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Question: I have a friend back in my hometown who is–well, he’s very, very unique. He’s kind of a hippie, and feels strongly about living independently. His latest project is building himself a house in the woods on some property his parents own (yeah, he’s a little selective about what he means when he says “independent”).
Honestly, it’s kind of cool, but I’m a little nervous that his structure will not be built to last. He’s trying to use wood he finds or cuts from trees, and he thinks he’s going to use slate and stone from the area for the roofing and flooring, like it’s Little House on the Prairie or something. This all seems like a really bad idea to me, but I don’t really know enough about the issues in question to say. Experts, can you weigh in?
Answer: You’ve got it right: your friend’s idea is questionable at best.
It’s not that it’s impossible to build a home out of materials found in nature. After all, humans all over the world have constructed homes from natural resources: indigenous people, pioneers and settlers, and survivalists have all proven that it can be done. But just because something’s possible doesn’t mean that it’s a great idea, or even likely to work.
For one thing, you don’t say that your friend has any experience in construction or engineering. This is the most dangerous thing about the situation, because he could be injured if his home is not built to last. It may collapse while he’s building it, and even if it doesn’t, that doesn’t mean it will survive harsh weather.
Then there are the materials. The lumber used in homes is not just wood, say the builders at Lyndhurst Lumber. Lumber is usually treated in some way, and different types of wood serve different purposes. Repurposing wood without regard to its type or relative strengths is a dangerous game. Your friend may end up using wood that isn’t strong enough, or isn’t treated for the weather or temperature conditions it may face.
The materials issues continue with the stone and slate. How does your friend intend to get those materials to suit his purposes? Cutting stone is a tricky business, and requires special saws and even cooling waters, say the stone fabrication wastewater treatment pros at M.W. Watermark. It’s not something hobbyists often do. Besides, veteran roofers told us, there are plenty of affordable roofing materials more modern than slate.
Finally, there are legal issues. Your friend is undertaking a construction project, but it’s not at all clear that he’s considered things like permits and zoning issues. It’s not uncommon to see passionate hobbyists dive into home-building projects that turn out to be illegal, and it would be a shame if your friend’s project ended up in this category.
You’re right: your friend’s project sounds fascinating, but ill-conceived. You’d be wise to raise a few of these issues with him and encourage him to plan his project a bit more carefully.
“I live in a mobile home–I’ve never had a house, except once; I rented a log cabin.” — Captain Beefheart