Oswego Offgrid Livin

[Taco Loco]

Mother Earth News
discount code MMEEMK95. Prices on order form reflect discount and do not include shipping and handling.

 

[Taco Loco]

@Oswego

It’s been a few years, but you had posted some really good information links in building very efficient and eco houses.
Do you have those links saved or remember the source? thanks!

 

[Oswego]

So many links and so many designs Ive considered and posted over the years - can you narrow it down for me?

Some of my favorite GC's/architects/green builders that I keep track of on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFCTrfb1JUJjs3Im8OZDtBw

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPoqanqHbWlBnZPrKggS34A

When it comes to windows and doors - hit me up. They are always the #1 source of lost efficiency in new construction. But the worst window installed correctly still outperforms the best window installed improperly so in the end skilled labor is key regardless of materials or design concept

 

[Taco Loco]

So many links and so many designs Ive considered and posted over the years - can you narrow it down for me?
yesh, I’m about 6-8 years out, I plan on doing majority of the work and hire a few subs, I want to start collecting the ideas/plans now and putting into an Excel file.

Some of my favorite GC's/architects/green builders that I keep track of on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFCTrfb1JUJjs3Im8OZDtBw

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPoqanqHbWlBnZPrKggS34A

When it comes to windows and doors - hit me up. They are always the #1 source of lost efficiency in new construction. But the worst window installed correctly still outperforms the best window installed improperly so in the end skilled labor is key regardless of materials or design concept

thanks!

 

[Oswego]

if you are that far out it's going to be hard to plan or budget now..... Ive been changing plans for years as new tech comes out.

right now the biggest thing I'm hip to is having insulation on the exterior and having it be the air/moisture barrier as well. The old 'insulate between the studs stuff' is outdated IMHO and I'd never build that way. The studs suck at insulating and just become a thermal bridge.

I like zip 2.0 with thick insulation on the inside of the zip then an exterior layer of rockwool (sound deadening/bug and fire resistant/hydrophobic) followed by a good rainscreen. None of my walls would be built standard. Every wall would be using "advanced" framing thats got 24"+ centers

Advanced framing:

Zip 2.0 system:

Rockwool:

and guessing slab on grade cause Texas so I'm a big fan of this set up....I have NOT researched the crap out of it yet like the other products and new tech doesn't always live up to it's claims so I'm keeping my ear to the ground on these foundation forms/air/moisture barrier

The guy Ive linked in most of the videos is from TX so he could be a huge resource for you. Half the stuff he builds does not apply to the NE. I do remember him saying that if you live in TX and have your AC in an unconditioned attic (hot) you are a slave to the power company. Up here no one has AC in their attics let alone conditioned attics

 

[Oswego]

no idea what I want to do for roofing, but I'm leaning zip 2.0 (non insulated zip) with 6" of foam insulation on top of that, then plywood, radiant barrier, steel roofing



similar to this but much better

 

[Oswego]

if you are going to be doing as much as you can thats good because allot of subs do NOT stay on top of recent tech advances unless they work for top of the line GC's on builds w/limitless budgets. Those are the guys still using 2x4's on top of UN-insulated slabs that rot apart in 20 years.

 

[Taco Loco]

if you are going to be doing as much as you can thats good because allot of subs do NOT stay on top of recent tech advances unless they work for top of the line GC's on builds w/limitless budgets. Those are the guys still using 2x4's on top of UN-insulated slabs that rot apart in 20 years.

I will pretty much have too, no choice or pay a premium to have someone show in the middle of no where, to do work.

Leaning towards more steel than wood, off the top of my head...gray water collection, no sheet rock, min 36” doors, actual safe room Nado rated, no flower beds, green house attached, rain catchment, spray foam insulation, solar, but not off grid.

In addition to a HVAC system, interested in a passive cooling/heating using earth tubes as well.

 

[Silverback]

No sheet rock? Wood paneling or ??

 

[Taco Loco]

No sheet rock? Wood paneling or ??

I figured I’d travel Route 66 in a budget rental truck and pick up various road signs and substitute that instead of using wall paper.

metal sheeting, wood planks, hardiboard, beer cans... This condo for sale is decked out in floor-to-ceiling beers cans — see inside

 

[Silverback]

Oh yeah, the wife is gonna love that.

 

[Taco Loco]

Oh yeah, the wife is gonna love that.

she is artsy fartsy, , you would be surprised what I can get away with.

