Designing a preppers home

[ChunkyMonkey]

Got a group of people together from my former job interested in buying this together. Between us we were able to afford it. Contacted the seller multiple times and they never got back with us. Unreal. Not sure they really want to sell it.

SILLY!! They only make money on the tour DVD, you know that right? It's a good ol trick... If you check w/ county records, the property is not even theirs.

[Omicron]

Good thing we didn't buy the tour DVD.

[HoneyBadger]

Did anyone even look at the Pensmore link I posted? I really think they have a great idea... It's virtually indestructible and its very efficient for heating and cooling.

[Omicron]

Did anyone even look at the Pensmore link I posted? I really think they have a great idea... It's virtually indestructible and its very efficient for heating and cooling.

You bet I did - still studying it.

[omnione]

A few simple features that I didn't see mentioned yet:

* Steel roof - for rain harvesting while retaining potability
* Wood burning stove cookstove and heat stove, with a floor plan / air circulation pattern conducive to wood heating.
* Root cellar and spring house close to the house or in the basement
* Water well drilled from the basement - with adequate ventilation and solar pump
* Outdoor summer kitchen in a screened in porch - for canning without blasting the house with heat in the summer
* South facing roofline pitched for ideal solar panels efficiency (unless snow accumulation dictates a steeper pitch)
* Roof overhangs tuned to the latitude so windows are in shadow during the summer months and in sun during the Winter months.
* Concrete or earthen construction throughout, so that the structure is less susceptible to fire damage.
* Basement is a must
* Water drip-line on the roof ridge line, for summer cooling without power (preferably from a ram pump, given an adequate water supply)
* Tunnel from the basement to a hidden exit as emergency egress and/or flanking position.
* Attic mounted cistern sitting on sturdy steel beams, for both the thermal mass and gravity fed water
* 1" hardened plate steel below each window,
* Sturdy storm/security shutters

[jerrymrc]

A few simple features that I didn't see mentioned yet:

* Steel roof - for rain harvesting while retaining potability
* Wood burning stove cookstove and heat stove, with a floor plan / air circulation pattern conducive to wood heating.
* Root cellar and spring house close to the house or in the basement
* Water well drilled from the basement - with adequate ventilation and solar pump
* Outdoor summer kitchen in a screened in porch - for canning without blasting the house with heat in the summer
* South facing roofline pitched for ideal solar panels efficiency (unless snow accumulation dictates a steeper pitch)
* Roof overhangs tuned to the latitude so windows are in shadow during the summer months and in sun during the Winter months.
* Concrete or earthen construction throughout, so that the structure is less susceptible to fire damage.
* Basement is a must
* Water drip-line on the roof ridge line, for summer cooling without power (preferably from a ram pump, given an adequate water supply)
* Tunnel from the basement to a hidden exit as emergency egress and/or flanking position.
* Attic mounted cistern sitting on sturdy steel beams, for both the thermal mass and gravity fed water
* 1" hardened plate steel below each window,
* Sturdy storm/security shutters

You brought up some interesting points. Hope the members chew on them.

[omnione]

You brought up some interesting points. Hope the members chew on them.

Thanks. I'm also fascinated by the idea of designing a floor plan that can be built in stages. I really don't want to go into debt for a house again, so something that can be built ~200 sq ft at a time would be ideal for my situation. It could start as a flat-topped tiny home on an over-sized foundation, and eventually spring 3 or 4 wings and a second floor.

This would be pay-as-you build style to avoid usury. I would probably have to avoid areas of the country with zoning and building codes as well; or at least avoid places with expensive or onerous permitting processes.

Once my daughter graduates from high school in 3 years, and hopefully has a successful launch to independence, I hope to put some of my zany ideas into practice.

[HoneyBadger]

You brought up some interesting points. Hope the members chew on them.

There is an awful lot to chew on here with quite a few ideas I had not considered... Things like an attic cistern... Basically a private water tower in your home. Roof overhangs to provide shade to your windows in the summer and sun in the winter? Why doesn't every house do this??

Some very good ideas here, thanks Omnione!

[jerrymrc]

Think concrete box for a basement. One side can be open (walk out) just needs to be able to be sealed.

* Tunnel from the basement to a hidden exit as emergency egress and/or flanking position.

But from a walk in safe.

Have had the plan in mind for years.

[omnione]

One side can be open (walk out) just needs to be able to be sealed. But from a walk in safe.

You mean like this safe?



http://www.sportsmansteelsafes.com/safe_room.htm

I could get behind that idea.