I don't comment much on RU-vid, but I wanted to say a few things. First, I think you are both very brave to do what you are. It takes courage to move to a strip of dirt and live there while you make it into a home. Secondly, I really enjoy watching your videos. There are hundreds of homesteading type posters out there, but this is the only one I subscribed to. I like how you've approached presenting this content, and I am glad you are taking us along on your journey. I truly look forward to each video as it comes along. Thirdly, and lastly, I get a real sense of your partnership with each other. It really gives me hope for people in general, in this day and age, to see how well you two compliment each other, and how you seem to have grown together since the beginning of this journey. I have noticed, as you have progressed, that Jesse is starting to spontaneously take moments to compliment Alyssa. That may not seem like much to some, but the genuineness of your appreciation for one another, and how that has expressed itself over the course of your progress, really warms my heart. Anyway, I wish you both happiness and love, and success in your venture. Thanks for including us.
I am stuck in amazement! I have been here since the start of this journey and you both have came a long way! I am beyond happy for both of you! And I am excited to continue on with the journey!
I'm an engineer and I am inspired by your journey. Also, cleaning as you go promotes safety, efficiency and a sense of control which is relaxing so it's not a waste of time. Keep up the hard work and continue to share your story because one day I hope to have my own. Thank you, Ben M.
You guys are working your tails off! Keeping the work site clean helps you mentally and physically. Also smart to mention the reasons you check equipment because lots of us in your situation might forget to due to tiredness. This is my favorite part! The house build. And your foundation is so important for future comfort in your home. Great job!!
I've been building a house for almost 3 years now. We just bought the material to make the mantel and surround. We also got our propane tank set and the house pressure tested today. Feels so go to move forward, no matter your stage.
I started watching your videos a while ago, though then I got behind. My plan was to go back and watch what I missed, but I haven't been able to catch up. My new plan is to watch all the currents ones and if I need to go back I will. I really love you are documenting this process. Thanks for filming this.
Clean, clean, clean....one of the biggest issues with cutting lumber is that you will produce sawdust....fact of life - sadly. Would love to be one of those people who come along to help of a weekend but, living in Australia, makes the journey (for the weekend) a bit much. Love you progress. Proud of the progress and the methods you are using. Practical, sensible and productive. Congrats guys...
SUPER stoked for you guys! My wife, mother & father and I will be doing what you're doing soon--we're closing on our land in less than two weeks now...I enjoy watching your progress because, unlike others on YT I've watched, you guys aren't "Pros," and yet you talk through every step with a lot of clarity and purpose. The bottom line, is that you help me to be realistic with my planning and manage my expectations of time, help, and workload. If you can think of anything "Behind-the-scenes" that might be of value to us, please feel free to reach out to me--I'd greatly appreciate it! Thanks for the dedication to the content, I know that's a whole other full-time job in itself! I'll be looking forward to watching the rest of your progress and am so excited for you two! Your Friend, R.
You are so smart to cap the rebar. I am from construction testing career and I will say your footings look perfect. Very nice job. You two are really amazing, you are listening to really smart people and your follow through is commendable. One criticism: you look like you may be over working. Maybe take a few days off? Catch your breath, enjoy the trees, smell the flowers.
Those are some heavy duty footings, good job on the pour. I had my wife help me pour a turn around in front of our garage about 18 yards of crete and it was hell on earth. lol
Great videos. I like it all. The comments and Jessey letting us know what he's thinking etc. is all great. This is not a how to series of videos as I see it. These videos are you sharing your experience, your thoughts, feelings, etc. etc. along the way so please don't change anything. Keep up the great work and editing.
You need to either buy or make a set of forks for your backhoe. It will make unloading and moving things a lot easier. The forks attach to a horizontal bar that you pick up with the loader bucket hooks.
Great progress guys having renovated a number of houses myself this is hard honest work and you guys are doing a great job thus far. Really exciting progress being made now. From here on you guys will see the progress it is not all buried in the ground.
But wait there's MORE!!! In building I've learned there is ALWAYS many things that have to be done -- before doing the things you are there to do!!!! Very frustrating !!! You two are doing great - thanks for taking us along.
you two should be so proud of yourselves. just a beautiful inspiration. so refreshing to watch and learn from. thank you for your determination to save/work your plan. much love and god,s peace be with you two, and to all.
Keep up all the hard work. You two are doing a wonderful thing there and should be VERY proud of all you have learned and done. Anyone that has a negative comment is a fool. Cheers.
I am not doing the back breaking work. And it is not my build. But, still pretty exciting to see your progress! I would have been a nervous wreck doing that concrete pour! You two rock! You should both be very proud of your work!
I am impressed with Jesse's understanding of what and why, before he has even done his work. I didn't have nearly as much of a clue in my first few builds; it was sort of flying by the seat of my pants and relying on the experts more. Good for you Jesse. You can be a builder once you're cozy in your beautiful home.
Thanks for all your work putting this stuff on video! We are a few months from doing the same thing, so it's good to see what you learned, and what we might be forgetting! Hope your weather cools off soon!
In about 10 months, I hope to be doing EXACTLY this! I have no idea where you are building. But I will be building my home in Alaska. We will be somewhat tight budget, but we will be debt free!
I'm so happy for y'all. Caught up with your videos. Really enjoying your attitude and how well you two work together. I now look forward to your new videos. Keep 'em coming. I'm learning so much.
Camp instant water heater or try to steal hot water from the RV? Then again with the temp there a cold shower would let them cool off. Not like they have a few tons of river rock to make a mud free floor once washed.
Even our little 25' travel trailer has a built in outdoor shower. Shower head on a wand with hot and cold water taps. When we camp near a beach, I put a small pallet to stand on so the dirt and sand rinses away and not have to stand in a puddle.
Good on you for putting those rebar caps on there! Have you thought of perhaps doing a single step terrace at that back wall? It helps a lot with the drainage, relieves pressure against the wall and helps with rockslides and force from snow banks. Will be a lot easier to do now than in the future.
Epic - all the other "little stuff" up to now is sort of invisible - as now it's really taking off - gigantic changes everyday - you guys are amazing - and we're inspired by this herculean undertaking. (Cheering from the peanut gallery)
Hi Guy's enjoy you sharing your journey with us and seeing your progress. Maybe dig a swale drain or install a drain coil up slope of the bank to divert most of the water before it gets close to your house. Cheers Jared
Looks like you hit most of the key items for this stage of your build but did not mention one critical component, you need a dimpled membrane against the foundation, this provides an air barrier and eliminates static pressure on your foundation by providing a path for water to follow, Delta-MS is a great choice IMO., good luck on your build.
Recommended that the entire top surface of the footer have a capillary break applied to it in order to prevent capillary migration of water up and through the footer to the foundation wall. Many different products out there.... some can be painted on others come in a roll out membrane.
Something you can do to help with removal of forms and stakes, use the backhoe with a chain on the ones you can reach. Wrap the chain around the stake and life them out, this will pull the nails and everything out of the wood along with it.... reduces the wear on you trying to beat/pull all those nails out. When we formed out garage pour, we didnt have a backhoe like you, so i bolted some wood together and created a lever to use mechanical advantage and pulled every stake out this way super easy, very little effort, didn't even remove any nails before pulling them.
Is it just me or has Jesse been working out? He is looking so much healthier...you both have that glow that only clean air living and hard work brings! Some people pay big money for that and its a by-product for you!!
We coated our garage floor and added the flakes for aesthetics. That reduced the amount of dust/dirt tracked into the house and makes cleaning the garage easier as well.
Keep an eye out for a set of clamp on bucket forks for the backhoe. You'll be gettin lots of stuff on pallets. Clamp on forks on Ebay are less than $150.
as far as cleaning up before heading into the camper, I built an outdoor shower at my camp using a 12volt jump pack, Ecotemp L5 on demand water heater and a used RV on demand water pump. No sense in tracking the dirt, mud, sawdust etc into the camper. My water supply is from a 275 gallon tote
Thank you for uploading this video in a format that can be watched directly, it was nice to watch it when published, instead of having to wait up to 3 days for You Tube to convert it to a viewable format ! I know you do not post comments anymore, but would you please respond to this one, the problem you found the solution to, is getting bigger and bigger, and more and more people can not watch videos when just uploaded, but have to wait up to 3 days, it would be nice to be able to offer the solution to You Tubers that have the same problem. Again THANK YOU
The footings lay basically on the ground, do they? Here in Europe there is a regulation we have to dig at least 3 feet to the ground for the footings to avoid freezing temperature to lift them up an crack the walls. Or are you guys going to cover the footings with some rock/soil. Anyway, great job!
Working their A**es off with long days in 100+ degree weather, must be burning up some serious calories, I've been quite impressed with the serious toiling away they get done with each new video.
Soulsreaper Never thought of that, good point! Although I think you can get some which only broadcast every 30seconds or so. Could be used as a time lapse too, 2 in 1! :)
Jessie-can you build a ramp to get over the foundation, assuming that the rebar can be bent aside to clear the tires, to clean up all the excess soil and rock?
Lookin good guys. I was wondering about the rebar caps the whole video, Its not something you had to do since your building your own place but It so nice that you did. Those caps save a friend of mine's life, well worth the price.
