GreenShelters

Three Key Visits

2011-06-29T21:00:00.006-04:00

In my last entry in January I promised to try to better in posting to the GreenShelters Blog. Well, this time I really mean it.

This past Monday, I visited the farm and met a surveyor and two personnel from NC Wildlife. The surveyor will be helping to provide a plan to analyse the approximately 70 acres for "best and highest use". This could be interesting since we are only 50 miles from the Raleigh (RDU) Airport but still have access to an 50,000 acre lake (Kerr Lake) and are surrounded by excellent hunting and fishing habitat.

The Wildlife people will be very helpful in integrating the "habitat" considerations into any proposed planned use.

On Friday, I plan to travel to the farm with a skilled draftsman that is expert in Google SketchUp. We plan to take detailed pictures and measurements in preparation for some serious modeling.

More later.

Catching Up

2011-01-12T09:26:00.002-05:00

It has been almost a year since I posted last. Lots have happened. I was able to engage a part-time carpenter and he has made a huge difference. We have just about completed the cabin, placed a bridge over the creek on the way to Kerr Lake and have almost completed a storage barn..

The big effort now will be to try to "model" the completed cabin in Google Sketch Up.

While I expect this to be very challenging, I will try to do better in maintaining the Blog.

Visit by Tommy Butler

2009-02-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Tommy Butler, a good friend from Wilmington, offered to go up to Little Wimbush with me and review the landscaping. He made some excellent suggestions as to preparing the fields for wild flowers, extending the pond and planting some fruit trees. He promised to come back in the Spring and supervise the effort..

We were in Vance County for a friend's birthday party so we had only limited time and did not break out the construction tools.

Continue to Work on the 'Library"

2009-02-04T10:14:00.000-05:00

Continued to work on the Library/Wash Room off the back of the cabin.

Put up siding (T-111)

Put sheathing on the roof (3/4" OSB)

Positioned outside entrance door.

Began to cut doorway from the cabin into the Wash Room.

http://picasaweb.google.com/greenshelters1/2009_02_03_LittleWimbush#5298966442092105250

Worked on the 'Library' & Pond Trail.

2009-01-30T22:44:00.000-05:00

Just got back from Little Wimbush where I worked on :

Designing and laying out the path over the dam that leads to Kerr Lake. (B4)
Securing the loft window. (A1)
Competeing the flooring and framing for the "Library". (A3)

See Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/greenshelters1/2009_01_30?authkey=ZUKfpXe_elM#

The "To Do" List to Complete the Small House

2009-01-27T22:59:00.000-05:00

I discussed with my wife Carroll (it is her farm) the possibility of having a "Open House" in the Spring at Little Wimbush. Some of our friends have expressed interest in the Small House concept and I would love to get their feedback.

But, if this is to work, lots of stuff has to happen like:

Finish the front/back gable ends and loft paneling: hang the sliding windows, place the external sheathing; place the external log siding; install insulation; place the internal panaling.
Finish Roof: Install metal roofing; install rakes and lookouts;
Finish the "Library" (or Wash Room): hang ledger board; put up 2x4 framing; cut and hang rafters; place OSB roofing; select and frame windows and doors; stain and hang T-111; install insulation in both walls and roof; install metal roofing; install paneling; hang internal and external doors; place felt and flooring; install composting toilet; install shower; install wash bowl; install bookshelves.
Finish hanging doors: Hang front and side french doors.
Finish stove chimney: seal pipe roof opening; enclose stove pipe in loft; secure stove pipe with screws; replace/finish loft flooring.
Finish the Kitchen: Install kitchen sink; complete kitchen build-out; finish wall paneling; complete hanging shelving, cabinets and organize kitchen.
Finish Living/Bed Room: Build bunks/storage lockers; purchase futons; install flooring through out;
Finish Log Siding: Hang log siding on front and sides
Design/Install Wrap-around porch: Install foundation; install joists; put in decking; hang ledger boards for shed roof; cut/install rafters; put on sheathing and metal roofing; install railing and screening.
Complete "Grey Water System": Dig a dry well and plumb in kitchen and wash room.
Complete Water Supply: Research/drill well; Research/construct rainwater collection system;
Complete Solar Power System: Install solar energy to run XM Radio, CD Player, etc.

