Complications

So far here are a few of the short coming i'm experiencing,

Meeting "someones" requirements for building codes is at the forefront of my problems.
I say "someone" because considering I will be living in the middle of no where I have two options.
I could try to go the complete legal way and check out all the laws and codes and try to get a hold of everyone who might come tear down my house.
Otherwise I could figure out who might ACTUALLY be coming by and satisfy there requirements. Meaning neighbors, postmen and MAYBE the local law enforcement.

If i can make it look and act like a house an no one is the wiser then I think ill do that. If a duck quacks right? I suppose that would be a way to prove the technology is there is no one realizes that its not a normal house in the first place.

In other new I think I have a nice direction to go with testing papercrete myself.
I plan to make a proprietary papercrete mix using a specific method in hopes of standardization.
To test the theory ill start by making a simple brick form and letting the bricks air dry and gravity leveled.
Using those bricks ill make a simple fire place.(to help test fire resistance non scientifically)

When those bricks are successful I plan to make a compressed and baked version which will undergo standard testing for masonry bricks not to mention my own testing.

From there I suppose LAWYERS! lol

Bricks

Figure id post some info on the brick machines ive found.

So far I want to buy this machine but in the "superblock form" to make non-compressed test blocks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bMDYLKgZhw
From this site. http://www.doubellmachines.com/index.php?mod=ProductManager&action=ExploreMould&code=DIYAASB

Only $330ish dollars to test out mixes.
Then Ill move to something with either manual hydraulics of electric.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEPYUVkCq4A

To start in any form I will start using these bricks to make non-load bearing walls.

Goals

Third goal is to make sure i can build the type of structure i want without the government taring it down.

Forth goal so far is to make papercrete bricks. That mean that hopefully ill have a machine by the time I move to compress a standardized brick of papercrete. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papercrete
I feel that compress papercrete with a papercrete mortar is very similar to cinder blocks and mortar. So for many reasons we want to build our own house.

Fifth goal is to complete the overall package using the newest/cheapest technology. I.e. instant heat water heaters instead of a inefficient boiler. Solar power as a major supplement but not being off the grid for when you need a lot of juice. I already eat "Soylent 50%" of the time which is a non-parishable food so i technically dont need a refrigerator.  Simple things like kitchen appliances need to be minimalism considering its for two people who only cook 50% of the time. (i.e. one, maybe two stove top with a toaster oven and a microwave.)  Papercrete tub/shower in any design I want.

End goal is to live off of 10k a year COMFORTABLY for two people

Start

So I figured I would start a blog on my trial and tribulations with moving from a 1600 sqft traditional style home built in 1952 for two adults and 2.3 children. To a more efficient home made of newer materials based for a home that is closer to what we need.

So to begin in more detail what my plans are here we go!!!

The idea came when my girlfriend/lifepartner decided children wern't really in the future for us. At least not in the traditional sense of raising 2.3 children. That combined with the fact we own a house clearly out of date and something much to large to for two people, two cats and two dogs. I began thinking that i'm not a fan of paying high monthly utility bills trying to heat or cool something so out of date. Basically I wanted to live more efficiently. I'm not a fan of jobs or many things "traditional". I catch myself making many things or upgrading them because nothing manufactured really fits my needs. Housing its self was a problem for me not only now but ever since I moved out of my parents house. I didnt want a job just because I wanted to live. I didnt want to become a monk or amish either so there has to be other people with this problem. So i would like to make my house something sustainable that I could make and rent out for a very small amount to the eventual point of developing a sustainable community. Not the typical "hippie" mentality of a community. No compromises on living conditions. Just smarter living.

So to begin with i'm in the process of moving from Colorado Springs to more then likely Texas.
I chose Texas because originally Austin seemed like the place to move in Texas but after visiting wasn't quite a fan and didn't seem to have the type of land I was looking for.
The overall goal is to move from the Springs to our land in Texas. Buy a 5th wheel that we will camp in while doing some minor renovations to it. Then camp in that while we build not only our house but more then likely the bricks themselves that we want to build the house out of.

My first goal is to find land that will let me experiment with building materiel and methods that aren't traditional. Such as papercrete and foamcrete used to build efficient walls for a better home.

Second goal is to find a cheap 5th wheel to renovate while living in. Something under 2k that is structurally sound and cleanish. Will prob replace most everything within it with the idea that once the house is done those "upgrades" could be installed in the house.

So many more to come......