03-02-2008, 09:16 AM
I think with todays prices you had best figure 50 to 75 a square foot in materials. You can certainly be livable for closer to 50. A quality roof will be a major portion of the cost, but cannot be compromised on--4 foot overhangs all around lends to a large footprint. The key to low cost building is to engineer all rooms around dimensional lumber sizes, so that you don't need to cut--or waste, a single piece of plywood sheathing or hardly a stud. This saves a great deal in material costs. Lumber prices are on the rise with inflation in general, and it's wise to move forward.
As for the frame structure, a timber frame roof system similar to traditional Japanese style farm homes works well. While timber frame construction often requires large beams, with knowledge one can laminate these on site with structural adhesives, hence keeping with lumber sizes that can be car-top-ed and hand carried into the build sight, doing away with the need for big driveways, big trucks, clearing, cranes and the like. If one builds in a modular manner, which works well in the tropics, with a central living structure of perhaps 500 square feet or less--other outbuildings can be connected at later times with little cost if the need arises. If you want to go green, you must first go small.
I build catchment systems with ferrocement tanks on site. Not hard to do, but admittedly backbreaking. Still, my tanks is tucked into the side of the cabin with a slate lid that makes for my sunporch. Much nicer than the cheesy swimming pool thing in the yard that likely costs more.
Of course finish details can add a great deal of cost or next to none. In my case, I'm fortunate enough to have the skills and tools, and my trimout will cost near to nothing, as I've milled up a large standing dead ohia on my property that will supply most all finish material. I'd guess that in many cases that opportunity exists, but involves a fair bit of sweat and sawdust.
My background is in boat-building and cruising sailboats. There is no off grid structure on land that is nearly as demanding in efficiency nor faces near as demanding conditions as a cruising sailboat. Moving from that perspective to land based structures makes for a unique perspective--that of getting an awful lot out of very little. You need very little space if it is well thought out. See "Sea-Steading" on amazon. That's me, if that sort of thing turns your crank.
Solar works poorly in this area, as does wind most of the time. I'll install both in the following months, but it's best to design from the start a home that needs very little of either.
If you own neither QUALITY tools or a reliable vehicle your build cost will certainly be higher.
As for the frame structure, a timber frame roof system similar to traditional Japanese style farm homes works well. While timber frame construction often requires large beams, with knowledge one can laminate these on site with structural adhesives, hence keeping with lumber sizes that can be car-top-ed and hand carried into the build sight, doing away with the need for big driveways, big trucks, clearing, cranes and the like. If one builds in a modular manner, which works well in the tropics, with a central living structure of perhaps 500 square feet or less--other outbuildings can be connected at later times with little cost if the need arises. If you want to go green, you must first go small.
I build catchment systems with ferrocement tanks on site. Not hard to do, but admittedly backbreaking. Still, my tanks is tucked into the side of the cabin with a slate lid that makes for my sunporch. Much nicer than the cheesy swimming pool thing in the yard that likely costs more.
Of course finish details can add a great deal of cost or next to none. In my case, I'm fortunate enough to have the skills and tools, and my trimout will cost near to nothing, as I've milled up a large standing dead ohia on my property that will supply most all finish material. I'd guess that in many cases that opportunity exists, but involves a fair bit of sweat and sawdust.
My background is in boat-building and cruising sailboats. There is no off grid structure on land that is nearly as demanding in efficiency nor faces near as demanding conditions as a cruising sailboat. Moving from that perspective to land based structures makes for a unique perspective--that of getting an awful lot out of very little. You need very little space if it is well thought out. See "Sea-Steading" on amazon. That's me, if that sort of thing turns your crank.
Solar works poorly in this area, as does wind most of the time. I'll install both in the following months, but it's best to design from the start a home that needs very little of either.
If you own neither QUALITY tools or a reliable vehicle your build cost will certainly be higher.