Solutions for an affordable, environmental home: By building your own home you develop your confidence in yourself, the ingenuity and sense of the community. Not spending money is an active political action, even when the temperance does not come from economic necessity. That takes power from producers, sellers, and corporations that thrive on people’s dependence on them. The following is a checklist that re-iterates the economic sensitivities that arise when building your own house:
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Costs of an ecological home:
For savings in advance, money reserves to pay for all the materials you need, for tools, for specialized help, taxes, damages, and permits. If you can, save money and cover your basic living during the time you build, so you focus on the project.
Be economical to the maximum:
Be a fanatical modesty until you move into the house – it will be a matter of only a few months. Do not eat in town; do not buy things you do not necessarily need. The whole idea is to finish the first phase of your home without acquiring any debts. If you are in the area, West Little Rock lots for sale has a lot of quick options for each pocket.
Move your home to the construction site:
Live in a temporary shelter on the construction site, so you do not pay for housework while building. Borrow a big tent or buy a 200 dollar caravan. Make sure it’s unpleasant enough to be encouraged to finish at least part of your building before the weather gets cold.
Start at a small level:
Make the small construction at first to keep you in the budget and within the set time frame. Plan to add just what you need, as time and budget will allow you.
Plan ahead:
There is a principle of permaculture that says, “You always pay more for emergencies.” This is all the more true in construction. When you start building, make sure you have everything you need at the construction site. A last-minute buy-in takes time, energy and money. You begin gathering materials soon, even if you do not know where and when you are going to build. This way you can take advantage of what’s going on in your free or inexpensive way.
Use only what you have available:
Adjust your project according to the materials you have at your fingertips. Use the available materials on the construction site as much as possible: soil, stones, dry trees. If you do not find or do not allow something that you think you need, think about the possibility that you may not need that. What else could go used? If you have to have those French doors or that window with stained glass, but you can not afford them, put them ahead and make them the frames. Then cover temporary spaces with something else until you get money for doors or stained glass.
Develop creative problem-solving:
Learn to ask yourself, in this order: What am I trying to solve? What is the simplest and most creative way? How can I use what I already have, or use what I can find for free? Can I do business with a family member, a friend or a neighbor? Spending money should be the last option, kept for dessert; the main ways must be free.
Make your home with your friends and family:
Design your building according to your skills – yours or with the help of a volunteer. Labor is expensive, especially for skilled professionals, like masons, carpenters or roof repairers. See here.
Avoid the machines:
You can do without them. It may take a little more time, but if you are not a hired constructor, with sustained work, you save money. Machines always cost more than you expect – fuel, maintenance, accidents, mistakes, delays caused by failures, environmental impact and manual repair of the damage they cause.
Check the areas where the demolitions are and the construction sites:
Other people throw things you need, especially wood, doors and windows, pipes and electrical equipment. You do them a favor by taking these things, saving their garbage fee. Many landfills leave aside free building materials. Call those who dig for free trucks of the earth for cobs and concrete bursts for the foundation.
Ask for donated materials:
Tell people what you’re doing. They might become excited and want to help you. Establish as an educational resource center; people will see what they offer as valuable services. We received wool for insulation from the sheepmen who wanted to sustain our work. We also received wood, windows, doors and old shingle.
Build:
Make your windows and doors, skylights, furniture and office. Do your tools. They can be rough, functional and beautiful. Replace the broken glass sheet; bandage cracked wood poles. Isolated tape and wire are indispensable in any toolbox. Many times you can find someone who already has specialized tools that you may occasionally need, which they would be willing to borrow. Consider building a bank borrower tools from the builder community. Meet other people who build their own homes and passionate people to make their things. Offer to change your work and your surpluses with things that you need and that they have, or for specialization. Offer to teach them to build in the cob in exchange for work or materials.
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