What's your dream house?

Discussion in 'Back to Basics' started by Tully Mars, May 28, 2015.


  1. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    The wife is insistent that the master bath have a water closet. I never gave it much thought myself. For the last few weekends we have been looking at homes, plans,ect and I'm surprised how many have water closets. Must be back in vogue;) After seeing a couple I have come to agree with her, it's a nice option.
     
    Ganado and Mountainman like this.
  2. MountainMariner

    MountainMariner Clearly Ambiguous

    I'm in it! Couldn't ask for anything more. And it's paid for.

    [​IMG]
     
    KAS, Gator 45/70, 3M-TA3 and 8 others like this.
  3. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Consider a bidet as well. Age will point out the benefits.
     
    Ganado and Tully Mars like this.
  4. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey


    I really like the idea of "flip flopping" the main and lower levels, and would consider it except for us I don't believe it's needed. One of the reasons we are planning this is because this piece of property has certain unique qualities that I believe would make this step unnecessary. Not trying to go all cloak n dagger, but I wish to have some OPSEC;)

    I agree with you 100% on the concrete and the drain systems. I will check into the Platon-it sounds very good. I will be acting as the general contractor and will sub out what is needed. I plan on doing much of the work myself, not only to save money, but it will be easier for me to install certain options without 15 guys knowing that this house has a really cool_____. A relative is a retired county building inspector, so I have "an in" with the boys there already. At this point I plan on using some type of IFC for the forms. I've never used them personally, but have seen them used up in ND and everyone I spoke with praised the system. The soil here is typical Alabama red clay, so sand will be needed.

    Again, I planned on the hydronic heating. I have a few friends up north that have it in their shops and I'm sold on it. Excellent idea to put it under the concrete-I've never heard of doing that. While I think @ghrit & @BTPost ideas on the walls are good, you've given me another method to consider,lol.

    I do like the spray foam, and have it in the shop. Spraying the underside of the roof makes sense, and I plan on a metal roof so there shouldn't be any issues with tile life.

    2014 Fine Homebuilding Archive - Magazine Archives - Homebuilding - Taunton Store
    If this is the one you mentioned, I'll order it today(y)

    EXCELLENT post @Airtime and thanks for your imput!
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2015
  5. Pineknot

    Pineknot Concrete Monkey

    i would use waterproofing admixture in the concrete, zypex is one brand. its not cheap, but in the south we are only 175' about sea level and our ground holds moisture with sandy clay gloomy soil. i would definitely use no less than ten foot ceilings and use double hung windows so you can lower the tops and let the heat out. a solar attic fan will also help. we don't have bad winters very rarely below 30 degrees, but we get hot humid days most of the year. i would do a ranch style home with concrete floors, walls and roof. Rated to handle an EF-5 tornado which is more than what a hurricane can send us. Heat and cold transfer is a minimal using ICF. A lot of info on website below. I would look for sustainable solutions for the effort of reduced maintenance in the future.
    12v LED lighting with motion sensors on some and 12 volt vans either installed or in storage.
    Battery bank for back up lights with solar system to recharge.
    have a spot set up in the middle of the house to install a wood stove in just in case.
    geothermal heating and cooling and radiant heating in the floors.

    if you get serious about using concrete, I make concrete for a living and can offer some info to help with mix design of your use.

    Quad-Lock Insulated Concrete Forms = Better Buildings
     
    Tully Mars likes this.
  6. Airtime

    Airtime Monkey+++

    Yes, that is the one! The articles in that magazine are generally written by actual builders and not journalism grads parroting manufacturers' PR. These guys usually construct higher end and unique homes for clients that demand high performance, want energy efficiency and have the bucks to pay for it. These aren't spec houses. But the techniques often don't cost that much more and when doing the work yourself, a few hundred bucks is nothing in the grand scheme.

    If you put PEX in the fill below the concrete floor, consider using sand fill as you'll have better thermal transfer than with pea gravel. You probably should also run the PEX a bit closer spacing as well since the sand won't have as good of heat transfer as putting the PEX in the concrete.

