Building a Modern Home with Ben Uyeda | HTH 013
04/16/19 • 54 min
This week, we chat with the phenomenally talented, Ben Uyeda. We talk about his incredible undertaking of building a shipping container home in the middle of the Joshua Tree desert, his design process and some of his favorite materials to work with currently.
LET’S CHAT!
You can always call and leave your questions and comments on our voicemail!
978-709-1040
FAST FACTS ABOUT BEN (FROM BEN):
Started out as a professor at Cornell University speaking about sustainable design.
Started a design firm called Zero Energy Design- https://zeroenergy.com
Started a tech company called Free Green where he gave away free blueprints with eco friendly housing, and sold advertising on the actual downloadable blueprints, and eventually sold it.
Launched Homemade-Modern.com where he started creating DIY projects.
Show Highlights:
Ben takes a lot of cues from food media. They don’t need a lot of fancy stuff or gadgets, just understanding the elements.
Plywood and concrete are two of Ben’s favorite materials. Concrete because it’s accessible worldwide, plywood because even if it’s not the same globally, people are at least familiar with sheet goods.
If you’re going to buy furniture try to find the cheapest basics and then splurge on the things you’re going to keep forever.
You can have a creative career that’s not dependent on patronage.
You can be more forgiving: Everything doesn’t have to be perfectly flat, people actually like things that look more homemade.
Tracy asked Ben about the future of architecture and he talked about the trends of smaller homes and more urban type living situations like lofts. Open floor plans becoming the norm, building performance, thermal comfort and smart homes are all trending.
Ben doesn’t like analytics but he values them. When looking for new property he searched areas where Whole Foods were popping up.
We Mentioned:
The Spiral Staircase Made With CNC- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd-Z7OTAjJ0
The Bucket Stool- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npPRWDgpduI
The Lounge Chair- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QHbp2bwUyA
Ben’s Shipping Container Project:
Ben felt like there was a lot of misinformation about container construction, so he decided to just show the process and enjoy the fun challenge.
He wanted to show the regulation intensive process of building in California.
You might think a container is a great deal, but take into account the labor cost and how intensive each step can be.
Homemade Modern:
Driven by the underserved DIY population of people who wanted to build things in a smaller space with minimal tools.
You can build a ton of stuff with an orbital sander, circular saw and drill.
PHONE CALLS/SOCIAL:
Q: How long did it take to cut all of the plywood for spiral staircase?
A: It was actually cut with a cnc machine (https://www.inventables.com/technologies/x-carve) , so about 30 hours of cnc time.
Q: Is there any difference in insulating a shipping container as opposed to a house?
A: Yes and no, the only part that’s really different is if you have to insulate between floor beams. Wood isn’t as conductive of heat as steel is. They insulated between steel beams and then continuous insulation above the plywood and from the metal in.
Q: Were you building things and taking things apart when you were young?
A: Ben loved the way that making could lead to adventure. He was inspired by Swiss Family Robinson and Huckleberry Finn.
Q: Besides permits what was the biggest challenge of building the shipping container?
A: Just not having clear answers for the workers on how to do things. They’d ask questions about how to do things and Ben had to research and figure things out as they moved forward. (And holding his temper in the comment section of the videos...)
Q: What’s the cheapest place to get a shipping container?
A: It depends on where you are. In CA they have to be a one trip condition container. In SoCal it’s https://containersdiscount.ca
Find Ben’s Quickfire video on our Instagram! @howtohome_guide
Ben’s INFO
Website | https://www.homemade-modern.com
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/benjaminuyeda
Twitter | https://twitter.com/BenUyeda
Pinterest | https://www.pinterest.com/BenUyeda/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/ben.uyeda
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/HomeMadeModern
The Modern Home Project |
This week, we chat with the phenomenally talented, Ben Uyeda. We talk about his incredible undertaking of building a shipping container home in the middle of the Joshua Tree desert, his design process and some of his favorite materials to work with currently.
LET’S CHAT!
You can always call and leave your questions and comments on our voicemail!
