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Hi John, and others trying to respond to this housing need,<br>
<br>
I would be glad to show any builders trying to work on behalf of
this rebuilding effort how we have been using tip-up panels built on
site to dramatically reduce construction time and cost.<br>
<br>
I know I've been harping on about prefab for a long time now, and
I've been honestly surprised at the lack of uptake/interest in
general. But we really do have our costs down to $6-8 per square
foot of wall at a good labor rate. And unlike bale raisings where
people can help but often end up hindering, this is a process that
can be taught and learned very quickly and where the quality of wall
built by a beginner can be the same as that of a pro. The beauty of
this system is that the walls are plastered lying flat, so that the
amount of labor time is dramatically reduced and the panels are
finish-ready as soon as they have been stood up.<br>
<br>
I don't know what the timing is like for these projects, but I am
willing to be at the CASBA meeting in April, and if there is
interest I'd gladly demonstrate this tip-up system so that it can be
shared with those in need.<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
<br>
Chris<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 16-02-22 10:59 PM, John Swearingen
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAKij1dsJaGfP=BSDiE=iTMSA4gXzNxrjro2mePCuo1=U17TqEg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span
style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">This
weekend Jenna Yu and I, attended the Rebuild Expo, a
building expo geared toward people who had lost their homes
in the Valley Fire--1200 homes burned in less than a day.</span><span
style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">
The area is not wealthy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span
style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">It
was definitely a good place for us to be. Saturday morning
began with a long, long line of registered people who lost
their homes and who
were given early access to the event. Usually at these
sorts of events
there are people toying with building their own house, or
remodeling their
kitchen. This was different-- a mass of people desperately
trying to figure out
how to put themselves in housing once again. They're highly
motivated.
Many, probably most, face serious obstacles--insurance
settlements (if they had
insurance) and property values, but also things like county
requirements to
bring infrastructure up to code (water, septic,
electrical)--many people had
older buildings with grandfathered systems. Our table was
next to the County's,
so we overheard a lot of discussions. The County is doing
its best, and
will stretch regulations whenever they can for people's
benefit, but....</span><span
style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span
style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">Jenna
& I, representing Skillful Means, were the ones there
identified with straw, so I think we got most of the
questions. There was
a lot of interest. Perhaps "longing" is a better word,
because people
want to choose a natural home but are on limited means. We
introduced strawbale
to the many people who had little familiarity with it, and
were pleased at how
open they were to new ideas. And there was a LOT of interest
from everyone in
the possibilities of low-cost construction and the panel
system we're
developing (with help from "upside down" John). They really
want to be able to afford it, and not be condemned to
buy a toxic manufactured box.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span
style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">We're
offering free house plans of completed projects, and
most people felt they couldn't afford what we normally
design. Folks have been
hammered with every conceivable building method--promising
very low bottom
lines--but definitely were interested in something natural
and healthy, and
were excited that it was being presented to them. We need to
do more
outreach to these communities. They are working hard to
sort out their futures, and the future of their communities.</span><span
style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span
style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">There's
also a number of people who have heard of strawbale and
dismissed it, but they're often happy to tell us about it;
"rodents!! they're everywhere!". I'm always happy to chat
with them.</span><span
style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span
style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">Strawbale
has been fueled and financed in California by the
well-off, and that's allowed us to learn a lot about how to
design with straw. The folks this weekend don't have a lot
of money to spend on housing, and having the opportunity
to work with people who fled from the woods with only the
shirts on their
backs, was personally very satisfying.</span><span
style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span
style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">The
thousands of people of modest means who are now homeless can
inspire us to use our knowledge and experience to make good
housing available to average people. I’m inspired by their
determination to make it work, and I would urge the
strawbale community to
respond to their needs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span
style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif">John
(don't flame me!) Swearingen</span></p>
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<br>
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Chris Magwood
Director, Endeavour Centre
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.endeavourcentre.org">www.endeavourcentre.org</a></pre>
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