The above should complete the base cabin. There are number of other projects that have been started or are on the drawing boards:

Finish the Utility Tool Shed
Finish the Outhouse
Place a buoy on Kerr Lake to mark boat docking location.
Build a trail over the dam.
Extend the trail from the dam down to Kerr Lake
Clear the upper field of brush and trees.
Take all trash to the dump.
Clear and trim lower field
Till and plant the lower field with hay and flowers

Beyond the above, it would be great if we could:

Drain, dredge and re-stock the pond for fishing and swimming.
Build one more Small House (16x24 w/fire place, front porch and shed dormer) to test all that has been learned.
Build-out the docking area on the lake.
Add some toys like a small tractor, an UTV and a John Boat with a small motor.

Worked on the 'Library'

2009-01-27T22:47:00.000-05:00

I spent yesterday and today finishing the flooring for the 'Library". The library will include a magazine rack and books PLUS a composting toilet, a propane shower and a wash basin. Went to Lowe's and purchased the framing (2x4), wall sheathing (T-111) and roof sheathing (OSB). I have already re-finished the internal door (taken from a old farm house) and back door from Lowe's.

A Lot Has Happened

2009-01-25T22:36:00.000-05:00

A lot has happened since I last updated my blog. Lets see - where should I start?

2007 was spent building a small (8x12) cabin in Wilmington, NC using my skills learned in Maine.
Also, during 2007, the Wimbush Farm was prepared for sale. It was sold in August 2008.
A part of the Wimbush Farm ( Approx 67 acres) was retained (Little Wimbush) and plans ware prepared to build several small houses on the property near the pond.
The small utility shed (7x8 w/wings) is almost completed. The guest cabin (12x20 w/'library") is under construction.
I plan to visit Little Wimbush tomorrow and continue to work on the "library" - walls, rafters, roof.

Habitat for Humanity - Foundations

2006-11-04T21:31:00.000-05:00

Today I was assigned to a new building site here in Wilmington, NC consisting of approximately 30 homes. This is a very attractive location and I believe has great potential. Our assignment was to dig the footings for a 24' x 48' house to be constructed over the next 16 weeks. We had approximately 25 volunteers, worked almost 5 hours and were served lunch to boot.

On Monday the city inspection officers will come by and bless the work. On Wednesday the concrete is to be pored and I hope to be on site for that. It is extremely interestng to see that different parts of a housing project come together.

Working with Habitat for Humanity

2006-11-02T22:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my first day on the job with HFH. I was sent to a community just outside Wilmington, NC where we spent four hours putting the finishing touches on the front and back porch of a three bedroom house. We had about 8 volunteers and a supervisor. I believe I was the least experienced but they made me feel at home and (somehow) were able to find productive things for me to do.

I was impressed by the organization, cooperation and progress that we actually made. I hope to volunteer again soon.

Building a "Lean-To" Shed

2006-10-31T22:23:00.000-05:00

As you may have surmized by now, I plan to learn how to build a small house from scratch. Part of my plan includes a series of smaller, light-weight projects where I can "get up to speed". Today was one more step along that path.

This afternoon, I met with Andy Compton, our very capable Maintenance Man here at our Condo Association in Wilmington, NC. I asked him if he would act as my consultant as I begin a series of ever increasingly complex construction projects. He said he would and we immediately began to modify some plans I had purchased over the Internet for a "Lean-To" Shed. Within a few minutes we had modified the plans to suit our particular situation (and to please my wife with special design doors) and Andy made a list of the required materials. I hope to purchase them this week and get started very soon thereafter.

With Andy's help, this project appears very "do-able" and a great preparation for the next and BIGGER project. I will keep the blog posted.

Habitat for Humanity; Wilmington, NC

2006-10-30T22:20:00.000-05:00

Today I signed up for Habitat for Humanity. I was told that I will be assigned to a construction crew on Wednesday (and maybe Saturday) and I have to report at 8AM - they will tell me where. This will be a very interesting experience. I suspect I will receive much more benefit from the venture that I will give.

Quite frankly, at this point I know very little about building houses but I am looking forward to learning.

Visit to the Wimbush farm

2006-10-28T22:06:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I visited my wife's farm in Vance County, NC on Kerr Lake near the Virginia border. http://picasaweb.google.com/greenshelters1/Wimbush_FArm#

I wanted to walk the new survey line to better understand where her property stopped and the Corp of Engineers property started. It was drizzling rain, it was a little cold but I had a great time.

