With so many of us today unable to afford a home of our own I began a journey that I would never have thought possible. The dream of a lifetime come true. Owning an off grid home in one of the most beautiful places in the country, South East Arizona. With modest financial resources this is my journey to create a place of my own where I can live and thrive. I wanted to share my journey with others in case my adventures in the beautiful Arizona desert help and inspire others to find their own freedom.
One of my subscribers suggested I post an amazon wish list to allow folks to send a gift if they chose to do so. I am not as talented as I would like to be with so many online things to navigate! I hope I have set this up correctly. www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2P5JOVHO31I2C/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1
Contact me here: [email protected]
Also for those who have asked to donate here is my paypal account. [email protected]. Thank you! - Don K
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Do you know anything about counties in AZ with minimal building codes/restrictions? I'm interested in doing something like this for retirement.
I've been looking at rural land in Arizona. I'm 3 minutes in to your video and already subscribed. Some rural land, a little house in the desert, and old Toyota. You're my kinda people.
Don't let carpenters influence your life, they're mindset is to build the cheapest crap possible and make a fortune on it,
Hi Don I’m a home builder, enjoyed watching and here to cheer you on! Advantech has no problem with a little weather you’ll be just fine. We’re here for you if you get stuck or need some questions answered!
Can you use a leaf blower to blow as much of the water off the flooring each day so it can dry faster? You are doing a great job in keeping with your goals !!! Glad you had some help too, you're amazing in your persistence and your vision! 😀🥰
Don, Don, Don! You continue to make me smile with your ingenuity! You bring "If there's a will, there's a way" to life! Thanks for continuing to educate and inspire me, and all those of us who follow you! I hope to get started on my land in the not-too-distant future, and will be referring back to these build videos of your for ideas, techniques and inspiration! Many thanks my friend!
I didn't know they have hurricanes in Arizona.
Glad you have a hand on that part of the roof! The big house is looking so good❤️
After building your new house maybe move the old house closer and use it as a work shop or storage?
Ah....the scent of fresh cut Doug Fir........takes me back in time
It's definitely true that change orders, like adding extra boards, can add up over time when they are financed in the mortgage. On the other hand, you, as both the general contractor and the homeowner without a mortgage, are making changes now to improve your home for the long haul. Great work!
Great to see the progress on your home. You might look at installing some diagonal bracing (2x4)from the top side of the end rafters to the bottom side of the third rafter in. Always better to over build
I totally agree Don. For the sake of making your corners even more sturdy 40 bucks is well worth it. It`s all of this hidden work that will help your structure stand the test of time .The extra hurricane ties are also a great investment in the building. Wonderful job as usual.
Looking good Don..lots of progress !
I applaud you and your tenacity working on your big home. I have every confidence that it will be a rock solid domicile. I also am impressed with your innovative approaches to each step in the build. I have built a number of buildings on my ranch, including several large pole barns. But I am in awe of how you solve your construction steps in order to do most of them by yourself. Hang in there- as my Mom always said. This too shall pass. And soon you will be safely ensconced in your lovely home.👍
Glad to see a helper. House is coming along nicely 😊
Hay Sparky! glad to see that you had help.
So glad you got some extra helping hands. It is always exciting to see your progress.
Great job, you should be called engineer Don with all your innovative methods of construction.
Those HeadLOK screw work great, I used them to build a simple beehive stand 10-years ago. It’s fully exposed in the desert sun with 2,000lbs of beehives on it - the wood is warped from the weight of the hives but the screws are still buttoned up strong!
@10:48 Don, I suppose installing the under-floor insulation seemed okay then, as you've realized … you may need to perform some drying methods on it as well. I *marvel* at your ingenuity (I know you get advice, but many of your ideas come out of that Canoodian mind!), and your ingenuity. Kudos, sir!
Water tight starts with the roof, hire a roofer.
I work in a seafood cannery on the north Oregon coast areas, plus I’m a handy man on my days off
Looks amazing, bet the weather nice A”
Be careful!
I would vacuum up the water. Put the vinyl on the roof to shed water.
There are tons of videos on construction techniques. Focus on getting the roof on and your home dried in! The annual MONSOON is upon us and i hate to think of you having to replace wet insulation to insure no mold later! Good luck wid dat...
good stuff
You make me feel as if I need to come and help you Don .
So good to see you had some assistance with the gable ends🌵Doing this build on your own is quite an accomplishment, have been watching since the beginning💚
Do you get your timber and supplies delivered to your location?
put the tarps or sheeting on the roof and you will have drier floors
It rains 'sideways' also here in Sierra Vista driven by the fierce wind. Sides would need plastic. I personally rely on the sun and dry air to dry things quickly. And I have not seen the benefit of tarps over my 42 years down here. I have tarped fresh poured concrete walks a few times, but it never rained. The most unusual weather in S. AZ. Unpredictable always.
A tremendous amount of work. The clamps are a great help. A very instructive video. Have a great week Don.
Don, I absolutely love watching your videos, my wife is also fascinated. Nice way to start my Monday morning! Thanks for everything you are doing. PS: I'm glad you do not 'buy into' the belief that there is such a thing as 'hard or back breaking' work. It not a good mindset...JMO!
The rain is a nuisance but the best you can do is immediately sweep off the collected water and let it dry out. Are you in monsoon season?
yes we are
your good Don i couldent afford a $40 meal hahah good carpenter hints to Don glad that man Ed helping you and his brother you need help with that heavy stuff Don your a funny man playing in the mud
Typical Canadian ? Doesn’t mind paying twice as much as needed for materials ! Most folks don’t have that luxury ! I guess it’s that liberal Trudeau mind set ! You were programmed well !
It's amazing what you have done by yourself.......looks fantastic!!
I do enjoy you coming up with old hat ideas to get things done. I've often had people say "how on earth did you do that" Well not to hard, just a pulley or three, a bit of rope. Who needs a crane?
I agree a cheap wood sealer, pour it on and squeegee it around.
I'm just blown away with your determination and tenacity, young man.
Another great video Don. Youre doing great. Stay safe
Mud, sweat and tears hahaha! Great work! Love to watch! Take care.
Soon as you get things done, won't rain again until you have another project going😊
How about using squeegee to push the water off the floor after it rains. Should help until you get the roof on rather than leaving it to just dry from the sun.
Awesome framers has a video - screws instead of hurricane clips -
Excellent work and another excellent video.
Thanks so much for your faithful support.
Why did you build this house elevated, and not on a concrete slab?
Great question. Because I did not want the nightmare of trying to do plumbing and running propane lines, waterlines etc. without having easy access to them.
Your fascinating 😊
Thanks so much for watching.
It's looking good! Will you be painting all of the timber with some type of product to keep termites from causing damage?
Great comment. I already did that to the entire floor structure. The wall areas will be enclosed with termite resistant stuff as well.