Ever get the feeling that your home is strangling you?

The McMansion is DEAD.

A lot of us THINK about building new homes for our families. And a lot of that thinking is aimed at refining a particular “alternative home” design or “building practice”, to help us save money while we build that home.

I preach building an ISBU Home using your paychecks and money that YOU save. We all know that conventional money lenders aren’t going to help you.

We talk about how it’s hard at first, but easier later, as many many families end up treading water (if they’re lucky) as mortgages slowly strangle them. We talk about how unstable the housing market is proving to be. We talk about all the foreclosures, and the economic crisis that is slowly killing America.

If you read this blog, you know that I’ve been saying all this for a long time (we’re talking YEARS, folks), and current events seem to be driving in the nails, like nuclear powered hammers…

How many reasons do you need… to take that step towards an affordable, sustainable home that will work with you, instead of against you?

Need I remind you that;

Existing-home sales plunged to their lowest level in 15 years in July 2010 as home inventories soared. This paints a pretty grim picture for the housing market in general, despite hopes of some kind of lifeboat (aka: government support) in a gruelingly stagnant and sluggish economy.

That’s a 25% decline from July 2009, folks.

I’ll point out that interest rates are at an all time low. In fact, they haven’t been this low since 1995 & 1999 (depending the the kind of home being financed).

Depending on who you “believe”, as home sales slowed, the inventory of unsold homes on the market grew to nearly 4 million in July. Based on current “production numbers” that Realtors value so highly, that translates to more than a 12.5 month supply at the current sales pace, and that’s the highest level achieved in more than a decade.

In a “good” housing market, 4 million houses in inventory would be almost six months worth of supply.

You didn’t have to be Albert Einstein to figure out that the expiration of a home-buyer tax credit in the spring was going to slow down home-buyers, but no one expected it to be this severe.

Admittedly, it was a stupid $8,000 “fingers in a failing dike” tax credit handed out to entice people to buy houses in a “nearsighted” effort to prop up the ailing housing market.

It just makes no sense. Little of this of late, does. Absolutely no “long-term” positive outcome can come from basically stealing money from taxpayers and then giving it to home buyers and sellers. All it accomplished was to cause people who might have been buying homes now to rush out and buy homes sooner and now we’re seeing the predictable crash that follows when the home credit expired.

And note that these people got less than they paid for, because THEIR new home purchases are also going to be included in those plummeting property values. It’s not like they are immune. And… taxpayers got their pockets picked, again.

Why aren’t people screaming? Oh wait… I did. And we talked about it.

The home sales drop, compounded by a meteoric rise in the inventory of unsold homes will translate to yet another death spiral of “down-legs” in housing prices, and I’m thinking that it’s right around the corner. Many economist agree with me on that.

People were quick to point out that house prices had begun stabilizing last year after declining since 2006.

So much for that…

There are no jobs, folks… no pay raises either. Unless you’re a fatcat CEO of a “gov’t supported company”, we’re all in the same lifeboat. High unemployment rates and almost non-existent wage “growth” are making many American families hesitate before signing o nteh dotted line, to achieve that major purchase, so I predict that a returning wave of falling home equity margins could further plummet us into a state of depressed confidence and “restrictive” consumer spending.

People kept saying that the sharp drop in mortgage rates in recent months would fix everything, and soon, we’ve be all better. Obama said;

“Don’t worry, I’ve got this one…”

Um… I hate to tell you this, but it appears that the programs and posturing applied by the buffoons on the beltway is doing little to stimulate demand.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has fallen to less than 4.5%, a depth that most would welcome in better times. But because of the conditions we all face as the “middle gets swallowed up”, the demand for new loans is weak.

Many of us won’t qualify as borrowers, due to the fact that we now face challenges qualifying for loans because of lost jobs, decreased salaries, or “squeezed” earning potentials.

And some of us are just too scared to jump into the water.

“The tide is still going out…”

For example;

According to the Wall Street Journal, a 58 year old retiree named Sue Dempsey is under contract on a short sale for a pretty nice three-bedroom home in Las Vegas that sold four years ago for more than $300,000.

The price she’s paying today: (you better sit down.,..) is less than $120,000.

While she missed the deadline for the tax credit, the price seemed unbeatable.

“We got such a great deal on the house, golly, we didn’t need anything else.”

I have friends that live in Henderson. Perhaps I should give them a call…

You can build one heck of an ISBU house for $120,000.00. And, you can do most of the work yourself.

Stay tuned.

Terrible things are happening out there… How can WE help?

Recently, we’ve seen floods and earthquakes all over the planet. There are disasters in Pakistan, Chile, China, and many other places.

As a result, many people have sent me email asking if the “Corten Cavalry” is going to do anything to assist these people while they try to regain control of their lives.

While we’d like to help, there just isn’t any way for us to get ISBUs to Pakistan (for example), as much as that pains us. Many of us in “the Cav”  have actually spent time there and we know that the people are good, hardworking and deserving of aid in their time of need.

We’ll focus on contributing to aid organizations that are providing medical aid… groups  like “Doctors Without Borders.”

Many more have asked about ways to contribute to the housing problem in these disaster areas, via something that keeps resurfacing over and over again, each time this chain of events occurs.

I’m talking about companies that are building what I call “shelter sheds.”

For example, after the Haiti Earthquakes, I received this in my email:

(In fact, in the last three weeks or so, I’ve gotten virtually the same email again about twenty times.)

“A solar structure manufacturing company located in Corona, California, builds a product known as “The Solar Cabana.” This cabana can be utilized as temporary housing units for the victims of the Haiti earthquake disaster.

The documentation goes on to say that;

“The Solar Cabana can be altered to provide closed sided housing to protect against the elements. These solar structures measure 11×11, and can be drop shipped to your location.

