Building a casita

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

What is the very 1st thing that is done when building a casita? I'm guessing it has to do with moving dirt. Maybe digging holes and trenches. Anybody know how?

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

Moving or breaking rock. How is it done? Old school sledge hammer and chisels? Or tractor with a jack hammer?

Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS

Speaking of septic tanks.....they can be challenging depending on where yours will be in relation to sea-level. Most contractors here don't have a clue as to the theory and building of a septic tank and leech field. Consequently, they build cesspools.....a pit in the ground with holes in the side walls and floor to drain into the surrounding ground. The "challenging" and "sea-level" part will become apparent when you think about this. Too close to sea-saturated soil, and it will be a problem. Your next problem may just be the strengthening Ecology Department that will take you to task for crapping in the ocean. They hate that.

Would be good if the govt had a permit program to ensure septic systems were adequately designed, set back from surface waters, and built only on lots that perc.
Based on preceding questions, it appears that fishybuck has a property that is all rock, won't perc, and his cess pool will leak raw (minimally filtered) sewage to the bay.

Quote: Originally posted by BajaTed

Think a lot about the context of where your home is going to be and design accordingly. You are going to be living in a place with serious security concerns Have a big gate in front of your front door. (two levels of ingress security) If you have outside windows at first floor level, consider glass building bricks, they are a big deterrent. (Our cleaning lady taught us that one.) Our house is one story, but from front looks like two, I got a walkway up there, when times are bad the high ground is a tactical advantage. prepare for the worst, hope for the best

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS   Speaking of septic tanks.....they can be challenging depending on where yours will be in relation to sea-level. Most contractors here don't have a clue as to the theory and building of a septic tank and leech field. Consequently, they build cesspools.....a pit in the ground with holes in the side walls and floor to drain into the surrounding ground. The "challenging" and "sea-level" part will become apparent when you think about this. Too close to sea-saturated soil, and it will be a problem. Your next problem may just be the strengthening Ecology Department that will take you to task for crapping in the ocean. They hate that. Would be good if the govt had a permit program to ensure septic systems were adequately designed, set back from surface waters, and built only on lots that perc. Based on preceding questions, it appears that fishybuck has a property that is all rock, won't perc, and his cess pool will leak raw (minimally filtered) sewage to the bay.

Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS

========================= Not sure of what you have in mind, Mike. There's a lot more to waste than liquids. If you're thinking of a composting toilet....they require electricity just like any other cooking unit.

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

I thought I would get laid off a few months ago again. But the layoff bottomed out about 15 people from me. I was hoping for a year or so off to go hang out at my camp and figure it out. We have generous lay off benie. So I am rethinking it. I know need to figure out how to get this done or at least begin from 2000 miles away. I think I 've heard the 1st stage called the dirt plan or the dirt map or something like that. I was an apprentice plumber on new home construction early in my life so I know a little about roughong the lot etc. But that was a while ago. Does anyone know where to get a mighty mack in Ensenda or Tijuana. I suppose finding 1 is a good start.

"Dirt map?" Ya, that's what you need!

The first thing you need to do is scrape the lot, fence-to-fence, so you kill all native vegetation, and the lot can be taken over by weeds. Throw down some white-painted rocks and you got landscaping. That's the way most developers do it for postage-stamp size waterfront lots. Gringos seem to like the look.

Weedy lot, trailer on a concrete pad, a leaking cess pool -- you'll be living in style!


[Edited on 9-7-2017 by mtgoat666]

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck   I thought I would get laid off a few months ago again. But the layoff bottomed out about 15 people from me. I was hoping for a year or so off to go hang out at my camp and figure it out. We have generous lay off benie. So I am rethinking it. I know need to figure out how to get this done or at least begin from 2000 miles away. I think I 've heard the 1st stage called the dirt plan or the dirt map or something like that. I was an apprentice plumber on new home construction early in my life so I know a little about roughong the lot etc. But that was a while ago. Does anyone know where to get a mighty mack in Ensenda or Tijuana. I suppose finding 1 is a good start. "Dirt map?" Ya, that's what you need! The first thing you need to do is scrape the lot, fence-to-fence, so you kill all native vegetation, and the lot can be taken over by weeds. Throw down some white-painted rocks and you got landscaping. That's the way most developers do it for postage-stamp size waterfront lots. Gringos seem to like the look. Weedy lot, trailer on a concrete pad, a leaking cess pool -- you'll be living in style! [Edited on 9-7-2017 by mtgoat666]

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666   Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck   I thought I would get laid off a few months ago again. But the layoff bottomed out about 15 people from me. I was hoping for a year or so off to go hang out at my camp and figure it out. We have generous lay off benie. So I am rethinking it. I know need to figure out how to get this done or at least begin from 2000 miles away. I think I 've heard the 1st stage called the dirt plan or the dirt map or something like that. I was an apprentice plumber on new home construction early in my life so I know a little about roughong the lot etc. But that was a while ago. Does anyone know where to get a mighty mack in Ensenda or Tijuana. I suppose finding 1 is a good start. "Dirt map?" Ya, that's what you need! The first thing you need to do is scrape the lot, fence-to-fence, so you kill all native vegetation, and the lot can be taken over by weeds. Throw down some white-painted rocks and you got landscaping. That's the way most developers do it for postage-stamp size waterfront lots. Gringos seem to like the look. Weedy lot, trailer on a concrete pad, a leaking cess pool -- you'll be living in style! [Edited on 9-7-2017 by mtgoat666] Yes a "dirt map". That is what it's called. Sort of a blueprint for where to move dirt dig, holes etc. Half the lot was "scraped" at some time in the past. The other lot is where they piled up the "scrapings" including some large boulders that I'm really not sure how big or deep they are. Both lots are outlined with the perverbial white painted rocks to mark property lines. It was thickly weed grown at one point. There was a covey of quail living there and some cotton tail bunnies. But the caretaker cleared the weeds at some point and the animals are gone. I plan to start with the flatest corner which is also where the best view is. It won't take much to level that for the cement pad. I think I can do that part by hand with a shovel. I want my little casita to open to ground level. I want to be very careful with the septic tank. I hope the neighbors have also. But there is rarely anyone there so probably not much to worry about. Plus the water in the bay is monitored very closely by Terra and is the subject of ongoing scientific reseach from visiting universties and colleges. So I sure they will be quick to cry foul if the water has human pathogens detected in it. Thank you for all the replies. Helpful and otherwise. [Edited on 9-8-2017 by fishbuck]

