Home in the Earth
9.0 Starting on the Steel Quonset
updated
Next year, I'll do it properly with steel pans over a brick oven burning cheap wood. But for now, it was an interesting psudo-success.
I had used charcoal this time because I didn't have enough wood or the time to chop more or the time to build the oven or keep it fed. Charcoal was something i could just top up ever couple hours while I worked on more important tasks. The three 16lb bags of charcoal cost 8 dollars each.
After getting the many gallons down to a small enough amount to fit in a pot, I finished up in my kitchen.
The time between the first hydrometer test and the second was less than 20 min, so I was glad I was watching it closely.
The final syrup had a very dark color and I wonder if that came from the charcoal? Maybe it was a terrible idea.
The final flavor is smokey sweet. I have tasted it on a spoon, but not had a chance for pancakes yet.
We got about 4.5 gallons on Day 2 (it was sunny)
Then we added a couple more taps (I only bought 10)
Today was cloudy (the tree's micro pumps are powered by evaporation (solar powered), but we had a couple more taps, so another 4 gallons today.
I'll start boiling it off this weekend and see if we can get a few quarts.
Thanks to my parents who came down and helped us get it done.
Its uploading now and I am "watching it for the first time" and seeing lots of things I didn't explain. For instance, at 2:00 we are power washing the blue max off the roof and scuffing up the concrete surface so the bond beam will attach well. Lots of little details to get this thing done, but I assume you don't want me to explain all of it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Table of contents:
0:00 Welcome
0:22 Perfect Circle
0:49 Surface Bonding Concrete
1:38 2nd course continues
3:50 4th course
4:45 Electrical ENT conduit
5:28 5th course
6:26 Window Bucks
8:19 Bonus day
10:24 Bond beam formwork starts
These windows have a special low e coating that lets in the wave lengths that carry heat into your home (and fade your furniture), but then trap the lower wavelengths that try to escape again.
The bit about the extra blocking above the windows was that we had built those bucks following an earlier copy of the plans before Pella changed their transom sizes... We had correct plans available, but I had accidentally used an old copy and made the bucks 3 inches too tall. Oh well... Live and learn.
Instead we are adding a low stone wall to extend that edge up a bit above the water proofing to help retain that earth. I don't think there is another name for that, so I am going with parapet. We focused on filming the parapet part of this, but along the way, you can see that we also stuccoed the walls and painted them. In this video, we got the parapet a couple stones high, but later we came back and added a few more courses so we could retain enough dirt on that roof to keep things from drying out.
Here are the chapters.
0:00 Intro
0:20 Layers on the apse wall
0:52 Top edge of the apse
1:39 Mudroom parapet stones
2:45 Apse parapet stones
3:29 North Wall Stones
4:33 Rabbit watch
4:58 Inner Curb
5:39 Brown coat stucco on the apse
6:48 Gluing the rubber liner to the curb
7:12 More stones
8:03 Elastomeric Paint
9:00 2nd course on the apse
This one covers the install of the water softener system. I don't go into great detail because that is well covered on Youtube. Consider this as more of an overview video, and yet another step along the way.
I am including chapters now, I suggest the water taste test as the best part of this video.
0:00 Drilling the Well
0:24 Taste Test
1:46 Timelapse assembly of the water softener
2:30 Overview video
3:40 Chemistry
6:39 Does it make a difference? Yes.
7:24 Iron Out
Inside, we got the basement guest room setup for guests (we have already enjoyed some visitors), We are currently getting the floor into my office (I have been using it like a cave man for over a year). We are also getting started on the final stages of the kitchen. We got the black splash in on the island and the rest of the back splash will be coming soon. After that, the kitchen still needs a few extra lights to be installed and a few other things, but it is progress.
Outside, the biggest job was the stone on the retaining wall by the front door. I puzzled that together over several months. In the spring, I put in an enclosed garden thingy and Sherri grew a lot of vegetables in that over the summer. We also made curved black gutters for the roof portions and I started on the pergola-trellis-thingy for the front of the house. That last one is still in progress. When it is done (Dec?) I'll be moving the scaffolding back inside and I'll put the mirrors up in the garage skylights.
Of course, I video taped all of this, and will put those together when I get a chance. Walk thru videos are just so much easier to produce (I put this one together last night instead of tiling my office ;)
Here are the chapters:
0:00 Entrance and stone wall
0:53 Welcome In to the living room
1:29 Thermostat
2:11 Kitchen
2:30 Office Floor (And Echo)
3:15 Back Door and Garden Decagon
3:34 Drone Arial Views
4:00 Galvanized Steel Pergola-Trellis-Thingy
7:23 Sun Shine Living Room
8:04 Earth Tubes and HVAC
12:48 New Guest Room (temporary office)
13:51 Guest Bathroom
Its not really a time lapse construction vid and not nearly as polished as usual (no script at all, I just winged it, and no subtitles yet), but I'll get back to the building videos later. Those who are interested can catch a glimpse of the house progress in the background.