These structures are easily constructed, and can be erected within 6-8 hours. These electricity producing solar structures can be utilized independently, or tied together to create a small electrical generation plant.

The easy construction of these solar structures allows for rapid implementation, as well as reuse for future need. They can be packed and shipped to the next emergency location as needed. Battery back- up systems are also included as an optional feature. Large quantities of these systems can be packed and shipped within 48 hours of order.

Yes, helping the Haiti people as well as helping the planet…

I invite you to visit our website WWW.offtheroofsolar.com should you require more information. Please contact me at your earliest convenience.

My personal cell phone number is (XXX) XXX-XXXX.or office XXX XXX-XXXX”

Okay, why am I bringing this up?

These aren’t “Cabana’s” like you’re thinking. You can’t “live” in them globally. They are just “shade areas.”

They look like covered awnings.

Like guys like Pedro de Alba, a civil-engineering professor who specializes in earthquake engineering, I urge you to think twice about contributing into charity pools that advocate these structures. All these well-meaning people are  doing is importing expensive materials that aren’t available locally and that involve construction methods that in most cases is well beyond the population’s expertise.

Big canvas tents are a much better “fit.” You know, like the ones that you see on all those “M.A.S.H.” reruns on TV.

There are other companies going a step further, touting “converted garden sheds” (like you see at Home Depot, for instance) as “temporary disaster housing.” They advocate actually importing them into the country in crisis and then selling them to the populace.

No matter how they wrap this, this still doesn’t make any sense to me.

For example, even now as time passes after the devastating earthquake… the  average Haitian lives on less the $2 per day, so these $5000 – $10,000 “glorified garden sheds” seem a little out of the budget range of the people who need them.

This is only compounded by the fact that you’d need to deliver thousands of these to the people, in order to make a dent in the need for them. Then you’d need to set up villages of them, and provide the “rest of the picture”, things like sanitation, clean water, fuel for cooking, power, etc…

Even IF you could send a container ship to Haiti or elsewhere… filled with these “temp housing alternatives”, it just wouldn’t work.

First, who’d buy them?

$5,000 at 1% over say… 10 years is $45 a month.

$5,000 at 1% at 20 years, is still $23 a month.

The average Haitian worker makes $2 a DAY. (In Pakistan, it’s even less.) And, only one person on five was actually working, BEFORE the earthquake.

They still have to eat. They still need fuel to cook with (and even generate heat), and water.

Let’s not bring into play that these structures won’t LAST 10-20 years…

HOW is this an alternative?

For that same “$5,000 investment”, you could do something far superior that lasts for ages… by anyone, almost anywhere.

What? Brace yourselves.  I’m about to throw a wrench into the machine.

I’m hoping to see some really productive aid coming from the “Earthbag Home” people. Guys like Owen Geiger are teaching people to build shelters with what they have… like DIRT and barbed wire.

I “filched” the following from his own blog:

“Dr. Owen Geiger, Ph.D. (in Social and Economic Development), is the former Director of Builders Without Borders and Founder and Director of the Geiger Research Institute of Sustainable Building (www.grisb.org).

He is an author, engineer and licensed contractor specializing in strawbale construction, earthbag and other types of sustainable building. He co-authored the Builders Without Borders Straw-Bale Construction Guides and contributed to Building Without Borders: Sustainable Construction for the Global Village.

Dr. Geiger has consulted on numerous international housing projects and worked closely with Habitat for Humanity for seven years. He is also a correspondent for The Last Straw Journal and a Mother Earth News Green Homes Expert.”

Suffice to say that he’s an Earthbag Know-It-All!

And he has this guy (with big ‘ole Earthbag shoulders) to help him carry the weight;

(Again, rather than just “make stuff up”, I ruthlessly stole stuff from their blog!;)

Kelly Hart is the host of www.greenhomebuilding.com and www.dreamgreenhomes.com, and has built his own home using the earthbag technique.

He has adapted the concepts popularized by Nadir Khalili and his “superadobe” building, by filling the bags primarily with crushed volcanic rock. This creates insulated walls that are similar to strawbale, except that they are completely impervious to damage from moisture, insects or rodents.

Kelly has produced a DVD, titled Building with Bags: How We Made Our Experimental Earthbag/Papercrete House, which chronicles his adventure of building this house, and shows other earthbag houses as well.

And the shelters that they build are long-lasting, sustainable, and affordable, in most regions. And, it’s LOW-TECH.

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:

http://blog.konbitshelter.org/

Now, I don’t know a lot about Owen (except what I’ve gleaned thru a few private email exchanges and what I read about him, but I have to tell you that Owen and his crew are IMPRESSIVE) and  I know that he’s got a network of “Earthbaggers” out there that are literally changing the world for people.

THAT blog of his might be a good place to look, when thinking about a way to help these other families (who could just as easily be US) in need.

It’s just a thought.

Stay tuned.

YOU can do it… Yes, YOU can!

After the recent release of my e-book:

Introduction to Container Homes and Buildings

All hell broke loose. Don’t get me wrong. a lot of people appreciated the book. But some people in the home-building biz aren’t numbered among them.

I wrote this book for the same reason that I write the blog… to empower people. I wrote this book to demonstrate that a family CAN build a home, without being shackled to several layers of unnecessary administration, and mountains of extra costs designed to profit companies without necessarily enriching the occupant’s lives.

What I didn’t want to do is flex my ego by cramming it full of things I’ve done personally, like I’m “the center of the ISBU universe.” I wanted to at least TRY to be unbiased.

I did include several floorplans to give you ideas and starting points. But know that the intent is to allow you to take those examples, and then draw your OWN lines to reflect what YOU need and not just what someone tells you that you need based on their cost and effects corporate spreadsheet…

Some people will read this and then scream:

“Ah Ha! Didn’t you offer to help people chart the waters, at the end of the book?”

