Updated expenses

Here are our updated expenses. Not too much higher than last time as we've only spent money on another roll of poly and some backfilling costs from Alvin.

PERMITS
HPO Homeowner Exemption Permit	$425.00
Building Permit	$1,504.00
Septic Approval	$157.50
		$2,086.50
PREP COSTS
Excavation	$4,480.00
		$4,480.00
MATERIALS
Tire Walls (inc. poly, Metal Lath + portland cement)	$573.04
Perimeter drain (inc. PVC pipe and fittings, filter cloth)	$528.46
Thermal Wrap (inc. poly, rigid insulation, tuck tape)	$3,781.10
Nails/other fasteners	$16.12
Tires	$0.00
Dirt	$0.00
Tire press	$0.00
Cardboard	$0.00
		$4,898.72
Total		$11,465.22

Updated expenses

I've taken a few minutes to update our expenses. I should note that I'm including GST in all figures, until I apply for the refund.

PERMITS
HPO	$425.00
Building Permit	$1,504.00
Septic Approval	$157.50
		$2,086.50
PREP COSTS
Excavation	$1,950.00
		$1,950.00
MATERIALS
Tire Walls (inc. poly, Metal Lath + portland cement)	$513.04
Perimeter drain (inc. PVC pipe and fittings, filter cloth)	$528.46
Thermal Wrap (inc. poly, rigid insulation, tuck tape)	$3,769.11
Nails/other fasteners	$16.12
Tires	$0.00
Dirt	$0.00
Tire press	$0.00
Cardboard	$0.00
		$4,826.73
Total		$8,863.23

My rough estimates for our building project (minus permits) was about $5,000 to complete the drainage and the thermal wrap. So far, without our excavation time for the drainage trench, we are at $4,313.69 for these items for these two items. Based on my experience quoting out log buildings, I tend to build in a good cushion and it's a good thing I did! I grossly underestimated the cost of the rigid insulation, thinking this would cost us about $1500. We may still have to purchase a bit more, too.

Overall, we are on budget for getting the earthship to lock up so we can work on it over winter. I'm pleased by that and hope that the roof doesn't throw me any curveballs in terms of cost!

Expenses to Date

I wanted to update our expenses to date, so that I don't lose track of where we are. As you can see more than half our costs are permits, with most of the other half being excavation expense. We got huge value out of the excavation; it remains to be seen if we will see the value in the permit costs!!!

We are now onto the second round of tires and in a few rounds will put in the perimeter drainage system and lay in our services to be buried in the back wall berm. We are thinking ahead and putting in a few more conduits, but essentially we are allowing for: electrical wire for net metering, electrical wiring for the renewable services (solar and wind which we will probably install on our shop roof, it's huge), water line from our existing deep well, water line for our harvested water, ethernet and telephone wire and a gas line for our propane appliances (maybe).

We expect to pay a few thousand dollars to accomplish the above, but after that it is all free tires, cardboard and dirt (with a bit of concrete for the half tire blocks).

PERMITS
HPO	$425.00
Building Permit	$1,504.00
Septic Approval	$157.50
		$2,086.50
PREP COSTS
Excavation	$1,950.00
		$1,950.00
MATERIALS
6 mil poly (under tires)	$107.20
10' 4" drain	$22.46
Tires	$0.00
Dirt	$0.00
Tire press	$0.00
Cardboard	$0.00
		$129.66
Sub Total		$4,166.16

Expenses update

Cost to replace the rear window (tinted with heaters through it) of Nissan pick up truck after somebody (o.k., me) hurled a two foot chunk of birch firewood through it: $475 plus tax.

Comprehensive deductible on recently re-insured truck: $500

Expenses to Date

As promised, our earthship expenses to date:

PERMITS
HPO	$425.00
Building Permit	$1,504.00
Septic Approval	$157.50
Sub Total	$2,086.50

Tomorrow we figure out where to situate the building (trying to find true south!)

First Expense for the Earthship!

I just paid $425 to the BC Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) for an Application for Owner Builder Authorization. This will allow us to build our earthship without a licenced home builder. Essentially it means we do not have to obtain third-pary home warranty insurance (although it is recommended by the HPO). This means we can general contract our own project. I have a suspicion that our permit fees will be outrageously out of proportion to our building costs.

There is still the building permit, plumbing permit, electrical permit, solid fuel permit...

The HPO application has to be sent to Victoria and once it is approved we forward it to our regional district to accompany the building permit application which we are submitting... tomorrow!

Stay tuned.