/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>1150422
Your pic related already looks nice enough, posting some more cabin stuff though.

>>1150422
The OPpic looks comfy as fuck.

OP here, That cabin is what's known as an A-Frame. Its got some pros and cons and is an option I'm looking at. The thing that are serious cons with this kind of cabin is 1) poor temperature regulation 2) expensive roofing cost {its all fucking roof and the roof is the most expensive part of the house}, 3) it can degrade quickly and costs almost as much to fix as it is to build 4) lots of lost space due to its geometry 5)unless its a high snow area theres no point to the structure 6)any type of weather with strong winds is gonna thrash it.
With all that in mind its still on the option list because I can think of some creative uses for it, however as stated I'm trying to crowd source the best type of structure with the best type of utilities for off grid living in the washington mountains. Im also open to going to a different location, but what I want is access to clean fresh water streams with lots of edible fish, access to timber for building materials, and a good view where I can fuck off from society (possibly permanently) Enjoyed the pictures of cabins though, keepem coming because they might give me some ideas.

>>1150422
I have always thought if i wanted to make my own "off the grid" home I would make it almost like a hobbit hole. The first floor would be about half above ground and half below. Maybe dig down 1 or 2 more floors and make it out of Insulated concrete form.

Insulating concrete form or insulated concrete form (ICF) is a system of formwork for reinforced concrete usually made with a rigid thermal insulation that stays in place as a permanent interior and exterior substrate for walls, floors, and roofs. The forms are interlocking modular units that are dry-stacked (without mortar) and filled with concrete. The units lock together somewhat like Lego bricks and create a form for the structural walls or floors of a building. ICF construction has become commonplace for both low rise commercial and high performance residential construction as more stringent energy efficiency and natural disaster resistant building codes are adopted. ICFs may be used with frost protected shallow foundations.

I would use geothermal heating through the floors as heat rises and helps heat rooms evenly. Use the roof as either solar panels or cover in soil and have a garden and green house. A small windmill and maybe a chicken coup.

>>1150469
Forgot pic

I'm trying to get a similar setup as well, and I've been looking into this website as of lately. Might be what you're looking for?

http://www.earthshelter.com/

I like the idea of having a portion of the structure underground. IT would actually be pretty cool for an a-frame and would allow for better temperature control. Some things I like about this kind of structure is that it gets bigger at the base so I could use that space. Id like to put a greenhouse aeroponics in the structure for food production year round. Id also like to use solar to generate electricity and if the tesla solar tiles turn out to be worth the hype I might use those and get some power walls for energy storage. I basically want to make an earthship without it being shitty and impractical. I would love it if you guys could make any suggestions for improvements and if anyone sees something retarded please point it out now so I don't invest my time in it. My goal is to make the best house, not defend my current idea so be ruthless.

>>1150471
>>1150469
This is pretty close to the home I've fantasized about. I'd garden instead of raise chickens though. There are even some super efficient space techniques for growing emerging that could make lit underground chambers viable as a backup. Also if you can get a reliable well that's great, but supplementing with a rain collector wood like would help, especially if growing.

>>1150505
>buried meme triangle

Your idea makes no fucking practical sense, it is structurally retarded and nobody will ever even see the underground part, this is a stupid idea in every part from the ground up

>solar panels
Why not, put more meme panels, make sure you clear off the whole forest nearby so nothing will get your precious sunlight except you

>earthship
It is a shit product some company trying to meme, stop this cancer and forget it

>best house
There is no such thing as BEST HOUSE it only shows how little you actually know, maybe you should wait 10 years before revisiting building a house

>>1150505
When did they start making triangle shaped shipping containers?

Here's some tips:

> outhouse>septic tank. Cover, and dig a new hole when shitters full.
> off grid electricity is still a meme. Systems are expensive and complex. Use a gas generator if absolutely necessary
>start with researching about the appropriate foundation to use with soil type in area. If it's poured concrete, gl doing that in the woods by yourself.

If it's a true diy project, expect it to be tiny and look like a 10 year old made it.

OP, if you're thing about an A-frame like in your op, here's some helpful tips.

Find someone in the area who can put a steel roof on your house. They cost just barely more than shingles and have a lifetime warranty. Also, snow will slide right off in the winter. Plus, they install right on top of your old shingles so you get a bit more insulation.

