How to build your home from scratch for $35,000

Arion McNicoll, for CNN
Updated 5:16 AM EDT, Mon August 5, 2013
Simon Dale built his own 'Hobbit House' for less than $5,000. Dale says the whole building was constructed with just a hammer, a one-inch chisel and a chainsaw, and was made largely of scavenged materials. Dale says: "Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere -- windows, burner, plumbing, wiring."
From scrap-heap to homestead —
Simon Dale built his own 'Hobbit House' for less than $5,000. Dale says the whole building was constructed with just a hammer, a one-inch chisel and a chainsaw, and was made largely of scavenged materials. Dale says: "Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere -- windows, burner, plumbing, wiring."
Courtesy www.SimonDale.net
Dale, who has no training as a builder, built his eco-home with the help of a few friends and family members. His ecologically-friendly home uses water from a nearby stream, and is heated by a wood burning stove with wood gathered from the surrounding forests. The property has a compost toilet, and is powered by solar panels on the roof.
Hammer time —
Dale, who has no training as a builder, built his eco-home with the help of a few friends and family members. His ecologically-friendly home uses water from a nearby stream, and is heated by a wood burning stove with wood gathered from the surrounding forests. The property has a compost toilet, and is powered by solar panels on the roof.
Courtesy www.SimonDale.net
After living in the cosy house, Dale moved out in 2009, leaving the property to be used by the woodland workers who pass through the site. He has now applied the principles he learned during the construction of his first home to build a new small house in West Wales.
Frodo would be proud —
After living in the cosy house, Dale moved out in 2009, leaving the property to be used by the woodland workers who pass through the site. He has now applied the principles he learned during the construction of his first home to build a new small house in West Wales.
Courtesy www.SimonDale.net
Not everyone will have the confidence to build their own home from scratch. If you need a bit more guidance than Simon Dale, you could go online and download the plans to the 'WikiHouse' -- the world's first 'open-source' building. The designs require no special parts. In fact, the whole building can be made like a jigsaw puzzle from pieces of timber that snap together. Imagine a flat-pack IKEA cupboard, but bigger, more sophisticated, and without the need for Allen keys.
Just wiki it —
Not everyone will have the confidence to build their own home from scratch. If you need a bit more guidance than Simon Dale, you could go online and download the plans to the 'WikiHouse' -- the world's first 'open-source' building. The designs require no special parts. In fact, the whole building can be made like a jigsaw puzzle from pieces of timber that snap together. Imagine a flat-pack IKEA cupboard, but bigger, more sophisticated, and without the need for Allen keys.
Courtesy WikiHouse
According to its inventors, the WikiHouse can be constructed in under a day, by people with absolutely no training in construction whatsoever.
Child's play —
According to its inventors, the WikiHouse can be constructed in under a day, by people with absolutely no training in construction whatsoever.
Courtesy WikiHouse
One of the central aspects of the WikiHouse is its collaborative nature. The basic WikiHouse designs have been adapted by architects in New Zealand into post-earthquake shelters. And in Rio de Janiero to help provide a solution to the mounting housing crisis in the city's favelas.
Collaboration nation —
One of the central aspects of the WikiHouse is its collaborative nature. The basic WikiHouse designs have been adapted by architects in New Zealand into post-earthquake shelters. And in Rio de Janiero to help provide a solution to the mounting housing crisis in the city's favelas.
Courtesy WikiHouse
Dominic Stevens adopted the same spirit of openness when he built his own three-bedroom house near Dublin. The Irish architect created a blog to document the process, from laying the foundations to finishing the interior. "By sharing my plans, I hope that it might be inspirational to people who have the skills, or will, or wish to put their own house together," Stevens said.
Irish vernacular —
Dominic Stevens adopted the same spirit of openness when he built his own three-bedroom house near Dublin. The Irish architect created a blog to document the process, from laying the foundations to finishing the interior. "By sharing my plans, I hope that it might be inspirational to people who have the skills, or will, or wish to put their own house together," Stevens said.
Stevens' plans for constructing your own home are available online for free to help amateur builders get started, with easy-to-follow cartoon instructions for those who wish to build their own 'Irish Vernacular' house.
Comic plans —
Stevens' plans for constructing your own home are available online for free to help amateur builders get started, with easy-to-follow cartoon instructions for those who wish to build their own 'Irish Vernacular' house.
Courtesy Dominic Stevens
With the help of a handful of friends, Stevens managed to do most of the construction on his home over the course of a single long weekend and all for less than $35,000
With a little help... —
With the help of a handful of friends, Stevens managed to do most of the construction on his home over the course of a single long weekend and all for less than $35,000
Courtesy Dominic Stevens