|
| Author |
Message |
dsaw
Member
|
# Posted: 13 Oct 2013 00:58
Reply
I'm new to this forum, so a brief intro: I bought some property in SE. Indiana as a timber investment about 3 yrs ago. I started building a 10' x 10' concrete block off-grid shed a year ago with the intention of building a 2nd story as a solar collector for a future cabin deeper in the woods that wouldn't have the free skyline for solar. As I built it, I realized that A) once I switched to building with wood framing on the 2nd story, I can easily make it much bigger then the original 10'x10' shed; and B) I barely have the free time to do this project, I can't imagine trying to build a bigger cabin. Therefore, the second story became a 20' by 14' addition that has become the main living area.
Family: I have 5 kids (oldest is 14), so those 280 sq ft get tight quick.
Other land details: I have a year round spring about 500' away and 70' below the cabin. There is also a small cave on the property (above the spring). I have a pipeline and a solar powered pump to push that water up to the cabin. I haven't had a chance to bury the pipeline yet, so that's still a to do.
Looking for thoughts on future plans:
- My water plan is to combine the spring water with rain collection (not yet built) because in winter I'll have to drain the 500' line to the spring. I'm hoping to put a propane direct vent heater in the 10'x10' shed to keep it above freezing year round (I'll have to add more insulation to keep the fuel usage reasonable).
- My current solar system (200 watt, 4 x 180 amp batteries) has the batteries housed outside, but if I can heat the shed, then moving them inside will greatly increase their winter capacity. Should I worry about venting the batteries in a 10'x10' shed?
|
|
creeky
Member
|
# Posted: 13 Oct 2013 08:32
Reply
i'd like to see pics of your second story. and yes. when your batteries equalize you'll see you need to vent them. welcome aboard.
|
|
dsaw
Member
|
# Posted: 13 Oct 2013 09:56
Reply
It's a little screwy looking because I didn't originally plan on such a big 2nd story. This isn't the best photo, but the shed is flush with the back of the 2nd story. The posts are 6x6's resting on bedrock about 3' below the surface and set in concrete. The a/c is running off a generator. I still have lots of to do's. My solar panels are currently leaning against the deck rail, I need to get them mounted on the roof. I also really need to get the eves installed.
I can easily expand it by enclosing more of the bottom area or attaching lean-to's to the bottom. I'm seriously thinking about a large lean-to on one side to store the tractor and it's implements.
One side benefit of being so high off the ground (so far) is that I haven't had any mice in it. I've got metal sheet wrapped around all the beams/stairs; but still need to do that to the top of the shed inside/outside.
|
|
creeky
Member
|
# Posted: 13 Oct 2013 10:46
Reply
that is cool. nice looking setup. and great tractor. an appropriate "cough mf rules cough" colour.
|
|
dsaw
Member
|
# Posted: 13 Oct 2013 21:57 - Edited by: dsaw
Reply
Actually, that is a Belarus tractor. It served me well for 2 yrs, but then the clutch went out. It's fixable, but I haven't had the time to fix it. Luckily, I bought it for about it's scrap iron price. I don't plan on scraping it, but it's an option if I don't ever get around to fixing it. I'll probably fix it an sell it. Since I need a tractor, I bought a used Kubota with a FEL. About two weeks after I bought it, we had 6" of rain in an hour and that washed out two of my culverts on the road leading up to my place. It took most of a day rebuilding those to make them passable, and another day to improve them; and I still need another day to really get them back to something resembling smooth.
|
|
HoosierDad
Member
|
# Posted: 14 Oct 2013 17:49
Reply
Neat place. What county are you in, and how much acreage?
|
|
dsaw
Member
|
# Posted: 14 Oct 2013 20:00 - Edited by: dsaw
Reply
Crawford County, 125 acres. Crawford is unique because it's just far enough away from major metropolitan areas and has such poor crop ground that it's some of the cheapest land in Indiana. I'm about 1:20 away, so I can make a day trip out of it and it's not a big deal. Crawford is also neat because it wasn't swept flat by the glaciers, so my land has lots of elevation change and is surrounded on 3 sides by a rock lined creek. It has a limestone cave/spring on one side, and sandstone cliffs on the other. That said, the ground is so poor the last weekend I was there I was spreading about 1200 lbs of lime on about 1 acre to try and bring it into a remotely usable pH level.
I bought it as a timber investment. I'm not counting on the market doing much for quite a while, so I cashed out some 401k's. The chances of taxes being lower in the future then today are pretty slim, so I figured the penalty was worth it. And land is a lot more fun to own then having a piece of paper telling you what your investments are doing. I had never been hunting before, but I'm getting into it now that I have land.
|
|
MtnDon
Member
|
# Posted: 14 Oct 2013 20:08
Reply
The picture has me wondering what keeps the upper story from wiggling / wobbling in the breezes. I did read 6x6, three feet in ground, on bedrock... But what gives the tall posts lateral stability? Maybe I can't see that in the picture.
|
|
|
dsaw
Member
|
# Posted: 14 Oct 2013 21:14 - Edited by: dsaw
Reply
Lateral stability in the back comes from it being strapped/bolted to the 10' x 10' concrete block shed (I filled the corners with cement and implanted bolts in them). It has survived some pretty strong thunderstorms, but hasn't seen tornado force winds. The surrounding hills are a bit taller then me, so it's a little protected. That said, when the kids really get wrestling, it did have a bit of wiggle up front where it's not on the shed. That was before I tightened up the bolts securing it to the legs due to wood shrinkage. I will still probably add some cross bracing just to be safe, probably a 45 degree piece to the leg about 4' long on each side. That's on the to do list, along with installing eves, finish weatherproofing the windows, ...... It has an element of cross bracing today with the 2x12 for the stairs bolted to the front post, but it needs another cross piece tying in the other side.
Attached are interior pics. I was finally forced to instal the tv/dvd to keep the kids occupied on rainy days and at night so I could get work done. This is a summer picture, I'm not sure where the tv goes when the stove gets fired up. The walls are about 70% paneled. After the paneling, I'll tackle the floor. I'm thinking a few tile by the door for wet shoes/boots; then douglas fir (or whatever I can get cheap that doesn't move too much). Windows and stove are from Craig's list. That can be save one a mint when you aren't picky about looks.
IMG_0905.JPG
| 
IMG_0908.JPG
| 
IMG_0909.JPG
|  |
|
|
HoosierDad
Member
|
# Posted: 15 Oct 2013 17:44
Reply
Crawford County is a beautiful area. I'm all the way on the other end of the state up north. We're, unfortunately, about a four or five hour drive in any direction until you can get close to a remote, wooded area...
|
|
|
