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1 | Model | Summary (Link) | Raw Cost | Categories | Pros | Cons | Links to videos/pages | Square Feet For Example | Required Materials/Cost | Hours Total Avg Per Person | # Of Workers | Types Of Workers Needed | Different Sub Methods Of Construction | Portability/Land Concerns | Heating Options | Cooling Options | All Equpitment | Rental Eqiptment | Dependencies | Is this experimental? | Finish/Aestetic Options | Steps Summary | Additional References | Detailed Description | ||||
2 | Aircrete Prefab Forms | Aircrete is also know as foamcrete not to be confused with some types of AAC. Aircrete prefab forms are created with molds. These molds can be used to create walls or shapes that would otherwise be tedious to build using conventional building materials. Because aircrete fills the mold and requires less cement, it is comparably affordable and low cost. A rough estimate of square footage price can be several dollars or less. Constructing with molds means one can easily reuse the the same forms for mass production. Great savings with aggregates and free, recycled or alternative materials can be experimented with such as recycled fly ash, geopolymers and hemp. This makes aircrete one of the best future materials to work with. It is waterproof, long lasting, extremely strong, pest resistant, easy to cut, light weight, mold resistant, load bearing, and reliable. For larger structures you should have a frame or strong pilars in between panels. Panels can be potentially strengthened with minibars or rebar alternatives such as woven-strand bamboo or basalt rebar. Experimental designs like domes and pyramids can be made. | Our example: Walls - $2000 $2,000 - $8,000 For an average home not including pilars or frames | Low Cost, Mass Production, Efficient | Forms are great for mass manufacturing big homes Aircrete is affordable, lightweight, can be cut with a saw, repells insects, resistant to extreme heat or fire, aircrete can float on water. Aircrete can easily be molded into shapes such as walls, or bricks, its better for insulation than traditional masonry blocks. Aircrete is also soundproof, and shock resistant. ~http://www.cyprus-property-buyers.com/files/constructionmethods.pdf | The disadvantage is that the more air that is added into the blocks (to save more money), the weaker they become. This can be a problem when it comes to fixings as special anchors are often necessary to fix heavy furniture or curtain rails. The wall can however be reinforced if the home is well designed. More prone to cracks because it settles, may want to consider finish. Absorbs more water than normal blocks. Bed joint reinforcement recommended. Need Fabric reinforced stucco on exterior for long term. | https://www.domegaia.com/aircrete1.html Little Dragon Foam Maker http://www.domegaia.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llsQL2bPWqY http://greenlivingideas.com/2008/12/21/can-concrete-be-eco-friendly/#CementSubstitutes http://inhabitat.com/11-green-building-materials-that-are-way-better-than-concrete/ http://reforcetech.com/full-range/ | 1500 square feet | 1 bag of cement makes 50 gallons of aircrete! | Walls should take a few weeks total hours can be divided amongst workers | 2-5 | unskilled labor, standard construction specialist | Hemp Aircrete Interlocking walls | Not portable however light weight forms can be transported easier | Aircrete is fairly well insulated and any additional systems can be considered | Aircrete foam machine, mixer, forms | Standard construction equiptment depending on project | Aircrete foam maker | Depending on the design | http://www.onecommunityglobal.org/dome-home-finishing-water-proofing-and-interior-finish/ | Raw build: 1) Make or buy wall forms. For our example, make 1-4 interlocking forms using wood. 2) Fill forms with aircrete on flat surface possibly on top of plastic to prevent mess 3) Cut out door and windows from Aircrete walls 4) If you only made one form type, cut out interlocking sections from walls so they can join together like lego blocks. Stick poles or rebar into the ground for as many support pilars as needed. You can use them to joint two walls like hinges. Walls can be slightly submerged for extra support. Poles can perforate aircrete walls if needed. For example, for running wiring or light. Rebar is used for extra support. 5) Lay foundation or pour aircrete into foundation form 6) Lift and lay giant walls and lock them into position. The roof panels could also lock into position with all 4 walls. Crane may be needed to lift walls. 7) Apply finish if needed. The remainder: 8) Wiring and pipes in some cases through hollow poles or interior or exterior wiring or pipe methods. Hollow poles can even be used as light tubes. Time depends on techniques used. 9) Doors and windows created 10) Bathroom and plumbing 11) Tiles and flooring etc. 12) Aestetic design can be applied. | Company that lays aircrete panels from forms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--kaM73yWCY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBHjUIFTI_A Inspiration for more shapes made with poles and wood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd0EptTboHg | Forms may vary in creativity, depending on the form chosen, it may even be possible to pour the concrete in one step into a giant form for manufacturing homes en masse. However, the simplest proposal of interlocking walls was chosen. The beauty of wooden, inflatable or other forms is the flexibility in design. More examples, you can make pyramid homes, dome homes and experiment with different interlocking designs. http://www.linex.com/ if you want to make your walls stronger than steel. at least $2000 per wall, the paint is called Paxcon® | |||||
3 | Aircrete Blocks | Aircrete blocks are cheap and ideal for simple construction projects. They are lightweight, affordable, resistant, they can float on water, and they are sound isolating. Bricks are easy for a do it yourself project. | Our example: Walls - $2000 $2,000 - $8,000 | Low cost | Blocks are great for structural integrity, they can interlock or use mortar Aircrete is affordable, lightweight, can be cut with a saw, repells insects, resistant to extreme heat or fire, aircrete can float on water. Aircrete can easily be molded into shapes such as walls, or bricks, its better for insulation than traditional masonry blocks. Aircrete is also soundproof, and shock resistant. ~http://www.cyprus-property-buyers.com/files/constructionmethods.pdf | The disadvantage is that the more air that is added into the blocks (to save more money), the weaker they become. This can be a problem when it comes to fixings as special anchors are often necessary to fix heavy furniture or curtain rails. The wall can however be reinforced if the home is well designed. More prone to cracks because it settles, may want to consider finish. Absorbs more water than normal blocks. Bed joint reinforcement recommended. | http://www.domegaia.com/air-crete.html Little Dragon Foam Maker http://www.domegaia.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kawsFsFi6Pg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMklBtHKCOY | 1 bag of cement makes 50 gallons of aircrete! | walls can take 2-4 weeks for producing and stacking blocks | 2-5 | Wall mason, unskilled labor | Hemp Aircrete | Not portable however light weight forms can be transported easier | Aircrete foam machine, mixer, forms | Standard construction equiptment depending on project | Aircrete foam maker | Standard | http://www.onecommunityglobal.org/dome-home-finishing-water-proofing-and-interior-finish/ | ||||||||||