Yes. But I’ll point out that based on my “compensation” for that help, I’m usually working for less than minimum wage. This isn’t now, nor has it ever been, about profits. It’s about families.

But I’m getting hammered about the book in my email. It’s like “David and Goliath” all over again.

Did I fall short? According to the hate mail I’m getting, probably.

I started getting “hate mail” from “industry types.” I’m even getting “hate mail” from people in the “building industry” that I thought were friends.

I suppose that when the economy tanks, each and every penny that can be squeezed out of “John Q. Public” is a fistfight, and it appears that at RR we’re embroiled in more than one, ourselves.

There are some ISBU associated people who believe that they’ve cornered the market on “ISBU Tech.” They actually think that since they’ve built one or two projects, they own the rights to everything said about ISBUs in general. They have “proprietary secrets” that they don’t want you to know about.

There’s a myth going around that there are only about 150 ISBU homes in all of America. I talk about this a lot, because each time I hear this, it makes me laugh.

People have been buying and converting ISBUs into shelters since the 1970′s in America.

And every year, there have been literally thousands of containers available. Due to the imbalance in trade between nations, there are more ISBUs in America sitting dormant than you could possibly imagine. They are stacked so high in some places that they literally blot out the sun. So, over the last decade or so, the number of available shipping containers is much larger.

Are any of us really naive enough to believe that with the thousands of containers sitting there, over several decades, less than 2 or three people a YEAR used them to create shelter, businesses  and homes? Really? How many citizen families are living here in the USA? Millions?

There are literally thousands of ISBU structures scattered across the globe. But in America, some would have you believe that we live in a Corten Vacuum? I don’t think so. Not for a minute.

All you have to do is go look for them. You can find them on some pretty historic places, too – like Route 66, for instance.

At the risk of repeating myself, I personally know of several IC’s (Isolated Communities) scattered across the US that are constructed primarily of ISBUs, or by using ISBUs as components. And in each of these ICs, there are several homes and outbuildings. In many of those cases, unless you actually saw them being build, you’d never know that they were ISBUs to begin with. Hardiplank and Stucco are wonderful things… In some cases placing the Earthbags was backbreaking, let me tell you!

The number of ISBU structures in those ICs alone would account for a large majority of the “alleged 150 some-odd ISBU homes” that some people spout as gospel. It’s just ridiculous.

IMHO: That 150+ number comes primarily by people who know that if you somehow reduce the number of anything, the people who built the most visible projects become far more valuable. THEY become the pillars. It’s just a marketing ploy. So, if you get into all the press sites with your “OMG” project, you get a lions share of the attention.

In a dying economy, that’s a must if you want your corporation to survive hard times…

Don’t get lulled into this trap.  Do your homework. There are lots of examples out there if you dig for them. In fact, some people hope that you won’t. It makes their job easier. They have corporations to support. They have families too…

Anyone reading this blog (or my book) knows that I advocate taking the steps to actually build an ISBU house, YOURSELF.

Practice Self-Reliance and Self-Responsibility.

I know you know that, I say it all the time.

You don’t need an expensive Architectural Firm, an Engineering Firm, or even a Design Firm to achieve a home the scale that we talk about here on RR.  Nor do you need a “design/build contractor.”  What you need is common sense, the ability to pay attention to detail, and a good design that comes from looking at what you need, over and over again, comparing it to “known” examples, and then polishing it until you’ve finessed it into exactly what is required to fulfill YOUR specific needs. Will you accomplish this in a week? NO.

I tell people all the time to start their “Pre-Design” phase as early as they possibly can. This way, when you do finally sit down with whoever you bring in to help you draw it all out, you minimize that time so you can get to building ASAP.

Am I trying to talk you out of hiring someone like ME? YES.

I’m trying to work myself out of a job, if the truth be told. If you figure out how this works, you can tell someone else. And then, you can SHOW them. That starts an exponential conveyance of knowledge that covers far more ground than one “heretic howling into the wind.”

All you guys and gals combined can accomplish more in a few years, than I’ve accomplished in my entire life playing with torches and grinders, easy.

Why is this important to me?

• The housing market is just one large oozing hemorrhage.
• Foreclosures are gutting neighborhoods.
• Companies are downsizing and shipping jobs overseas.
• Unemployment is scratching at double-digits in most parts of America.
• Bankruptcies are at their highest point since 2005.
• The economy is crawling slower than an overloaded tractor trailer trying to make it up a steep grade.
• In spite of the “bail-outs” banks aren’t lending, especially to us.

And you already know that I tell you that you’ll probably have to fight to build your home, or move it to a place where the building codes are either less restrictive, or non-existent. Can you build one in downtown Chicago? Nope. And you can’t build one in MOST Metropolitan areas, because they don’t conform to what is already there.

You’re going to get a hard lesson in “Not in My Backyard”… as it is the rule of thumb in most of these places.

But in the right place… you CAN have an affordable, sustainable, energy efficient home, built from ISBUs.

The “rules” you’ll use to achieve this will be different than that guy who bought that tract home down the street, the one that comes complete with an aneurysm causing mortgage that just goes on, and on, and on… until it eats you alive.

And as a tract home buyer, what do you get for this privilege?

You get a home that that looks just like everyone else’s, usually built “as cost effectively as possible” (not for YOU, but for the builder’s profit margin), surrounded by neighbors who take a ruler to the grass in the yard once a month, to insure that you’re carefully abiding by HOA standards and covenants.

Okay, that said, you’re wondering WHY anyone in their right mind would want to build an alternative home, especially one built from shipping containers.