    Oh yeah, if not clear it's good to still put a coating, even tar on the wall under Platon. It will reduce water permiating directly through the concrete (many people don't realize water can go thru non-cracked concrete and hence the need for vapor barriers etc. I used Blue Seal spray on rubber membrane under Platon on my basement. Dry as a bone.

    Glad to be able to help. Have fun.

    AT
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2015
    Yard Dart and Tully Mars like this.
  7. Dont

    Dont Just another old gray Jarhead Monkey

    The replies here have been very helpful in planning what I may be able to use to make my own dream come true..
    A secure, safe haven, stocked and ready for what calamities that may be thrust upon us all.. Thanks to all!
     
    Tully Mars and kellory like this.
  8. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    No stick house, Steel reinforced concrete walls and roof. No basement sooner or later most flood. Plenty of windows double glazed min. Argon gas, impact resistent glass. R 30 or better all around. Safe room for storms, min 120mph walls and roof.

    Sized to fit your family.

    Sorry no pics OPSEC, for this is what I live in.
     
    Ganado and Tully Mars like this.
  9. azrancher

    azrancher Monkey +++

    I googled it so... is a water closet something other than a flush toilet?
     
  10. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    There are a few meanings. Yes, a simple toilet, sometimes refers to a whole bathroom, or to the old time version here..[​IMG]
     
  11. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    EU phrase. Also known as a WC or the LOU
     
    Tully Mars likes this.
  12. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Jack Parr did a skit quite a few years ago about WC. Something about confusing water closet and wayside chapel. I've been unable to find it, but remember it was funny as all git out.

    This is not far off Johnnie's pitch.
    http://www.sewerhistory.org/misc/wayside chapel.pdf
     
  13. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned


    Sorry, but this joke is read, and not performed by Jack Paar. (Best I could do)
     
  14. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    In our case, water closet is a small "closet" sized room within the master bath with a door that the toilet and maybe a sink are in.
     
  15. Kingfish

    Kingfish Self Reliant

    Earth berm or earth sheltered homes are really the way to go in most climates today. Underground has so many benefits. Cooler in summer, easy to heat. Easy to maintain, protection from the elements. They work great with solar or wind plants and are really not that expensive to build. I have wanted one my whole life. Today we have a partial berm (walk out basement) built into a hill. Three sides are buried. It allows us to heat the entire home from one wood stove in the basement with no duct work. The basement heats to 90 degrees easy and this warms the hardwood floors upstairs keeping the upper level a comfortable 68 during the coldest weather.
     
  16. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    Something like this on the edge of the swamp.

    breeze way.
     
  17. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    Texas dog run style house
     
    Gator 45/70 and Ganado like this.
  18. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    I saw one over in Burkeville now that you mentioned Texas
     
  19. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    Tully Mars, perfect small home with storage too! lol
    [​IMG]
    Park Model Lofts | Cavco Park Models

    Gator those are really great designs for the swamp areas. Cook on one side live on the other have breeze way in between nice pic =)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 31, 2015
  20. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    Castles often had the kitchens remote from the main keep, just to keep the smells, heat and noise to a minimum.
     
  1. Alanaana
    Media

    Dome

    Uploaded by: Alanaana, Dec 4, 2023, 0 comments, in album: Alana's_Adventures
  2. Alanaana
    Media

    Views

    Uploaded by: Alanaana, Dec 4, 2023, 0 comments, in album: Alana's_Adventures
  3. martha_mill
  4. DKR
  5. SurvivalJester
  6. Dunerunner
  7. deMolay
  8. Asia-Off-Grid
  9. Asia-Off-Grid
  10. oil pan 4
  11. Asia-Off-Grid
  12. DKR
  13. troybillett
  14. chelloveck
    Hobbit living.... [MEDIA] [MEDIA]
    Thread by: chelloveck, Jul 1, 2018, 3 replies, in forum: Back to Basics
survivalmonkey SSL seal        survivalmonkey.com warrant canary
17282WuJHksJ9798f34razfKbPATqTq9E7