Thank you for correcting me on this fine technical detail. I shall never make this mistake again when discribing my dirt map er I mean grading plan.

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

it ain't a "dirt map." It's a "grading plan." Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck   Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666   Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck   I thought I would get laid off a few months ago again. But the layoff bottomed out about 15 people from me. I was hoping for a year or so off to go hang out at my camp and figure it out. We have generous lay off benie. So I am rethinking it. I know need to figure out how to get this done or at least begin from 2000 miles away. I think I 've heard the 1st stage called the dirt plan or the dirt map or something like that. I was an apprentice plumber on new home construction early in my life so I know a little about roughong the lot etc. But that was a while ago. Does anyone know where to get a mighty mack in Ensenda or Tijuana. I suppose finding 1 is a good start. "Dirt map?" Ya, that's what you need! The first thing you need to do is scrape the lot, fence-to-fence, so you kill all native vegetation, and the lot can be taken over by weeds. Throw down some white-painted rocks and you got landscaping. That's the way most developers do it for postage-stamp size waterfront lots. Gringos seem to like the look. Weedy lot, trailer on a concrete pad, a leaking cess pool -- you'll be living in style! [Edited on 9-7-2017 by mtgoat666] Yes a "dirt map". That is what it's called. Sort of a blueprint for where to move dirt dig, holes etc. Half the lot was "scraped" at some time in the past. The other lot is where they piled up the "scrapings" including some large boulders that I'm really not sure how big or deep they are. Both lots are outlined with the perverbial white painted rocks to mark property lines. It was thickly weed grown at one point. There was a covey of quail living there and some cotton tail bunnies. But the caretaker cleared the weeds at some point and the animals are gone. I plan to start with the flatest corner which is also where the best view is. It won't take much to level that for the cement pad. I think I can do that part by hand with a shovel. I want my little casita to open to ground level. I want to be very careful with the septic tank. I hope the neighbors have also. But there is rarely anyone there so probably not much to worry about. Plus the water in the bay is monitored very closely by Terra and is the subject of ongoing scientific reseach from visiting universties and colleges. So I sure they will be quick to cry foul if the water has human pathogens detected in it. Thank you for all the replies. Helpful and otherwise. [Edited on 9-8-2017 by fishbuck]

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

Thank you for correcting me on this fine technical detail. I shall never make this mistake again when discribing my dirt map er I mean grading plan. Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666   it ain't a "dirt map." It's a "grading plan." Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck   Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666   Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck   I thought I would get laid off a few months ago again. But the layoff bottomed out about 15 people from me. I was hoping for a year or so off to go hang out at my camp and figure it out. We have generous lay off benie. So I am rethinking it. I know need to figure out how to get this done or at least begin from 2000 miles away. I think I 've heard the 1st stage called the dirt plan or the dirt map or something like that. I was an apprentice plumber on new home construction early in my life so I know a little about roughong the lot etc. But that was a while ago. Does anyone know where to get a mighty mack in Ensenda or Tijuana. I suppose finding 1 is a good start. "Dirt map?" Ya, that's what you need! The first thing you need to do is scrape the lot, fence-to-fence, so you kill all native vegetation, and the lot can be taken over by weeds. Throw down some white-painted rocks and you got landscaping. That's the way most developers do it for postage-stamp size waterfront lots. Gringos seem to like the look. Weedy lot, trailer on a concrete pad, a leaking cess pool -- you'll be living in style! [Edited on 9-7-2017 by mtgoat666] Yes a "dirt map". That is what it's called. Sort of a blueprint for where to move dirt dig, holes etc. Half the lot was "scraped" at some time in the past. The other lot is where they piled up the "scrapings" including some large boulders that I'm really not sure how big or deep they are. Both lots are outlined with the perverbial white painted rocks to mark property lines. It was thickly weed grown at one point. There was a covey of quail living there and some cotton tail bunnies. But the caretaker cleared the weeds at some point and the animals are gone. I plan to start with the flatest corner which is also where the best view is. It won't take much to level that for the cement pad. I think I can do that part by hand with a shovel. I want my little casita to open to ground level. I want to be very careful with the septic tank. I hope the neighbors have also. But there is rarely anyone there so probably not much to worry about. Plus the water in the bay is monitored very closely by Terra and is the subject of ongoing scientific reseach from visiting universties and colleges. So I sure they will be quick to cry foul if the water has human pathogens detected in it. Thank you for all the replies. Helpful and otherwise. [Edited on 9-8-2017 by fishbuck]

on second thought,... in your case the correct term is "dirt map."

Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck

Thank you again helpful clarification. There seems to be no end to your helpful comments. In your case I think "dirt nap" is what you need.