As a family considering becoming an “ISBU home building bunch”, there are several reasons for this, but here are just a few;

1. Money.

Plain and simple, taking an already integral steel shell and then building it out yourself cuts out a lot of the overhead that Architects, Contractors, and Engineers charge, to “help you” build your house.

Don’t get me wrong. Those guys are important, each in their own areas, when they are tasked with projects that demand their educations and skills. But building a single story ISBU home certainly isn’t one of them, in most cases.

If you read the blog, I tell you to really scrutinize what your REALLY need. So, unless you’re a relative of Bernie Madoffs, I’m not talking about building 9 story Corten Condo’s “all by your onesies.” I’m talking about building a one or two story home, that uses ISBUs as construction elements.

And, Note that I’m talking about homes that are usually well under 3,000 square feet. Remember that the larger you build, the more assistance you’ll require.

Houses are getting smaller, folks. As times change, we’re realizing that we don’t NEED huge houses that stand like monuments to ego. We’re changing the way we live. So, just embrace it, as that fact is not going away.

There are a few guys that you WILL probably need; You’ll need someone with welding competence, a plumber, an  electrician, a roofer, and perhaps a HVAC guy… for example. So, you need to start going through your “relative list” to find out how many “hands-on” types you can lull onto your site, with the promise of good BBQ and a frosty cold one or two at the end of a long day of shipping container fabrication.

While your welder will be there a while (running beads until he/she’s blind ) , your electrician and plumber usually have pretty streamlined jobs, when it comes to “simple design ISBU housing.” Likewise for the HVAC guys. Good design means “get in and get out.”

If you bring in welders and fab guys to do the light fab required to connect the boxes, the rest is NOT rocket science.

2. Streamlined Design.

You get what YOU need, and not what some builder or his/her accountant decided was cost effective to include. There is a certain satisfaction in getting what you wanted, because you figured out where it should  go. You did this by reading all you could and then applying that to your situation, to arrive at the right answer for your needs. Right? You bet.

3. Sustainability.

If you read the blog, or my published stuff, you know that sustainability counts. A lot.

Wikipedia defines “sustainability” like this:

“The intention of sustainable design is to “eliminate negative environmental impact completely through skillful, sensitive design”. Manifestations of sustainable design require no non-renewable resources, impact the environment minimally, and relate people with the natural environment…

… Sustainable architecture is the design of sustainable buildings. Sustainable architecture attempts to reduce the collective environmental impacts during the production of building components, during the construction process, as well as during the lifecycle of the building (heating, electricity use, carpet cleaning etc) This design practice emphasizes efficiency of heating and cooling systems; alternative energy sources such as solar hot water, appropriate building siting, reused or recycled building materials; on-site power generation – solar technology, ground source heat pumps, wind power; rainwater harvesting for gardening, washing and aquifer recharge; and on-site waste management such as green roofs that filter and control stormwater runoff.”

In a nutshell, it means designing and building shelters that co-exist with everything around them, rather than becoming monuments to waste and excess. These structures respect the relationship between man and the environment.

4. Symbiosis.

It’s not just for biology class anymore. You can build a home that will work WITH you, instead of against you. Yet another layer of  sustainability. There are those who will tell you that in order to build a house that “takes care of itself” you have to throw a ton of money at it. To those people, I say this;

“BS.”

It’s not about using fancy materials that come “straight out of secret NASA laboratories and CAD Stations.” It’s not about stuff like “snake oil” ceramic insulation, because “somebody at NASA” or “somebody at some association” claims that it’s the new INSULATION to end all INSULATIONS.

It’s about investing some time learning about how things actually work… and then using that knowledge to commit to GOOD Design that will lead to good building practices. You can achieve sustainable, affordable housing, without breaking the bank. You just have to carefully weigh your options and then choose wisely.

5. Affordability.

Building it yourself, using your own labor (including friends and relatives!), and by recycling, reusing, and repurposing not only makes sense… it saves you “cents.” Lots of them. That means that you get “more of what you want”, for “less of what you spend.” And by using common sense before you write checks and then combining it with good design, you CAN build a home for your family that is DIY buildable, sturdy, energy efficient and low maintenance.

THAT is one of MY definitions of GREEN.

6. Satisfaction.

By building your own home, several things are accomplished. First since you built it, you can fix it. You have intimate knowledge of how it went together. That means if something DOES go wrong, you can figure out how to fix it. And ISBU homes are modular by their very nature. That means that you’ll know how to add on later, should the need arise.

7. Financial freedom.

Like I said before, banks aren’t lending. So most of these ISBU builds will be self-financed. And that means that you won’t have a soul-sucking mortgage attached to the other side of them.

8. Peace of Mind.

And at the end of the day, when others around you are sitting in front of desks at their own homes writing large checks to mortgage bankers, utility companies, and trying to figure out where the next dollar is going to come from, you’ll be sitting in the “home you always wanted” that is not too big, not to small, but just right.

I could go on for several pages, but I won’t. You get the point, right?

I want you to do a hard thing, a new way. And by doing it, I want you to become stronger and more confident. Sure, building a home is scary, but by facing fear, you get stronger.

As children, my mother used to tell us that;

“Fear never shows up on the porch without Strength, All you have to do is reach past one, to grasp the other.”

My new book was designed to make you ask questions as you begin your search for the answers you’ll need to create a home from cast-off steel boxes and materials that others think useless. My book is designed to help your family find some freedom (something seemingly in short supply, even here in the US sometimes) , by creating it with your own hands.

In that book, I showed you several examples of what you can do, if you put your mind to it. One such example can be found on page 22. It’s a brown three story ISBU stack structure that stands in Atlanta, GA. While I took that photo from a royalty-free stock photography site, the builder and the structural engineer object to it being included in the book. The builder’s name is Glen Donaldson, from Atlanta. You can “google” him for more information.

