LEFT: Forms McMeekin used in constructing the walls. RIGHT: John McMeekin tamping a section of wall. MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF Back in the 40 s I was considered an oddball. I wore a beard—revolutionary then—and I started, by myself, to build a house out of (of all things) rammed earth. People wondered about me. Today—as a V.P. and corporation director—I appear Establishment…
Architectural Model Building Making a 3D house model can be quite fun. Once you have completed your floor plans it is a fairly simple process. The benefit of having an architectural model of your house design is that you will now be able to visualize how the interior and exterior of the house will really look when finished. It can give you an idea of sight lines as…
98% of all basements in North America are built using some form of concrete wall system. Concrete has been the material of choice for basements and foundations and will continue to be far into the future. By adding EPS (expanded polystyrene) plastic foam to the forming process insulating concrete forms or “ICFs” were created, making ICF basements a valuable part of…
The Residential Plan Review Division reviews new construction, additions, interior remodeling and demolition of single-family, duplex or two family houses and/or accessory buildings on one lot. Residential construction projects are reviewed for compliance with Chapter 25-2 of the Land Development Code, the 2015 International Residential Code, and Chapter 25-12, Technical…
Who We Are Welcome to TinyHouseBuild.com! We are so glad you are here. Our goal is to empower you with the very best information, tools, and resources so that you can achieve your tiny house dreams in the least time possible, at the lowest cost, and with the biggest smile on your face. Feel free to look around our site and to sign up for our Free 7 Day E-Course! If…
Use native plants in your landscaping to cut the expense of transporting and maintaining non-native species. If you have made enough money to be able to build a mansion for your dream home, then congratulations! Of course, that doesn’t mean you can afford to be wasteful in your spending. Consider this simple adage: A mansion costs money in materials, manpower and…
So you’re tossing around the idea of owner building your new project. Whether you are wanting to build a new home from the ground up or just re-work your existing place, it is a huge decision to make. Should you hire a full service general contractor? Recently we posted about the risks and rewards of owner building. We mentioned one of the biggest reasons for taking…
Whether you’re an adventurous person, a DIY expert or simply a persnickety home buyer, the thought of building your own home might be a thrilling prospect. After all, when you choose to build your own abode, you get to call all the shots. That means you can determine the precise layout, dictate the exact number and type of rooms, handpick all the finishes and even…
Building the perfect home for your family is easy with Whitestone Custom Homes award-winning Build On Your Lot program. When you build with Whitestone Custom, you talk with a Community Sales Manager to explore design options and estimate your home s price in simply a few days. When you re ready to make final decisions about materials and design details, one of our…
Before you start construction on your new home, you need somewhere to build it, and this means finding land. First consider the size of the plot. How big do you want the house to be? How much yard space do you want? Do you want a garage, concrete pad or will you park on the street? Next, make sure the land is properly zoned. If you see other single-family homes near…
Detailed floor plans for both the downstairs and loft include pertinent dimensions: for walls, windows, rooms and door openings. You’ll also find the location of all appliances on these plans as well. Showing the birds-eye view of the house, you see the slopes and pitches clearly called out, as well as the amount of overhang, and individual rafter locations from above…
Last week’s post introduced you to Ashleigh Sergeant, our #FWOTM that lives the yogi talk, naturally and sustainably. We learned she not only teaches people to “build a life you love” in spirit, but also in physical form with the example of the beautiful sustainable home she and her husband Justin recently built in Costa Rica (pictured above). Fueled by a love for…
Collin County: Land battle over retirement home plans Jason Wheeler, WFAA (Photo: WFAA) COLLIN COUNTY, Texas - Looking out from the back porch, Susan Stauffer says the view from her dream home is almost perfect, except that it is not finished and the home really is just a dream. “This was going to be the place where we basically wrapped up life and enjoyed ducks landing…
Have you ever wondered about the ultimate DIY project: building your own home? The truth is, it can actually be one of the most fun and rewarding projects to take on, as long as you know what you’re doing… but many of us simply don’t realize all that can go into such a project (adhering to local building codes, choosing materials for the shell and siding, knowing…
