AN INVITATION FOR YOU

[DIM TIM]

For some time now I have been thinking about doing a post, and it is one that I consider to be very important to survivalists and preppers in getting their house squared away. I post on a number of forums, because not everyone posts something that I might want to know on a single forum out here.

I decided that I would put it on the forum that I first started with when I got started using the computer for gathering information on the subjects of survival and preparedness. It's the VIKING FORUMS run by Joe Fox. http://www.vikingpreparedness.com/fo...3a7415cba63623

The post is going to be about looking to your house and it's operating systems, and replicating a number of parts, components and sub-systems for each, in case the primary system fails in a SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, or WORL situation. They are in no particular order, and everything will be considered in the discussion. There are all sorts of great ideas floating around out here in the survivalist and prepper community, and I want to bring it all together under one roof so to speak.

It is in this board, that I started the discussion http://www.vikingpreparedness.com/fo...hp?f=11&t=6454 , and I posted a video that I put out on my YouTube channel that I started. Nothing fancy or extrordinary, just a simple video that I made to make people think about something that they might not have considered before when starting to prepare for problems and emergencies to make life as comfortable as possible for themselves and their family.

So come along and join in on the discussion that will be following in the weeks and months ahead, and who knows, you might even find something in there that YOU hadn't considered before for your own house.

[1Admin]

Most houses are not bulletproof. After the first time a house is shot up, all kinds of things may be leaking, not working, etc.

While our primary concern should always be saving of life and limb in building a retreat correctly, their is also INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION that must be considered.

[DIM TIM]

True, and for this reason, I started the thread. INFORMATION AND THOUGHTS.
Some systems can be as simple as the heating of water in large pots. Supply caches can hold basic components for rebuilding with some thought. Transportatin of these to a BOL or a simple camp on the way can be as easy as lashing them to a pack, wagon, bike, sled, etc, etc,. The world is coming unglued, what to do, what to do, what to do............House burned down, no shelter, heat, water, etc, etc, what to do, what to do, what to do.............

INFORMATION AND THOUGHTS :)

[1Admin]

True, and for this reason, I started the thread. INFORMATION AND THOUGHTS.

And that's what I was giving ya ;)

We built with block, put rebar in each cell and poured all the walls solid.

I've seen a lot of run down, falling down old houses in the country. Everyone made of wood is eventually laying on the ground in a heap. Everyone made of concrete block is still standing in various forms- even the ones with hollow blocks that were not reinforced or poured solid.

Worse case scenario, we would/could camp inside the SHELL of the house, have some wind protection and ballistic protection.

Large HEAVY DUTY tarps, old billboard vinyls, etc. could be used for temporary roof repairs and are easy to store.

I was keeping a running tab at one point how many yards of concrete and grout mix went into our house, but that's long been forgotten. I love masonry type construction, it lasts. Just look at the pyramids :)

[DIM TIM]

Ok, I see where you are going with this. Yeah, this will be covered over at the forum as we go along. As I said, we will be looking at the WHOLE HOUSE. The first subject I picked (again, in no particular order) is on heating water. Sometimes you just need a little (heat up your Ramen Noodles for a meal), and then again sometimes you need a lot (laundry and bathing). There are quite a few ways to go about these, and that is what we will be trying to develop at the thread.

Again, everyone come and read along, and if you have something to add, feel free to jump right in...sorry to say I don't have all the answers, but someone out there has something pertinent and relevent to add, so thus the open invitation at all the forums I go to.

[MustangGal]

And that's what I was giving ya ;)

We built with block, put rebar in each cell and poured all the walls solid.

I've seen a lot of run down, falling down old houses in the country. Everyone made of wood is eventually laying on the ground in a heap. Everyone made of concrete block is still standing in various forms- even the ones with hollow blocks that were not reinforced or poured solid.

Worse case scenario, we would/could camp inside the SHELL of the house, have some wind protection and ballistic protection.

Large HEAVY DUTY tarps, old billboard vinyls, etc. could be used for temporary roof repairs and are easy to store.

I was keeping a running tab at one point how many yards of concrete and grout mix went into our house, but that's long been forgotten. I love masonry type construction, it lasts. Just look at the pyramids :)

Is that type of construction popular in....erm... Utah? I can't think of more than two buildings that I know of with concrete block construction, other than milk barns, around here. We have some rock house construction here, which I think is beautiful. http://www.justice4all.org/files/ima...Web%20size.jpg (just a random house I found on a bing image search)

We seem to have large flat rocks in abundance in the area. Except our property, lol. No rocks.

[1Admin]

Is that type of construction popular in....erm... Utah? I can't think of more than two buildings that I know of with concrete block construction, other than milk barns, around here. We have some rock house construction here, which I think is beautiful. http://www.justice4all.org/files/ima...Web%20size.jpg (just a random house I found on a bing image search)

We seem to have large flat rocks in abundance in the area. Except our property, lol. No rocks.

Not sure what is used in Utah, can't see why block couldn't be used there?

My original reasoning for this type of construction came from looking at pics and studying the damage in Hiroshima. Their was a concrete building IIRC 800 meters or so from the bridge that faired pretty well.

[MustangGal]

I was just kidding about Utah - isn't that where all the "real" survivalists live?

Good points about concrete construction. From what I have been told, (I asked my folks why they weren't used around here) concrete block homes are difficult to heat in our winters.