I thought that the Atlanta house was significant because it’s very straightforward, it  was built in a metropolitan area, and it gives us hope that we might someday be able to do likewise. Let’s face it, none of us wants to be “forced to go live in the boonies in order to  to have our ISBU home become a reality. Some of us would choose suburbia, if it was at all possible. I’m not one of them, but some prefer downtown.

A claim has been made that I am taking credit for it’s construction in the book. Nothing could be further from the truth, and it was never said, nor even implied. EVER.

So, despite the fact that the image used of the Atlanta House came from the public domain, to avoid any further confusion I’m editing it out and all future versions of this book will reflect this change.

While I still feel like it’s a good example none the less, it’s easily replaced. There are many, many good examples of ISBU housing that we can learn from, together.

Now get out there, conquer your fear, and pass the plasma cutter… Daylight is burning…

Got your Swedish Style On?

Recently, while I was working on an exciting Commercial ISBU project that is developing in Texas, a new pal of the blog reminded me of a home he’d seen in a trade publication. I’d seen it too, in fact, I’d planned (even scheduled) a post on it, to be aired in October…

But the more I thought about it, the more I think it bears looking at NOW. More and more people are asking me about building “Row Houses” out of ISBUs.

This is a perfect example of what could be…

Note that this home ISN’T built from ISBUs, but it COULD be. And I think that once you look at it, you’ll see what we saw, when we looked at the photos.

Corten Coolness, just waiting to happen!

First, a word about the architects that did the deed:

(The following, in part, was taken from their own website);

ELDING OSCARSON is a recently started office run by Johan Oscarson and Jonas Elding. The collective experience is covering both Swedish and international architecture, from museums to private houses, interiors, furniture and product design.

Jonas Elding (on the left… or is it the right? Hmmm…) was an associate at Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA), Tokyo, for 7 years, in charge of the design for the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York.

The institution has moved from SoHo to the Bowery, turning its back on an upscale environment and embracing its gritty roots. The 60,000-square-foot museum was built on a $50 million budget.

Johan Oscarson (the “other guy” in the group portrait) was an associate at Sandellsandberg, Stockholm, for 7 years, in charge of the designs for Villa Nilsson and the interior for the OMX headquarters.

They say:

“Our aim is to challenge a variety of architecture and design tasks and by means of a solid process find new solutions, ways to live, or atmospheric qualities. We look forward to leading a pragmatic workflow influenced by site, program, budget or other parameters, making every project unique, real, and story-telling.”

Okay, so they say it in Swedish! But that’s close…

Here’s what I say;

I love what they do.

Want an example? Of course you do! It’s why I wrote this post!

Here’s a townhouse they executed in Landskrona, Sweden.

“The narrow site is sandwiched between very old neighboring buildings. Three thin slabs are projected into the open volume, softly dividing its functions. The continuous interior space is opening up to the street, to an intimate garden, and to the sky.”

I know what you’re thinking, but stay with me huh?

Are ya getting it? Can you feel the coolness? Hmmm?

Is this not “bright and airy? Hardly “Corten Cell” stuff…

Can you feel it? Did the temperature just drop? I’m telling you, this is a “cool” wave coming…

Brrrrr! It’s getting COOL in here!

Yes! Corten Coolness with a chill factor of “Brrrrr!”

You could do this with ISBUs, easily. And, look again at that curb view up at the top. It’s a blank slate. You could actually make this structure look like anything that you wanted to; Stucco it, veneer it, plank it, side it, or bring in your graffiti crew and “Mad Max” it… It’s a “Corten Chameleon” waiting to happen!

If you’re “over there” and you’re looking for an insightful team to help you create that perfect place, I suggest that a talk with these guys might be in order!

ELDING OSCARSON
Hammarby fabriksväg 43 plan 6
120 33 Stockholm, Sweden

JONAS ELDING
Tel: +46 (0)73-640 26 26
E-mail: jonas@eldingoscarson.com

JOHAN OSCARSON
Tel: +46 (0)70-438 12 59
E-mail: johan@eldingoscarson.com

And if you’re over here (with ISBU lust)… I could do this.

In fact, I have done ISBU Homes that are amazingly similar.

And so can you!

Stay tuned!

All project photo credits: 2009 – A. E. Lindman

Art Museum Photo credit: Neu Black

Portrait Image credit: I have no idea. If it’s you, speak up!

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Shelter

Recently, here on RR we’ve been talking about building codes and touching on topics like “freedom” in general.

Here on RR, we frequently talk about how building codes (or the lack thereof) limit our ability to use ISBUs to build housing where we WANT to, and then define where we HAVE to. 

On a list I read, this topic is also raging.

Some feel that “building codes” protect all citizens, and as a result they feel that “Building codes” are lines drawn in sand, that must not be crossed.

Some feel that Building Codes are just limits, to keep the sheep in line, and protect profit margins.

I’m thinking that the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Do you watch Charlie Rose on PBS? Recently, a comment was made on his show that;

The Bill of Rights, and the Constitution were actually written to suppress rights, not enable them.

WHAT?

Rules limit freedom, right?

They seemingly provide protection for some, while limiting the rights of others.

Some might say that the problem with Building Codes in particular, is that they offtimes appear to be badly written, antiquated, and disproportionate in their “designs” on the public that they  alleged to serve.

We’ve talked about what you “need to be” to actually be a building inspector, here on RR before, so I’m not going to drag that out again. Suffice to say, a case could be made that if you’re 18 and you’ve graduated from High School, you have a shot at telling guys like architects and engineers that they can’t do what they were trained to do, because YOU have the ultimate authority.

Building codes are often written and acted on, fueled by the elite, the wealthiest of us, who seek to insure that needs are met that protect THEM, and not necessarily “ALL”.

