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Ive been dreaming about heading south from Iowa in a camper november through march after I retire, but even after you blow out all the waterlines or design the plumbing to drain and winterize every appliance etc, Ive been told that frost heave could damage the foundation of a home left unheated...

Ive always wanted a two post for my 1 ton truck, but considering how little I would use it, is it worth building your retirement house around it? The additional construction cost of a two story and potential resale value? Ive read on a few threads people have installed lifts outside, then I...

Hello from Iowa everyone, yada yada.. There are so many choices and forks in the road. When I was in my teens and twenties I wanted to be scare face and ended up in the military. Then came my tail chasing dirty thirties, which lasted into my forties and ended with a divorce. Now that I'm...

Evening folks. So Ive turned a few of these fauset seat wrench's into candy cane's removing prehistoric brass steam trap ******* lately. Ive tried a regular 3/8" ratchet extension, but the corners are to rounded and strip out the 8 point hole in the brass ******. Any suggestions where to get...

Evening folks. I've been thinking about a simple rectangular two story stick built barndominium with a over hung gable roof, but I want to showcase the view from a open 12'x12' inside corner with a grass/paver patio on ground level, and a balcony above it. Why do I want a inside corner on the...

Most of the time spent in my garage will be during the summer, and I want that cool soil to absorb some of the slab heat. I just saved some money moving into my split foyer basement this summer, because I only needed a 5000 btu window air to maintain 72 degrees compared to 36000 btu central...

Hello folks.. I recently came across this article about foamed glass aggregate and think it has some advantages. $85 to $100 per cubic yard but its only being sold in pa and vt now but it shouldn't be long before its widely available.. What's neat is glavel is made from glass waste and can...

I'm considering a permacolumn build since I have a hilltop site and good soil, but I want to cover the exterior with sheathing for air sealing.. But what about the intersection wall to the ground, or namely the skirt boards that always end up rotting? Isn't there a longer lasting material...

Hello folks. I'd like to move forward on the first phase of my project. A 60x80 clear span canopy roof with no side walls. There will be a enclosed 30x40 shop in one corner of the canopy, and the second phase will add more canopy later. But I'm concerned about the open air canopy area. One...

Hello folks.. Im seeing this issue being pretty major.. Ive been thinking I want a large open air roof built with these roof trusses.. But I'm guessing every bird in the vicinity will want to nest on the trusses or any flat spots since there are no walls.. What can you do to prevent...

Hello folks.. I had a barn removed for my polebarn build, but I still have the shallow foundation and cracked slab left on the site. I'm tempted to hire a contractor to finish the barn demo and build my new polebarn.. But a hobby farm needs a implement of some sort.. Right? What...

Hi folks. I know AG metal manufactures say to screw through the low flat section, and they say it's because screwing through the high rib, with much less chance of a LEAK, will deform the rib since its hollow.. But Ive also read old timers swear they will always screw through the rib, because...

How should a cmu block wall be built when supporting a second story in snow country? Does a floor truss ledger board get bolted to the wall like when building with ICF? Would using concrete H blocks help with wall strength when filled with concrete? Or by installing bond beams more often...

Hey everyone. I was just wondering, in your educated opinion.. What's the most DIY building method? My neighbor wants to help me with a pole barn house, but I'm not putting wood in the ground.. Im wondering if building two small 800 sq' houses on floating piers would be more DIY.. Or if...

Hello everyone. Just wondering from a maintenance and build stand point, is a rooftop terrace a bad choice compared to a stand alone balcony on its own legs? But there's something about the long legs of a balcony that make it look cheesy and I don't want to cantilever a balcony. Or would a...

Hey everyone. No codes or inspections currently in my county, but I'm thinking about resale right now. I think Ive got a decent design, but what I dont like is the ceiling over the lift area is 17' tall, when I only need 13'. But if I can figure out how the next owner who doesn't want a car...

I've been reading as much as I can over there because Ive given up my idea of updating the mobile home on my property. The articles or blogs for guests get cut off, but the discussion that follows gives allot of clues as to what you cant read. Is becoming a member a good idea for someone who...

Hey everyone.. I need to locate roof trusses below a roof deck with 30# felt accurately, so I can screw down 2x4's set vertically on top of them. These 2x4's will hang over, or extend past the outside wall 18" to create space for the ventilated soffit I don't have. I'm concerned if the 2x4...

Good morning people.. I'm trying to come up with a plan on my retirement property close to millersburg iowa with no building codes and Ive been going round and round about this for almost a year. The main reason for buying was the low taxes, and keeping taxes low, and different personal needs...

Hey everyone. I can mig steel, but I remember welding aluminum back in school was a ***** especially the vertical welds common on trailers. I passed the class, but that was all the experience Ive got. Ive been searching for a used narrow track 7x16 enclosed trailer to convert into a Mini...