I have an idea. I want to build a small, 35 sq. foot shack in my sideyard and live in it. I still live with my parents, Im 15, and Id just like a space of my own. (My room isnt really mine) I think Im going to build it out of hay bale construction with a wood frame. Does anyone have experience with this? What are some things I should take into consideration? I know I can get bales for $5/bale, so that a start..
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/xs-house/ I actually think I may base my house on this plan, 7' x 11'
Tumbleweeds are nice, but only if you're a total minimalist. Where are you building? 2x4 exterior construction is only efficient South of the Mason-Dixon line, I would say South of the NC/SC line.
Well, Im gonna need 20 haybales. 8' x 8' x 6' are the dimensions. I really only need a place to sleep and keep some of my shit for one summer.
Are you going to plaster it? It's not cheap. And NOT finishing the haybales leaves them open to infestation and mildew.
Im probably not going to plaster it, but Ill use something else thats cheaper and probably less effective. What about straight up plastic sheeting?
It's no good if it doesn't totally encapsulate the hay or straw. and it will be drafty. But if its only temporary I guess it doesn't matter.
Ideally I would spend nothing. I want to use as many materials from nature as I can. But I could feasibly spend around $100. And I can get about 20-30 bales for free. I have a floor from an old treefort thats still usable, so theres my floor. Ill just have to take it down and put it in my sideyard once the snow melts.
OK, building a living space on scrounged materials is doable. But an unplastered strawbale house is not a good idea, particularly with Spring rains coming. Leaving all that straw unfinished WILL cause it to mildew and it's an open invitation to infestation, meaning it's not going to be a great place to overnight. And any living seed in the bales is going to germinate the instant water hits it. And they will act like a sponge soaking up said water and causing the baling twine to rot. So in about 3 months your strawbale house is going to become a large, rotting, stinking, bug and vermin infested, weed-sprouting pile of immovable mess, totally lacking in aesthetics that your parents will not appreciate. Are you getting a picture here? Honestly, I'm not trying to dissuade you, I just want you to be prepared and aware of the facts. Building a mini house on a small budget is actually easy. Find a construction site, ask for a job cleaning up, tell the foreman or site superintendent what you're doing and let him know that you'll be keeping some of the waste materials. They throw away a LOT of good building materials on EVERY site. Hell I've gotten free appliances, and my current home is heated and cooled with a unit that I got FREE on a site. See? You not only get free shit but you make $8-10/hour to collect it. And if you stick around all summer you might learn how to put it together so it STAYS together.
Damn, why didnt I think of that haha? Thank you very much. Should I come together with this like I should, Ill send ya some pics of the shack.