This is a beautiful piece of property which has been in her family since before the revolution. In the 1950's the US Government decided to build Buggs Island Dam across the Roanoke River and thus create Kerr Lake. My wife's father lost lots of property and an ancestral "Home Place" with that transaction but on the upside, my wife's farm is now "water front property" within 1.5 hours drive of the Research Triangle.

What does this have to do with 'GreenShelters" you may ask. In my walk around the property, I was also looking for a place to build a small Green Home. Probability no more than 400 sq ft - but something I can use as a test for some of the Green Techniques that are being developed. I think I have found the spot. It is about .4 of a mile down State Road 1353 just off to the left on a small pond. I flyfished that pond briefly yesterday and caught several sunnys and one VERY SMALL large mouth bass.

Shetch Up Models

2006-10-26T21:27:00.000-04:00

I spent most of the day continuing to experiment with 3D Construction Modeling. I continue to be amazed by the power of this concept. It is possible to build COMPONENTS that simulate 2x4's; 2x8's, 2x12's; walls, foundations, floors, windows, doors, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) Systems etc and then assemble them into a completed House MODEL on the computer screen.

One of the things we learned at the Shelter Institute was " What takes one minute to fix in the office (on paper) will take 10 minutes to fix in the field (before assembly) and will take 100 minutes to fix once construction has begun.

This 3D Modeling Process can be used to force the designer to identify every item and every step necessary to construct the proposed house. What a potential savings in time and money!

Sketch Up 3D Construction Modeling

2006-10-25T09:13:00.000-04:00

Last night (Tuesday; Oct 24) I bagan to play with a planning process developed by Dr Dennis Fukai of the University of Florida (www.insitebuilders.com). The process uses Google Sketch Up to plan and actually layout the construction of small homes - step by step. By pre-building a range of construction "components", it is possible to actually map the building process on the computer screen.

This is a very important technique; much more on this later. Sufficent to say at this time --- it is potentually a very powerful tool in our quest to pre-plan and improve the efficiency of building 'Small Homes".

I've got "PLANS"

2006-10-24T11:15:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I went to Garlinghouse (www.garlinghouse.com) in Chantilly, VA. I did not have to go (their Web site is quite complete) but since I was in the area I visited their headquarters.

This is a company that has literally 1000's of complete house plans for sale in their warehouse. As I understand it, they have professional relationships with many architects and they provide a distribution center for all manor of blueprints.

The plans are organized in such a way that within a few moments it is possible to zero in on the size, type and layout that might interest you. In most cases, a complete set of plans is less than $100 and (even if you do not use them for final construction) it seams to me to be a great way to "jump start" your thinking.

I plan to start small so I bought two plans 1) 4 x 6 lean-to shed and 2) 16 x 20 hunting cabin. They will give me plenty to "chew-on" during those long winter nights - waiting for the spring building season.

Visit to the National Building Museum, Washington, DC

2006-10-24T10:43:00.000-04:00

This Sunday, October 22, my wife and I went down town Washington,DC and visited the NBM ( www.nbm.org) . I know it is fashonable to complain about "government spending" but I must say this is an amazing building and it currently houses an amazing exhibit - The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architercture and Design.

There is almost too much there to describe in detail, but of particular interest is an entire, physical house (The Glidehouse - http://www.mkd-arc.com/whatwedo/glidehouse/index.cfm) designed byMichelle Kaufmann in California and available now on the market (10 houses so far starting at $130/sf). It is representative of some of the most creative work being done today by using powerful design software, the latest "green" materials and prefabricated/modular construction. These techniques allow individual designs to be combined efficent production and low-impact construction.

Classes at Shelter Institute; Woolwich, ME

2006-10-24T09:39:00.000-04:00

Early in 2006, I had lunch with an architect friend of mine and he described how he was designing a small cabin for his author son in the Maine woods. He described how the simple design and minimalist requirements permitted a solid structure to built "off-the-grid" with a maximum of utility and a minimum impact on the evvironment.

The discussion caught my fancy and I began to read-up on sheds, cabins, cottages and small farm houses. I soon realized that, if I was serious, I could use some "hands-on" training.

Sooooo, from September 18th to 23rd, I attended a Small House Design/Construction Class at the Shelter Institute in Woolwich, Maine (www.shelterinstitute.com) . For five days, our class of 12 students learned how to design, build and assemble a 12' x 16' loft-cabin from scratch. Our instructor was excellent and I believe we all left there excited about the prospects of putting our new skills to use. Take a look at this: http://www.shelterinstitute.com/timbergallery/SmallHouse/fall06/