978-709-1040
FAST FACTS ABOUT BEN (FROM BEN):
Started out as a professor at Cornell University speaking about sustainable design.
Started a design firm called Zero Energy Design- https://zeroenergy.com
Started a tech company called Free Green where he gave away free blueprints with eco friendly housing, and sold advertising on the actual downloadable blueprints, and eventually sold it.
Launched Homemade-Modern.com where he started creating DIY projects.
Show Highlights:
Ben takes a lot of cues from food media. They don’t need a lot of fancy stuff or gadgets, just understanding the elements.
Plywood and concrete are two of Ben’s favorite materials. Concrete because it’s accessible worldwide, plywood because even if it’s not the same globally, people are at least familiar with sheet goods.
If you’re going to buy furniture try to find the cheapest basics and then splurge on the things you’re going to keep forever.
You can have a creative career that’s not dependent on patronage.
You can be more forgiving: Everything doesn’t have to be perfectly flat, people actually like things that look more homemade.
Tracy asked Ben about the future of architecture and he talked about the trends of smaller homes and more urban type living situations like lofts. Open floor plans becoming the norm, building performance, thermal comfort and smart homes are all trending.
Ben doesn’t like analytics but he values them. When looking for new property he searched areas where Whole Foods were popping up.
We Mentioned:
The Spiral Staircase Made With CNC- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd-Z7OTAjJ0
The Bucket Stool- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npPRWDgpduI
The Lounge Chair- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QHbp2bwUyA
Ben’s Shipping Container Project:
Ben felt like there was a lot of misinformation about container construction, so he decided to just show the process and enjoy the fun challenge.
He wanted to show the regulation intensive process of building in California.
You might think a container is a great deal, but take into account the labor cost and how intensive each step can be.
Homemade Modern:
Driven by the underserved DIY population of people who wanted to build things in a smaller space with minimal tools.
You can build a ton of stuff with an orbital sander, circular saw and drill.
PHONE CALLS/SOCIAL:
Q: How long did it take to cut all of the plywood for spiral staircase?
A: It was actually cut with a cnc machine (https://www.inventables.com/technologies/x-carve) , so about 30 hours of cnc time.
Q: Is there any difference in insulating a shipping container as opposed to a house?
A: Yes and no, the only part that’s really different is if you have to insulate between floor beams. Wood isn’t as conductive of heat as steel is. They insulated between steel beams and then continuous insulation above the plywood and from the metal in.
Q: Were you building things and taking things apart when you were young?
A: Ben loved the way that making could lead to adventure. He was inspired by Swiss Family Robinson and Huckleberry Finn.
Q: Besides permits what was the biggest challenge of building the shipping container?
A: Just not having clear answers for the workers on how to do things. They’d ask questions about how to do things and Ben had to research and figure things out as they moved forward. (And holding his temper in the comment section of the videos...)
Q: What’s the cheapest place to get a shipping container?
A: It depends on where you are. In CA they have to be a one trip condition container. In SoCal it’s https://containersdiscount.ca
Find Ben’s Quickfire video on our Instagram! @howtohome_guide
Ben’s INFO
Website | https://www.homemade-modern.com
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/benjaminuyeda
Twitter | https://twitter.com/BenUyeda
Pinterest | https://www.pinterest.com/BenUyeda/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/ben.uyeda
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/HomeMadeModern
The Modern Home Project |
Previous Episode
Must-Tackle Spring Projects | HTH 012
This week, Aaron and Tracy discuss their go-to list of spring projects. Maintaining your home is key to avoiding costly repairs down the line- and spring is the perfect time to get out and make sure any damage caused over the winter is taken care of.
LET’S CHAT!
You can always call and leave your questions and comments on our voicemail!
978-709-1040
1. Replace air filters.
Subscription services like Filterbuy.com are a great way to stay on top of the maintenance.
2. Do a check of the roof, exterior walls and foundation for any weather related damage that occured in the winter months.