I recently got a new tractor, a John Deere 2032R, 2nd Gen. Its a bit old and dirty, but worked much better after a tune up and some other repairs. The main thing I wanted to add was a grapple, so I needed to upgrade the hydraulics. There were no videos showing what I needed to see on Youtube, so I figured I'd make one.
I bought two kits from Summit Hydraulics. The first step (and the previous video) is installing the power Beyond Kit. The second step (this video) is installing the Rear Hydraulic Valve Kit with 3rd Function from Summit Hydraulics for my John Deere 2032R tractor.
Here are links to what I bought for this one...
The kit: summit-hydraulics.com/product/rear-hydraulic-valve-kit-with-front-third-function-for-john-deere-2032r-2038r-series-tractors
The Grapple: expresssteelinc.com/product/60-john-deere-two-cylinder-root-grapple
The Flat Face Couplers: amazon.com/dp/B01IOMILLK?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&fbclid=IwAR07i3-H_nn4rTzMzx_WOd5ugsOASXIqhE5f7QHYIwSMj3dT982nIwkj7Wg
00:00 Introduction
00:29 Graphical representation of the plan
04:35 Tire off, lets get started
05:22 Power Beyond Summary from the earlier video
05:50 Assembling the Rear Remotes (Timelapse)
06:54 Mounting the Rear Remotes
08:56 Connection to Power-Beyond
10:20 Deviating is never as simple as you'd like
10:53 Front bracket
12:23 Figuring out the mid coupling bracket
15:30 Swapping the hoses to get a few more inches
16:35 Rear remote switches
19:03 3rd function switch
20:36 Looking for power (wiring)
22:38 Summary on the hydraulics (all done)
23:19 Front couplings
25:55 Ready to go
26:50 Test drive
28:03 Leaks...
28:35 Final review from the seat
31:25 The grapple gets its first bushes (out of 100)
Its not really a time lapse construction vid and not nearly as polished as usual (no script at all, I just winged it, and no subtitles yet), but I'll get back to the building videos later. Those who are interested can catch a glimpse of the house progress in the background.
I recently got a new tractor, a John Deere 2032R, 2nd Gen. Its a bit old and dirty, but worked much better after a tune up and some other repairs. The main thing I wanted to add was a grapple, so I needed to upgrade the hydraulics. There were no videos showing what I needed to see on Youtube, so I figured I'd make one.
I bought two kits from Summit Hydraulics. The first step (and this first video) is installing the power Beyond Kit. The second step (and I'll try to get that video ready for Sunday as a back to back release) is installing the rear remotes and 3rd function kit.
00:00 Intro
00:20 Plan graphically
02:13 Getting into it
03:23 Wiring extra lights
05:58 Taking out the seat
08:00 Timelapse Assembly
10:28 Mounting the Power Beyond kit
11:15 Top of Tank Bolt
12:20 Power Beyond Hydraulic line
13:24 Return to Tank Hydraulic line
15:41 Time to use a life line
17:22 Done, Final summary
We had no experience installing windows and I couldn't even find one about installing on a concrete and stucco home, so we figured it out. ;)
Basically spun off from my latest video which included the use of billboard vinyls. In real life, walking under this billboard made me laugh or smile so many times. Many of my earlier videos also used billboard vinyls. The Giant subway sandwich that covered garage was also favorite of mine. Check out our page @SimonHomeintheEarth for more or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
We call our tower room the "Storm Room" because we wanted to go up there and watch the Storms roll past with 360 degree views.
Yes, I know I over-built the floor.
As for the block wall build on top of the concrete vaults, yup, not standard. I am not a mason, but I occasionally play one on YouTube and this will be just fine for such a small structure.
Its my first timelapse upload in 2 years, but I plan to try and be a bit more regular again.
As an update, I'd say the house is performing well thermally, especially since the soil isn't even over the middle section of the house yet. We moved in about 3 weeks ago and are getting used to life in the new place. We are very busy fixing up our old house for sale while also living in semi-stalled-construction with boxes of our stuff stacked all around, but this too shall pass. For more detail than that, you can find photos and weekly updates at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
These sorts of walk thru videos are pretty easy to make (I filmed this one at lunch and did production in a couple evening hours), but time lapse videos always take me many many hours. In other words, you might get another walk thru before I have time for another time lapse step ;)
For this video, the eagle-eyed among you may notice that zone 2 heat is on during the first mechanical room clip. This is because my actual first clip didn't take (I had it set to photo instead of video). I figured it out and re-filmed it after the other clips, but forgot to turn off the heat first and didn't even notice until I was editing ;)
I have been too busy lately to work on a proper construction video, but I hope to release another one sooner or later.
