Posts: 603
Threads: 60
Joined: Mar 2008
If we have land and want to live with our land then we can go with containers, tents, tarps, yurts, tents or tipis. A 600+ sq.ft. tipi or a 300+ sq. ft. tent with a good warranty is worth checking out. Stoves are optional in each instance. Or you might do a lean-to. There are a lot of options, this is another.
YurtGirl
Melissa Fletcher
___________________________
"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973
Posts: 54
Threads: 15
Joined: Jul 2007
can you send me the info, thanks yurtgirl [  ]
Posts: 1,727
Threads: 29
Joined: Feb 2006
Why spent that much? Get a carport tent from Costco or Home Depot and move in. Some of them come with sides and door flaps otherwise you could put up some blue tarps or green ones if you want to be upscale. Haven't a clue what sort of reputation you'll get in the neighborhood, though. Probably depends on the neighborhood.
Some sub-divisions have restrictions on living in tents, yurts and other temporary housing and unpermitted structures so you may want to check if it is allowed before investing in a tent. They have changed the restrictions on trailers now, I think, so perhaps shipping one of those over from the mainland may be an option.
If, however, you are looking for low cost housing, have you considered getting an old cane house and having it moved to your site? Your annual land taxes will be very low since the house is already old. A couple hundred in taxes versus several thousand per year will add up over awhile. Hire a moving crew and a flat bed truck and there ya go! Some folks will give you an old cane house just for taking it away and they can be restored to a comfortable house. Cane houses are very much built for this environment and some of them are much more comfortable to live in than some of the new houses built to mainland perceptions.
You'd still need to put in the utilities such as septic/cesspool, water & power (either off grid or on grid) but that would need to be done for any structure you built.
There are some very economical ways to build a traditional wood frame house but most of them involve physical work so many folks look for other options.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
Posts: 603
Threads: 60
Joined: Mar 2008
quote:
Originally posted by Hotzcatz
Why spent that much? Get a carport tent from Costco or Home Depot and move in.
These last WAY longer, they're well worth the value. The fabric makers warranty 5 years, UV and mold resistant. I had a carport tent from one of the Box stores, it lasted all of 7 months... Spending More??
Melissa Fletcher
___________________________
"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973
Posts: 16
Threads: 2
Joined: May 2008
quote:
Originally posted by Hotzcatz
If, however, you are looking for low cost housing, have you considered getting an old cane house and having it moved to your site? Your annual land taxes will be very low since the house is already old. A couple hundred in taxes versus several thousand per year will add up over awhile. Hire a moving crew and a flat bed truck and there ya go! Some folks will give you an old cane house just for taking it away and they can be restored to a comfortable house. Cane houses are very much built for this environment and some of them are much more comfortable to live in than some of the new houses built to mainland perceptions.
You'd still need to put in the utilities such as septic/cesspool, water & power (either off grid or on grid) but that would need to be done for any structure you built.
This sounds interesting. Will Nanawale permit such a structure?
Posts: 1,273
Threads: 41
Joined: Oct 2007
You can get a quality used military surplus tent for under 500 dollars that is built to military spec and will outlast any rivals. Suppliers on the web abound. The basic unit is a 16, or a 16 by 32, but they are component created so you can connect the shells if you want larger or smaller. Otherwise, build a structure. A 3000 dollar crappy plywood shelter will be far more comfortable than a tent, and if you use the material smartly(screws) you can reclaim it for other projects.
Please, low impact, or "green building" must take into account a number details, economic cost, lifespan, ecological impact, and elsewise. These are not unknowable costs--it's good to do your research, and unfortunately fabric structures do not pan out.
Posts: 100
Threads: 14
Joined: Apr 2007
Nanawale Association has a house size minimum - I think its 800 sq ft.
My first "want to buy" house was in Paaillo (sp) in a sugar cane settlement along the coast. They're built with the post & pier, well-ventilated but usually small. Boy, are their roads steep out there!
I haven't heard of any for sale to be moved. Interesting idea, tho.
Posts: 1,261
Threads: 55
Joined: Nov 2005
I just checked out Nanawales website, www.nanawale.com (It's finally been updated after about 6 years). The CCR's say 880 sq. ft. house minimum, no used materials. I also was surprised to notice the CCR's state; "No trailer, tent, shack, garage or other outbuilding shall be used for living purposes on any lot beyond completion or 1 year, whichever comes first." So apparently you CAN pitch a tent in the subdivision and live in it for a year, as long as you've taken out a building permit.
Posts: 1,727
Threads: 29
Joined: Feb 2006
Most cane houses are within that minimum size. We live in one of the oldest and smallest of them and it is 875 square feet so the newer ones are probably bigger. In this case "newer" is anything newer than 1910 so that would be most of them.
I don't know if Nanawale would allow a cane house to be moved there but I don't see why not. Calling and asking them would probably be the best thing and if you were preparing to actually do it, then having a letter from them stating it is okay might be best.
Does anyone enforce the "new materials" code? I know a lot of folks build with used appliances and such. I would suspect that if the job looked good when it was finished there would be no outcry of "used materials" no matter how much of it was constructed of previously used materials. In some areas, such as Carmel, California, they are required to use a certain percentage of used materials.
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
Posts: 2,019
Threads: 201
Joined: Jan 2008
I've never seen a cane house.How does it look like? Tried to Google the subject-no luck.And if those houses are quite old,how they handle termites?
Would be interesting to know.
___________________________
Whatever you assume,please
just ask a question first.
|
