So, to please the Bank(s) but still try to keep some of the important things to us, we've decided to build a regular looking house, but out of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF). These are built to the same standards as a Monolithic Dome but "square". Or whatever shape you want. Still, it should make the Bank(s) happy cause it'll look like a "regular" house from the street. Except you have to drive half way up the hill and around a few corners to see the thing!

So, I should probably mention some of the things that are important to us in a home:

• Comfort. With a Monolithic Dome or this ICF construction the interior temperature should stay fairly constant all year no matter what the temperature is outside. With the addition of Radiant Heating and the southern facing windows (BIG windows) it should stay fairly comfortable.
• Maintenance. Using the ICF and cement siding external maintenance should remain fairly low. We're also planning on a metal roof so as not to have to replace a roof every 20 years or so.
• Eco-Friendly. We'll get into this more in later pages.
• Designed for the way we live. Kathy needs her office/sewing space. Quilt racks take up a lot of room! I need my tv/computer space. I also need a kitchen big enough and well planned enough for me to cook and do my canning. (I can chili once a year and BBQ sauce every couple of years and other things.)
• Strength: ICF walls benefit from concrete's inherent structural qualities, particularly important in regions affected by severe weather. We get LOTS of rain and the occasional "wind storm" in Washington.
• Lower Utility Bills: The combination of a continuous concrete wall plus the integral interior and exterior insulation provides superb energy efficiency. Eventually we'll add solar for heating and electrical generation and try to "get off the grid" as much as Washington weather will let us.
• Indoor Environmental Quality: ICF's energy efficiency translates into more even, consistent temperatures throughout the home. Add Radiant Heating and a fresh air exchanger to regulate humidity in the home for maximum comfort.
• Soundproofing: With several inches of concrete sandwiched by foam insulation, ICF homes are typically quieter than neighboring homes built conventionally. I don't want to hear the cars going by down on the road or that "crazy sumbiatch" that fires off his FULLY AUTO machine gun across the valley every other Sunday or so.

 We have 5.77 acres outside Belfair, Washington (and the Tahuya Forest) to build on. I'd bought a 1969 JD 350 Bulldozer to put the road in (had to fell too many trees!) and dig out the 'dome hole.' Thought I was finished with the dozer, sold it and bought a 1999 Nissan Mini-Excavator (My Digger). Since we aren't building a dome (and half earth berming it) I have to rent a dozer to move a bunch more dirt to accommodate the longer house we're going to build. More trees down! Damn! But it has to be done. Don't get me wrong: We love trees; but we're not "tree huggers" and if I have to take some down then that's the way it is.

Our 'sketch' of what we want (you can see it on the The Plans page) is with the architect and we've talked a couple of times about the plans. Should be having a meeting sometime soon to finalize the plans before he puts in electrical & plumbing.

And, yes, I will change these pages every so often. Right now I'm trying to get it to where you can make it "skinny."  Then when I bring up my blog and this page I don't have a lot of wasted space between the two...  And see that 'donate' button...

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