Survivalist Magazine Special Edition Editor's Choice by Lisa Bedford & Mat Stein & Robert Scott Bell & Sergei Boutenko & Owen Geiger & Dr. Joseph Alton (aka Dr. Bones) & Julia Soliday & Ed Corcoran & Doug Bell & George Shepherd

Author:Lisa Bedford & Mat Stein & Robert Scott Bell & Sergei Boutenko & Owen Geiger & Dr. Joseph Alton (aka Dr. Bones) & Julia Soliday & Ed Corcoran & Doug Bell & George Shepherd
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: CDI Publications, Inc.
Published: 2012-12-04T07:00:00+00:00

Built To Last

The Top 3 Alternative Building Methods for

Homes That Will Survive

by Corcceigh Green

(See Example Photos at End of Article)

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been attracted to “alternative” or unusual methods of construction and design. Back then, it was mostly due to the fact that I was (and still am) a huge science-fiction nerd and thought it would be pretty cool to live in a geodesic dome, or some other structure shaped largely by my imagination. As I got older (and more survival oriented) I came to realize that people don’t build and live in these structures because they look cool (or at least not just because they look cool) they build them because they’re stronger, safer, more energy efficient and cost-effective to build and maintain.

Sometimes it’s amazing to me that we’re still pretty much taking the same wasteful, inefficient approach to home building that we have for the last few centuries. Sure, there have been refinements in the process over the years that have improved efficiency and cut down on waste and cost, but the fact remains that the homes most of us live in still leave a lot to be desired.

It could be that humans are “traditionalists” by nature, and we assume that if something has been done a certain way for a number of years, then that must be the best way to do it. But most “alternative” building methods are not alternative at all. Many are based on time-tested construction techniques from ancient antiquity. It’s easy for us to scoff at that “weirdo” who’s building a dome house or earth-bag home on the outskirts of town, but that weirdo knows something that most people don’t... There is a better way to build (a number of better ways, actually) and from a survivalist’s point of view, the method that is used to build your home could make the difference between remaining safe and dry after a disaster, or becoming a refugee. So I say; let the neighbors scoff... We’ll see who’s laughing after disaster strikes.

The following are my top three picks (in no particular order) of alternative home-building methods that are cheap (and easy) to construct, more energy efficient, and most importantly – are more capable of withstanding severe weather and disasters than traditional wood-framed homes.