Take a look at these home remodeling ideas to spark creativity for your own DIY low cost remodeling projects using recycled wood, antiques, natural building materials, etc. There are hundreds of similar ideas to consider. It’s endless really. Besides searching online, another source of design inspiration is home design magazines. Sometimes you can buy them by the box at yard sales for pennies on the dollar.
Owen Geiger
Recycled Glass Insulation
I’m always on the lookout for sustainable natural building materials. Recycled glass insulation is not only made in part with recycled glass, it’s also effective at reducing energy costs and improving the acoustics in homes and businesses. EcoBatt insulation caught my eye because it appears to be the largest brand of recycled, non-toxic glass insulation in the US. A few other brands are listed below, some of which are available in Europe.
Handbuilt small homes and the building codes
“This video is about small handbuilt homes and how building codes stand in the way. For the first part of this 2-part documentary on why we need small handbuilt homes please visit: https://youtu.be/dZF6d3gUdd0
Best Energy-Smart Home 2016
“This Felton, California home combines traditional passive-solar strategies with new-age materials. Learn more about this home and other 2016 HOUSES award winners at Finehomebuilding.com
13 Most Unusual Houses
Not all of the houses in the video are sustainably built with natural materials, however sometimes it’s fun to look at something different and unusual to stir the imagination. My personal favorites are Simon Dale’s 3,000 Euro Hobbit House in Wales (perhaps the most popular natural home in the modern era) and the Flintstones House. Simon Dale’s house epitomizes why Kelly and I do what we do. This house demonstrates how people of average skill can build their own affordable, even dirt cheap, natural house in a reasonable amount of time so they can break free of the rat race and do what they really want to do in life. Which ones are your favorites?
DIY Soil Stabilizer Recipe Part 2 – Call for Assistance
This is a call for assistance from a librarian who can help find a book on how to make do-it-yourself soil stabilizers for natural home builders. About two years ago I published a blog post titled DIY Soil Stabilizer Recipe that has received quite a few comments. Now it’s time to take things to the next level.