[Irish-Tech]

Concrete will keep things cool. I would add an inner 2x4 wall on the inside and mask the outside with siding it will make your exterior walls almost 10 inches thick but insulation and safety wise it will be better.

[1Admin]

Usually with the type of construction I'm talking about, either metal studs or 1x4's are attached to the inside of the block walls over insulation board. This allows attachment of the sheetrock as well.

The way Joel Skousen explains it, without insulation board on the OUTSIDE of the structure as well, then it becomes a "heat sink."

This is easily accomplished and made to look nice with the addition of an Acorcrete, Stucco, Drivet type coating over the insulation board. Brick could be used also.

I'm not 100% sure about the "heat sink without outside insulation" thing. We have one building that's not done this way but we don't really spend that much time in there to tell.

This sort of building method IS slower to heat up, but it will hold heat over time also.

We use a fair amount of tile over slab. Once heated up this will hold heat a good amount of time. As many South facings windows as you can will help with the passive solar as well.
Newer part of the house has a "southern style" porch setup. Eight foot overhang. More of an open type layout and more windows. Even during these mid 90's days just opening windows and get blow through keeps it relatively cool (comparably). We have balanced the reduced lighting from this sort of construction with sun tunnels and skylights.

What I like most about this sort of construction method is that the blocks can be stockpiled ahead of time and can be built on a little at time. An ICF form has to be filled completely at one time- big outlay of money and time. Individual blocks can be bought a couple dozen at a time and laid similarly as time permits. A block wall on a concrete slab will sit like that for many many years without problem. Rebar can be cut and put into each cell and the cells filled with grout mix or mortar to give true ballistic protection. Prisons are built like this in this area.

Also, ICF requires a crew of experienced people, probably not something most of us can do well on our own. Block work is relatively easy and can be done by the homeowner. I.e, the OPSEC factor.

[DIM TIM]

So lets figure that the house is covered, either by the fact that it is still a viable structure, or you have an alternative shelter. What would be your next concern for your continued survival and living ? I already know the answer to this one, but that's what this discussion there is all about. and it is progressing, even if slowly.
I had a couple problems with folks at other places thinking that I was doing some kind of recruiting, but that isn't it at all, and the discussions on other boards like this are still taking on a life all their own, just because people are looking at their house and it's utility systems, and getting the idea that there are things that they need to consider to be prepare for emergencies that could cover a whole spectrum of problems and failures. :cool:

[Irish-Tech]

once the house is built how is the drive way leading up to the house? does it force people to make an s turn? can you see who is coming before they can see you? is your generator somewhere where it is secure yet easy to turn on and fill with fuel? is your garden out of sight from people stopping by to say hi? how about goats or chickens, do you want people to know you have them, or are they hidden on the back 40? i live in the burbs for none of this qualifies for me. but when i get to the point where i buy land and build the house these are all things i will look at.

[SeldomSeenSlim]

I'm not 100% sure about the "heat sink without outside insulation" thing. We have one building that's not done this way but we don't really spend that much time in there to tell.

That style of construction is all around out here in the desert and at least in this climate it works. Folks have been living in adobe houses longer than anything else here. It is slow to heat up in the winter, but once hot it stays hot. In the summer it stays cool much better than any kind of insulated house. The added benefit is that it can be cooled even more by watering the walls on the outside. Usually around 2-3pm in the big heat folks will spray down the walls and the evaporation takes the heat out of the walls. Kind of funny seeing someone outside watering their house, but it works, it's simple and proven over centuries.

I've been in some ICF and straw bale houses and they are nice. I'm looking more towards "uninsulated" mass like adobe, earth bags, slipform, etc. if/when I rebuild. In those structures the insulation is the mass and without any form of interior temperature adjustment (heater/stove or AC/swamp cooler) I think it gives more options for adjusting the temperature of the walls which is how those keep temperature. Insulation is meant to keep the walls from becoming the same as the temperature acting on it. Which means the best way to change the temperature in the house is to adjust to temperature of the air in the house. Whereas with high mass walls the goal is to adjust the temperature of the walls themselves.

[1Admin]

Irish-

Like everything else in retreat construction, compromises have to be made in certain areas.

For example- I was helping some friends set up a team house one time. A firewood shed needed to be constructed. Where to put it?

Options- right next to the house or a short 30 yards away and somewhat concealed.

Now at first glance, one would say "well close to the house, then it's not a security issue walking out to get wood." However that's just ONE of the variables.
Other variables- it was an old wood house, it was in the S.E. termites are a major problem in that area. FIRE and having a few tons of dry, combustible material right next to a wood frame house might be a problem also.

The possible security concern- that could be worked around several ways- gathering wood at night, taking a week or so worth in at a time, etc. was outweighed by the other security concern of fire and the OVERALL (SHTF or COLMOLLIN) concern of termites, attraction of insects, rodents and reptiles to the house via the woodshed sitting up against the house.

We have to weigh everything when retreat setup is considered. However ALWAYS think of future needs. 15 years ago I added a door to the design for our house. The door served no purpose and you could not even get to the door from (then) ground level. For about a decade a safe blocked the doorway on the inside. That door was later removed and that hallway leads into our addition.

It may be 10 or 20 years before some of the major projects are completed, but PLAN for them now.

The shed went 30 yards away from the house in a semi concealed spot.

[Irish-Tech]

Exactly. I just wanted to point out other things to think about. We cant all have a perfect location, but we can do our best to make our location safe and useful.