About Lemelia Bonner Expertise New Home Consultant specializing in alternative building/purchasing methods. Expertise in all types of building systems, incl. but not limited to: modular, post & beam, panelized, dome, solar, experimental. Good familiarity with products, quality, processes and service of all leading manufacturers. Can also assist with locating specialized lenders, reputable owner-builder programs and affordable custom design services. For more on modular home design, visit the expert`s website at www.custom-wise.com.
Question I've been looking for a new house to buy, but I'm not really happy with anything I see. I looked into hexdomes some years ago, but the one that was built near our house has always had roof problems and looks to be in bad shape. I live in southern Louisiana, and alternative housing doesn't seem to be the thing down here. Where can I go for info on alternate housing? I tried your website, but couldn't get through.
Answer Hi, Mike
I'm sorry you couldn't access my website. I've temporarily taken it offline because I can't handle any new design jobs at the moment. To answer your question, I think the best way to determine of an alternative housing solution is right for you is to first look at a book or resources that describe various types of designs and the pors and cons of each. When I first got interested in alternative homes, I got a couple of books that were very helpful. One was by Mike McClintock, I believe (this was nearly two decades ago). These books were pretty comprehensive at the time, but a number of new processes and materials have been developed since then. These days, books tend to be more narrowly focused. I have recently found a site called powells.com that lists several dozen books on alternative homes. This directory will allow you to browse through books on all types of housing, and should help you narrow down what you're looking for. Then, you might want to purchase a few books or try finding them at your local library. At that point, if you think an alternative home is right for you, you should definitely get cost estimates from builders or manufacturers in your area. Oftentimes, people considering alternative housing are looking for cost savings, but this is not always possible to achieve. Below is the URL for the site I mentioned. Good luck to you.
