Is this a crazy idea?

Latest Articles

Is this a crazy idea?
Page Previous 1, 2, 3

Downsizer Forum Index -> Energy Efficiency and Construction/Major Projects

Author

Message

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 9:37 am Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

Behemoth wrote:

I've no idea about the structural capacity of expanding foam although builders seem to use it with a care free abandon.

What structural capacity does it need? it isn't supporting anything nor subject to wind loading.

Without knowing much the details, I'm thinking of slumping. As described it's wide-ish deep trench. How wide, how deep, how stable are the sides? With my H&S hat on I wouldn't want anybody working down an unsupported trench.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 9:54 am Post subject:
It's early days, not even sure I can get quite deep enough for this to work anyway. Purpose is also a little up for grabs, this is something of an exercise of. I have a rather big trench. I can use the removed soil to remodel the garden. I like the idea of a hobbit hole type structure.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 10:23 am Post subject:

jema wrote:

I have a rather big trench.

Show off

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 3:45 pm Post subject:
Why not just build a proper hobbit hole and make guests sleep in it when they come and visit?

crofter

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 6:30 pm Post subject:

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 6:55 pm Post subject:
https://www.boredpanda.com/hobbit-holes-eco-friendly-houses-green-magic-homes/

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 7:20 pm Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

https://www.boredpanda.com/hobbit-holes-eco-friendly-houses-green-magic-homes/

One of the first sites I visited. Sadly I think my ambitions have to be a lot smaller, and looking at the trench progress today I am getting doubtful I can make this work at all.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 8:35 pm Post subject:
ty gwyn might not be far off with that giant anderson shelter with its own train set , perfect for any garden. a smaller version using corrugated sheet could be just the thing,the stuff arches quite well along the grain .

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 10:21 pm Post subject:

That photo was just to give an idea,they would be 16ft high by around 20ft wide,
Steel ring`s were available in 6 and 8ft span`s,held together by tie bar`s 3ft apart,and like the photo steel sheeted behind,
And to fullfill the HSE,one would set up a pair and partly sheet,and advancing debris would be throw behind making room for another set to be erected.
One could always brick arch between the ring`s as often was the case in older Collieries.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 10:28 pm Post subject:
55gal oil drums with a lengthways cut and the ends cut out so as the next one will slide through the last one are more my sort of scale

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 10:54 pm Post subject:
On that theme,go a little larger,steel cylindrical tank`s used as the entrance to Collieries in the FOD.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes

Posted: Fri May 06, 16 11:21 pm Post subject:
that might also serve for jema's bunker if the local scrappers have anything suitable

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Sat May 07, 16 7:28 am Post subject:
Why not just bolt together a frame out of three by threes and two by four, screw planks to it, cover with waterproof membrane and put the topsoil back on top?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes

Posted: Sat May 07, 16 7:41 am Post subject:

Chez wrote:

Why not just bolt together a frame out of three by threes and two by four, screw planks to it, cover with waterproof membrane and put the topsoil back on top?

having built grub huts and such like it takes a lot,i do mean a lot,of timber to support wet earth .
all soils get denser when wet but when it rains some soils are extremely dense and will crush all but the most sturdy roofs.i know this cos i was under one in the middle of the night when it went from dry leaf litter and a bit of soil to several tons of creaking squelch and then tried to kill me,i managed to grab a 3 legged log stool as an emergency pit prop and then crawled from the wreckage.the dog moved out for a few days.

and it is still timber in a hole so rot will be a problem.

another though re the "box" is to use a section of large pipe should one be available.

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2571
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Sat May 07, 16 2:28 pm Post subject:

Perhaps start at the other end - what and how much of it will you store in the space? Perhaps begin with a non-working refrigerator buried on its back with the door upward, at ground level. Store things for a season, decide how it works for you, and then think about building a larger version.

Consider also making a clamp: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storage_clamp and https://www.organic-gardening-and-homesteading.com/storing-root-vegetables.html

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Energy Efficiency and Construction/Major Projects	All times are GMT Page Previous 1, 2, 3
Page 3 of 3

View Latest Posts