The video was running long, so I broke it in half so I could release something before the week gets busy again. We'll get out the rest next weekend.
I did ask Sherri about sharing her disembodied voice in the video and she was pretty confident that you would all agree she was the voice of reason in that madness.
Since the last time, we have added the eyebrow windows and closed the whole place in. We have also finished the two lower roof sections and I’ll be starting on the upper roof later today. Then we’ll leave outside alone until spring comes around again.
I recently bought a FLIR ONE Pro heat vision camera, so we’ll be able to take that for a test drive also…
To learn more about our project, please see www.HomeInTheEarth.com
For weekly updates, photos, etc. you can like us at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
We ended up using pocket door hardware from Johnson Hardware. johnsonhardware.com/pocket-door-hardware
You can learn more about out project at www.homeintheearth.com
For up to date posts on our progress, you can like us on Facebook. facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
Thanks to Doug Dysert and his crew (David, James, Chavo, Bryce, et al.) from http://www.dysertconcrete.com
If you want to know more about our project, check out www.homeintheearth.com.
If you want to catch up to where we are now, you can look us up on Facebook at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
For more details, check out our website at www.homeintheearth.com
For more up to date information on where we are currently in the build, you can look us up at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
To learn more about this project, check out our website at www.homeintheearth.com.
For more specifically about the design of earth tubes... homeintheearth.com/tech_notes/earth-tubes/earth-tube-design-for-earth-sheltered-homes
For more up to date pics of our progress, check us out on facebook at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
You can learn more about our project on www.homeintheearth.com
Or catch up to our weekly photos and news on facebook at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
(re-uploaded with 230% volume ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)
Specifically, this one covers such fun as clearing out the chimney, framing a small roof section, pulling down the concrete roof forms, pulling electrical wires thru ENT (smurf tube) conduit, and setting up an underground temperature experiment grid.
You can find out more at www.homeintheearth.com or get more up to date info (such as weekly progress pictures) at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
I'm working on a book and getting my subscriptions up would probably help me get it published, so if you can like and subscribe and leave a comment, it feeds the algorithm so it will share my content with more people who may do the same. Hitting that notification bell also helps.
These are useful tools, but do tend to break down and I couldn't find any videos on Youtube showing how to take one appart and put it back together again, so I decided to make my own.
For more info on our usual unusual build, check us out at www.homeintheearth.com
I didn't make a new website post for this odd jobs collection, but I did make one that included info on the frost protected footings a while back. Here is the link for that. homeintheearth.com/2014/11/01/odd-jobs
And as usual, these videos are quite behind. If you want to catch up with weekly photos and updates, you can check us out at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
For more details, photos, etc, check out our web page at homeintheearth.com/2018/11/02/gunite-for-the-south-wall
For the videos of setting up the format, just check the previous vids... ;)
For more up to date progress (youtube gets behind because videos take time to produce), like us on Facebook. facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
Thanks to Scott and his crew from S.A.M. Gunite Inc.
For more images, tips, etc., check out our website at homeintheearth.com/2018/10/30/shooting-a-gunite-roof
For more up to date progress, images, etc. check out our facebook page. www.facebook.com/homeintheearth
It is unheated air, so we are using High density Polyethylene pipe, N12 dual wall, soil tight (st), 8" pipe from ADS to be specific. It all needs to be sloped back to the mechanical room in the basement. Ducts radiate out from the mechanical room in all directions. We also needed to form registers at the ends of the ducts.
As per usual, it starts with digging...
For more details on this project, our web site is homeintheearth.com/2018/10/10/digging-for-fresh-air/.
To catch up with were we are now, you can check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
For more details, check out our website at www.homeintheearth.com/2018/10/10/installing-quaddeck-icfs-for-the-mezzanine-roof
For the blog about the engineer (who was younger than me) quitting engineering (I hope I didn't break the poor guy), and my search to find a new engineer, click here. www.homeintheearth.com/2015/09/24/quad-deck-part-1/#surprises
For more up to date info, look us up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
For more info, you can check out our web page. homeintheearth.com/2018/08/13/building-the-forms-for-the-radial-vaults
For more up to date info, you can also find us on Facebook. facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
For more info, please check out our website at homeintheearth.com/2018/07/14/xps-gunite-formwork-for-the-south-wall
For up to date pics and status, we are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
The vaults are erected by placing steel tube arches between radial concrete ribs. Then radial rebar is welded to the steel arches and curved rebar is placed along the radial rebar. All the rebar intersections are tied and welded.
