The Complete Guide to Building Affordable Earth-Sheltered Homes - (Back to Basics Building) by Robert McConkey (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Earth-sheltered building has existed since the heyday of Skara Brae in Scotland 5,000 years ago, and is used today by people around the world, from the Yaodong of northwest China to the subterranean residents of Coober Pedy, Australia, and even to converted missile silos in America. Contrary to popular misconceptions of being cramped, dark, or dank domiciles, earth-sheltered homes come in a number of different styles, incorporating brilliant techniques designed to bring light and air into the home.
With The Complete Guide to Building Affordable Earth-Sheltered Homes, you will learn about the many different types of earth-sheltered homes and their various advantages, including a life span that can be two to three times longer than that of conventional housing, inexpensive building materials, and reduced maintenance costs. Additionally, the energy costs of an earth-sheltered home can be as much as 80 percent lower than a conventional home s power costs.
The book also examines the different environmental factors that you need to consider when selecting which style to build and how to begin, and carry out, your building process. Some of the factors discussed include the different types of soil and how to adjust to them, the level of precipitation and how to manage runoff, and how to maximize use of natural light sources.
Construction experts and earth-sheltered homebuilders have been interviewed and their expertise is included in this guide to help you learn how you can create your own underground home. Details of construction methods are found throughout the book, including tips and advice for planning, excavation, flooring, walls, framing, waterproofing, roofing, drainage, and insulation. You will also learn how to pour your own footings and floor, how to dry stack concrete block walls, how to use post and beam framing, and how to waterproof the membranes. With the information provided in this book, you can start planning and building your own earth-sheltered home in no time so that you, too, can benefit from the natural protection of the earth. If earth-sheltered building is good enough for Bill Gates $136 million mansion, then it just might be good enough for you too.
Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company president s garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.

About the Author

Robert Alan McConkey is a native of the Pacific Northwest where he grew up with a passionate interest in science and business. After getting an undergraduate degree in Zoology and Oceanography from the University of Washington, he went on to manage a small homebuilding and remodeling company in the Seattle area. An active member of the Kitsap County Home Builders Association, McConkey served as a national director to the Home Builders Association in the early 1980s. Later he owned and operated a marine construction company that built concrete and wood floating docks. Robert is still active in his marine construction and maintenance business and works part-time as a freelance writer and business consultant. He currently teaches several online courses on e-commerce and is a published writer and poet. He has a master s degree in business and holds a teaching certificate for High School level math and science. His wife Helen and two grown children, Andrew and Kendra, enjoy an active life in the Pacific Northwest that includes boating, scuba diving, running, and cycling."