 

[Oswego]

I will pretty much have too, no choice or pay a premium to have someone show in the middle of no where, to do work.

Ive seen a ton of off grid guys that can't get subs to show up even when offering a premium just due to their location.

Leaning towards more steel than wood,

thats great. wood sucks long term.

no sheet rock,

thats good. sheet rock is a joke of a product and serves little purpose IMHO (all show - no go).
min 36” doors,

focus on door opening size not door size. you want a minimum of 32" clear opening from jamb to door with the door open @ 90*. thats code minimum. Chapter 4: Entrances, Doors, and Gates - United States Access Board

also IMHO it's a really good idea to get a door that can handle forced entry attacks and is efficient. I know that can sound expensive but a good steel door from a big box store with upgraded hardware like I added to all of mine will usually suffice.

actual safe room Nado rated,

no idea what that rating equates to - but I'd like my cabin to be hurricane rated at minimum with a fema rated tornado room.

green house attached,

thinking of KISS - this is going to be a massive brain drain trying to figure out so I'd have it detached. sure it can be done, but with limited $ and labor should it be? thinking long term humidity/HVAC and pest issues.

In addition to a HVAC system, interested in a passive cooling/heating using earth tubes as well.

I like the idea of earth tubes, but I'm a skeptic regarding their long term use and I do not like moving air around unless you need to. I am a HUGE fan of passive solar. It's super KISS. Sun shines on slab - slab heats house. No moving parts, just gotta get the science right with slab thickness, house/window placement, properly built eves/sunshades to keep the summer sun off it.

 

[Taco Loco]

I like the idea of earth tubes, but I'm a skeptic regarding their long term use and I do not like moving air around unless you need to. I am a HUGE fan of passive solar. It's super KISS. Sun shines on slab - slab heats house. No moving parts, just gotta get the science right with slab thickness, house/window placement, properly built eves/sunshades to keep the summer sun off it.

There is zero shortage of the sun in South Texas....
it’s more about adding shade, longer roof lines/overhangs, ventilation, high ceilings, room placements etc.

 

[Taco Loco]

I like the idea of earth tubes, but I'm a skeptic regarding their long term use and I do not like moving air around unless you need to. I am a HUGE fan of passive solar. It's super KISS. Sun shines on slab - slab heats house. No moving parts, just gotta get the science right with slab thickness, house/window placement, properly built eves/sunshades to keep the summer sun off it.

I’ve seen many times on TV folks using light weight tubes, I want to make sure it lasts, I thinking sch40 pipe at a minimum

 

[Oswego]

that would make me feel better. that thin walled black corrugated crap makes me cringe when I see people use it for geothermal heating/cooling.

while I like spending as much time in the dirt as possible - I do know there are plenty of nasty things in it that you do not want in your lungs

 

[Oswego]

now that I think about it - I still don't like it. We have earthquakes on occasion + the earth is always moving so last thing I want is ridgid tubes cracking. takes me back to the days when our in ground pool settled and cracked the schd 40 drain lines undeer the 12' deep end..... holy crap did that suck


maybe something pex like where it is thick but flexible?

 

[Taco Loco]

that would make me feel better. that thin walled black corrugated crap makes me cringe when I see people use it for geothermal heating/cooling.

while I like spending as much time in the dirt as possible - I do know there are plenty of nasty things in it that you do not want in your lungs

yeah I never understood why they use that cheap pipe crap, you know at some point a rock or something, ground shift will put a puncture in and then you have water then possible mold issues

 

[Oswego]

yeah I never understood why they use that cheap pipe crap, you know at some point a rock or something, ground shift will put a puncture in and then you have water then possible mold issues

they are playing checkers in the moment..... we are playing chess and thinking of the moves prior to making them. My only saving grace is learning from thousands of prior mistakes. Many of them are making their first

 

[Taco Loco]

now that I think about it - I still don't like it. We have earthquakes on occasion + the earth is always moving so last thing I want is ridgid tubes cracking. takes me back to the days when our in ground pool settled and cracked the schd 40 drain lines undeer the 12' deep end..... holy crap did that suck


maybe something pex like where it is thick but flexible?

good point, the Eagle Ford Shale area is < 30 minutes north of the property as the crow flys, on a regular basis there is seismic activity up to a 3.6 iirc
USGS Confirms Four Earthquakes in the Eagle Ford Shale - Oil & Gas 360

Earthquake rattles county in Texas' Eagle Ford Shale