It’s the lobbyist mentality that rules those days…

Many of these Codes disproportionally limit the freedom and even the rights of individuals who seek out a “different path”.

On the list I’m referring to, the following was said;

“So often, laws are being written by the lobbyist of the interests with the money to do the writing, present it to the law makers, and convince them that theirs are the only worthwhile concerns.

Meanwhile, groups such as owner-builders get no representation, and become the victims of the laws.”

Like many others, I’m not a huge fan of building codes and  zoning laws we use most commonly in the US. In my view, they provide segregation by design, and it moves us away from that “melting pot” that history teaches us is the backbone of this country. It’s the diversity that makes us unique, that makes us different than many other places on the rock.

Those laws create ghettos and isolation.

Further, building codes are designed to protect the trades, not your right to build a safe home. If you think otherwise, you’re naive.

Beyond being restrictive, the big push of late is to make them Universal.” I’m doing a lot of reading lately, about topics like a National Building Codes that would blanket ALL US states and territories.

It doesn’t look so bad, on it’s surface, does it? Well… think it through.

The adoption of their “Overwhelmingly smothering code” would serve to stop many kinds of alternative housing in their tracks. The common man simply couldn’t afford to get a UL rating, on every component and assembly configuration for example.

A guy I read, “Laren Corie” (Natural Solar Building Design and Solar Heating/Natural Cooling/Energy Efficiency Consultation Since 1975 – he’s a “Little House guru” and all around REALLY SMART guy), said it best:

“Building codes are purported to be only about insuring that structures are built to be safe for their occupants. So, where does prescribing a particular material, designed and built in exacting detail to the code, fit in with that?

Codes and other restraints on building should be only based on performance goals, not detailed compliance.

We need a new amendment to our constitution.

The next Bill of Rights should start with:

“Protection from the elements being necessary, the People shall not be restrained from building by their own labor on their own land, in any manner of housing or shelter that suits their needs, WITHOUT unduly endangering their neighbors, thus providing shelter for their immediate family.”

I think that where the difference falls is are the laws designed to protect you from other people or other people from you or are they designed to protect you from yourself.

Laws designed to protect you from others gives you freedom..

Laws designed to protect you from yourself takes away freedom..”

I’m thinking that maybe he has something there…

What do YOU think?

Image Credits:

Blueprint Image - StockPhotoSpecialties

Building Code Image – New York Magazine

Thermal Attic Image – Laren Corie

Who the h-e-double-l is Paul Hawken?

Here on RR, we’ve been talking recently about what “green” is.

Specifically, we’ve been talking about Ipe wood, a iron-tough wood used for decks and exterior surfaces mostly, that requires very little in the finish department, and then… lasts almost unaided, for decades. It’s a homeowners best friend in that regard.

Unfortunately, you have to seek it out in places where “forests helps the whole planet breathe”. And as you can imagine, that causes some  controversy.

I’m getting “hate mail” from people who believe that I’m “preaching global deforestation”.

But clearly, it’s from people who aren’t regular readers of the blog, because I do tend to go on and on about “sustainability” and “cause and effect.”

I don’t want to see forests gutted. Hardly. Um… most of my families live IN THE WOODS.

I don’t want to see the Rain Forest go the way of the dinosaurs, either. I just honestly believe that there are compromises that we each make, to find that place that “works for us.”

I believe that woods like Ipe have a special place in construction practices. And, because of their nature, they tend to lend themselves to very durable, long-lasting, low-maintenance structural components, that make them viable.

The debate currently waged on RR is just a “non-issue” for most, as most of us can’t afford $3 (or more) a foot for Ipe, to begin with.

But, it does shed light on HOW we make the decisions we make, when drawing up material lists. There’s a lot to consider. GREEN used to be “just a color.” Now, it’s a war-zone.

But, what IS Green?

• Is it virgin timber, harvested and milled by carbon belching monsters that in turn were created by carbon belching plants and factories?

• Is it recycled paper insulation, that is fueled by carbon converting processes all the way to it’s end, as it is blown into your framing?

• Is it plastic lumber that isn’t REALLY green after all, once you determine that it’s made predominantly from virgin OIL products, processed and manufactured by more carbon belching manufacturing infernos?

Paul Hawken is an entrepreneur who has written a ton of books. He’s one of the benchmark  “go-to-guys” for people who need good information, about a lot of things.

“Starting at age 20, he dedicated his life to sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. His practice has included starting and running ecological businesses, writing and teaching about the impact of commerce on living systems, and consulting with governments and corporations on economic development, industrial ecology, and environmental policy.” (Taken direct from www.paulhawken.com)

As a result, he was asked to give the commencement address at one of my favorite places, the University of Portland, in May of 2009.

Here’s a hunk of the wisdom that he passed on to those fresh young minds…

[quote]

This planet came with a set of instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them.

Important rules like don’t poison the water, soil, or air, don’t let the earth get overcrowded, and don’t touch the thermostat have been broken. Buckminster Fuller said that spaceship earth was so ingeniously designed that no one has a clue that we are on one, flying through the universe at a million miles per hour, with no need for seatbelts, lots of room in coach, and really good food—but all that is changing.

There is invisible writing on the back of the diploma you will receive, and in case you didn’t bring lemon juice to decode it, Ican tell you what it says:

You are Brilliant, and the Earth is Hiring. The earth couldn’t afford to send recruiters or limos to your school. It sent you rain, sunsets, ripe cherries, night blooming jasmine, and that unbelievably cute person you are dating. Take the hint. And here’s the deal: Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required.

Don’t be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.

[end quote]

Here’s the link to the entire speech:

Unforgettable Commencement Addresses – Paul Hawken

And if that link looks overwhelming (mouse over it to see what I’m talking about), here’s a Tiny URL:

Paul Hawken

YOU CAN change things for the better. It does require that you think things through, and make careful choices. You just need to figure out what you believe, and where you draw the line.

