Gratefully, the solar array is working as designed. Most days, it meets all our needs, keeps the batteries charged and sells power back to the grid. Our Sol-Ark 15k hybrid inverter is a marvel. It connects directly to our 200 amp service and feeds the entire breaker panel – no need for a separate critical load …
Solar power had been part of our resiliency plan from the start, it just took a long time to come to fruition. Planning began before the house build. Our goal was to power the homestead in the event of an extended grid-down event, while reducing our dependence on the power grid. With the help of …
This was our first – and hopefully last – adventure building a home. In retrospect, it was a wonderful experience. With the build finally finished and the decorating started, it’s time for us to rejoice and rest a bit. OK, we’ll just rejoice… r We chose a very expensive time to build a new home …
Before embarking on our first (and hopefully only) new home build, several close friends cautioned us that the process is typically stressful and can damage even the best marriage relationship. That’s a sobering thought! So we went into this adventure with humility and much prayer. What occurred to us is that things might go …
Our objective at the outset was to build a solid, energy efficient and comfortable home. Insulation and a tight envelope play a critical role in bringing this about. Given our desire for an exceptionally tight envelope, spray foam was an obvious choice. It is more costly than fiberglass batt, but only by roughly 25 …
We looked for cost-effective long-lasting siding. after comparing options, we chose James Hardi cement plank siding with aluminum clad windows, this choice meant there would be almost no wood on the house exterior. The only wood would be the deck and porch roofs. We were impressed by the work. Each lap joint has flashing behind …
With framing complete, our objective was to get the place “dried in. That means getting a roof and windows installed. Before roofing though, we wanted to rough-in the plumbing so the roof penetrations could be flashed as part of laying shingles. Plumbing I remember when all supply plumbing was copper. Even avid DIYers knew …
Insurance costs money. So does resiliency. We designed resiliency into our plans in part, because we’re out in the middle of nowhere and because we think it is wise not to be totally dependent on third parties for daily necessities. With the world becoming increasingly unstable, a recklessly growing national debt, national climate policy that …
With a clear weather forecast, the ground dried sufficiently to deliver framing materials and continue the build. The framers worked with remarkable speed and agility, building the wall sections (including the sheathing) on the ground. It took just three days to have all the walls and interior framing completed and another two for …
With a firm foundation in place (and already over budget), it was time to prepare the basement walls for back-filling and build proper foundations for the garage and front porch. Waterproofing Kevin took charge of ensuring the waterproofing was done par excellence! We’re grateful for both his expertise and the “friends and family” pricing. Plus …