4 | Aircrete Dome | Prefabricated Aircrete domes are available and can be assembled with very little effort. Aircrete is one of the cheapest building materials and is very flexible. The aircrete dome house comes at a very low price. The dome form can be made by a cheap metal bending machine. DomeGaia has workshops that teaches you how to build domes as well as many videos of the process. | Less than $2000 of walls and foundation | Low cost | Domes are one of the strongest structures for weather, they don't need a roof. Aircrete is affordable, lightweight, can be cut with a saw, repells insects, resistant to extreme heat or fire, aircrete can float on water. Aircrete can easily be molded into shapes such as walls, or bricks, its better for insulation than traditional masonry blocks. Aircrete is also soundproof, and shock resistant. ~http://www.cyprus-property-buyers.com/files/constructionmethods.pdf | The disadvantage is that the more air that is added into the blocks (to save more money), the weaker they become. This can be a problem when it comes to fixings as special anchors are often necessary to fix heavy furniture or curtain rails. The wall can however be reinforced if the home is well designed. More prone to cracks because it settles, may want to consider finish. Absorbs more water than normal blocks. Bed joint reinforcement recommended. | http://www.domegaia.com/air-crete.html Little Dragon Foam Maker http://www.domegaia.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Second floors are an option in dome homes that are large enough. http://www.monolithic.org/blogs/construction/considering-a-second-floor | 1500 square feet | 1 bag of cement makes 50 gallons of aircrete! | walls can take a few weeks for producing and stacking blocks and panels | 2-5 | unskilled labor, standard construction specialist | Hemp Aircrete, Aircrete with other fibers | Not portable however light weight forms can be transported easier | Aircrete foam machine, mixer, forms, metal bender | Standard construction equiptment depending on project | Aircrete foam maker | Standard | http://www.onecommunityglobal.org/dome-home-finishing-water-proofing-and-interior-finish/ | |||||||||
5 | Tire Homes | Tire homes are an ideal way to save money on walls and probably ideal in large plots of land. Since tires can be obatined for free, this means the walls are pretty much free, and the major investment will be on everything else. The advantage over rammed earth is you don't have to make forms and the walls are recycled materials. | Walls are almost free with recycled materials, however pounding tires is labor intensive and if you import dirt that can cost | Affordable, Low Cost, Recycled | Costs for walls are greatly reduced. tires are free and in some cases one may receive money for taking tires | Tires as walls means that the walls are fairly thick, this means that small, limited properties may not benefit as well as larger ones due to the increased volume per walls. Tires may "off-gas" and some people are sensitive to the fumes over time so some builders might need strong stucco or other method. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GovQ-GyAed4 | Tires are free, costs will be dependent on roofing and wall finishing. | Pounding dirt is very time consuming so it can take weeks to create the walls. | The more, the faster. The less the cheaper, but theoretically can be done alone. | Unskilled Labor, Stucco (optional) | Can old used tires be reshaped as a square for easier building and more compact walls? | Not portable. Ideal in bigger land plots | Extremely well insulated due to thickness | Extremely well insulated due to thickness | Picaxe, Sledgehammer, Level, Spade, Tamper, Gloves, Bucket | Standard construction equiptment depending on project | None | Depends on how much recycled materials used | Stucco, shotcrete | ||||||||
6 | Tire Bale | Tire bales are free and therefore can be used to create houses quickly since they cover large spaces quickly | Tire bales are free, some places may pay you for receiving them, some places might deliver them for free. Otherwise you might need to look into freight expenses | Affordable, Low Cost, Recycled | Tire bale is free! | Might need crane to lift into place. Walls are extremely thick so would need more land for your design. Bales have higher off-gassing so a way to exhaust outside is needed over time. | http://www.homedesignfind.com/green/how-to-build-a-house-using-free-tires/ | Potential freight cost a couple hundred dollars for 20 bales. Could be more or less based on distance. Tires are free, some places might ship for free to get rid of the tires. | Weeks for lifting and finishing walls | 2-5 | Shipping, Crane Operator, Shotcrete | Standard | Need larger plot of land, not portable | Extremely well insulated due to thickness | Extremely well insulated due to thickness | Crane, freight | Crane needs to be rented to lift Bales into position. Will need method of transporting the bales | Crane, shipping | Depends on how much recycled materials used | Stucco, shotcrete | To prevent off gassing, the walls must not be left exposed. As long as the walls not exposed to the sunlight and are covered in a material (such as cement stucco) it will be safer. Walls should ventilate on the exterior and not interior. | |||||||
7 | Earth Ship | Earthship construction is based on environmentalist ideologies. The idea is to create a home that can sustain itself recycle, harness, and produce most human needs. The entire design of earthships are based on maximizing sustainability and efficiency. For example, they may be designed to receive sunlight for solar panels and thermal mass, collect rainwater, reduce or eliminate the need for insulation, and are constructed with materials that pose a problem to the global environment such as tires. They are also usually planned for independence and off-grid living and often include greenhouses as a part of the house that produce food. Water is usually recycled 4 times through a series of filtration processes resulting in reduced utility bills and efficient water usage. Ideally earthship designs include an efficient water collection and storage system usually built right on to the roof. Most earthships designs are made to include a greenhouse/garden. | Walls are free if you use recycled and on site materials, however pounding tires is labor intensive | Sustainable, Recycled/Free Depending on design/location/time | Earthships which are usually built from tires are designed to be almost costless to build (thus the tire construction associated with earthships), and designed to eliminate all sorts of dependencies of the grid, including food. A well built earthship can be built with a really low budget and keep people off grid. No cooling, or heating devices are required. | Investing in the materials to fulfill the sustainable and recycled model may not be cheap. Building with tires can be time consuming. The house may be very heavy with the thick walls and it may increase foundation costs on weak soils. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efI77fzBgvg http://www.archinia.com/about-us/publications/215-solving-the-earthship-enigma.html | 1500 square feet | Tires - Free, Concrete Finish $, Bottle Finish $ | Ideally more than 2 | Unskilled Labor | Depends on recycled materials | Not portable. | Most earthship designs include isolated greenhouses which allow for a natural temperature control. By having multiple windows or doors, the isolated greenhouse can store heat, then be allowed to flow into the house by opening the windows and doors. | Most earthship designs aim to have some level of thermal mass. Whether by burrying the earthship to some degree, or simply by constructing with tires, earthships aim to completely remove cooling needs and therefore may come in different designs to maintain appropriate temeperatures all year round. | Depends on design | Standard construction equiptment depending on project | None | Depends on how much recycled materials used | Stucco, shotcrete | There is entire tutorials online which teaches how to set up an earth ship from the walls to water collection, septic, lighting, farming, and finish. There is various techniques for using recycled materials such as combining bottles and cob to fill empty spaces. The lighting is usually south facing so food can be grown and the system combines with the waste disposal to help feed plants. This is considered a full off-grid living solution. | |||||||
8 | Inflatable Air Tight | Good for housing the poor. Perfect for travel and camping into cold weather. Some aestetic concerns. Can this be long term housing for someone saving money? | $3,700 | Experimental, Low Cost | One step up from camping. This will be good in all weather conditions. Also good for emergency shelters. Concrete canvas is a perfect way to combine inflatable forms with well insulated housing. | May not match building codes, if you are being nomadic will require alternative plumbing and power options | http://www.yolloy.com/html_products/cold-resistant-inflatable-air-tight-tent-for-out-door-work-in-cold-weather-924.html | 10m x 5m | Pump:US$140(2 pumps) | 1 day to set up home | 1-3 | Unskilled Labor | Can a finish be applied to convert the structure into a permanent one? | Highly portable, but weights 400kg | Extremely well insulated due to thickness | Extremely well insulated due to thickness | N/A | None | Air Pump | Yes | None | Its made from 1000D PVC tarpaulin(durable,UV resistant and flame retardant), can be custom made. | ||||||
