Part one of converting an old barn into a solar powered workshop. We can’t wait to never buy power again! This is the first step towards building our off grid farm and shipping container home. In this video, we clean out the old barn and show you the future plans for the workshop.
Part 2 in our renovation of an old barn and converting it into a solar powered workshop. Once this workshop is done, we will then begin building our shipping container home that will also be powered by the sun.
The time is now. We sold our home, quit our jobs, and are risking everything. In this video, you will hear why. Also, you will get an update on our barn renovation. Progress equals happiness.
See the progress on our solar powered workshop. We are learning to take things day by day. Building your dreams is never easy, but neither is pimpin’! The whole reason we are doing this is so we can personally build our dream home and be a part of the whole process. Finding happiness in the little achievements is what it’s all about. Watch as we finish the floors and start putting the walls back up. Also, you’ll see our electric vs human-powered bike race. We can’t wait to build some mountain bike trails on the property!
The exterior walls are up and the windows are going in. Follow us as we continue this building process of our solar powered workshop. Once we put the interior wall in and get a door up, we can begin working on getting solar power.
This week was our toughest week yet. As we finished up the interior wall on our solar closet, we ran into a little trouble with the generator. That’s no bueno when you’re trying to build off grid. We bought a Harbor Freight Predator 4000 generator. Money well spent! We also ran into some car trouble. Our Toyota Prius started having some issues during the move here to Texas and it just kept getting worse. Therefore, we decided it was time to get ourselves a new farm car. We chose a 2000 Honda CRV that Spenser can do all the work on due to his past mechanic experience.
The walls and door on our solar closet are all up. We are still working on the screening and making it bug tight, but we are getting there! Just a few more finishing touches and then we can begin working on getting solar power. We have been out here for a little over three weeks now and we have completely transformed this barn already. We can’t imagine how amazing it will look when it is completely done!
We have finished making the one side of the barn into a sealed solar closet and are now working on harnessing the power of the sun! We hope to have solar power very soon. We can’t wait to have a shipping container home, workshop, and farm that are all completely powered by the sun. Also, you get to see where we will be living during the entire building process of our off grid home. The space we are living in is giving us a taste of what it would be like to live tiny.
With the solar closet in the barn complete, we have started making the solar panel mount. Watch as we make the footings for the wooden frame that will soon hold our 12 solar panels. These panels will power our workshop and off grid shipping container home. Once we get solar power, we will begin building our net zero shipping container home!
The solar panels are now installed on our diy ground mount. It is now time to start wiring them up so they can meet all of our power needs! This solar array will power our off grid farm and shipping container home that we will build ourselves. We are one step closer to becoming energy self reliant. We saved up our money before we moved from Florida and had bought these solar panels so this entire project is being done debt-free!
Our first shipping container roof is really coming together! In this episode, we do tons of painting, install the sub-fascia and fascia, and begin laying the roof deck with the zip system. "When a problem comes along... you must ZIP IT! " -Dr. Evil
Our first shipping container roof is really coming together! In this episode, we finished the roof deck, installed all of the zip tape, built the vents, and installed the purlins. As time consuming as it is, these little details truly matter the most!
Our first shipping container roof is done! In this episode, Spenser built and painted part of the center section soffit. We also installed our first shipping container roof drip edge and metal roofing. It's so exciting seeing such a huge step completed!
After months of debating on whether or not to fix all of the rust on our house and paint it, we have decided to completely restore our shipping containers. Our house is officially in the body shop!
In this episode, we begin restoring our shipping container doors that have a good amount of water, salt, and transport damage due to their previous life at sea. Unfortunately, we ran into some issues with the weather, but we're getting there. We're just one step closer to being able to start working on the inside!
The time has finally come to paint our shipping containers. Goodbye Evergreen, Hello Outerspace! Outerspace is the name of the color we've chosen. We hope you guys like it as much as we do????
Our off grid shipping container home is officially dried in! In this episode, we install all of the windows and reinstall all of the hardware onto the shipping container doors. We are so incredibly excited to now begin working on the inside!
The time has come to start working on the inside of our house! In this episode, we begin working on the shipping container floors. Everything seemed to be going really well, until we had a bit of a mishap...
In this episode, we work on building our fence while we wait on our floor epoxy to come in. Little did we know that the epoxy project would soon be our biggest mistake yet...
In this episode, we begin framing the interior walls of our off grid shipping container home. Now that all of the perimeter walls are done, we are ready to start framing all of the rooms.