Lots were built in the 70's and can usually be bought pretty cheap.

Someone said the insulation is bad in them, I don't really know about that but you could always have someone put foam insulation in.

>>1150469
>>1150471

Ants and termites LOVE foam, avoid it.

>>1150460
That's too bad. It's so aesthetic. Same with log cabins I guess. Looks cool but not very practical for the most part.

>>1150533
Op here
Thank you for your feedback, it's what I was looking for. I was hesitant about underground and thought that a triangle structure might prove more durable and allow for more room without making it more susceptible to weather but I may have underestimated the stress that the dirt would put on it. As for solar I thought it would be better than a gas generator for 2 reasons: 1) it is independent and long term energy 2) gas generators are loud as hell. I was planning on building in a cleared area anyway so I don't have a tree fall down and kill me. On the earth ships point I agree they are shit and you shouldn't use trash as building materials but the idea of having sustainable resources made in house has some appeal so I might try to incorporate a greenhouse or efficient water cycle system to maximize resource use. As for the comment on best house I would like to clarify I said BEST and not PERFECT meaning a house that would best fit the environment and my needs, which is what literally everyone tries to figure out before they start a build. With all that in mind I welcome constructive criticism and want to make a plan that is practical and well thought out. I'd like to know more about why you think putting part of the structure underground is a bad idea because that's the part I see the most problems with and have the least amount of knowledge on.

>>1150567
Outhouse wins for simplicity but beware. "improper human waste disposal" aka "a hole" is one of the things that just might trigger a city/county/state authority to come fuck with you and they often have some kind of water authority regulation that allows them very broad range of options to screw you.

Do a septic tank if it is remotely possible you will have trouble.

>>1150671
But a septic tank involves pumping it out every so often (see living in the woods).

Plus you can line it with a cheap polymer tank, preventing seepage.

>>1150686
>living in the woods
well unless you plan to wish yourself there and back when you need to get your food and/or medical needs addressed you are going to need some form of road already.

It's that or handle a humanure operation (and hope it is acceptable) or some kind of poo-burner/dryer toilet.

Talk to me more about septic tanks. Specifically is there a way to maximize longevity and is there a way to break down the waste inside to prevent a backup of poop into my house

>>1150704
septic system in a nutshell:
waste goes into the vault or tank, usually under the yard somewhere.
waste breaks down with microbial action as you would expect. Sometimes you might add some stuff to this by flushing it.
excess water drains out into a leach field/drain field, just a big array of pipes with holes more or less, also under the yard. Size of the field and tank depend on house/occupants, sometimes standards.

you get them pumped out every few years (or in the case of a property I know of, after about 10 years, so long that no-one knew where the access was) to remove the dregs, the sludge that can't break down any more and collects in the tank.
Most common problem is probably a clogged drain field because someone has been flushing anything down the toilet that does not belong (fyi: nothing should go in there except water and poo. no condoms, no tampons, no action figures). Then it overfills with shitty water and ruins your life until you pay someone to fix it. Also a concern if there is sudden increase in use. see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMV6uw2-Sp0

>>1150712
That's some good info. So the periodic pumping is unavoidable but can be very few and far between with proper care. as long as I know the location of the tank exactly it seems like that may be the best option

>>1150659
>triangle underground structure

sure there are way to make it, if you engineer a strong enough retaining wall and perfect the drainage etc, sure it is doable, in theory.

but there is zero reason to make it triangle underground because no one sees it

>>1150719
Good point, I thought that a triangle is a naturally stronger structure than a box but I don't know how that translates when all that weight is applied and in that case a traditional foundation may prove more effective. I really want a good portion of the base to be rooted underground for stability and to aid in temperature regulation as well as provide more space. Also to expand on temperature regulation I was thinking of a geothermal system but I know those are pretty complicated. The appeal of them for me is that they are energy efficient. I would be open to a wood stove for heating if you all think that idea is bad but I'd like a solution for how I'd keep the house cool.

>>1150722
>stability

biggest threat to stability is if your area has water in the ground it freezes in winter, and trees nearby will move the ground

>temperature
the more underground the more stable, I think at 2 metres it becomes rather stable

>geothermal
u need a clear area which often cannot be used for anything else

>energy efficient
that is a meme, you want comfort for the amount of firewood u can get, not just WARM WARM WARM because it will be an oven in the summer

>>1150716
Twenty years between pumpouts is common for septics. If it needs pumping at ten either you have epic shithouse traffic or there might be problems with the drain fields.