9 | Inflatable Dome Forms | Inflatable dome forms can be used to cast a layer of material such as aircrete or concrete onto the dome. The idea is to remove the form once the material has hardened so that the resulting hardened material can be used in home construction. You can even experiment with Paxcon spray for smaller domes. | Costs vary depending on sizes, and materials used. Roughly 3500 for a standard home | Low Cost, Rapid Build | Mass manufacturing at its finest, many domes can be made when a method is found. Can build entire community of homes at very low cost | The inflatable form needs to be strong and the material sprayed on it must also be strong and the whole process is experimental. However the technique has been employed successfully in other projects. Domes need to be constructed carefully, aircrete may be the ideal material to be applied on the exterior. | http://inhabitat.com/nicolo-binis-domed-binishells-homes-are-made-from-inflatable-concrete/ http://www.yolloy.com/ http://www.planetaryrenewal.org/ipr/forms.html | 300 square feet (roughly 20 foot diameter inside the dome) | Pump, inflatable dome | 2-5 | Can be portable depending on the design/structure but may require advanced machinery | N/A | None | Air Pump | Yes | Stucco, shotcrete | ||||||||||||
10 | Inflatable Low Tech | Experimental: The advantages of an instant-built shelter need to be weighed against the cost of maintaining it inflated with an air-pump. Experimentation is needed to decide on the inflatable model. | $500-3000 depends entirely on model | Experimental, | Can be built (inflated) within minutes. Mobile, creative solutions for camping can make a home for long periods of time | May require constant air flow from a pump, may be vulnerable to sharp objects and scratches, heat and time will deflate the structure even if it does not rely on an air pump. May not last forever unless creative solutions are found. | For large projects: http://www.yeadondomes.com/ Standard: http://www.yolloy.com/html_products/white-inflatable-log-cabin-house-with-door-and-window-for-party-event-880.html Semi-Permanent(more expensive): http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/london-designer-brings-semi-permanent-inflatable-buildings-to-market.html | Pump | Can the inflatable homes be converted to slighly more permanent designs? | Highly portable | Inflatable structure | None | Pump | Yes | None | |||||||||||||
11 | Compressed Earth Blocks - Manual | CEB can theoretically be made for free. Otherwise, CEB can be made or bought for dirt cheap. You can buy or build the machine yourself. Some people recommending mixing cement or lime into the mixture slightly driving up costs. It depends on the soil and you need to make sure the soil has the right amount of clay. | Low cost for dirt if you are nearby clay, however more manual labor is required and depending on how strong you want the block will increase cost. You may pay 15 cents per block for concrete additive and less if you use lime. This is not including dirt costs. If you manually mix and compress it's a lot of labor so time and cost can vary. | Low Cost, Improvising, Off-grid, DIY | CEB are practically free if the dirt can be obtained for free. This means that the price of walls will be literally dirt cheap, if not free. Manual CEB making, means no electric energy is needed, only human energy | CEBs made manually may have different height dimensions resulting in the need for laying bricks with mortar or dirt slurry only to make up for the height difference to make them level. Most machines that make these blocks need two weeks to cure. Should be reinforced with fly-ash or portland cement. Walls may be heavy if made double thickness for the extra insulation so consider the foundation and size of the house being built. For a large structure it's a lot of dirt to manually compress. So it can be time consuming. | https://medium.com/ted-fellows/how-to-build-your-own-starter-house-in-just-5-steps-for-25-000-861821051131#.ryqjn940z opensourceecology.org http://www.adobemachine.com/ https://dwellearth.com/ http://www.earth-auroville.com/compressed_stabilised_earth_block_en.php https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/QMR2-40-Interlocking-earth-brick-machine_1886719804.html https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/HBY2-10-the-cheapest-manual-Interlocking_60439053672.html https://basalt-mesh.com http://www.deatech.com/natural/cobinfo/adobe.html | Manual Press such as Cinva Ram | It will take weeks to get the dirt and make the blocks unless you have a team. Also there will be some time for blocks to cure. Then building the walls is another few weeks. | minimum of 3 | unskilled for stacking, unskilled for making bricks, moderate skill for planning and structure, good brick masons for mortar stacking | Interlocking, Mortar | Not Portable | CEB has incredible insulation and will keep the house cool are year long | The CEB will also keep house warm in the winter and the walls are breathable for regulating temperature. | Cinva Ram manual press is 2000 dollars roughly. The larger volume press is more expensive. | Standard construction equiptment depending on project. Will probably need tractor to load dirt and method to transport it. | CEB Machine | Standard | Various options, to protect against weathering Stucco. The stucco should be compatible with the earth material. Chicken wire and lime based stucco is a decent finish. Plastic geo-grid mesh is the best so it won't rust and basket method can be used for wall strength. | Putting mesh on the inside and outside and through tying them will produce an extremely strong wall that may not need rebar and can resist tremendous weather and has very strong walls. The mesh used could be a plastic geogrid mesh. Horizontal wire grid is also possible for seismic zones or steel Ibeams or fiberglass Ibeams. Cast a ledger with the ring beam to suspend the floor. The thicker the walls the more weight it can bare when dry stacked. 20 inch walls are very strong for a second story and it is possible to have walls as thick as several feet. Further stories might need lighter blocks. Interlocking blocks or blocks with holes are interesting variations but potentially not as strong as thick walls. When a thinner wall is required then the blocks have some type of rebar in them. It's recommended a non-corrosive plastic or fiber rebar. Foundation must not slump and be perfectly level to avoid cracks. Walls are finished with chicken wire or geogrid and lime based stucco. Another technique for reinforcement for seismic zones is horizontal wire ladder reinforcement. Blocks can be stabilized with lime or portland cement however lime may be preferred. Mortar can be made from same material as blocks and soil tested for consistency. | |||||||
12 | Compressed Earth Blocks - Automatic | Building with CEBs is relatively speedy and requires little knowledge or skill to stack blocks. The advantage is that CEBs can be produced almost for free if you get the dirt on site. If you stabilize them costs increase. Horizontal block press may pay for itself after the first house, however it varies on how you structure the logistics. A larger investment in machines will not always decrease costs. Hydraulic fluid, a place to put the machines, costs to hook up and electricity are all added costs. A manual press has the advantage of being light and mobile however labor is intense. Block production is faster with an automatic press and may be cheaper in the long run depending on how you structure it. | Blocks can range from 15 cents to a dollar per block depending on how you structure costs | Low Cost, Improvising | CEB are practically free if the dirt can be obtained for free. This means that the price of walls will be literally dirt cheap, if not free. CEB are also better than concrete bricks in many ways. Automatic press can be dry stacked without mortar you build as fast as you stack. As long as blocks are perfectly uniform. Horizontal blocks don't need to cure | The automatic machine is expensive however repeated use quickly pays for itself. Newer machines from China are beginning to become more affordable. You would need some space and time to set up the equiptment and get used to your work flow. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9cDy9XkXPw http://www.naturalbuildingblog.com/vertical-versus-horizontal-ceb-presses/ http://www.adobemachine.com/ https://dwellearth.com/ http://www.earth-auroville.com/compressed_stabilised_earth_block_en.php https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/QMR2-40-Interlocking-earth-brick-machine_1886719804.html https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/HBY2-10-the-cheapest-manual-Interlocking_60439053672.html http://www.greenbuildingcanada.ca/2012/benefits-compressed-earth-blocks-dan-powell-earthtek/ https://www.oskam-vf.com/CEBS_living_building_material.html https://basalt-mesh.com/ http://www.deatech.com/natural/cobinfo/adobe.html | Automatic press either vertical or horizontal. Horizontal can be dry stacked. Either basalt rebar or plastic geogrid mesh. Lime based stucco. | It will take weeks to get the dirt and make the blocks unless you have a team. Also there will be some time for blocks to cure. Then building the walls is another few weeks. | minimum of 3 | unskilled for stacking, moderate skill for planning and structure | Interlocking, Dry Stacking, Mortar | Possibly can be disassembled, but otherwise not portable | CEB has incredible insulation and will keep the house cool are year long | The CEB will also keep house warm in the winter and the walls are breathable for regulating temperature. | CEB Machine, Loader, Mixer | Standard construction equiptment depending on project. Will probably need tractor to load dirt and method to transport it. | CEB Machine | Standard | Various options, to protect against weathering Stucco. The stucco should be compatible with the earth material. Chicken wire and lime based stucco is a decent finish. Plastic geo-grid mesh is the best so it won't rust and basket method can be used for wall strength. | Putting mesh on the inside and outside and through tying them will produce an extremely strong wall that may not need rebar and can resist tremendous weather and has very strong walls. The mesh used could be a plastic geogrid mesh. Horizontal wire grid is also possible for seismic zones or steel Ibeams or fiberglass Ibeams. Cast a ledger with the ring beam to suspend the floor. The thicker the walls the more weight it can bare when dry stacked. 20 inch walls are very strong for a second story and it is possible to have walls as thick as several feet. Further stories might need lighter blocks. Interlocking blocks or blocks with holes are interesting variations but potentially not as strong as thick walls. When a thinner wall is required then the blocks have some type of rebar in them. It's recommended a non-corrosive plastic or fiber rebar. Foundation must not slump and be perfectly level to avoid cracks. Walls are finished with chicken wire or geogrid and lime based stucco. Another technique for reinforcement for seismic zones is horizontal wire ladder reinforcement. Blocks can be stabilized with lime or portland cement however lime may be preferred. Mortar can be made from same material as blocks and soil tested for consistency. | |||||||
13 | 3d Printed Concrete | The biggest advantage to 3D printing is that less human energy and time are needed. If a printer is available, houses can be mass produced quickly and efficiently with little human labor. If done properly this is the perfect technology. Roman concrete was able to last centuries. http://www.totalkustom.com/ | $5,000 | 3D Printed, mass manufacturing, rapid build, low cost, future tech, revolutionary | Too many to list, the construction method of the future. Entire cities can be mass produced, with fixtures in place, even more advanced machines could interchange materials. Mass production, creativity in design and even artistic structures can be made with ease. Foundation can be printed as well | You need access to a machine, the technology is still improving, machines exist however are still being improved on and are very expensive. For the average consumer they will need open source ecology and open source solution. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzmCnzA7hnE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_LLSsNnHn8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xktwDfasPGQ | Cement mix | Minimum: 1 | Supervisors and or people to load the machine if needed | Future tech | Can be portable depending on structural design. The machine can be moved around to print many homes in a few days. | Something to mix and load the conrete might be needed | Standard | ||||||||||||||
14 | 3d Printed Dirt | The ideal bulding material is the dirt beneath our feet, locally sourced. However people are not motivated to use it do to labor costs. However this technology will change the planet. Cob-like dirt or compressed dirt can be printed to make a home. Complex artistic structures can be made with ease, more advanced printers may be able to aid in plumbing and other fixture placement. Possible to make into dome shape, Domes remove the cost of roofs and are aerodynamic (resistant to all sorts of weather) | Possibly / Ideally Free | 3D Printed, Improvised, Low Cost, Free, Mass manufacturing | It can theoretically be built for free, making for a great housing solution in areas, can save impoverished villages, can print complex structures, one of the most promising technologies in the world | The technology is still undergoing development, finding a machine may not be easy to find | http://newatlas.com/wasp-3d-printers-house-mud/34340/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPaOCWrZJ94 | Dirt | Minimum: 1 | Supervisors and or people to load the machine if needed | Future tech | Can be portable depending on structural design. The machine can be moved around to print many homes in a few days. | Dirt is well insulated | You might need a dirt mixer and loader | 3D Models, Proper Dirt Regulation | Standard future tech | Stucco or exterior finish similar to CEB would improve durability in rain | |||||||||||
15 | Interlocking Lego Style Blocks | This style requires no mortar. Concrete interlocking blocks vary in design, CEB blocks may have holes to pour concrete and add rebar. Other interlocking block materials can be explored. For an 1000 square foot home of EverBlocks for example less than 20,000 dollars will get you 2500 blocks with the easiest construction process possible | 1000 square foot home of EverBlocks for example less than 20,000 dollars | Simple Building, Mid Cost | Interlocking blocks are simple and require little skill. Since no mortar is required, all that is needed is time and effort. The costs of walls can be significantly reduced or eliminated depending on the material being used. | Depends on the block design being used in the construction. Adobe interlocking blocks lose structural integrity so concrete is used to fill them. However is combined with rebar for strong walls. These machines also make dry stacking blocks. | https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/QMR2-40-Interlocking-earth-brick-machine_1886719804.html https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/HBY2-10-the-cheapest-manual-Interlocking_60439053672.html http://www.everblocksystems.com/blocks/ http://www.eliteprecast.co.uk/interlocking-precast-concrete-blocks/duo-interlocking-concrete-blocks/ | Depends on the technique, if it's CEB then you just need dirt and some portland cement | 2-5 | Unskilled labor for stacking and some skilled labor for project management | Some lego style blocks may be disassembled but otherwise not portable. The lego style blocks are good for temporary interior rooms and fun construction visualization projects. | CEB is extremely well insulated and perfect for regulating temperatures | CEB is extremely well insulated and perfect for regulating temperatures | |||||||||||||||
