Results 1 to 22 of 22

Thread: Interesting DIY homes

  1. #1
    Administrator Ellsworth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    3,575
    Blog Entries
    53

    Interesting DIY homes

    I found a couple of interesting website today and thought I'd post them for folks to check out. Very unusual, DIY type of stuff.

    http://www.tnstaafl.net/Earthship/earthship.html

    http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/glennkangiser/album?.dir=/8ac1&.src=ph

    I'm not sure I like the idea of living in a home made of rammed earth and tires, because tires contain a lot of chemicals. I'd imagine that some of that would leach out over time?

    The other home is rather neat. It seems very 'organic' in design and quite eclectic... almost like a bizzare hobbit hole ;)

  2. #2

    Interesting DIY homes

    Very close to a Hobbit hole, but no round doors. Very eclectic indeed.

    Tom
    nobleknight

  3. #3
    LHBA Member rreidnauer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Allegheny highlands
    Posts
    10,914

    Interesting DIY homes

    LOL, most Americans already live almost totally surrounded by plastics. Heck, most car interiors are all but 100% plastic. And anyone who knows their stuff about VOC emmisions from it can tell you that isn't healthy. How much worse could this be? :roll:

  4. #4

    Interesting DIY homes

    http://earthship.org/

    The tires are filled with dirt and pounded with a sledge hammer to form a 300 pound "brick". Once you plaster over them there is no "off gassing" ( I think that's what they called it). :)

  5. #5

    Interesting DIY homes

    Thanks for sharing Ellsworth. The "hobbit hole" is eclectic indeed! But very homey and comfy looking. I would think it must be fun to live there.
    I especially liked the "inspector". Those are the kind you want to deal with! :D

    Shanara

  6. #6
    LHBA Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    High and dry in the West
    Posts
    989

    Interesting DIY homes

    Ponyboy.... isn't plaster still a ... well, a permeable membrane, so to speak? I'd be really surprised if there wasn't at least some off-gassing.

    Of course, you can't protect yourself from everything that could be potentially harmful, I guess. :wink: Some of these alternative building materials and techniques are certainly interesting anyway.

    Sara :D

  7. #7

    Interesting DIY homes

    Hello Sara,

    I believe your right about the plaster being able to breath. Especially the earth plaster they like to use. I think that with the tires being encased in plaster the things that make it want to "off gas" are pretty much taken away (sunlight, oxygen, Taco Bell....) :shock: :D

    Here's their FAQ

    http://www.earthship.org/build/offgas.php

    Jeff

  8. #8
    LHBA Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    High and dry in the West
    Posts
    989

    Interesting DIY homes

    Thanks, Jeff.

    I'd glanced around the site but missed that page.

    It's an interesting explanation, and sounds reasonably logical (and like you said, the elements that one would guess would be breaking them down are probably mostly eliminated.

    Seems to me, however, that if this gentleman is trying to convert others to his methods, he might conceivably get farther in that direction if he didn't start off his explanation by labelling anyone asking about this issue as "irresponsible". Was I seriously considering his technique, that would have been quite a turn-off to me. :wink:

    Sara :D

  9. #9

    Interesting DIY homes

    Quote Originally Posted by Ambarian

    Seems to me, however, that if this gentleman is trying to convert others to his methods, he might conceivably get farther in that direction if he didn't start off his explanation by labelling anyone asking about this issue as "irresponsible".
    Sara :D
    Sounds more like something the log home kit manufactures would say when you ask them about their inferior building method.... :mrgreen:

  10. #10
    Administrator Ellsworth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    3,575
    Blog Entries
    53

    Interesting DIY homes

    Wow, I didn't mean to start a controversial debate, I just thought they were some neat websites.

    When it comes to tires, about all I know are the treadwear, traction and temp gradings ;)

  11. #11
    LHBA Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    High and dry in the West
    Posts
    989

    Interesting DIY homes

    :lol:
    Don't worry, Ellsworth. I think that WE are all copacetic, just curious. It's the guy on the website Jeff linked that seems to have issues.
    :wink:

    I never heard your dad call anyone an ignorant rube for questioning his methods. Not to their face, anyway, right? :lol: The facts speak for themselves, so there's no reason to get uppity. So if this guy has the answers about off-gassing, which he seemingly does, why the hostility about the questions? That was my only point.