>>1150736
Good points, thanks for the info. So I agree with everything you said and the one point I think I really have to be concerned about is the freezing ground. The area I'm looking at is the Washington mountains (thinking Everett area) so while there will be a moderate amount of snow, there will definitely be a shit ton of rain. What are some ways to combat that or if their aren't any would it be best to choose a new area? FYI I currently live in Georgia and the reason I wouldn't want to build here is the locals present more danger than anything else, especially when your away from civilization.

>>1150756
If that's the case then I'm definitely going with septic, thanks for the tip! Anymore info you could provide that might be useful?

>>1150767
What do you mean by "locals"?

>>1150800
Hillfolk or rednecks. I've camped in those areas before and honestly from my experience the stereotypes don't even come close. Had a hillbilly walk through my site once and kept asking me what I was doing there and if there was anyone with me. He really grilled me for half an hour and it was getting sinister. As soon as he left I got the hell outta dodge. Also want to stress that I was in a legit campsite, not trespassing with all the proper permissions and paperwork. I definitely do not want to see what happens when I'm alone in the woods long term with those people around.

>>1150704
>is there a way to maximize longevity
Tanks are coated in plastic or glass or w/e to stave off corrosion. It's like the interior of an aluminum can.

>and is there a way to break down the waste inside
You can buy packs of bacteria that will eat the poop. They're generally kinda sensitive, though, so you can only use specific sorts of cleaners on your toilet that won't kill the bacteria.

If you get really fancy, you can harvest the gas from the bacteria eating the poop and use it to run machinery.

>>1150712
>>1150716
>>1150756
I thought septic tanks were supposed to be equipped with pumps so they keep flushing the shit out into the larger municipal sewer system

>>1150422
It should have
>minimal glass because heat loss
>steep roofing because snow
>a fireplace THAT IS SAFETY CERTIFIED (great uncle died from a faulty oil lamp this past week)
>modern insulation
>a stable foundation

Fuck electricity, it's not gonna happen unless you into solar panels, which would be very inefficient in the mountains, in washington of all places.

>>1150422
That is a beautiful home. God damn.

>>1150945
I like that picture too but the trees make me mighty nervous being so close to the house, seems like an accident begging to happen.

>>1150907
What municipal sewer system?

>>1150422
Id say camper but your winters suck dick. Buy a cuckshed and have it delivered?

>>1150460
If u build an a-frame maybe point one half of the roof south and solar panel it?

>>1150566
Lost

>>1150582
Lived ina a-frame. Cold af. But it was made out of sand rocks and old af too

>>1150659
I dig holes for a living and know mole people ina ground. Digging is expensive. You yankees have shit winter tho so it might be worth moving underground

>>1150704
Yup. Should have a check valve. And they sell some shit u throw in your shitter. Some sort of enzymes that eat toilet paper and shit so it then heads to the leech line.

>>1150712
Anon here is right
Ignore my autism

>>1150722
Not trying to trigger anyon but arch and meme dome is structually best

>>1150811
Kek. Kansas hillbilly here and 2nd this. I cant even speak proper english but the folks around Atlanta are backwoods cousinfucker retarded. Good luck man

>>1150916
Sorrh man. That sucks. As a dormer womdow salesman i will second the glass thing

>>1150949
>be me
>move into shithole
>house is an island surrounded by monkey trees
>tree falls on house
>tree curently BTFO my garage
>trees try and kill me and my cars always
>wife still refuses to get rid of them.
>2 weeks of working my ass off and $3,000 for monkey tree removal.

Never again in my life have trees anywhere near my shitty houses

>>1150959
I welcome any criticism for the hope of creating the best plan possible but how fucking dare you call me a yankee. I haven't been this pissed in a long goddamn time. I'll have you know that I was born in georgia, my dad was born in texas, his dad was born in mississippi as was his dad and his dad before that. My family started off in this country by settling in jamestown, moved to tennesee, then officially migrated to mississippi where they straight up founded the northern part of that shithole of a state. I'm as southern as they fucking get and for someone to just casually call me a yankee, boy I tell you I wish dueling was still allowed in this great country of ours because that is the only fitting way I see to teach you to haphazardly call a proud southerner that word. Imma eat the rest of the cornbread and fried catfish I got in the fridge then pound a jack and coke just to feel more southern after that affront to my pride.

