I have been living off the grid in Arizona for exactly four years at the time of writing this, so I thought it would be a good time to talk about my experience, since I now have a lot of it. How Difficult Is it to Live Off the Grid in Arizona? This is sort…
Should Metal Roofing Screws Go Through the Valleys or the Peaks? Let’s Settle This Debate Once and for All
There’s a debate that’s been raging for decades, with no signs of slowing down: Should metal roofing screws go through the valleys of the corrugated metal or through the peaks? I’ve noticed those who prefer going through the peaks are vehement in their position. They insist there is no better way to do it, and…
Miter Joint vs. Butt Joint: Why I Don’t Like Miter Joints
Over the years, I’ve noticed myself getting more and more away from miter joints. In fact, just before writing this point, I was contemplating using a miter joint for a detail on our new house, but quickly rejected the thought. In this post, I’ll go in depth on why I think a simple butt joint…
Cabin vs. House: What’s the Difference?
I’m currently in the process of building a new off-grid house, and I often find myself wondering: What kind of house am I building, exactly? It’s too big to be a tiny house; it’s too small and boxy to be a ranch-style house; it’s too lo-fi and lacking amenities, mechanicals, etcetera… to be a modern…
How to Make a Smokeless Fire Pit for Less than $100
The Internet is full of people demonstrating how to make a smokeless fire pit. The problem is: they’re all using the same design. It’s a good design, but it’s a bit pricey and not exactly the easiest thing to make. Firstly, you need a lot of pavers or solid concrete blocks. At a price of…
Slab on Grade vs. Pier and Beam Foundations
A few months ago I built a slab on grade foundation for our new house, so I thought it would be interesting to write an article comparing slab on grade to another common type of foundation: pier on beam. I considered several types of foundations for our new home, including pier on beam, so this…
Why Are Precut Studs 92-5/8 Inches and What Are They Used For?
The last time I bought a bunch of 2×6 studs, I noticed a few studs in my trailer that looked quite a bit shorter than the others. The guy helping load up, quickly snatched them out of the trailer and said, “Oh sorry, I guess some 92s slipped in the pile.” He was referring to…
Guide to Buying Solar: MPPT, APP, MC4… What’s It All Mean?
My wife, who also happens to be my editor – I don’t exactly have a payroll for this blog – was reviewing an article I wrote the other day, and had no choice but to admit she didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. It’s kind of hard to edit something when everything…
Why I Always Paint My Framing and Sheathing Lumber
When I was a kid, there was this new-construction, two-story house down the street from us. It was your typical Florida build – slab on grade, concrete block, etc… The second story was stick-framed, of course. It was fascinating watching the process, but then… one day… nothing. Construction stopped. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned…
Best Portable Solar Generators 2022
Portable solar generators have come a long way since I first started writing about them more than four years ago. They’ve advanced so much, no longer are they just an emergency backup power supply for small appliances; the models I am going to share with you in this post could power a small house, if…