16 | Polystyrene | Polysterene dome homes can be erected within a few hours, making labor costs close to nothing. They are very resistant to harsh weather conditions. The material of the dome is insulating thus reducing lots of expenses. Polystyrene can also be used in panels and combined with basalt geogrid mesh and stucco on the exterior for some of the cheapest walls possible. Additionally the material is extremely light weight and easy to work with. | Homes may only cost a few thousand dollars | Rapid Build, Low Cost, Dome | Quickly and easily assembled, versatile forms for easy expansion, Cyclone proof, Built-in Insulation, ultra light weight designs. The domes eliminate the costs of roofs and therefore is one of the most cost effective homes available. | Light weight so not good for multiple stories unless reinforced with a frame. The materials should be treated with fire repellant and would need to consider potential toxic potentials of the materials. This means a well designed stucco exterior or shell. Long term effects of off-gas should be researched. However it's worth mentioning houses already use polystyrene for insulation. There may be some environmental impacts however ultimately very few drawbacks and most of them are easily overcome. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-wCS_Srs-o http://i-domehouse.com/index.html https://constructionreviewonline.com/2016/06/polystyrene-homes-in-kenya-taking-center-stage/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glkdvP1qvac https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/House-Use-polystyrene-prefabricated-commercial-building_62540448176.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.0.0.4a3d7859L7msNt | 300 | Prefabricated still need foundation etc | Set up walls in a day | Ideally 2 or more | Unskilled labor | Depends on manufacturer | Not Portable | Standard | Standard AC | N/A | N/A | None | No | ||||||||
17 | Shipping Container | Shpping containers make for great portable homes. Although not as towable as trailers, they can easily be moved by renting shipping container transporters easily found anywhere in the world. They are ideal for people who would like to live in many places of the world. Note worthy is they can be shipped overseas with little difficulty. Foundations are strongly recommended in order to prevent moisture and humidity from causing wear or damage on the container. They should include a water-diverting system. Need way to prevent rusting for long term structures. | Less than $2k per container (used) | Portable | Shipping containers are fairly cheap and probably one of the biggest advantages is portability. Shipping containers are used on a global scale, making it easy to find transportation vehicles. They are extremely strong as well far surpassing any safety standards. | Most home designs for shipping containers require welding and heavy duty cutting equipment.They may easily heat up in hot climate areas and will require ventilation unless properly insulated and or shaded. The savings may not be significantly greater, as equipping and modifying shipping containers may require a similar amount of investment as most ordinary housing. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRN0uClnJBw | Requires Forklift/Efficient transportation vehicle | Modifying a Shipping container may take a long time depending on the amount and types of modifications being made. For a simple example, a rough estimate would cost hundreds of hours | Can be done by one person alone or with help | Welders | Can be stacked, connected lengthwise, placed next to each other with an opening in between | Portable, recommended to be placed under a shade in hot climate areas | Standard room heaters | Depending on the location, cooling will often be necessary. Depending on the insulation the effort in cooling will vary | Torch cutter or Cutting Saw, Crane | Crane or shipping container specific moving truck | No | Ultra Ever Dry Paint or similar can be used to repel water. Its about 150 a gallon. So a container can be painted with a few gallons. Use at your own risk since the chemical requires care when painting. | |||||||||
18 | Buried Shipping Containers | Burried shipping containers make great use of thermal mass and may completely eliminate air conditioning needs. Heating a burried shipping container house requires very little effort. Generally they will never cool down lower than 62 F on the coldest nights of winter. They do however require a little more planning to prevent moisture and humidity to avoid corrosion. Ideally a barrier can be built around the shipping container to redirect and keep water and moisture out. However, they can absolutely not be built without reinforcements because naturally containers are not enough to resist the pressure of the dirt. Also underground structures need good air circulation. Containers need protection against oxidation. | 15000 is a starting minimum | Sustainable, Underground | Burried shipping containers benefit from thermal mass and will require little-to-no cooling and heating. | A water diversion system is highly advised since moisture and humidity levels are really high underground. The only example of a burried shipping container was done with a water diversion system. For this reason, it can't be recommended to do without the water diversion system. It can get very expensive to reinforce it for the pressure due to soil conditions. Also need good air circulation system and a way to protect the structure against oxidation. It's not as cheap as it seems. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohcXVEu7EU4 | Requires Forklift/Efficient transportation vehicle | Minimum 2 | Crane operators, Caterpiller operator | It's possible to bury more than one container and connect them together for added space. | Portable, recommended to build a moisture and humidtiy barrier | May not be necessary, well insulated Any small heater can heat up a double container quite effectively | May not be necessary | Crane, Cat | Yes | Because the container is buried, water absorbed in the ground may be a concern. Ultra Ever Dry Paint or similar can be used to repel water. Its about 150 a gallon. So a container can be painted with a few gallons. Use at your own risk since the chemical requires care when painting. | 1. Dig a space with slack where the burried shipping container would fit. 2. Taking into consideration that the container may be affected by the underground climate such as by moisture and humidity, a water diversion and or water repelling system is ideal to surround the container in. 3. Insert the container. 4. Cover the top of the container with cheap insulating material and possibly cement over it. 5. Burry the container with soil | ||||||||||
19 | Buried Silo | Buried Silos are an ideal way to make use of small land. By being burried underground, costs on heating and cooling can be easily reduced. Also a very good air exchange system is required. The main work is digging the hole, and properly sealing/insulating. There could be many hidden costs depending on the design. | $30/sq ft | Underground | Buried silo homes can benefit from thermal insulation, thereby reducing costs of air conditioning and insulation. Because they stretch downwards, they can make for an excellent home on a small plot of land. | Buried silos may require sealing in order to prevent underground elements from affecting the material of the silo such as moisture and possible rusting or rotting. Burrying a silo will likely require a crane and a lot of digging. | http://www.archdaily.com/478098/from-grain-silo-to-shipping-container-student-housing https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/buildings/grain-bins-z10m0gri https://kicanada.com/H4.pdf | Cranes, may require material to divert water from touching the silo to protect against rotting. | 4 hours to operate crane and position silo | 2 or more | Crane pilot/operator, Diggers | Silos can be burried completely like a bunker or partially. They can be burried either horizontally or vertically | Totally not portable | May not be necessary | Efficient Digging Machine, Crane, | Crane, Digging Machine | Efficient digging machines, cranes, truck to transport it | Yes | Precautions must be made and council may be needed to investigate region-specific issues related to underground constructions. Some sites may be dangerous to dig on. If you don't dig deep, you can try laying the container on its side or partially submerged. | |||||||||
20 | Silo Homes | Silos make for interesting houses. The idea is to reduce the cost of walls and make use of the cylindrical form. It's easy to find silos however there is a lot of extra hidden costs to make the conversion. | $3000 for 11.9m*11.9m*21.5m for example. The biggest concern would be shipping. 3000-10000 depending on size | DIY, experimental | A much larger home and the ability to lay the silo horizontally slightly submerged or vertically. | Floors can be very costly and require extra reinforcement. | https://kaiserworks.com/silo-1 https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/buildings/grain-bins-z10m0gri | 11.9m*11.9m*21.5m | 2 or more | Crane pilot/operator, Diggers | Burried silos, Vertical or Horizontal. | Not portable | Crane, Torch Saw or Metal-Cutting Saw, | Yes | Silos can be laid on their sides just like shipping containers. | |||||||||||||
