looking for land. I live in nyc so I will be looking for land within 3 hours of the city.dont want to spend all my time traveling
Booked for May. Got to be happy with that!
congrats on taking that huge first step, Stuarty:)
any other new yorker's out there?
Im eric
Im tired of living check to check. I want to buy a small piece of wooded land and axe my way to my own hand made log cabin with no building codes etc. For all they know im building a fort on my own property. Am in in the right place/forum?
Logmike, we are going to build in the western NY area near Franklinville. Taxes may be high compared to other states but it is hard to beat the country and weather there. I live in Texas now and I just can't seem to picture a log cabin without snow. The rest of my family lives there so that is the reason I don't go to Colorado or a place like that.
Log mike- there are several in west ny. I'm SE of Rochester, finger lakes area, Naples. Rush, Hamlin, more coming
my son and I are excited couple of weeks,we will be in vegas.
:) whoo hoo! the time will fly by, Logmike :)
wny cabin that area is great. iv been to the finger lakes wineries.just to far from primary residence to get away often. after class going to start looking in Delaware or green county to start.
Registered for May. Now if my schedule will just be stable enough to actually be able to attend!
welcome kmandley! glad you're here.
I'm attending the May class as well. Just booked my rooms for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, still haven't booked my flight but will shortly.
I plan to build on 28 acres in south Mississippi, atop a hill, a small creek nearby, which I plan to dam and build a large pond. Also have about 4 acres in a clearing perfect for a large garden, will have to fence it in to keep varmits out, even then it will be tough. I plan to build a 30X30 or 32X32 butt and pass 2 story cabin, with a small utility room hanging off the back.
Look forward to meeting all you May class attendees!
David
Sounds great skeeter, welcome!
David, please forgive Ronnie Rcklmbr for the misspellt name... He's from back east somewhere and never learnt to properly read and write right. He'll claim it is the result of too many children and having to type on his phone. You'll learn to like him just the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by rckclmbr428
Welcome aboard.
Nut, you ain't right! lol! While your here, here's a question. I've been designing some variation of my log cabin for a couple of years, using a software tool called Home Designer Suite. While it doesn't allow me to create all the supports and cross logs for 2nd floor supports, I've laid out my floor plan, including the loft and open to first floor area. I haven't tried to build a model, because I thought I should wait til the May course to learn what I don't know (which is a lot). What say you (and any others who want to add)? Give it try and bring it with me to class? Or wait?
btw, I've been awhile for a while, lurking and asking a question here and there, FINALLY got signed up for the class!
Bring it along but keep it to yourself until that time during the second day where you suddenly say to yourself "Wait a minute... They have a plan package??!!!".
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...onkeythumb.gif
Skitter,
Shoot me a pm when you get started on your build. I'm just up the road on the the north end of the state. Welcome aboard. You will love the class!
Will do Cruiser! I have family in Kosciusko so get up that way a good bit.
I built a 31x31 with a walk out basement that has a 14x14 utility room and my shop (boat shop and armory) that is 15 by 30. A basement is very low cost sqft depending on many factors... And a walk out basement is very cool because you can also have a root cellar is the same basement if you plan it right.Quote:
Originally Posted by skitter12
OBTW, you can have a few of my beavers to do the dam building...
I've been in touch with Ronnie Wiley on some plans, he has some good looking cabins! I actually purchased a set for a small cabin. I think I am gonna go straight to the triple dog dare and build my retirement home instead or starting with a small cabin. Way things are going in this country I better hurry....
My feelings exactly.Quote:
Originally Posted by skitter12
Eeyup .
Triple dog dare...a Christmas story...one great movie classic
This is not an introduction, but I couldn't find a thread for quick questions. Do LHBA members usually install the plumbing and electrics themselves or do you let a professional do it?
I plan to install nearly all of both. I built a home in 2008 and did all the electrical, 90% of the plumbing, and nearly all the hvac (had help running the hard duct). What I hope to get out of the class are the tips to doing this work in a log home, and since I'll be on a raised floor the plumbing should be straightforward. Getting plumbing and hvac to the loft is where I need guidance. Even thought about a package unit so I run everything under the floor, then a duct running up to the loft to dump air there.
We paid a plumber to do everything below the floor. We'll most likely do the rest.
The plumber recommended an electrician and I paid him way less than he was worth to come out and walk us though it all and kinda map out the circuits on our plans. He never cut a wire and yet was probably the best money spent on our build.
Either way. I did all my own on both. I did have pros go over both with me and that helped a lotQuote:
Originally Posted by pepsi
Hello, went to the class back in 07. We picked up 10 acres in North central Idaho last summer and will break ground in a few weeks. We're in a county with no building codes! Planning on at least two possibly up to four cabins. I'll get lots of practice that way. I've been going back over all the teaching notes and reading all the posts so I'm excited to get started.
Robert
Welcome home Robert.
I'd guess the property is in Idaho County so FYI a link to permit info; http://idahocounty.org/commissioners...permit-system/. Good luck and it is a great area.
K. Rawson
Actually Benewah county. Kind of getting back to my roots as I grew up in Coeur d' Alene.