How would you build your future home to withstand anything?

Discussion in 'Back to Basics' started by JeepDude, May 24, 2011.


  1. JeepDude

    JeepDude Monkey+

    Currently we are looking to buy a farm in a very rural type environment. We are looking into getting close to 150 or 200 acres of land to start our build for the future, we don't know what that will hold but you know how the saying goes, better to be safe then sorry (in other words, I want to be prepared). So if this was your future living place what would you do to it? Food storage, self-sufficient, house build (what kind of material would you build the house out of), bunker, what kind of land would you look for (rocky, soft soil, lots of rain, vegetation, wildlife, cliff faces, hilltop, dense woods, creaks, rivers, ponds, etc.), what kind of defenses would you use, stockpile of weapons (what caliber and what kind of weapons, gear, etc.), power supply. Basically this will be a build from the ground up. So how would you go about going completely off the grid ahead of the grid actually shutting down?

    P.s. The location of this build will be more than likely in the central part of the United States (so that should give you a pretty good idea of whats around), if you have any ideas already made, pictures are more than welcome. Thanks ahead of time.
     
  2. Falcon15

    Falcon15 Falco Peregrinus

    Well I'd build an earth sheltered monolithic concrete dome home...can withstand almost anything. Sure, I'd feel like a hobbit, but hey, there is wisdom in letting the earth shelter you.
     
    Moatengator, forge1, hank2222 and 6 others like this.
  3. Witch Doctor 01

    Witch Doctor 01 Mojo Maker

    +1 on the monolithic earth home... with a good water supply
     
  4. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    That, my Monkey Friend, is the Question of the Age, and there are a number of possible answers, that fit many senerios. It really depends on the LAND, and just how FAR OUT it is, from the rest of the population. You might just read my Blog Alaska Wilderness Building - Survival Monkey Forums to get some of the basic ideas. Yes, it is written for Alaska, but the basic principles will be the same, and the details will need to fit the LAND that you settle on. ..... YMMV.....
     
    Cephus and Falcon15 like this.
  5. beast

    beast backwoodsman

    give me a few days to think and write, ill give you an answer...lol
    falcon tho has the right idea
     
  6. mysterymet

    mysterymet Monkey+++

    +1 on the monolithic dome home. Just don't build in a flood plain.
     
  7. goinpostal

    goinpostal Monkey+++

     
    Falcon15 likes this.
  8. radpug

    radpug Monkey+

    Thats the how I feel. green is just to save me money.
    one day I'll get there I hope. Ive been looking at domes and earth shelter stuff for years, still in my 1955 house that leaks heat and drafts.

    I feel lucky to have what i have currently but I know i could save a lot of effort and money if i could lived differently.
     
  9. beast

    beast backwoodsman

  10. JeepDude

    JeepDude Monkey+

    Ok, I'm really liking the idea of having a monolithic style home now, or hobbit house as some of yall are calling it. So let's think this out now, how do you go about making a monolithic home in a cost effective way? I would like for it to protect me from just about anything, but as weather related goes, where I plan to build this would be in a more tornado type environment. After we knock out the thought process of the home then we can move on to other aspects of going off the grid.
     
  11. radpug

    radpug Monkey+

    Interesting concept beast.

    what if you dug out a hill side, put in a fondation, then stack and weld
    shipping containers together into one structure.
    Then encase the 3 sides and top in spray insulation and water proof concrete. created super structure and then recover with the dirt?
     
  12. Falcon15

    Falcon15 Falco Peregrinus

    I recommend that you investigate this thoroughly. One lady who built a mono-dome in Hawaii (above ground) did a lot of work herself because no contractor really knew how to build one. There is a construction company here in Italy, Texas - Monolithic. Overall monolithic domes are super cost efficient. They use very few materials, steel, foam, and concrete. This company even sells all of the tools and equipment you would need. Just sayin' these folks would be building mine. Perhaps WILL be building mine, who knows?
     
  13. Falcon15

    Falcon15 Falco Peregrinus

    Be careful with that. There was a guy who buried his shipping container under 6' of earth and had to go in and heavily reinforce the ceiling and walls, as the earth was crushing the relatively thin steel. Stacking Conex boxes for shipping (like you see on a container vessel) is different. Because the load is all based on 6 points around the container (4 corners, 2 center struts), with all the load pushing downward in these specific points the Conex boxes are designed with this in mind. The floors and ceilings are rated for a lot lower weight ratio and tend to collapse relatively easily.

    That is a lot of money out of pocket, especially if any of your containers collapse or get crushed, and you won't know if it will happen until it does happen.
     
  14. radpug

    radpug Monkey+

    I didnt think of that good catch, could be like a soda can then.

    As far the monolith domes I didn’t think you could bury those, from what i seen so far online they have been above ground. The airbag is the out side of the dome after its inflated and the rebar, insulation and shot crete is on the inside of the bag. You can (when above ground) just leave it like that but its better if is is coated with something like stucco. this is all just reading no practical experience.
     
  15. Falcon15

    Falcon15 Falco Peregrinus

    Buried Monolithic Domes posting from the Monolithic Dome BBS.
    Typically the domes are not buried too deeply (~2-3' under soil). They can be engineered to be buried at greater depths by increasing the wall thicknesses. Domes are the best. [shiz]
     
  16. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    Make sure you have good ventilation. A bud built one, concrete covered with earth. A couple of years later they had to add ventilation.
     
  17. beast

    beast backwoodsman

    like an egg, the dome shapes greatest strength lies in pressure from all points
    burrying them makes them tougher
    as for ventilation, IT IS A MUST
    your biggest problem in buried concrete is condensation and mildew or mold
    you need a way to keep moisture down and the air flowing
     
  18. goinpostal

    goinpostal Monkey+++

    Yes an air handler for any Monolithic dome is a must.Wanna knock $20K off of materials building an earth sheltered Monolithic dome yourself?PM me and I'll give you a rough DIY on how to do it.No airform.No poly foam.Same performance.Less up keep.True 500yr lifespan.
    I can also help with ideas on making an older home more efficient,and somewhat hardened at very little cost.Matt
     
  19. Minuteman

    Minuteman Chaplain Moderator Founding Member

    Falcon15 likes this.
  20. ozarkgoatman

    ozarkgoatman Resident goat herder

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