/diy/ - Do It Yourself

[Anonymous No.287801]

So I've got enough money saved up to buy some land but only about $15k after that. I am morally apposed to both debt and trailer homes. What kind of structure should I build. Hopefully something I can do most of the work on myself.

I'm thinking about building something very small at first and later adding on and turning the old structure into a garage.

[Anonymous No.287807]

There's nothing wrong with a trailer bro.

Find you a free one (someone wanting it removed from their land, probably cost you 500-800 to have it moved) and you have a simple house to get you started. When you have the money to build a nice place, you can tear the trailer down for scrap metal.

Also, you can build a nice garage for under $10k. You could probably do the garage and a loft (for your first bedroom) for $10k or so. Build on later to add your other amenities.

[Anonymous No.287825]

I am actually in the same spot OP, except I have had an acre given to me by my father, he said I can build whatever I want on it as long as I have researched and pay for it. I was thinking about building a Po barn house, which is a steel barn with a concrete floor that has a apartment built inside of it. It is not pretty, but it is highly functional and cost effective.

[Anonymous No.287995]

hexayurt

[Anonymous No.288002]

>do most of the work myself

How much experience do you have in this field OP?

Is there city sewer and water? Do you need a well and septic?

[Anonymous No.288006]

>>287807
Pretty much what this guy said. You can't get a better temporary abode for $1000.

It's temporary. While you build your house. So in this context, there's nothing wrong with living in a trailer.

Besides, there's actually an upside. You'll have to get electrical service to your piece of property as well as water or septic. When your house is ready, you'll already be gtg, just tie in. You'll have to physically move the electrical meter, but that's not a huge issue.

[Anonymous No.288040]

>>287801
Similar situation but I'm waiting to get a little more cash because setting up utilities sounds like a pain + expensive.

[Anonymous No.288077]

Shipping container would cost you $1000 and you still have to lay a concrete slab to put it on, get a bed and toilet etc.

Pic related, simple shipping container home. You can expect something like this to cost +$2000. It's a lot more permanent than a trailer, but trailer is going to be your cheapest.

Personally I think it would be great to live in one of these - I would build one of these then maybe case it in brick/earth block and insulation.

[Anonymous No.288330]

Build a neff bubble house. I can't imagine they'd be that difficult orr expensive.

[Anonymous No.288334]

>>287801
I recommend a stone house. If not a stone house then a cob house with a 2 feet high stone foundation. Both are lots of work, cob will be cheaper since you don't need all the mortar a stone house would. Both last lifetimes in all weather conditions, but the cob's roof should over hang as much as possible to ensure rain will never cause a problem.

[Anonymous No.288337]

>>288077
You can simply use a block foundation like most trailers do. There are lots of shipping containers around here that do that.

[Anonymous No.288344]

Probably a more expensive, yet better option would be to build some sort of dome structure.

[Anonymous No.288351]

First thing that came to mind seeing ops pic

[Anonymous No.288603]

I would second the stone structure. They have the timeless look, and you can have an interesting interior as well as exterior, so long as you have the rock as an interior wall too. Look up bishop castle in colorado. With stone, I think a lot is possible.

[Anonymous No.288652]

There seems to be a good deal of alternative construction suggestions here. Unless you have some very specific requirements in mind, it really doesn't get any easier than standard stick frame construction. Depending on the area you build in, the only things you'll need external assistance for is the foundation or slab (which may not even be needed), and setting the roof trusses (which you can handle with a few helpers as long as the span is managable).

One major exception is if you have to put in a septic system. That is a job for pros (in many areas you can't legally do it yourself). It is also spendy. If soil conditions require a mound or other specialized drain field, it could eat more than half your budget right there.

[Anonymous No.288657]

>>288006

I'm going to sound like a redneck but I inherited some rural land from a deceased grandfather and I claimed a couple of free trailers. I connected those bitches (three trailers, U shape) and now I have me a redneck villa. I'm trying to find some tiles to salvage so I can make me a little Scarface-type pond thingy in the courtyard.

[Anonymous No.288685]

>>288351
Same here, until I opened the thumbnail. lol

[Anonymous No.288737]

If you're able to get land with a load of trees on it and you know a bit about carpentry then this might interest you:http://vimeo.com/28848933..
Basically the dude lives in a forest and he and his friends/relatives (but mostly just him) build a timber house. An awesome timber house.

I'd recommend that everybody who wants to live self sufficiently watch it.

[Anonymous No.288742]

>>288737
nice link

[Anonymous No.288743]

First get the land and see what is on it and what you can do with it. Then Id say buy/get a trailer and liv in that for the time you are building your house.

[Anonymous No.288744]

What do you mean "morally OPPosed" to a trailer home? There's a difference between trailer park trash, and having a nice trailer home on a foundation.

[Anonymous No.288766]

Geosidic Dome!

[Anonymous No.288769]

>>287801
Build an earthship

[Anonymous No.288784]

I'd say start with a surplus military tent + wood stove. Can be had pretty cheap and are fairly comfortable all in all (also add a cot, and a floor of some sort (a deck would be great)).
After that, the easiest/cheapest option is probably an earthbag structure. Basically pile up and ram bags of earth, then coat with concrete. That's what I would do if I had some land anyway.

[Anonymous No.288810]

What is also great. A log cabin.

Check alone in the wilderness by Richard Dick Proenneke. That guy is a rolemodel to me. And his cabin is fucking awesome. ANd seems really comfy.

[Anonymous No.288830]

Build a yurt OP. Right now I'm building one 16 feet in diameter for less than $1000. With 15k you could make some legit shit.

Pic related. This one is probably well under 15k

[Anonymous No.288832]

>>288830
just read the end of your post. You could build a little garage type shed next to a yurt idk.

[Anonymous No.288841]

What I did when I moved away from the city was this.

Worked a job, staying at my apartment in the city. Bought some land while still working.
I then bought an old RV my parents had (early 80's model) for pretty cheap. I parked that fucker on the land.
I lived in the city during the week and every weekend I'd head to the RV and stay there. I improved the land, cleared an area for a permanent building. I live in the northwoods so I'm building a log cabin. I have a decent chunk of land (120 acres but about 40 in one corner is swamp). I let my whole family use the land as recreation land with an understanding that they have to help improve the land, and help me with the hard shit.

I'm currently off the grid but I fully intend to get electrical installed and internet if it isn't cost prohibitive. I'm building the cabin as more of a weekend get away but due to my position in life (early 30's, all debt paid off, decent paying job) I am strongly considering finishing the cabin in the next year, then getting a couple more out buildings put up and possibly building a second (much nicer) cabin. If I can get this done by the time I'm 40 and manage to get enough saved, I may just retire and live there, maybe finding a job much closer that I can work part time hours to continue to get an income.

[Anonymous No.289553]

>>288830
>>288841
These are of great interest to me, please continue everyone.

[Anonymous No.289570]

>>288841
why not just become self-sufficent?

keep chickens, grow basic crops, and maybe even build a green house.

You could easily make your own money without a part time job.

[Anonymous No.289579]

>>287801

Not sure where you live, but you might consider buying a classroom. They're going on craigslist from anywhere from 8k to 20k depending on size, and usually range from 768sqft to 1500sqft. They are mostly livable as they come (except for the lack of a shower) and would allow you to frame the insides however you want.

[Anonymous No.289581]

look into earthbag building or super adobe

[Anonymous No.289978]

>>289570
What if you like you'r job (not everyone is an unwilling slave like you fry cook)

You still have property tax to fund $15k per year per students who don't want to be there to go to a shitty ass school with shitty ass teachers.