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How to build a house alone [video]

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Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#111

Post by ryan-allen »

madengr wrote: post #58
ryan-allen wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is sad. My Grandfather also built their family home, a feat which I'm still in awe of to this day. As one who builds things that live in a computer, but still has a messy visceral requirement of a roof over a head, imagine building a house! What an achievement. If I was born 20 years earlier I imagine I would have become a carpenter and been very happy.

Same with mine, back in 1942. Lived in it until he died recently at 100. Had seven kids in a three room house, and wasn’t until the 60’s he expanded it. Of course the only time the kids were inside was sleeping. Unheard of today. He also joked that he had a hard time getting a loan. They wanted to see plans, etc. “Why the hell do you need plans for a house?”. He built aircraft; those you needed plans for.

Ha! My mother shared a bedroom with two other sisters up until she was about 15 in the aforementioned house, it was different back then...

Loaning standards were different back then, based on my acquired knowledge from The Big Short.

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#114

Post by vinceguidry »

agumonkey wrote: post #91
ryan-allen wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That guy is amazing. I've watched all of his video many times over. For the new to the channel, he does all commentary via subtitles so if you want explanations of what he's doing and why turn them on! Some people seem to like watching them without the commentary as it's relaxing, others want to know what and why. I watched 5 videos before I realised there was explanations. I hope he goes back to his furnaces and met…

Him and Mathias Wandel (woodwork shop) have some tangible zen effect on my mind. It may be subjective but crafting with simple material, and mostly your hands * is extremely satisfying to watch and also very tempting to do. Society creates a distortion in which every pleasure sits behind some door but here they do tons of fun stuff outside just like that.

Other channels in that vein:

Wranglerstar - https://www.youtube.com/wranglerstar

Pure Living for Life - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChhBsM9K_Bc9a_YTK7UUlnQ

Paul Sellers - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc3EpWncNq5QL0QhwUNQb7w

Not quite the same aesthetic but still interesting:

Steve Ramsey - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBB7sYb14uBtk8UqSQYc9-w

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#115

Post by trumped »

Jakob wrote: post #4

Impressive! Of course technically he’s building it not by himself but with the help of a lot of technology. ;) This man is building a house including the tools you need to build that house completely by himself: Primitive Technology: Tiled Roof Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P73REgj-3UE

He's not trying to make his life harder... he is building it by himself the same way that some contractor would be doing it with perhaps 4-5 guys.

Although primitive, the video that you linked to is also based on previous technology/knowledge...

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#116

Post by xab9 »

iM8t wrote: post #8

Building your own house seems like a pretty common thing from where I come from (Eastern Europe). Nonetheless, the timelapses he does look really cool.

Exactly. My father built one himself, like his father did and he never even considered this something extraordinary...

I can remember being a kid when he did it; too bad I would never be able to this myself. He's kinda proud that his kid won't have do physical labour anymore, but it makes me sad nevertheless.

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#117

Post by willyt »

iguy wrote: post #109
willyt wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope thats not it. Many houses built in the UK now have a timber structure with a (mostly) non load bearing brick or blockwork skin on the outside. Most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a new build house that is timber or masonry structure, once it has been sheeted out inside. Timber cladding externally is less common.

I believe exterior timber was banned in London after the fire of 1666, and in many other towns not so long after that. A brick skin just gives you much more time to stop a fire from spreading. Even when the exterior walls are load-bearing brick, a lot of internal structure may still be in wood.

That's not strictly true, the rules [0] on what fire tests a cladding material must conform to are quite complicated and depend on how close adjoining buildings are and whether there are any windows in them.

[0] http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Buildi...

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#118

Post by iguy »

dharma1 wrote: post #41
chrisseaton wrote: post #5

It looks like the entire thing is made of chipboard and planks of wood? Is it a temporary building? How long does that last?

Timber frame houses will last a long time if properly maintained. The main source of decay is water or condensation getting into the structure and causing rot/mold - if you make sure that doesn't happen, the houses last for 100+ years

And perhaps you can add another zero to that if you're careful:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stave_church#Norway_2

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#119

Post by falcolas »

vinceguidry wrote: post #114
agumonkey wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Him and Mathias Wandel (woodwork shop) have some tangible zen effect on my mind. It may be subjective but crafting with simple material, and mostly your hands * is extremely satisfying to watch and also very tempting to do. Society creates a distortion in which every pleasure sits behind some door but here they do tons of fun stuff outside just like that.

Other channels in that vein: Wranglerstar - https://www.youtube.com/wranglerstar Pure Living for Life - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChhBsM9K_Bc9a_YTK7UUlnQ Paul Sellers - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc3EpWncNq5QL0QhwUNQb7w Not quite the same aesthetic but still interesting: Steve Ramsey - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBB7sYb14uBtk8UqSQYc9-w

Essential Craftsman

Currently in the process of building a spec house out in Oregon; has been filming the entire process so far. Very craftsman-zen, not to mention chock full of good info for anyone building/buying a house.

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#120

Post by dakna »

bkovacev wrote: post #106

Does anyone know what are the exact materials used? I'm so used to concrete/bricks/blocks around the area where I live, that this makes me wonder whether it will bear against a stronger winter (while I know the video was filmed in the winter) or wind. Can someone share their experiences with this type of a house? Also, are all houses in the states built like this?

It is called Stick Frame construction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framing_(construction) and is the default construction method in the US in areas without much seismic activity and fewer termites. It is a modular system where you can buy all the materials needed ready-made at big box stores like HomeDepot, Lowes or Menards. Professional builders get better prices at their lumber yard. It is very DIY friendly, and if you want to change something (build an addition, change the floor plan, etc.), it is easy to do without getting the sledgehammer out to destroy brick/concrete walls. The standard wall size has enough space to put insulation in the cavities, although it is not much. Building codes require at least R13 in colder areas, but that depends on the areas the house is build. You can build with more cavity space and have superinsulated outer walls that are good enough to qualify for an energy efficient rating like "Passivhouse".

Source: Moved to the US a couple of years ago and researched a lot of building techniques to be able to work on my own house.

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