21 | Cob | Cob houses can be made from locally-sourced materials, this ancient method still makes for great construction material. It is labour intensive and requires more workers as the construction size increases. However this is a tried and tested DIY construction method for cheap and off grid housing. | Wall materials: a few thousand dollars for a 1500 square foot home Depends greatly on size of house. | Labor Intensive, Low Cost, Off-grid | Provide great thermal mass, durable, affordable, natural and low cost building. One of the most ancient ways to build a home and has stood the test of time. | Labor intensive, requires larger team as construction size increases. May want to stucco to resist the elements for long lasting structures. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbM2In5Hfx4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzSfijPgPoc | Sand, Straw, Dirt, Water | Can be done by one person alone or with help | Can also be built with a straw bale base wall then cobbing for a finish | (Can be made portable if built over a mobile platform). Cob houses are ideal except in places with heavy moisture, humidity and or rainfall. Since they are vulnerable to water damage, if they will be built in these environments, many considerations should be made such as building a 1 and 1/2 ft. stem wall with a roof that can extend over enough to keep rainfall from reaching the walls. These are the main concerns. Asides from water damage prevention, cob houses should do well in any environment | For faster mixing a Cat can be used, otherwise Tarps can be used. Wheelbarrows, | No | |||||||||||||||
22 | Straw Bale | Straw bale is ideal for houses that might need a lot of insulation and can be built with unskilled laber as the walls are fairly thick. However they must be protected from moisture at all costs and so are somewhat experimental. | Low Cost, Mid Cost, | Houses can be built quickly due to the large volume of straw bales. The materials can be recycled from farmers. They are well insulated. | Construction may be complicated if the house need be built with many openings such as windows or doors. Straw bale walls need to be kept dry at all costs and structures may not last more than 100 years. | https://www.strawbale.com/ | The house may be constructed for a few thousand dollars | 2-5 | Unskilled Labor | Not portable | Very well insulated | Yes | May consider strong exterior finish which could be hydrophobic to prevent moisture from getting to the bales. | |||||||||||||||
23 | Earth Bags | Earth bags are one of the simplest forms of construction and require a minimal amount of knowledge to build homes. The process involves filling bags then stacking and flattening them to build the walls of the house. This means that building a small home can be done within a few days with only two people. The only expense would be the bags themselves and more dirt if it is necessary or not already locally available. The main expense is the labour and it is possible to build a house entirely alone, this means it is possible to save a lot of money. They give an advantage over rammed earth and tire homes because the bags are more convenient than frames and there is no off-gassing. It might even be possible to make it load baring if the dirt is well compacted and there is extra reinforcement with thick walls. | a few thousand for the bags and dirt at 10 meter 8 foot high wall is about 200 yards of earth bag | Improvised, Low-Mid Cost, off-grid, DIY | Earth bags are so simple they can be made by one person alone with just a minimal amount of knowledge. The main expenses are labour, bags, and roofing. Earthbag construction one of the simplest methods of all. If the house is built by one person the costs will be significantly reduced. There is great thermal mass and therefore excellent insulation. Can do the walls without stabilizer and the thicker walls can help resist lateral movements better. Can cover in wire mesh and stucco for reinforcement. | For houses that are more than one story need very thick walls or at least steel columns and a little extra planning or more cost in the foundation depending on soils or a metal frame due to added weight of the house. You should reinforce them with barbed wire to add tensile strength. For quake zones will need rebar hammered inside walls and/or fiberglass/steel profiles for support. Unreinforced earth bags may have less shear strength than adobe. It may not be as easy to get a permit. If you are doing most of the work yourself, then this might greatly reduce the cost of building. Bags can be found very cheap like maybe 10-15 cents per meter however there is still shipping cost so order in bulk. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p__rhtyhAl4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sYSf0b4N6A https://www.youtube.com/user/naturalhouses http://earthbagbuilding.com/faqs/costs.htm $1 a yard superadobe http://www.calearth.org/shop/1000-yard-superadobe-roll https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/MINCHENG-poly-bags-for-earth-bag_1600058658020.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.0.0.3a03df91CbwDfX | Bag Options: Continuous and smaller bags $1,000 - $3,000 depending on style, size of home and shipping. From China pay about 10-15 cents per meter before shipping. So very attractive option. | Can be done by one person alone or with help | Standard Housing, Dome Shaped | Not Portable (unless built on a mobile base/foundation) | Extremely well insulated due to the earthen walls | Bags | No | A foundation and stem wall can also be made of Earthbags. The YouTube channel mylittlehomestead shows how to make an earthen floor as well. To build the house, all that is needed is to stack the earthbags horizontally first then gradually stack over each other to give the form of the walls. Only need to take into consideration to leave empty areas for doors and windows, A frame can be used to reserve the spaces as the bags are stacked around them. | |||||||||||||
24 | Pole Barns and frame buildings | Pole barns have a simple construction method that requires little skill and knowledge. The basics can be learned quickly. You may choose to build with wood, steel or fiberglass frames. The method is simple so construction can be fast and it's ideal for large buildings. | $5,000 - $10,000 for the kit | Mid Cost | Easy to assemble, can be converted into homes, may be easier to get permits if it's agriculture. Houses can be very large. Good way to build flexible structures to avoid complex permits in some areas. Metal and fiberglass buildings are very efficient and cheap. | To convert into a permanent structure may take more time and funds depending on what you want. There may be insulation concerns with a large drafty barn. In some kits, the materials may not last the century | http://polebarnhome.net/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wzVPKX0UbA https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=pole+barn https://www.metaldepots.com/buildings/metal-building-kits/ https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=fiberglass+i+beam | Can be time consuming to set up wooden poles. Some kits may be faster than others. | 2-5 | General contracting | Not Portable | Not as well insulated so will use traditional methods | No | Pole barns have a simple building method. First poles are set into the ground in a linear formation, then wood slats are placed between the poles or nailed onto them. | ||||||||||||||
