Matilda
Senior Member
Posts: 859 
Likes: 1,171
|
Post by Matilda on Sept 22, 2015 19:43:09 GMT 10
Some advice please
We are thrashing out - in the early stages - thinking seriously - about purchasing land BUT its in a cold area and it does snow. And the opposite in Summer. The idea is 2 barn structures linked by a walkway. Not big, very rough looking, but are based on the gorgeous black barns in NZ. The first structure will be the shed. Hubby loves his time making things and is buying tools to get ready for retirement so he can continue building and pottering. We will move there after retirement in 5 years. We are going to take time to get both right, ie root cellar, chicken and veggie areas etc. At one end will be a self-contained area with basic shower/toilet and an idea that is really a basic kitchen inside a cupboard. And of course a bed with the TV on the wall and clothes hanging space. No lounge as in winter it will be warmer in bed watching TV and summer sitting out enjoying the views, nature etc.
This will be lined and will remain as is after we move into the house
We have spent years on different projects and in many instances we over capitalised and spent more than we should. You never get that back Hubby has suggested we line the shed (gyprock) as we will not be able to stay in there in winter. I agree that our little area needs to be lined, but the idea of using funds to line the rest of the garage and its a big area - has me thinking where would we need to cut funds elsewhere. During the day we can light a cast iron stove which he plans to have in there anyway, but I don't want to use bottled gas or leave the fire on while we are asleep. We are trying to wean ourselves off the grid and will get a generator for the building stage and as we know nothing about solar or the costs, this is something that will go on the 'research list'. Can anyone suggest a safe method of heating that we don't have to rob from Peter to pay Paul??
|
|
|
|
Post by SA Hunter on Sept 22, 2015 21:38:59 GMT 10
Heating - wood fire??
Good point re the insulation too!
I'm sorta in the same boat - looking for about 50-100ac, mostly scrub, with enough cleared area to stick an old caravn, build a shed around it, wholly off grid!!
Maybe a good snuggle with the significant other??? saves heating bills!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Joey on Sept 22, 2015 22:11:37 GMT 10
Yes definitely try the insulation on the living areas, and its the pot belly stove, look into the gratitude heating systems that can be made for the stoves to give you awesome hot water without a power draining hot water system.
As far as inside the house look at trying to find a way to separate the sleeping area so less heat is lost during the cold nights from the bedroom area, be it a simple wall or heavy curtains.
|
|
shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119 
Likes: 3,578
Email: shiny@ausprep.org
|
Post by shinester on Sept 23, 2015 2:07:31 GMT 10
To save on heating means not loosing heat. Aka good insulation. Another perspective is to use the heat to warm up a mass, that radiates that heat. Some ways of cutting costs also might be more efficient use of timber, particularly if you have access nearby. Rocket stoves are fairly easy to make and inexpensive.
|
|
peter1942
Senior Member
Posts: 146
Likes: 267
|
Post by peter1942 on Sept 23, 2015 8:26:04 GMT 10
Most people build a house and on install their heating system on the main floor and by doing this lose most of the heat either up the flu or via poor or unsuitable insulation. It is more practicable to have your heater in a room under the main living areas as the heat will rise and if you have vents in the right places it will emanate throughout your house.
Building on a slope and having a room under the house for the heater is ideal as it will give you easy access for stocking up on the fuel of your choice and will allow for maintenance without having to traipse up and down stairs.
If you ever get the opportunity to look at Roman ruins you will find that they were experts in underfloor heating and those same principles are in use in many places today.
|
|
Frank
VIP Member
APF Life Member
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 2,739
Email: frank@ausprep.com
|
Post by Frank on Sept 23, 2015 9:18:41 GMT 10
After building a couple of internal rooms in sheds over the last couple of years I would concur with the insulate and insulate well. My current shed gets bloody hot in Summer with one wall getting particularly toasty. We built a fully insulated room against this wall and so far it has stayed a pretty good temp, warmer then shed in Winter and ALOT cooler in Summer.
If you are looking at treed, bush block it would be hard to go against something wood fire related, the slow combustion heater we have heats the whole house and doesn't burn as much wood I thought it would when we fist moved. I have always found electric heaters to chew up heaps of power, and bottled gas is know pretty pricey so I wouldn't like to be heating with that. We cook with bottled gas and it uses very little, but heaters burn through it
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 19:09:50 GMT 10
Hi Matilda,
We have just finished moving in to our new home in the bush. I used all the ideas from all my research from our and other sites. We chose a color bond in dark grey to blend in with the surroundings but is lined with white CB on the inside.
I had the guys use thermal shield or T Therm (3.5 rating) to line all the exterior and once the tin was up on the out side I lined the inside with pink bats(2.5 rating) and then the internal tin.
I used a simple open design of 50x30ft with 16.6ft inside and the rest veranda, but am turning 30ft of that to kitchen and dining/sitting room.
I went for a medium wood fire as we had a small one at the rented house and I new the large would be too hot. We new the temp would be below 5% during winter(I was sleeping in my litte guy camper...Brrrrrr...LOL)
The summer here gets warm but the nights are still cool. For the hot days I put two main solid doors and on the veranda we put two sliding glass security doors and 5 windows to maxamise air flow if needed.
Slow combo heaters are fine, but you need air circulation and some water near the heater to moisten the air! (we sleep with the heater going most nights! till it gets warmer!
We use LPG to cook and hot water. We have Solar which runs the whole house no problem!
