Anyone built their own home

[firefox]

So next part of our lives after travelling will be to settle down somewhere. Not quite sure where..
I'd like to seriously look at building something ourselves.

I also want to go Eco and off grid, and I mean totally off grid and do a few weird things like running 12/24v mainly with only essential 240.

Been digging around a lot on how this can be done seems easy, but very curious about whether anyone else has done it.

After living 3 years now on the road and loving it, we don't have much desire to go back into a huge home in a big city, very keen to go off grid, simple and Eco with a comfy place?

If you have done this how hard was it? Where did u do it, we'd love to chat with people that have been through this before

[edz]

Research Earthships, you tube is filled with good examples https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtsTH5WYVhjk9ADGfBzivUA ..
Find a block that has 24 / 7 running water and set up a micro hydro for unlimited power .

[oldmate]

bolt that thing you call a camper to a slab somewhere. proplem solved 

[Rumpig]

I heard Oldmate is a Chippie, I'm sure he'd be happy to come help you out knocking a shack up.

[oldmate]

I heard Oldmate is a Chippie, I'm sure he'd be happy to come help you out knocking a shack up.

it would be a shack too dont worry

anyway, isnt it past your bedtime?

[cruiser 91]

All the best in achieving the dream 

I haven't done it but have researched a little and talked to 2 that have done it.

Depending where you choose to build (how remote) you may still have to pay rates and possibly still pay for the privilege of having power and water running past your property even if you're not connected.

Check annual rainfall for desired location and what time of year. 100,000 litres of tanks seems to be the minimum norm here in SA.

$60k for off grid solar with a bit of wind power added in that (5 years ago). It will sufficiently run a normal energy conservative household provided you're solar is facing north. But I'm not so sure if air-con is included in the running cost. Regardless of solar a back up geny will always be necessary.

House design is just as important and I don't mean architecturally built. A simple design with keeping the outdoor elements in mind.
For example, 2.5m varanda running around the whole house. Roof pitch and size to minimise heat and capture water. Timber windows with 6.38 laminated glass is far more better insulator than your normal 3mm and cheaper than double glazing. Open plan to allow a breeze to run through the whole house. Size and location of windows to capture as much sunlight in winter. Central heating using a wood fire would great.

Don't build with large trees close to your home. As nice as it sounds it dangerous. Fire breaks around the perimetre of your property and fire protection for your home with an evacuation plan is a must.

The more remote, the more expensive building goods will cost.

 



 
 

[GBC]

I am a builder. Done a few off grid places and used to build remote area navigation aids. We have a family property at conondale which is off grid. Genset (lister) and solar setup. With lpg refrigeration. If I can help With your questions I will.

[firefox]

Hey GBC thanks for that, i might PM you some questions.
I'm more interested in how hard it is to get it through planning etc..? Will be all done right, but i really want to be totally off grid..
And maybe do some weirdish things.. For example.

I'd like to look at seriously..

12V lights throughout the property So really all 12V led instead of 240v.
Will still run 240v but will for mainly non-essential items.

Really the only "240v" things we would have are maybe fridge (haven't decided yet) dishwasher and washing machine..

We would run the 240v stuff through inverters and backup gen's etc.

We've been living for 3 years on 12v so i know its possible. But im curious about maybe there is silly building codes for things like you can't use 12v lighting it must be 240v for example?

Been looking a little into septic/waster water and all the type of stuff.

I think it would be a really cool challenge to do something like this.. We would still want to get core trades to do the key things, but designing and planning, and maybe some of the core stuff would be cool.

[KingBilly]

With the septic, some of the newer septics use a pump out system which would be an extra drain of your 12 volts

KB

[firefox]

yeah they use a 56-80w/240v blower so not heavy on power, and only seem to run for about 12 hours a day? some longer..
There's a few things need to consider as we can imagine.. This is one of them.

The wife seriously wants a pool, so it's another thing to consider...

I think power storage will be interesting, but there's also the possibility of getting an auto gen system.

With the island in Fiji that runs 2x gen's permanently, i don't want to do that, but the auto systems are very clever, would be something to dig a little deeper in.

[raider]

The wife seriously wants a pool, so it's another thing to consider...



Get a property with a dam and put a small jetty in. You will then have water for swimming and also irrigation / fires , yabbies , fish etc
This is a mate's dam in Bendigo. Very deep and very cold 

[GBC]

Planning laws are all local so it would depend on where you want to live. As long as your wiring is up to code and signed off by a sparky there won't be an issue.
Yes, 12v all your lighting and invert for the rest with a switchover to Genset when the toaster kicks in. The newer forms of batteries we are waiting to become mainstream to look at. We run a bank of 4v train batteries which need boiling up old school.
Fridges, pumps and pools add levels of complexity and up your base load requirement. Agitate against these feverishly now to avoid disappointing the bride unless you wish to spend mega bucks on your array and listen to a Genset often. A wood fired hot tub is an alternative and can be used year round. Ours was made by the coopers in Bundaberg. Just fill it from the firefighting tank when you want it.
Also think about putting a 100 gallon tank on the roof or a tank stand to have gravity feed and more firefighting ability when it all goes to custard.

[Metters]

I have built two houses as an owner builder.  One was double brick while the other was brick veneer. 

I have never worked in the building industry but I started taking an interest in how houses were built from the age of 22.  By the time I built the first one seven years later, I just about knew as much as the contractors.

I had one amusing incident while looking at a house under construction in Adelaide years ago.  The police turned up and asked me what I was doing.  When I told them the driver said he was preparing to build his own house.  We discussed house building for about twenty minutes before they got a radio call and had to go.

I did not have any problems with council applications or anything else.  They were very helpful in both cases.

As for off grid houses: I would contact this bloke.    http://caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/collyn-rivers/   He has had an incredible background in electronics and has built two off grid houses. 

[Raym]

We were looking at building with strawbale however any such thing is on hold at the moment.

And no the wolf will not huff & puff and blow it down.

CSIRO tests show excellent fire resistance

Pests cannot take up residence in the walls.

Insulation qualities excellent, hence less heating/cooling energy required

Google is your friend there is a lot of info out there.

There are opportunities to work on builds some cost to attend some are free as a volunteer & there is a range of training available

Ray