25 | Fabric buildings, military Tents and long term camping | Fabric buildings are perfect for incognito living in large open spaces. Since they can be used as storage, they can store other structures inside like trailers. For their size they are very cheap an easy to assemble and some designs can be pretty strong. Millitary tents also make for reliable, cheap and large structures. One of the fastest ways to set up and live peacefully. Make an earthen foundation if you are there long term by compacting and leveling floor. Can run heat pump or radiant heating system and solar panels for longer term camping. However may not be as secure or resistant to pests. There is so much flexibility in design and larger structures are indeed possible. | $500-$8,000 | Nomadic | Easy assembly and portability. Great for off-grid and survivalists. Extremely cheap and affordable. Many design options. If you pass off a larger fabric building as a storage or agricultural facility you may get it permitted in some areas. | Low security, may not be permitted in some places. Not necessarily a permanent residence. Almost no insulation for larger structures however you can heat it or store insulated structures inside and a smaller structure will be much easier to heat. | https://www.armytents.com/ https://gdshelter.en.alibaba.com/ https://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1;ft_fabric_buildings-ft_clearspan_structures;ft_fabric_truss_house.html https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=fabric+building+&viewtype=&tab= | Portable | With electricity easily available, electric radiant floor heating is a very good option. Other conventional methods will work fine but radiant floor does not directly affect the air like other heating methods which can either dry up the air and reduce moisture or give off carbon monoxide. Also camping tents are installed directly on the floor, making it necessary to use footwear. Another option for long term camping that requires firewood for fuel, can be to build a foundation such as "earthen floor" or a platform of a korean style underfloor heating system (Kudul/Ondol) where the tent will sit over. | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||
26 | TeePee/Yurt | TeePees and Yurts are old fashioined and well known shelters. They are long lasting and nomadic. Can use earthen foundation and some Yurts are actually a lot more expensive than one would think and quite luxurious. Very easy to assemble and a long ancient and portable history. Radiant floors can be used to heat it. | $500-20,000 | Nomadic, Rapid Build | Relatively portable, ideal for nomadic lifestyles that require travelling. Can be made into longer term structures however not necessarily permanent unless a lot of creativity is used. | Not as secure, may not be able to get permits in some places. May need extra insulation. | https://wholesaler.alibaba.com/product-detail/Newest-Fashion-Teepee-Tents-For-Sale_60521741222.html?spm=a2700.7782932.1998701000.2.fkYLVW https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=yurt | Most TeePee's can be purchased online for roughly $350. Additionally, rugs or Interlocking flexible PVC floor tiles can be bought and added for a little more insulation and foot comfort . Link for example tiles: http://www.flexitiles.com/perfection_naturalstone.htm | 1-3 Hours (for the Tent alone) | Mininum: 1 | Unskilled labor | Portable | Radiant flooring and insulation | Yes | ||||||||||||||
27 | Prefab Assembling Dome (Geodesic) | Prefab domes provide for great shelters that can be setup within 3 hours with 3 workers. This makes the prefab Geodesic domes probably one of the best rated in terms of portability and speedy assembly. For long term housing it is recommended to provide a foundation. They are rust proof, water proof, hurricane and cyclone proof. | $5000 usd for 20ft diameter $152 - $238 / Sq ft. | Prefab, Rapid Build, Mid Cost | Rust proof, water proof, low maintenence, hurricane proof, extreme portability, quick and easy assembly, doesn't corrode like container homes, long term shelter | Some designs have limited space. They may not be permitted anywhere. They might have less insulation. | https://sinoreinforce.en.alibaba.com/featureproductlist.html | A day of work to assemble | 3 Workers | No specific skills required | Extremely portable | Small heater should be enough | Easy to cool because they are compact | |||||||||||||||
28 | Travel Trailer | Trailers may be a worthy investment since they are ready to go and fully equipped if they can be afforded. They are a wonderful starter home and can let a person travel for work and save up for something more permanent. Even so, depending on where you live you might be able to live in them long term. You can rent a truck to tow them from location to location. A cab over camper is even more nomadic and might even save in parking in some cases although consider composting system, cost of gasoline and security. | $5000 and beyond | Traveller Home | Most trailers come with everything you need from kitchen, bed and bath. Ton's of designs some even have multiple bedrooms and slides. They are low cost, fast and practical way to start going off the grid. Even when you pay for parking them, there is a dramatic saving in cost over tradional rents. Also you can be mobile for work and simply rent a truck when you need to move it. | Limited space in some homes, there might be cost to park it if you don't have land. Some parts of the world unjustly try to prevent people from living in trailers on their own land without a home on it. May not last a lifetime and you should consider durability of the model you buy. | Not necessary | Portable | No | |||||||||||||||||||
29 | Car / Van | Living in an automobile is most beneficial for anyone who needs to travel frequently, or simply anyone who already owns a car or van they can use to turn into a travelling or static house. Of course, it might be worth investing in a used car/van if the benefits of a travelling car are needed as well. The only issue is when the car breaks down so does your home. This is why it might be worthwhile to have multiple vehicles. | Depends on the car | Nomadic, Tiny Home, | Can be easily converted for living. A car you can remove the back seats and get adjustable tinted windows for privacy. Can be nomadic for work however if the car breaks down you are stuck at one location. | Limited space, need to find a good place to park and be left alone, things could get noisy so to sleep invest in ear plugs, heating and cooling are concerns to not keep the car running all the time. You might need incineration toilet or a gym membership or use of public facilities. You might want and need things like propane air conditioner and heater if you are able to put a tank under the car or on the roof and in that case you need to make sure it's installed safely and properly. | http://thevanual.com/ https://www.vanlifeoutfitters.com/installing-a-propane-tank-underneath-a-promaster-van-with-remote-fill-kit/ | Can take weeks to retrofit a van for true full time living. | 1 | Portable | Electric is the safest if a solar or battery method is found. Mr. Heater Buddy propane heaters or the golf cart heater model are supposedly okay for indoor use. However extreme care must be given for your safety anyways including avoiding any fire hazard and opening windows enough and perhaps a second method to detect oxygen levels and monoxide although these do have automatic shut-off. https://gadgets-reviews.com/review/163-best-portable-car-heaters.html | Proairllc has some evaporators and condensors for vans. Also the cooling section of the spreadsheet has some alternative cooling methods. Stealth methods can be used for propane and extra batteries for a portable air conditioner and muting the sound. Otherwise it's best to choose really good climates. Car can charge a battery within 30 minutes to an hour. And batteries might give 2-6 hours of power an AC unit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16sevmXuk38 | No | For going off grid a person might want to save on food. An ice cooler, salad spinner and rice cooker is a great and healthy way to prepare most meals. Reflectix and insulation panels can be used for insulation. You will want to remove the entire interior to the van and put anti-rusting paint and new floor. It's even possible to cut hole in roof for a fan. You may get a composting toilet although really it's just best to get a 24 hour gym membership or park strategically. It's even possible to install a rack and solar panels. The minimalistic design is just to take out the seats and sleep on a tempurpedic mattress and have an ice chest and some heating and cooling options. | ||||||||||||||
