E-Mail 'A Memoir On One Family’s Move To The American Redoubt- Part 5, by X. Liberal & China Doll' To A Friend

12 Comments

1. Phew! Gives a whole new level of respect for good contractors and the amazing amount of knowledge they must posses. Props to them all! For someone with no prior knowledge kudos to you. Quite an accomplishment. You must be deservedly proud.

2. I would just love to know how big a mortgage the author ended up assuming! And his plans for making payment when TSHTF?

   1. And that is your business because…..?

   2. Wow, Scrap Metal Man, you seem angry about something. Just why would you love to know about the author’s mortgage? Just maybe the author busted his butt, saved his money and paid cash for his dream. Does this somehow make you angry?

      1. I am not angry. I just think that he’s encouraging others to do likewise. This whole blog is about SHTF, no? How do you justify taking on major debt, when preparing for SHTF? Does he think the banks will ‘forgive’ his debt when times get tough? On the contrary, they will NOT. If you have a mortgage, you do NOT own the property! Where is the safety and security in that???

3. Warning: if you live in an area with lots of clay in the soil and wet/dry cycles make sure you use the high strength PVC piping for your sewer connections from house to septic system. Don’t ask why I know…

4. Comments have been mostly constructive pun intended.
   I have followed along and decided to put my 2 cents in.
   While my opinions may differ in some areas, judgement is and always will be well above my pay grade.
   Like many here they saw a need to get out of Dodge and trusted in God to show them the way.
   X Liberal and China Doll have provided a lot of good detail and shared their adventure.
   Thank You!

5. Well done! I had originally planned a similar endeavor when I moved to the Redoubt but my job responsibilities meant that I would still be working on it to this day. I ended up buying a customized modular, but most of the general contractor-type work was still my job. It was like herding cats some days but when everything was done I felt very satisfied. Not that I would want to do it again!

6. Good stuff. I’m still hoping for photos.
   As a GC myself, I’m able to follow along with visuals in my head, I still like photos.

7. No well? Do you have to haul water? I didn’t think city water connection because it sounds kind of remote. Thanks for the awesome article.

8. Two thumbs up for DIY.
   However, as a professional electrician, I feel the need to add a caveat: wiring is not a hobby. There is nothing wrong with educating yourself about the systems that make your home work; indeed, a good prepper probably considers this a necessity. If you don’t do the electrical work under the tutelage of a licensed electrical contractor, however, you may be risking the value of your home at best and the safety of your family at worst.
   I often say the National Electrical Code is what happens when 5000 Washington DC lawyers get together to write rules for electrical work by committee. It’s very difficult to translate into real world situations, but many of the rules are there for a very good reason, primarily safety.
   Some of the things not discussed about this particular project, likely for the sake of brevity:
   The kitchen should be served by a minimum of two circuits, and all of the receptacles must be GFCI protected. There are very specific rules laying out the location and allowable spacing of receptacles supplying kitchen countertops.
   The bathroom receptacles shall also be supplied by a circuit, be GFCI protected, and no other loads may be on that circuit.
   The exterior of the residence should have a minimum of two exterior GFCI protected receptacles, one in front and one in rear.
   All general living areas including bedrooms shall have AFCI protection for all outlets. Note that in the Code, “outlet” is a generic term that refers to any box where power is available, as opposed to “receptacle” which is a plug. This rule is commonly met by supplying each room required with its own circuit from an AFCI breaker to feed both lights and receptacles in that room.
   The wiring between the meter base and the panel or first disconnect must be in rigid conduit as it is unfused. Any panel including more than six breakers (and it’s extremely difficult if not impossible to wire a residence within the rules with only six breakers) must have a properly sized main, or “master” breaker.
   Proper grounding and bonding is imperative for safe operation of the system. For most residences a #4 copper wire should be tied to the rebar in the foundation and tied to the grounding system to create an UFOR ground. Even if your water supply system uses PEX or similar piping, a length of copper pipe should be included at the point the cold water supply enters the structure, and that pipe should be bonded with a #4 wire using an appropriate fitting.
   This is by no means an exhaustive list of things to consider when wiring a residence. Not following the rules could cause trouble with inspectors from your local authorities, your bank if you have a mortgage or construction loan, and your insurance company especially if there is a claim. There is also the not inconsequential consideration of the safety of your family. Wiring is not a hobby. Don’t dabble in it. If you are going to do it, educate yourself thoroughly and get a professional to look over your shoulder.

9. When your sewer dumps into your septic tank as well as when it leaves the tank it’s important that it all happens about 6 or 8 inches below the tanks standing fluid level. The problem is that as time goes on the top of the fluid level will begin to crust over which will cause problems by creating a wall of floating sludge which will stop the sewer from entering the tank and leaving the tank as well. The fix is easy. Just install a “T” fitting on the inlet pipe just inside the tank and also on the outlet pipe just inside the tank. Then glue a 6 inch long extension pipe on the bottoms of both “T”s and that will allow the incoming sewer to enter the tank below the sludge level and it will also allow the fluid to exit the tank below the sludge level. You may have already done this but didn’t go in to detail about it. If you haven’t plumbed it this way I would encourage you to do so and avoid any future problems. It sounds like everything else has been done right and I must commend you on a job done well. Good luck to you and yours.

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