>>1150967
Got family in kansas, good people and even better food. That was just one of the encounters I had with the hill folk. There were a few growing up in georgia that happened that were so strange I'm still trying to make sense of them. One that comes to mind is when I stopped for gas on my way to the blue ridge mountains. It was a part of georgia where anything corporate didn't exist so there werent any texacos or chevrons or BP. We stopped at a place that was completely made of wood and had a giant sign on the front that said "GAS 'N' BAIT". I went in to get some jerky for the rest of the trip and saw the most typical looking hillbilly you could imagine. He was fat as shit, eyes weren't focused, had a big bushy beard, and was wearing overalls and a trucker hat. I got my jerky and as I was walking back to the counter he said "Yeshee dat gaddam kert?" to which i said "wut?". Without skipping a goddamn beat, this giant fucking cat appeared out of the aether in front of my face and jumped on the counter. It knocked everything off and then the hillbilly grabbed the cat and stuffed it in a bucket and put a lid on the bucket. From the backroom behind the counter i heard another hillbilly yell "deedja bucket dat fuckin' kert?" with the first hillbilly responding "Yea I bucketed dat sommbitch". I paid for my jerky and left and kept that memory for almost 14 years now.

>>1150977
>tfw you're fucking dead, kiddo
Also catfish is the worst possible fish to eat, it tastes like the bottom of a river/ocean

>>1150987
That story gave me a hearty chuckle.

>>1151058
Pan fried catfish is alright, with some cajun peppers mmm. My family is from Newfoundland and I have fond memories of being very young visiting family there and having fresh cod tongues and cheeks, people have recoiled when I cook them but they taste amazing, I've heard catfish cheeks are even better

Im
>>1150469
From above, really look into the while digging down element, it sounds to me like you are also looking for something covert if you want to avoid human interaction.

Give up the triangle like people have said above, it's harder to heat and doesn't save you any room. A dome structure is stronger in theory. If I'm critical of my suggestion the only thing that would suck ass would be waking up in the morning after a large snow fall and having to dig yourself out of the ground.

I was watching a show where they did custom yurts.

https://www.google.com/search?q=custom+yurts&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjl-KWz3PTSAhUC7GMKHeZXBzcQsAQISw&biw=1946&bih=1218

And even composting toilets.

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/building-science/does-composting-toilet-stink-your-house

Where at in Washington are you looking at? I'm in Enumclaw.

>>1151103
>zatarans fish breading and a propane nottle fueld turey frier. Oh man.

>>1151078
Me 2

>>1150987
Ahahahaha. Mfw i am big bushy master race redbeard. 260+ pounds and necer leave without a hat and used to be a trucker.

My buddy has a $300 car he found with no tag or insurance to drift and rsmp around town. Drive by him the other day and he cuts a 180 and pases me in town while hanging a sheep out the window.

At 31 years old even i dont understsnd why we so such backwards tard shit but it is fun. Im putting mud tires ona moped right now...

>>1150977
HAHAHAHA! Sorry man. Would telling u a trick i found work for a half assed appology.

A&W root beer and crown. Dont even really like eather one. Actuakky woukd drink jack straight before either but somwhow it turns into magic. Good luck buddy

>>1151153
apology accepted and will try that thanks for the tip.
>>1151121
I'm thinking around seattle area, like snohomish, everett or issaquah but still undecided. This is the planning stage of something that will take ten years to see the completion of. I might even go island because that land is surprisingly cheaper than what I expected.
>>1150956
I like that idea alot, would maximize surface area for sure.
>>1151103
I don't wanna do the dome because that is alot more complicated to build and I'd really like to have a flat exterior surface to place either a solar panel or to have it ramp rainwater into a collection system. Also the snow thing would be a big headache. But I do thank you for the suggestion. as for the digging down, It would be mostly for a strong foundation. I think having a basement would help with temperature regulation, structural stability, and would eliminate the possibility of any wildlife living under my house.
>>1150965
not triggered, nor arguing its structurally the strongest. I just think there are some issues with a dome structure that don't make them what Im really looking for. Specifically I'd imagine its much more expensive to make a dome outta wood compared to a cabin, and I really do not want to go prefab and have an aerocrete or styrofoam house.

