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Arizona Adam

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Building

Building an Off-Grid House Part 4: One Year Progress Update (Ceiling Framing, Wall Framing, and More…)

October 31, 2022 by Arizona Adam

OFF GRID HOUSE

It’s been one year since I started building our new home. In that time, I excavated the land, built retaining walls, built the slab-on-grade foundation, and framed up the walls and the ceiling. Here’s a detailed overview of the frame, plus a little extra stuff.

Filed Under: Building

The Pros and Cons of Spray Foam Insulation (Open Cell and Closed Cell)

August 23, 2022 by Arizona Adam

spray foam insulation

*If you don’t want to read the entire article, scroll to the bottom for a quick summary of the pros and cons* I’m going to be using a little bit of spray foam here and there in the new house I’m building, so I thought it might be a good time to talk about the…

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Filed Under: Building

How to Put Up Heavy Wall Frames by Yourself

July 19, 2022 by Arizona Adam

Wall Square

I’m in the process of framing a house using 2×6 studs. If you’ve discovered this post through a search engine, I’m going to assume you just realized how heavy a 2×6 wall frame is – or even worse, a 2×8 – and you’re looking for a way to make it easier to erect. If, like…

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Filed Under: Building

Building an Off-Grid House Part 3: Framing Exterior Walls

June 22, 2022 by Arizona Adam

House frame

Eight months ago I started building a new house on my off-grid property. By the end of this month I’ll be finished with the exterior walls, so I thought now would be a good time for a video update. Check out the progress below…

Filed Under: Building

Should Metal Roofing Screws Go Through the Valleys or the Peaks? Let’s Settle This Debate Once and for All

May 25, 2022 by Arizona Adam

Corrugated metal roofing

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…

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Filed Under: Building

Miter Joint vs. Butt Joint: Why I Don’t Like Miter Joints

April 27, 2022 by Arizona Adam

miter joint

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…

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Filed Under: Building

Cabin vs. House: What’s the Difference?

April 21, 2022 by Arizona Adam

log cabin

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…

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Filed Under: Building

How to Make a Smokeless Fire Pit for Less than $100

April 20, 2022 by Arizona Adam

smokeless fire pit

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…

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Filed Under: Building

Slab on Grade vs. Pier and Beam Foundations

April 10, 2022 by Arizona Adam

Slab being poured

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…

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Filed Under: Building

Why Are Precut Studs 92-5/8 Inches and What Are They Used For?

April 8, 2022 by Arizona Adam

precut studs

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…

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Filed Under: Building

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