None of us wants to kill this rock that we live on. I mean, that’d be kind of stupid now, wouldn’t it?

But each of us chooses his/her compromises, to find that “place” were WE can each live comfortably and responsibly.

Want to know more about Paul Hawken?

Wikipedia is always a good starting point:

Wiki says – Paul Hawken

And I told you that he writes books. Here’s some interesting stuff about his book; “Blessed Unrest”.

Blessed Unrest

Stay Tuned.

Ipe! Yipe! Lions and tigers and bears!

I’m working with a family that wants to build an ISBU home.

(5) steel boxes, ISBUs all in a row… side by side, to form a big flat box fulla “Corten Coolness”.

(Yes, I told them to consider setting containers a distance apart and spanning the gap. “NO!” They hollered back!)

They have “a plan.”

One of their concerns is dealing with the roof. Where they live, they don’t get snow, (or even heavy weather) so they’re thinking about a staircase…

But wait! I said that they’re building a single story house, Right?

Well… that staircase will run up to a SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) roof, that will get a waterproof membrane, and then some decking and railings. You see, they want to use that roof area to form additional entertainment and “green” deck terraces.

In fact, they want everything that they can use to be as “green” as possible.

And you know me. I’m on record as stating that I love “green stuff.” If it’s energy efficient, or sustainable, or contributes to less maintenance over time, hey… I’m there.

Here’s what IPE looks like;

They’d seen a photograph of a completed deck that was stunning.

(I can’t show you “that” photo due to copyrights, but you can Google it. It has a couple of kids playing on it.)

It really IS gorgeous wood. IPE makes terrific decks. They look like this;

Image Credit: MYOCMEDIA.com

So… they wanted IPE on their roof. End of story.

Hoo boy… Here we go:

As you can see… Ipe (BTW: It’s pronounced EE-pay) decking is beautiful and a wonder to behold. But using it really has to make you think about how we decide “what is green, and what isn’t.”

For the record:

Yes. Ipe is a “tricky wood” from an environmentalist viewpoint.

So, we’ll need to address the social and environmental benefits of using Sustainably Harvested (FSC-certified) wood.

IPE comes from Brazil, so there is another OMG factor to consider. Deforesting South America is terrible; however, let it be said that as long as the wood is sustainably harvested, the use of hardwoods like Ipe in construction reduce maintenance and repair energy input and costs for homeowners.

Anyone in the industry already knows that for the last several years, Ipe  decking (from Brazilian hardwood trees) has been the “ooh and awwwwe” factor for some green builders. This is the real deal, a beautiful wood that looks like mahogany, doesn’t require a finish (and those finishes are often petroleum-based products), and doesn’t have the disadvantages of some softer woods.

Also, Ipe is tough stuff. It’s like iron.

It’s durable and it’s said to have a lifespan of  about 25 years outdoors, compared to 10 to 15 years for other commonly used decking materials. A contractor will tell you that all these qualities make Ipe “very green”. Or does it?

Um… here’s the bad news. These Ipe trees most often come out of the rainforest (some people refer to this area of the planet as “the Earth’s Lungs”), and harvesting them is speeding along destruction of an ecosystem that can’t be replaced.  Oy. That’s not good.

Contractors will tell you that lot’s of cities, states, and “wonderous places to behold” are using this same wood.

Lot’s of places are using this wood. In fact a mayor in NJ got his butt handed to him for using it to deck a city boardwalk.

According to New Jersey environmental activist Georgina Shanley: “Unfortunately what they’re using here (she was talking about the NJ job) is uncertified ipe rain forest wood from Brazil. It’s like walking on a coffin.”

Many groups, including one called “Rainforest Relief” have launched campaigns in America, that actually try to discourage people and corporations from using Ipe, as it’s often harvested illegally, and then sold.

But, because Ipe is just about the perfect wood for decks and boardwalks, more and more people are using it anyway.

When you are working sustainably, “materials choice” is one of the most difficult issues to navigate through.

In this case, “Certified” Ipe is available, and it is MORE expensive, to be sure.

And there are some alternatives, but you have to be careful there to.

Some people will start hollering about “the use of plastic lumber” but that doesn’t resolve any issues, either. For example, I’ve been sent this banner about 30 times;

Trex, and some of the  similar plastic lumber products aren’t made from “recycled and sustainable source materials” like you’d think.

FACT: While plastic lumber products do contain SOME recycled material, it’s the minority component of the formula. Most of the product is produced using massive amounts of energy and virgin petroleum products. Truth.

What’s worse, plastic lumber isn’t all that “friendly”. In my own personal experience, it can warp or splinter,  and it can look lousy in no time at all. It has some pretty serious overheating and expansion/contraction problems that have to be resolved before I’ll even consider using it. While lots of people swear by it, I’m not one of them. I’ve seen too many failed jobs.

(And I’ll point out that plastic lumber is not very expensive compared to products like Ipe.  I WISH it worked “without fail”, as MY home building families would use a LOT of it. We just haven’t had very good luck with it, across all regions.)

So, we’re right back where we started… trying to figure out a good path to a tough place. I suppose that an alternative to boycotting it would be to use Ipe wood that is certified by somebody like the Forest Stewardship Council, or another (reputable) industry recognized group that inspects and regulated wood industries to insure that the wood is sustainably harvested. In fact, that’s the logical track to take.

Why am I telling you all this?

Well, it’s easy to understand why they want to use IPE, if they can. It IS the perfect decking material, for all of the above reasons.

I’m not environmentally insensitive, I do recognize that this wood has “issues” that should be noted. But, if we get it from a clean source (with certification) it’ll be something that they will be proud of for a long time… like 25 years or so. So, it’s their decision.