    Actually, I think that maybe the issue here is one of "environmental responsibility", and that's where the attitude comes in. If you really cared, you wouldn't be looking for reasons not to build with tires, or whatever.

    Just my thought.

    Sara :D

  12. #12

    Interesting DIY homes

    Quote Originally Posted by Ambarian
    :lol:


    Actually, I think that maybe the issue here is one of "environmental responsibility", and that's where the attitude comes in. If you really cared, you wouldn't be looking for reasons not to build with tires, or whatever.

    Sara :D
    I bet he's just sick of answering that question 4 times a day for the last 30 years. LOL :D

    Jeff

  13. #13

    Interesting DIY homes

    Hmm. As far as old tires goes, retailers have been selling something called "EcoSurf" for years. It's a matting made from chipped up old tires, and while it does have an odor when 1st unrolled, it can used just about anywhere. The smell soon goes away. If you wish to see some, go to a Lowes Store, and venture into their major appliance section. You will find this grey material around the bottom of their fixtures that the dishwashers are displayed on. I know this because I work at a company that builds these display fixtures. I've read the MSDS on it and it has good marks. Been cutting, glueing and handling this stuff myself for several years now, with no ill affects. (Boss-I can't work tomorrow-the voices told me to stay home and load all the guns)

  14. #14
    LHBA Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Tampa Area
    Posts
    230

    Interesting DIY homes

    The previous owner of my place had a unique use for tires...

    http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/dbtoo/07frontporch.jpg

    Don't think I'll use the technique for my log home, though.

  15. #15
    LHBA Member rreidnauer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Allegheny highlands
    Posts
    10,914

    Interesting DIY homes

    Ahhhh. A mosquito farm. Nice!

  16. #16

    Interesting DIY homes

    Quote Originally Posted by rreidnauer
    Ahhhh. A mosquito farm. Nice!
    :lol:
    I don't think there's a very big mosquito problem in those Mesa Arizona tires. Not much chance of rain collecting in them either--for very long.

  17. #17
    LHBA Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Tampa Area
    Posts
    230

    Interesting DIY homes

    Those be the Show Low tires, so they'll see a bit more rain, and some snow too! In Mesa, we actually do have a mosquito problem because too many people don't take care of their pools, let them get all green with algea. Perfect breeding place for 'squiters.

    But that's off topic. Sorry. :oops:

  18. #18
    LHBA Member
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Rosamond, CA
    Posts
    8
    Has anyone mixed design elements from the earthship with the LBHA style cabin? I like the cabin, don't like the hobbit house look. I am wanting to catch my water, and build a greenhouse on the south wall. Would the humidity of a greenhouse rot the logs? It would give me passive solar heat in the winter and make an air draw though underground ducts in the summer. With radiant heat in the floors, which I could run chilled water through in the summer, I think I could make a self cooling and heating house. I am not sure how to run the numbers, but it should be feasible.

  19. #19
    LHBA Member Kola's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Earth
    Posts
    1,278
    Hemp GH !


    Hmmm... I wonder if they can make hemp winda's?
    Last edited by Kola; 11-18-2019 at 05:59 AM.

  20. #20

    I think she needs to add a butt and pass log house to her portfolio.

    “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  21. #21

    Building on the past

    “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  22. #22
    LHBA Member Shark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Hauser, ID
    Posts
    5,410
    That's awesome!
    Completed #1 - Sold #1.....#2 about to start
    http://jandjloghome.blogspot.com/

Similar Threads

  1. DIY solar
    By andrew mason in forum Solar energy and alternative power
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 02-21-2011, 09:55 AM
  2. Help! Framing joinery for DIY log garage?
    By maplewood in forum Alternative construction
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 02-27-2010, 06:07 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •