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WY_mark
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2013 23:04
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feeling brave enough to share some photos of the last year of construction. we've done everything ourselves except pour the foundation. I have serious pond/tree envy from some of your projects, but the high plains have beauty too!
crawlspace
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framing
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sheathing
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more sheathing
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WY_mark
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2013 23:06
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winter came fast and hard but some of the nicest construction I did was decking the roof on a perfectly calm 23 degree day.
winter roof
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view
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house wrap is awful
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siding finally
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WY_mark
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2013 23:07
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real progress happened starting spring (which is MAy at this altitude)
inside view sans bathroom framing
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siding, paint and a truck I wish was mine
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spray foam
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spring flowers
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WY_mark
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jul 2013 23:08
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took FOREVER for the ground to thaw for footings for the porch and a no wind day to get the beam up. going back next weekend to frame the rest of it in.
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Brknarow
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2013 05:46
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It's absolutely beautiful. Is it 16 X 24? If so it's exactly what what I'm planning on building including the color aside from more front windows to face South.
I'm not sure how it works in the high plains, but can you plant and grow trees there? I nice mixed fruit and nut orchard would be nice and I suppose there would have to be some really ambitious squirrels to cause problems.
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theszabos
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:46
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Did you do the spray foam yourself as well? I'm interested in doing something similar for insulation but don't know the first thing about doing it yourself. Rental equipment, clean up, etc.?
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BaconCreek
Member
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2013 07:49
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Wow. Looks like you can see forever.
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WY_mark
Member
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2013 10:32
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we can see forever, literally into colorado to Long's peak (60 miles away), I love the crystal clear skies.
We're going to try to plant some trees. When digging the holes for our porch we had dry, and I mean dry, dirt all the way down 4 feet. we're technically in a cold desert. My hope is to get some hybrid poplar, hybrid oak and pine trees on a drip line. Lanceleaf cottonwoods love our climate, but they need water and we have none. For now I'm hoping to try the clay pot in the ground watering method. I figure we'll do that next spring since our growing season is short. Natural wind breaks do well here and I basically want to plant one of those, then it can catch it's own snow. There are no squirrels, but we have 300 head of wild horses on the property (not ours) and keeping them from enjoying my trees might be a challenge. They are super fun to watch and the dogs love the wild horse poo perfume ;) (the people do not)
We're told that a number of wine grape varieties actually love our climate/soil with some special treatment their first 2-3 winters. if we can ever afford a well we want to do an acre of grapes.
The cabin is 20x30 modified from plans for a 20x24. We face something like 18 degrees off of due south and I'm excited to be able to afford solar panels for the front porch. The front is essentially all windows and the solar gain in the winter makes a HUGE difference.
I did not spray foam it myself. After much research it looks like almost the same cost to have it done as to do it myself, largely because everyone says you basically waste the first tank learning how to do it. We paid $2600 for 4 guys to come in and do it in 6 hours, most of which was cleanup. They used open cell foam and we got 5" in the ceiling and 3.5" in the walls, but really the walls got mostly filled so 5" there too. The sound dampening on a windy day is fabulous. I figured doing it myself would probably cost $3k. If you google eco foam and tiger foam you can find spray kits, but honestly after my research and seeing these guys work while I played with the dog I'd never do it myself.
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Truecabin
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2013 20:20
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wow nice out there. is it done yet?
how about a pic from afar with the porch
id like to order a pic with 300 horses and no cars 
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Truecabin
Member
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2013 20:21
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in the morning sun
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WY_mark
Member
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# Posted: 24 Jul 2013 21:23
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the 300 horses roam in little bands, they're entertaining to watch, we have blm land about 2 miles away where they gather as a group and sleep. it's interesting, there's one bare ridge on the mtn that apparently has the minerals they need and the horses can always be seen there. I'm currently trying to figure out a "best" inexpensive telescope option to watch them with their young.
neighbor on my lawn
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traffic jam
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nearest human neighbors until recently
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swapsun
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# Posted: 25 Jul 2013 12:29
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Hello Wyoming Mark,
Thank you for your pictures and applaud your courage in showing us what can be built on the high plains... Loved your pictures, vision and the plan to build here. We have a section of land in Nevada in settings very very similar to yours and looking at your pictures and plans have given me some hope in terms of building on our property (which is mostly used by a rancher two miles down the road for grazing his cows). Questions are as follows:
- Was the permitting process a pain?