If you and hubby would like to come and have a look, just PM me.
|
|
Matilda
Senior Member
Posts: 859
Likes: 1,171
|
Post by Matilda on Sept 23, 2015 20:06:47 GMT 10
Firstly, let me say how good it into see you back on Ausprep! I meant to say something a week ago but our threads/posts never seemed to match up! Thanks so much for your offer! We are in the early stages of deciding which way to jump and it will mean moving away from our new Grandaughter and I'm finding that difficult, BUT, we see her on Skype as well as seeing her at least once a week and we are only about 2 hours away but we have to make this decision very soon. I love the dark grey too, but Hubby is still trying to see which way to go re the rough sawn timber, but knows the steel will go up quicker. Hubby loved your idea of the CB inside. And the idea of the 'double lining'. We will get a wood heater and cooking and hotwater will use gas as you have. But solar. Is it expensive for your sized house? Can you install it yourself? Solar is one area that Hubby doesn't know much about. You're achieved so much in such a short time! I'm kinda envious - but I love the planning stages then get impatient wanting it to finish!! This will be the first house where we included chickens, bees, veggies, fruit trees etc in our planning.
|
|
shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 3,578
Email: shiny@ausprep.org
|
Post by shinester on Sept 24, 2015 12:09:40 GMT 10
Yeah good to see you back Dr. Gaz  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 13:12:37 GMT 10
Firstly, let me say how good it into see you back on Ausprep! I meant to say something a week ago but our threads/posts never seemed to match up! Thanks so much for your offer! We are in the early stages of deciding which way to jump and it will mean moving away from our new Grandaughter and I'm finding that difficult, BUT, we see her on Skype as well as seeing her at least once a week and we are only about 2 hours away but we have to make this decision very soon. I love the dark grey too, but Hubby is still trying to see which way to go re the rough sawn timber, but knows the steel will go up quicker. Hubby loved your idea of the CB inside. And the idea of the 'double lining'. We will get a wood heater and cooking and hotwater will use gas as you have. But solar. Is it expensive for your sized house? Can you install it yourself? Solar is one area that Hubby doesn't know much about. You're achieved so much in such a short time! I'm kinda envious - but I love the planning stages then get impatient wanting it to finish!! This will be the first house where we included chickens, bees, veggies, fruit trees etc in our planning. Thanks M, We looked at timber but white ants love it as well...LOL with the CB there is no painting or major up keep! We went for the smaller solar system @$25,000 that was with a $2500 rebate installed! We run a normal house with that, but we have a 9kva diesel able genset for heavy welding etc... and charging the solar in overcast weather! I was tempted to get the next size up, but we where short on cash to finish the house! The guys from Sunbeam solar even finished off all the house electrical on the main switch board for me!!! Doing my own electrical and plumbing have saved us $15-20,000 All up the land and home to this stage has cost:156,000 Most blocks of land where from 100,000 and up just for the land. This area is remote but that's what a BOL should be! Yes Jinny is on my case for a chock house etc... Just finished a plot for veggies. will put up some pics soon! Gaz |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 13:15:14 GMT 10
Yeah good to see you back Dr. Gaz Thanks Mate...  |
|
peter1942
Senior Member
Posts: 146
Likes: 267
|
Post by peter1942 on Sept 24, 2015 13:32:12 GMT 10
To move heat from our wood fired heater we purchased an Ecofan (the Canadian made one, www.caframo.com/) and for the price it works really well and these can also be used to push heat through tubular ducting to get heat into out of the way and difficult to heat areas. |
|
VegHead
VIP Member
Posts: 546
Likes: 913
|
Post by VegHead on Sept 24, 2015 14:10:42 GMT 10
I'll second that peter1942 as we have one too and they work very well. |
|
shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 3,578
Email: shiny@ausprep.org
|
Post by shinester on Sept 26, 2015 9:54:48 GMT 10
On the solar system, my longer term plans are having a solar system that is grid tied, with an option to use the power if the grid is down and only a small battery backup [200Amph or so] for night time use for items such as lighting to keep costs down. This way I can have enough power during the day to do most things that need to be done that require more power, such as washing, power tools etc, yet still have some power at night for lighting. There's obvious downsides, such as a lack of available power at night and having to be quite mindful of that though it allows me to have the system earlier.
|
|
peter1942
Senior Member
Posts: 146
Likes: 267
|
Post by peter1942 on Sept 26, 2015 15:32:23 GMT 10
Check the legality of having batteries on a grid interactive system as I know that batteries are not installed as standard so that when the grid does go down the maintenance workers know that there is no charge in the lines.
I have queried the practicality of having panels on a roof and when the grid does go down none of the power being produced in the daytime can be used to run items in the house.
If we were grid interactive I would have the standard setup and also a small setup that could be used times of mains power outages.
|
|
shinester
Senior Member
China's white trash
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 3,578
Email: shiny@ausprep.org
|
Post by shinester on Sept 26, 2015 16:36:38 GMT 10
Check the legality of having batteries on a grid interactive system as I know that batteries are not installed as standard so that when the grid does go down the maintenance workers know that there is no charge in the lines. I have queried the practicality of having panels on a roof and when the grid does go down none of the power being produced in the daytime can be used to run items in the house. If we were grid interactive I would have the standard setup and also a small setup that could be used times of mains power outages. Usually the inverters that can provide off grid power have a switch so you can use the power directly from the panels. If it were a major issue, I'd just have a battery bank connected to a trickle charger/car charger to keep it topped up and then hook that up to a separate inverter. I already do have such a system on a normally powered house [with 300W of panels if need be to replenish] |
|