In this episode, we begin building the rooms in our off grid shipping container home. It's such an amazing feeling seeing the design we've created finally coming to life.
Framing the interior of our shipping container home has been a little more difficult than we had originally anticipated. We're almost done though! In this episode, we figure out how to frame our large shipping container cutouts, enabling us to keep the house as open as possible.
We are almost all done framing our off grid shipping container house. In this episode, we finish framing the ceiling and it begins to truly feel like a home!
Now that all of our framing is almost done, we figured it was the perfect time to share our updated floor plan tour with you guys! Hopefully, this helps give you a better idea of the overall design and layout of our home.
In this episode, we begin our rainwater harvesting project. After running into a small speed bump with our gutters, we decide to go get our rainwater tanks and begin leveling the area where they will be placed.
In this episode, we finish building the platform for our rainwater cisterns and complete the plumbing that connects all three tanks. We're one step closer to being able to collect rainwater!
In this episode, we install the gutters on our off grid shipping container home. We're one step closer to being able to catch rainwater off of our roof!
It's time to flush the nasties! In this episode, we build and install our DIY first flush system for our shipping container home roof. This system will help pre-filter the rainwater before it enters our tanks. Also, Papa Donkey comes by to check on the progress of the house...
All of our pipes are connected that lead from our house to the rainwater catchment tanks. The next time it rains, we will be officially catching rainwater! We also begin building the pump house which will provide our home with clean water.
In this episode, we start building our passive solar water heater. This has been a heavily anticipated project that Spenser has been looking forward to for a few years now. To say he's excited is an understatement. We also share some very exciting news that we've been hiding from you...
In this episode, we pour a concrete slab for our batch water heater and begin plumbing our home with PEX. It's so exciting seeing the rough in plumbing in our walls. We're one step closer to having running water!
In this episode, we finally get our first rain and get to test out our rainwater catchment system. We also begin building the pump house that will house the pump, pressure tank, and filtration system. So close to water we can taste it!
In this episode, we waterproof the pump house. This was a crucial step because we also build a natural living roof on it. Time to water the roof!
In this episode, we install the rain screen and all of the cedar siding on our rainwater pump house. After we build the door, we will be ready to install the pump, pressure tank, and the whole filtration system.
In this episode, we finish the exterior of the pump house and prepare for rain heading our way by building the overflow pipe on our rainwater tanks. We also continue working on the batch water heater, which will eventually heat our home's water without any electricity or gas!
In this episode, we continue building our solar batch water heater. Once complete, this tank will give us free hot water, courtesy of the sun!
In this episode, we finish plumbing the batch water heater and the entire pump house. We also show you how we will be getting clean, safe, drinkable rainwater off grid. Time to get power to the pump house!
In this episode, we finish plumbing the pump house and start working on running solar power into our home. This is a huge step for us and we are so excited to get to share it with all of you!
We have hit our biggest milestone yet. We now have power running into our house and over to the pump house and we also have running water. Cue the waterworks!
In this episode, we begin the rough in plumbing for our home. Jumping from one task to another can be quite challenging, but we're figuring it out as we go!
In this episode, we begin plumbing the bathrooms in our shipping container home and test fit our bathtub and toilet. We ran into a couple of obstacles this week, but that's just how it goes when you're building your own home. All of these struggles will just make the end result that much sweeter.
This week, we got a much needed piece of equipment that will make our lives so much easier. It is a total game changer! We also solve our venting issue and begin building our master bathroom shower.
In this episode, we continue building our master bathroom shower where we run into a minor hiccup. Don't make this mistake with your shower!
This week, we continue working on a project that we started a while ago... the fence! Once the fence is complete, it will help us keep out all of the wild animals, cows, and donkeys. This will allow us to work on landscaping, gardening, and starting a compost.
In this episode, we continue building our fence. It's amazing how something as simple as a fence has completely transformed this place and makes it feel so much more like our home.
In this episode, we finish building our fence and answer a question we get asked daily... When are we moving into our home?!
In this episode, we begin building the front deck that leads into our house. We also start wiring our container home, starting with the master bedroom!
In this episode, we work on building the front entry for our shipping container home. Having these steps leading into our house will help make our lives so much easier!
This is our completed off grid rainwater harvesting system. It will supply our shipping container home with all of our water needs. If you enjoy seeing our projects like this, start to finish, please let us know in the comments down below.
In this episode, we finish building the front entry leading into our home. We also introduce you to the newest member of the Life Uncontained staff :)
In this episode, we continue working on the front entry for our home and build the deck overhang. We also run into a little trouble with our solar power, after having one whole week with no sun...
The front entry for our home is finally done! In this episode, we finish building the deck overhang for our front porch and build a living roof on top of it.
In this episode, we work on wiring all of the outlets in our shipping container home. It's so nice to finally be able to ditch the extension cords! Heck yeah!!
In this episode, we begin lighting up the interior of our home. We install recessed lights and continue wiring all of the remainder of the electrical. All of these steps make it feel so close to being complete and it's so exciting!
All of the recessed lights are now installed in our home. We ended up adding more recessed lights to the other container, and we are so glad we did! It helps brighten the space and makes it feel so much bigger... that's what she said. We can see the light at the end of tunnel now, as we approach the end of electrical.
In this episode, we answer a question we get all of the time... Do we have any codes or inspections? We also work on running power out to our septic system and add some extra lighting in the bathrooms.
Today marks two years that we have been out here building our own off grid shipping container home. Without having any experience, we've come so far and made so much progress. We can't wait to see what this next year has in store!
In this episode, we install lighting on our back deck. We can't wait until we have a screened in porch so we can have an extra outdoor living space on our home. Considering we spend so much time outside, I know we will be back here all of the time once we move in.
The day has finally come! We get our septic tank installed and complete all of the plumbing leading from the house, out to the septic system. We are slowly getting back modern day luxuries and it's the greatest feeling in the world!
In this episode, we finish building our solar batch water heater. Now that the batch water heater is done, we can move onto installing the water heater inside the house. We still have some odds and ends to complete before we can get back to having normal home amenities, but we want to do things right the first time. It's not just about hooking something up as quickly as we can. It's about thinking ahead and relying on as few moving parts and people as possible. Being able to store the sun's energy in a water tank, just gets us one step closer to that goal.
In this episode, we finish plumbing our home. We pressure test our house and install a toilet and a washing machine. All of these little changes have made our lives so much better, but these are just some small things we've modified. We have some other changes coming to the build that we've been contemplating for a while now. Big changes are coming, and we can't wait to share it with you guys.
After a lot of thought, we have decided that we will be making some big changes to our home. Our floor plan is getting some adjustments and we are increasing our square footage.
During strange times like these, we feel so lucky to be living off grid and getting to build our own home. In this episode, we continue building the foundation for the addition on our house. We also build a mega beam and have a fun time trying to move it...
In this episode, we rip the back part of our house up as we continue converting it into an interior part of our home. Making decisions like this is never easy, but we are so excited to start seeing it all come together.
With the foundation complete, we begin framing the new room onto our container home. Everything seems to be going well as we're installing the floor joists, until we run into some bad weather...
With the floor for our addition all framed, we begin laying the subfloor and build the walls for our new room.
Our home's addition is well underway! In this episode, we sheath the new room and fix a minor problem with the front entry's living roof.
In this episode, we begin building the back deck for our home and we get something that we've needed for a long time...
The decking is all done! We still need to build the handrail and apply the stain, but we think it really helps tie our home all together.
In this episode, we continue building the back deck for our home and address a question we get all of the time... why aren't we working on the inside?
In this episode, we complete the back deck and install the windows on our home's addition. We're so close to being dried in...again.
Our home is now completely dried in! After we get the addition all sealed off and are able to keep the bugs out, we install the tongue and groove boards for the ceiling over our deck. We are so happy with how this addition is turning out so far and how it helps tie everything together.
In this episode, we work on wiring our living room and back porch and get something back that we haven't had in two and a half years...a ceiling fan.
In this episode, we build the rain screen on our home's addition. The rain screen gives a ventilation gap between the siding and the sheathing, allowing for evaporation and proper drainage. This will help our home last as long as possible.
In this episode, we begin installing the siding on our home, extend the rafters in the interior, and the off grid flasher strikes again...
In this episode, we finish all of the siding on the addition and begin a new project that we've been wanting to do for a very long time.
In this episode, we continue to work on passively shading our container home and work on extending our fence.
In this episode, we work on installing our rainwater catchment, after discovering that we're starting to run out of water.
In this episode, we begin painting our house and work on fixing our window mistake.
The back of our home is now FINISHED! We work on tying up some loose ends on the exterior of our home, including painting, exterior lighting, and completing the back deck.
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