Two points 1> remember those foam panels won't take any pressure from the ground around them at all: they're just insulation. Ditto moisture issues: keep them dry.
2> I know you're tight on cash, but the heavier grade "thermax hd" type panels (and search the group - there are several alternatives) might be more suitable for this kind of long term use, or a plywood hexayurt with (say) reflectix-type insulation stapled up on the inside. It almost sounds like you might want a hexayurt roof over a hole in the ground - do the walls with traditional below-grade building techniques, and then use a hexayurt roof on top. Best of both worlds? Good luck and keep us posted - lot of smart, experienced people on the group with good ideas and hard-won experience. V> -- *Vinay Gupta * * [email protected] <[email protected]> * *http://re.silience.com* <http://re.silience.com> *Free Science and Engineering in the Global Public Interest* UK Cell : +44 (0)7500 895568 Twitter/Skype/Gtalk: hexayurt "In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer" - Albert Camus On Wed, Jul 30, 2014 at 9:35 AM, James Cockerham < [email protected]> wrote: > Here's a quick sketch of the idea using logs and the earthen roof. Some > design issues with window facing, ventilation and maybe drainage. So, I'll > probably just order some tape and go with a foam H13 for now. The sketch > below is essentially a log wofati H13 with 8' walls with a 4' high loft at > its highest. I'm thinking the windows would face southeast and southwest. > Not sure how to safely incorporate the hut earthship style vent in the > roof. So, will think about it for awhile. > > <https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Jq2cS1wO6vo/U9is-OxIJgI/AAAAAAAAFVE/uDGE-0NsAiM/s1600/hexawofati.jpg>. > > > > On Tuesday, July 29, 2014 5:03:47 PM UTC-4, James Cockerham wrote: > >> >>> Another idea, working with some of Mike Oehler's underground methods is >> to use 6" wide timbers as post on the six sides, as well as the roof of the >> hex. Dig a 4' deep hexagon in the earth, install 8' posts in each corner. >> Hex will have to be dug wider than actual structure to give room to install >> shoring and polyethylene. Shoring can be timbers also so the interior looks >> like a log cabin. Use excavated dirt to berm exposed 4'... In typical >> designs, these houses have a shed roof draining to the downhill side. With >> a hexyurt roof, water will drain to all sides. So, possibly an extended >> gable with pie shaped shoring to make sure water drains to the sides of the >> house and a uphill patio with French drains installed, or even just a >> gutter leading to a barrel on the exposed entrance side. >> >> The spot I'm planning to put this is on top of a mountain on a fairly >> flat spot with gentle slope. The 4' excavation would make an overall 12' >> hexayurt, with probably enough room and strength for a sleeping loft. Since >> this spot is fairly flat this structure after completion would look like a >> small mound with plants and eventually trees growing on its roof. Not as >> camouflaged as a shed roofed underground house built into a slope of a >> hill, but still more camouflaged than a silver structure or conventional >> home. >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "hexayurt" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hexayurt" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