If it was me, I’d use IPE if I could afford it. After all, it’s already here and it’s already cut.

(Oh stop it! I know what you’re thinking. If I don’t buy it, nobody else will and then they’ll stop importing it. Right? Wrong. That’s not logical, it’s idealistic.)

Look, I know that’s a double-edged sword hanging over my head, but hey…

I know that IPE is a good wood (maybe even the perfect wood) for this use and it’s available.

While I’m sorry that it’s “a tree in a tough spot”, I understand how the home owner feels.

My advice is to try and get the Ipe from a source that can guarantee us (thru certification) that it’s “clean.”

And, when the local environmentalists show up at their house with burning brands and pitchforks because they used decking cut from trees in the Brazilian Rain Forest, they’ll have the right answers, as they turn the garden hose on them… from up there on that elevated terrace.

And, if the GREEN thing is a deal breaker (and for some folks it surely is);

There ARE new heat treated wood products that use heat as a preservative in natural woods. They are said to last a long time  (although each varies as they start with the unique hardness of each wood as a “limitation”) and reports from the field say that they work well. I will point out that they aren’t as hard, or even as attractive as Ipe.

Look for products made by Cambiawood, Purewood, and Keim.

But remember, there are no miracle woods, just like there are no miracle insulations. Each has it’s advantages and disadvantages that must be carefully weighed before a selection is made.

Stay tuned.

photo credit; Ipe  photos – National Hardwood Association

Okay, so how do I do this?

After the release of my new book, I received several emails from families who are REALLY thinking hard about making their next home “a Corten Steel one.”

And that means selling their present homes FIRST. GULP!

The mortgages that some families carry today are “family killers.” And as the economy and purse-strings tighten, sometimes it just makes sense to look at things in a different light, and consider doing things differently.

A dear friend of mine is trying to sell her home, in a pretty grim marketplace. It’s agonizing. She’s not alone.

All across America, real estate is taking a beating, and people who are trying to make changes are faced with bitter recipes for change.

One of the first steps you need to take is to get a decent appraisal of what you have.

Knowing what you have will give you a starting point.

While I’m not a Realtor, I’ve participated in the process often enough over the years. And, I’m lucky that I have a few pals that ARE Realtors (the GOOD kind, that work their butts off to help YOU, and not just themselves) and I’m going to send out some emails asking them to contribute to this new “thread” as well.

THEY participate in this daily and I’m sure that they’ll have valuable stuff to add.

But here’s a starting point;

For a homeowner, a real estate appraisal establishes “what you have.” This is essential, in fact some Realtors call it the “linchpin” to buying or selling a home or any real estate property. This appraisal sets the benchmark and helps establish the value of the property transaction that will occur among the buyer, seller, real estate agent and ultimately, the mortgage lender.

There are some things that you should know about an Appraiser before they show up on your curb.

By law, an appraiser must be state licensed to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions. And, you are entitled by law to receive a copy of the completed appraisal report from your lender.

Appraisals aren’t easy. If they were, everyone would be doing them. So to help the appraisal process go smoother, it’s beneficial to have these documents ready for the appraiser:

• A plot plan or survey of the house and land (if you have one available to you).
• A floorplan (if you have one) showing the room sizes and square footage.
• Information on the most current purchase transaction of the property in the last three years.
• A copy of the current listing agreement and broker’s data sheet and Purchase Agreement if a sale is “pending”.

• Assemble an “important points sheet” (some realtors call this a “brag sheet”) that details all of the major home improvements and upgrades you’ve done, the date of the installations, the cost of those upgrades (for example, the addition of central air conditioning or a roof replacement) and permit confirmation (if required/available).

• Written property agreements, such as a maintenance agreement for a shared driveway or common spaces.
• A list of personal property that will/could be included in the sale of the home.
• The Title policy that describes encroachments or easements.
• The most recent real estate tax bill and or legal description of the property.

• A home inspection report (NOT the same thing as an appraisal), or other recent reports for termites, synthetic stucco wall systems, septic systems and wells.

• Information on “Homeowners Associations” or condominium covenants and fees.
• A list of “Proposed” improvements if the property is to be appraised “As Complete”.

Once your appraiser has arrived, let them do their work. You don’t need to shadow the poor guys/gals, scrutinizing their every move. You do not need to accompany him or her along on the entire site inspection, but make yourself available so that you can answer questions about your property and point out any home improvements.

Here are some other suggestions:

Accessibility: Make sure that all areas of the home are accessible, especially the attic and crawl space areas.

Housekeeping: Appraisers see hundreds of homes a year and will look past most clutter, but they’re human beings too! A good impression can translate into a higher home value. If you’re one of those “Hoarders” that we see on TV, spend some time cleaning up and organizing first.

Maintenance is IMPORTANT! Repair all the minor things that you ca n find; like leaky faucets, missing door handles and trim.

I’m reminded that you should note this too: FHA/VA Inspection Items - If your borrower is applying for an FHA/VA loan, be sure to ask your appraiser if there are specific things that should be done before they come.

Some items they may recommend might be: Install smoke detectors on all levels (especially near bedrooms) and put in NEW batteries; install handrails on all of the stairways; insure that windows and doors operate properly; remove any peeling paint you can find and repaint those areas; fix drooping or sagging wallpaper;  provide easy inspection access to the attic and crawl spaces.

I know that some of these sound like “Home Inspection” points, but they do “color” the way that the appraiser sees your home.

Make the task as simple as you can for the appraiser. You WANT these people to be in a good mood. Your resale value may depend on it.

And I have it on good authority that appraisers like good coffee or cold sodas, and homemade chocolate chip cookies…

Okay. That about covers my input here. If you’re a Realtor I tapped for insight, it’s your turn.

Stay tuned.