- Did you have to approach the BLM and get permission from them (assuming that your land was bordered by BLM)?
- How are you making sure that the cows and horses do not come and smack your structure?
- How did you haul all of the construction materials out there?
- Did you hire a contractor?
- What are your plans for water and your plans to stay warm in the winter?
- Any restrictions against installing a wood burning stove?
I am sure I will have some more, but if you could take some time to answer these questions, it will mean a lot to me. Lastly, can you please post some more pictures? This way I can vicariously live 'there' from my office here...
Regards,
Swapsun
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WY_mark
Member
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# Posted: 25 Jul 2013 13:45
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The permitting process was close to non-existent. $100 to the county, no inspections required. WY ranchers don't like to be told what to do so the county doesn't. I'll have a bigger process for the water system, but still, there's one guy who works 3 days a week and does it all.
our land is private, the BLM has no say on private land. the few covenants we have prevent us from blocking the horses access to water and they're federally protected so we can't harm them.
there are no cows, we own the grazing rights to our parcel. in a year the horses have not done more than come to check it out. many people erect buck fences to prevent the horses from scratching on their structure, we'll address it when necessary.
we're 24 miles out of town so we had a big load of lumber delivered and otherwise rent a truck as needed (we don't own a pickup)
no contractor, no money for one.
we're going to install a 1450gallon cistern, I wish we could afford a well but that would be $20k IF we can even find water.
we're planning a wood stove eventually, for now we're looking at natural gas/propane heater (vented through the wall). really the spray foam and solar gain to a great job. The sun at 8000 feet is an amazing energy source - and a serious exposure danger in the winter. any wood stove we install just has to be a modern epa approved model.
I'm fairly sure Nevada will be a lot like WY. there just aren't many regulations. Even though there is no inspection I've worked hard to make our construction conform to national code and be safe. I want my family to be safe and should we ever sell I need my conscience clear that I've not sold someone a questionably built structure. Call your county planning dept, be nice and you'll have an easy time. Many of the codes are for your protection anyway - electrical and building regulations are meant to keep you alive not just cost you $.
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WY_mark
Member
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# Posted: 25 Jul 2013 13:59
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p.s. I feel like I should add this for those about to build - look at metal buildings. I 100% wish I had investigated them more. There are many options that don't just look like a garage and they're up and done in 3 days, then you can take your time and save your $ doing the inside.
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PatrickH
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# Posted: 25 Jul 2013 17:49
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Welcome and thanks for posting I messed with the tiger shark spray foam I'll never do that again. But I'm curious after you get the cistern do you pay to have it filled? Or how does that work you said you where in the desert so im assuming hardly any rain.
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WY_mark
Member
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# Posted: 25 Jul 2013 18:00
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we will pay to have the cistern filled. it's $130 per delivery flat fee. that's pretty good for 1450 gallons of city water which doesn't have to be filtered/preserved and will last 1-2 months of weekend visits.
by my math we can fill the cistern monthly for 5-7 years before we even come close to paying for a well.
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tnky03
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# Posted: 28 Jul 2013 20:28
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Quoting: WY_mark the 300 horses roam in little bands, they're entertaining to watch
I love your pics of the wild horses and the snow capped mountains. The horses reminded me of ones I saw on visits to the Outer Banks, NC. I lived in Denver many years ago and so loved the mountain views. You have a great place there, hope you enjoy it fully.
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beattyorbust
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# Posted: 10 Jan 2014 12:49
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WY_mark,
How is this coming through? Any more pictures? How is this winter in WY treating you and your cabin. Just curious and interested....
S
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bldginsp
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jan 2014 14:03
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Very unique location.
How do you dispose of the waste water? Did they require an approved septic as a condition of building or do they not even do that out in ranch country?
What's it like out there when the wind kicks up?
Have you considered rainwater collection?
Again, nice location (but I like trees)
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neb
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jan 2014 20:19
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Very nice cabin! I love the plains and you always have company the way it looks. I like those traffic jam horses!!
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