Check out dugout style homes. Used to be popular in early America. Basically dig into a hill and have one-ish walls face outside. Good for temp control, sturdy, inexpensive.

Also check out rocket stoves for heating...easy enough to build and extremely efficient.

>>1150956
If elon musk gets his way, solar shingles will be cheaper than traditional roofing. You could even face the roof east-west with less solar shingles on the north side. If the sun's out, near constant exposure.

>>1151103
>Pan fried catfish is alright, with some cajun peppers mmm
Drown it in seasoning and it tastes good!

>>1151407
Right on. Well, old man i know been under ground wince the cold war pretty much. Dug 4 big trenches, filled with concrete. Laid concrete pad on top. Cleared the box with skid loader and buried the roof with the dirt. Level the floor and pour pad for it. Watter pump and power washer the inside and paint with mold and moisture resistant shit. Been fine for a lifetime. I think he added rooms since. They just moved and i am trying my ass off to buy it. I know his grandson and may get a tour before it sells if i cant afford it for u guys at least. I know hoe much we all want to live underground for some reason.

>>1151683
My buddy lives in one. Can skip insulation on 4 walls. Even more if u have an entryway like he is thinking and buy most of the front wall.

>>1151692
Yeah but i find it hard to believe big oil and government will let this fly. Or they will hook everyone and tax the fuck out of it. I dont know. I dont trust big things hapening and someone who is beyond rich just letting ot slide. Good call tho. I forgot those.

>>1151700
I could actually see it happening. Most oil companies have shifted to become energy companies and supply most of the funding for alternative energy research. Where it might get held up is that solarcity is owned by tesla and isn't connected to any of the big energy companies. The big companies focus is to have renewable energy that the consumer still has to pay for rather than produce by themselves. It really all depends on how well elon musk can rally the public around solar city which given his popularity, may actually come to fruition.

>>1150987
im fucking loling

>>1151800
got a few more stories like that, but none that were that blatantly weird. Growing up in the south you can definitely see some stuff.

>>1151692
>solar shingles will be cheaper than traditional roofing

Kek, knowing that guy, he means cheaper once you factored in 100 years of electric generation at the expected inflation rate of 15% every year.

Remember, solar shingles are 3x the price of solar panels.

>>1150422
did you try cabinporn?

>>1151798
Right on. Well, if i get the cash i will just roof my house with glass panels and build my own pannels with ebay cells.

You can build your own for half the cost of harbor frieght shit.

I have one made by bp that seeme to be just a thin plastic sheet. Not even any glass. Maybe a thin plastic see through cover i cant see. Its pretty fucking big tho.

Solar is not going to work for a cabin in the west coast forest. Between the large trees all around you and the constant overcast it will never generate any usable amount of power.

>>1151870
Post them

Op go for a quonset hut

>>1150566
underrated post

Best house coming through.

>>1150956
There's a similar type of cabin. I don't know it's name but this seems more adequate for solar panels.

>>1150987
>"Yea I bucketed dat sommbitch".
fucking kek

>>1153539
Pt1
Alright I'll post one and a backstory since people seemed to like the cat bucket story and I'm reall grateful for the feedback oven gotten in this thread. So disclaimer on this one, it did not happen in the south but rather in the backwoods land of central Pennsylvania commonly known as pennsyltucky. I went to a small state school that had a bit of reputation for its townsfolk not being the friendliest or morally upstanding. To get an idea of what these people are like, we used to have the homecoming king and queen do a parade down mainstreet until one year when a black girl won homecoming queen. The townsfolk responded by throwing empty cans and bottles at her as she made her way to the school. Anyway, I was in a fraternity that's house was located next to the towns trailerpark. This was a magically place where a pack of ducks perpetually roamed the road eating loose cigarette butts and police shootings of black teens where celebrated with fireworks. There were a few rules we learned being in such close proximity to this place, like if you leave anything outside unattended for more than 20 minutes then it will be taken by the trailer park. I've seen it happen from discarded mattresses, pizza, tires, and on one ocassion an old vending machine that we had put in the dumpster because it hadn't worked in over ten years. I actually saw this methed out trailer park guy single handedly fish out this vending machine and drag it back to his trailer. So now it's time for our feature presentation, a story I like to call "the time I witnessed a family hate crime". This all happened during an ordinary weekend at my college, at about 12:30 at night. Some of my fraternity brothers and I were on our front porch people watching when a squad of about 6 black guys walked past on their way to a party. Our neighbors in the trailerpark were also on their porch and were enjoying their favorite family passtime of harassing black people after a day of heavy drinking.