30 | Prefab Expandable Container homes | These expandable countainer homes are a great idea. The price is fairly low, it's portability relies on shipping container transporting services which is not difficult to find. An inspiring idea is that these homes can be shipped over seas in a breeze, making for a great cross-continental portable home, as with shipping container houses. These are incredible for fast and simple housing. | $2,900 - $6,000 (For a set) 5.5 by 6.5 by 2.5 meters in our example + $1,350 Shipping (For 2 Units) | Rapid Build, Mid Cost | Transportable as a shipping container, expandable for 3x size. Plumbing, insulation, bathroom and bedrooms included. Easy to install. Amazingly affordable. You can even connect units for larger structures. Since it's made of steel and fiberglass it's very strong. Little to no foundation costs as it can go on padstones or basic slab. | Import costs might raise the price a bit. However, its a great option for fast and turn key affordable living. Permits may vary depending on rules about prefabricated homes. Some of the other off-grid options might still be slightly lower cost if one is willing to invest the time however considering these come with installations it's still a great deal. Insulation might not be as high however with the small size it will also be faster to heat the area. Will want to ensure unit is well treated to keep the steel long lasting and prevent it from rusting. | https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/New-Portable-20ft-prefab-expandable-foldable_60771124783.html https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Myanmar-40ft-Collapsible-Container-House-Prefab_60623838715.html https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/expandable-container-house.html https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Manufacturer-price-20ft-40ft-folding-luxury_60766309485.html | 5.5 by 6.5 by 2.5 meters | Setup should take no longer than 8 hours | 1-5 | Unskilled labor for installation | Shipping Container Portable | No | |||||||||||||||
31 | Primitive Tech | Primitive technology is based on improvising from readily available materials. A primitive house should have no costs (to build) whatsoever | Free | Primitive, Costless, Natural | Good for someone who wants to learn DIY survival methods, can live comfortably in nature for free | Is not for everyone, requires many days or even months to learn. Will want to consider how long lasting you want to make the structure. Will depend on local materials and soil conditions. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCKkHqlx9dE | 1-5 | No | |||||||||||||||||||
32 | Rammed Earth | Houses can be built by ramming dirt into molds. The dirt should first be tested for compressive strength to avoid low quality dirt that may crack or weaken over time. The standard strength is 300 PSI. Any size structure can be built, has advantages over tire homes for off-gassing however will require frames to be made to make the rammed earth walls. | The cost of the forms and labor which can be thousands of dollars | Low Cost, Mid Cost | Rammed earth is ideal in hot, dry areas because of their thermal insulation. Has long term advantages over earth ships and tire homes. Can be used in skyscrpers. Walls look absolutely beautiful. Can even be used for foundation in some designs. Monolithic walls may be stronger without need of bonding joints and the dirt and assebly is done on site saving time. | Few drawbacks. Could be weak against water without a good sealer something like linseed or even stucco. Will need to build frames. Unless portable framing method is found, then large teams might be required to properly construct increasing cost; There is a lot of tamping required which ideally should be done by a machine. The structure may weigh more which can increase foundation cost in some soil conditions. Some cities may have seismic zone requirements so you would want to investigate geogrid mesh or integrating rebar. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK_f-APfXM4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etjLZO-7ghk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7cdsBRouws https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/rammed-earth-house-zmaz73sozraw | 2-5 | Moderately skilled labor | Rammed earth is ideal for hot/dry environments. For rainy/humid areas, the walls will need to be protected since they are vulnerable to water damage. A proper roof and a foot of stem wall or more should keep the walls mostly dry, but may require more protection depending on the climate | Extremely well insulated due to the earthen walls | Formwork | No | It's possible to use a lime stucco and chicken wire | ||||||||||||||
33 | Sheathing | Cheap houses can be built quickly using steel frames and Glass Mat Sheathing. The sheets are commonly made from fiberglass and are mold and water proof and when combined with the above techniques can save tremendous cost in a home. | $25 per square meter | Rapid build, low cost, DIY | Panels can be applied quickly. The boards are cheap and are usually combined with a steel frame. If you are not limited by permits, at 25 dollars a board can be used for some fast and cheap structures. This can allow for some creative and cheap designs. Also the structures are light weight. USG panels are very popular in steel frame structures. | This method relies on traditional construction and so can incur higher labor costs. Also building permits may rescrict your creativity depending on where you live. They probably need a protective coating on the outside to protect long term from weathering. It is not load bearing so it usually requires a frame to attach to. Should probably be using steel or fiberglass beams to reinforce a larger structure. Some panels like securock might be slightly more expensive (80 dollars a panel) however they are good quality panels. | https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Fiber-glass-mat-gypsum-panel_62492513465.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.0.0.758d5420cPOAbc https://www.usg.com/content/usgcom/en/products/roofing-building-envelope/roof-boards/securock-gypsum-fiber-roof-board.html | 2-5 | Moderately skilled labor | |||||||||||||||||||
34 | Earth-Sheltered/Underground | This is a very large subject, no specific design listed. However a method of digging an underground basement house can be proposed and using multiple layers of walls for example perhaps aircrete and layers of geogrid mesh for retaining walls. One of the most brilliant survival techniques is to simply bury a septic tank and live in it. They are already built to resist the dirt, they are strong, extremely cheap, spacious and of course the dirt insulates. Also they are safer than tents because tents are easy to break into and bears and other animals can also get in. True, they are not intended for that use but you avoid permits and can live stealthy and it's a really great idea for survivalists. | Depends on the design. Giant septic tanks can run from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand is a somewhat complete solution. | Low Cost, Mid Cost | Great insulation, cheap cost, more anonymous, flexibility in design, blends in with nature. | Moisture, humidity and water can become a problem. Most of the construction design and engineering should be based on preventing , diverting and protecting the underground house from these problems. Empty tanks can pop out of the ground during rain so it simply needs to be achored beneath it. Need a good air circulation system for safety. | https://www.motherearthnews.com/green-homes/earth-sheltered-home-zmaz83ndzale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdLAM-wChxY https://youtu.be/yQodGC6kq8k https://www.onsiteinstaller.com/editorial/2013/08/keep_tanks_underground_where_they_belong https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/family-size-Biogas-anaerobic-septic-tanks_60760069005.html?spm=a2700.details.deiletai6.1.6810153ebCnBBh | 2-5 | As with basements, when constructing underground there may be water leakage problems. Careful consideration must be taken and ideally a water diversion / protection system should be included to the building plans | Equiptment to dig and excavate the dirt | Yes | |||||||||||||||||
35 | Prefab/Modular homes | There is almost unlimited designs of prefab homes and their complexity of builds range. So this section is to highlight their advantages and designs for a relatively cheap and fast solution. It still seems like the Chinese container homes are better price per square foot. However, for larger home designs this saves a lot of money and time on construction. | Depends on the design | Low Cost, Mid Cost | Lot's of designs to choose from, can be in the form of mobile homes or modular homes, very fast to set up, comes with installations making it quick and turn key. | Some homes will not last beyond 100 years, transport can be expensive, construction quality and insulation may vary on design. | Prefab walls worth investigating: http://www.insulliving.com.au/insulliving/products/insulwall https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=prefab+house https://fbhexpo.com/floor-plans-clearance-mobile-homes/ https://www.claytonhomes.com/ | Will need to be transported and in some cases set on foundation for a permanent structure. | No | |||||||||||||||||||
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