You can find more detail and see more pictures on our web page...
homeintheearth.com/2018/07/06/erecting-the-steel-for-the-radial-vaults
I am a bit behind in producing and uploading my videos. I update our facebook page almost weekly. If you don't want to wait for Youtube to catch up, you can find us there at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
You can find more detail and see more pictures on our web page...
homeintheearth.com/2018/07/06/erecting-the-steel-for-the-radial-vaults
There are actually 10 radial vaults between 11 arches. This video shows the first 6 standard arches. All were 30 degree segments.
The following video will show the remaining 4 arches (two larger ones and two smaller ones) and a final walk thru.
Note the ADIRpro self leveling laser used was a gift from the people at ADIRpro. Self leveling lasers really are very useful on projects like this where a spirit level would be impossible and I have had very bad luck with trying to level the cheaper lasers.
We stuccoed some of the exterior insulation that we couldn't get to in colder weather. We replaced some earth cover that had slipped of the waterproofing umbrella over the winter. We put in a wireless dog fence. I started moss growing on our stone walls, at least in the shady spots.
For more about this project, check us out at www.homeintheearth.com
This 2nd one is about the brown coat, a smoother coat that we applied over the scratch coat. It was easier because most of the work to get the right shape was done with the previous layer, but it did have the challenge of getting a nice smooth finish, which was particularly tricky because we were not out there for enough hours at a time... Here is the video to explain.
The videos never have time to get into lessons learned and I also have a lot of good pics for this section. That stuff all ends up on the web page. homeintheearth.com/2018/01/20/stucco-for-our-earth-sheltered-house
For more recent pics and updates, check us out on Facebook. I update there every week or two. facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
If you want good stucco youtubers, do a search. There are many. I watched a lot of videos before starting but found that the theory (without practiced skills or guidance) didn't always work, but it was still good to have watched them. The most helpful one was Kirk Giordano youtu.be/i7XlfZOmBgQ
This is the longer version of the Stucco timelapse. Try this link if you want the shorter version with only the best footage... youtu.be/f6_emf2xFJI This full version is now about 19 minutes, but it was 30 minutes before I decided to speed up all the clips, so the shorter version was originally only 1/3rd ;)
For more info, check out our Web page at www.HomeInTheEarth.com
This is the shorter version of the Stucco timelapse. Try this link if you want the longer version with all the footage... youtu.be/JWv2PUU_biU Don't worry, I still sped it up so it is only half as long as it would have been.
For more info, check out our Web page at www.HomeInTheEarth.com
This is all part of our earth sheltered home building project. You can learn more at our website (www.homeintheearth.com) or at www.facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
I used an $80 roll of copper valley flashing from Menards and cut & folded it in a Harbor Freight Press Break Roll.
The pieces were primarily attached to each-other using folded seams, but then I also soldered them with an MAP torch. I was not very good at the soldering. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The shingles are attached to the underlying treated wood frame with copper nails (bought in the plumbing department) that were drilled thru the copper sheet and then hammered into the wood.
You can learn more about our Earth sheltered home project at www.homeintheearth.com
Sorry if the voice seems a bit sedated (almost ASMR), the only time I can record is after the kids go to bed and they are staying up way to late these days ;) I'll make sure the next few segments are higher energy ;)
Nothing on the website for this one, but you can still check out www.homeintheearth.com to learn more about this project.
All the lessons learned, etc. don't make it into the video. For that, you can check out the website. homeintheearth.com/2017/10/01/burial-phase-2
For more information on this project, check out www.homeintheearth.com
As usual, the timelapse covers part of the story. If you want to know more about lessons learned or regrets, you should check out the corresponding post on
www.homeintheearth.com/2017/09/16/adding-the-umbrella
Also, these Youtube videos are coming out 14 months behind. If you want to catch up to real time, (or much closer to it), please look us up on facebook.com/homeintheearth
For up to date info on this, you can follow our progress at www.facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
For more details, check out www.homeintheearth.com/2017/09/09/burial-phase-1
Thanks also to Dick, Marty and Steve from Roe Brothers Excavating in Clinton MI.
You can catch up with our progress at www.facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
or learn more detail at www.homeintheearth.com/2017/09/06/building-cmu-retaining-wall-around-office-apse
For more info on the wider project, www.HomeInTheEarth.com
For more up to date pictures and status on the project, www.facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
For more info, www.homeintheearth.com
Or get the latest status on Facebook at facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
You can find more info about our experience or gunite on the website at: www.homeintheearth.com/2017/08/26/gunite-for-the-tower
Or catch up to where we are now on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HomeintheEarth
Or contact S.A.M. Pools at: www.sampools.com