>>1154051
Pt2
So most of the students usually just ignore these hicks, but not this squad of black guys. They decided to shut these hicks down after getting a slew of racial slurs and beer spit at them. The leader of the squad went up to their porch and said something I'm guessing was along the lines of "come up here and face me like a man"(I couldn't hear the guy from my porch but I could hear the hicks reply). The brother/son of the hick got in the black guys face and yelled "YOU AIN'T A MAN, YOU'RE A FUCKING N****R" to which the black guy responded with the strongest, fastest right hook I had ever seen. The force of this punch made Connor McGregors entire career look like a practical joke. The hick was instantly knocked out, which was apparently the signal for the hick family to jump this black guy all at once. This black dude looked like a human action movie as he knocked out the mom, his two brothers, his sister, and what was either his uncle or his dad(it was kind of unclear with these people). This black dude must have had some serious training because he let loose the force of 200 years of racism on these hicks, it was absolutely brutal. My fraternity brothers and I were in complete awe of this guys beat down. After the black guy was done going all "Django Unchained" on these tweakers, him and his crew ran for the hills and within 20 seconds were completely out of sight. We all debated on whether or not to call the cops or an ambulance but ultimately decided against it because fuck'em. About 3 minutes later the hicks started regaining consciousness and started to rally, yelling about getting the guns or something. We decided to go inside and call the cops at this point because a bunch of meth heads with likely recent brain damage driving around with loaded firearms looking for black guys to shoot seemed like something the cops should know about. The tweakers went underground for a week after this and a few months later they were evicted.

>>1153944
Shit son. Legit. Sadly up in washington u might be better off buying propane tho.

>>1153796
>>1153798
Damn that is sexy

Give it to me, what's the catch?

>>1154378
The catch is it's a normal building made to look like an older style of building, without the benefits like low cost and ease of construction.

>>1154378
I posted that one to show they come in all sorts of styles but if Op wants simplicity the pic below >>1153845 might be a much easier build.

No real cons against just style would not to be everyones liking.

How much sun exposure / panels do you need for a home with a frequently used computer generally?

>>1154051
Dude im fucking printing off that bucket cat story.

>>1154058
AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

>>1154058
>

>>1150447
Its an A-Frame house. Most of them have huge waste of space living rooms with one floor where there should be two.

>>1150567
What is expensive or complex about off grid electricity? As long as you don't expect to be living the same sort of lifestyle of consumption, you can do a lot of useful things with wind/solar, charge controllers, batteries, and an inverter system.

>>1150567
>outhouse>septic tank
if you are retarded, then maybe. septic systems are installed by illiterate mexican daylaborers. the hardest thing about the installation is digging the hole, and after redigging your outhouse hole 2-3 times you could have had a septic and not had to deal with shitting outside in the cold.

>>1155419
I'm glad you liked it. I'm happy to post those stories in return for all this help. Really learned a lot in this thread and got somebody great ideas.

I just have to throw in my 2 cents!

-Don't dug out!!!!! It takes too much effort/labor, earthship builders figured this out years ago its pointless. Just used fire retardant polystyrene it has a stupidly high R-rating and is cheap. The outside can look as hippy as you want.

-Off grid power is cheap as fuck if you want it to be. Like i mean i can get solar cells for 35c a watt now. Don't be stupid just pickup second hand batteries.

-Build your roofing out of solar panels to save money. Solar shingles are shit and wont work. Solar panels cover a larger area and are quicker to install just silicone them together people! Lay alu rescue foil blanket under solar roof to stop heat getting in/out and to stop water leaking in. Roofing paper wears out too quick once it has water on it.

- String solar array roof into a 240v system to power electric hot water element and switched mode battery charger (fuck solar controllers)
Buy propane converted generator off ebay for backup power. Get a 220v model and a $5 rectifier and connect to your 240v dc bus.

- boost hot water system with rocket wood heater. (will also space heat as side effect).

- A frame houses are actually good and don't have some of the shortcomings that people say except the second story which is a little small.

-Pro tip just use a regular septic tank and divert and filter grey water to run toilet cistern.