Any missing or damaged shingles should be replaced- you should also keep an eye out for leaves or debris that have gotten in under them. This is also the time to take care of any leaks you may have given a quick fix during the rainy season.
On the exterior you want to focus on areas around gutter spouts, or places that take the brunt of weather wear and tear.
For the foundation you’re keeping an eye out for large cracks. If you see anything substantial, consider having foundation specialist come out to make sure it doesn’t need something more than caulk.
Spring is also a great time to insure your windows and doors are sealed.
Also keep an eye out for trees that need to be trimmed near roof/windows.
The driveway is also something good to take a look at and repair/seal.
3.Make a day out of cleaning all of your patio furniture and the grill.
Tracy likes to clean the furniture with 1⁄2 cup castile soap, 1 cup vinegar and water. It works really great on pretty much everything and knocks out any mildew.
For the grill she uses vinegar, lemon, salt and foil.
4. Be proactive with lawn maintenance and pruning.
Focus on raking and clean-up, weed control, fertilization and seeding. It’s important to know whether you have warm or cool season grass, because that will affect your fertilization schedule- but either way- spring is about strengthening your lawn for those hot summer months.
Prune your flowers, bushes and trees.
5. Get your vegetables started!
There’s nothing better than throwing fresh veggies on the grill, and using fresh herbs in your cooking. It seems like an overwhelming amount of work, but gardening is so rewarding.
Keep in mind that early spring can still be too cold for a lot of vegetables. Some that do really great planted early are: asparagus, lettuce, peas, rhubarb and spinach.
6. Deep clean your home.
Pickupplease.org allows you to schedule donation pick-ups if you want to purge. It’s also great to schedule the day after a garage sale.
Challenge yourself to swap out for more natural products this year. Not only is it safer for your family, but it also saves a substantial amount of money to make your own cleaning products. You can pretty much do anything with vinegar, water, lemon and tea tree oil.
Aaron’s wife subscribed to a service called: Refill Shoppe
Aaron suggested vinegar and water as carpet cleaner.
7. Have your attic cleaned and insulated (or do it yourself!).
Spring is such a great time to take that leap if you’ve been considering it- then you avoid mold growth in the hot months, and you can also clear out any critters that have snuck in to stay warm. They’ll come in and get it super clean, insulated and also make sure it’s properly ventilated which will prevent so many issues down the line.
8. Start preparing your pool area.
The perimeter and surrounding plants.
9. Drain your water heater.
10. Defrost the freezer.
Make your spring to-do list a family affair- it can be fun!!
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Youtube | http://bit.ly/2SifqTH
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR FILTERBUY.COM
Next Episode
Surviving a Remodel | HTH 014
This week, Aaron and Tracy talk about their tips for surviving a remodel. Renovations can be stressful, but with a lot of planning and clear expectations, things will be easier.
LET’S CHAT!
You can always call and leave your questions and comments on our voicemail!
978-709-1040
Set expectations:
Before you make the decision to start a renovation, talk about your expectations. Who is going to handle what? A lot of time is spent tied to the home while people work- who is going to “babysit” the workers? What are your schedules like? Are you comfortable with giving up A, B and C while the house gets done? What is your timeline? Talk about everything!
One thing Tracy and her husband agreed on before they started was not complaining.
Also, be very clear about what you want to hire out and what you want to DIY.
Have a clear vision of the big picture:
This one is HUGE! Before you start ripping anything apart, sit and talk about your vision for your ENTIRE home.
It’s so important to get on the same page about the look and feel of your home, so as you pick away at the little things, you both have the same vision for big picture.
Know which things you’re willing to let go:
Everything is give and take. Know the things you’re willing to bend on, and allow your partner to make those choices. One person cannot control everything.
If you can’t agree on something, keep looking:
There is no formula for decisions being less frustrating- but if there are things both parties feel strongly about, sometimes the only option is to keep looking until you find something you’re both ok with. Some purchases take time.
Pick out the little details at the beginning:
We assume the little things like knobs and fixtures can be last priority, right? But by the end of your project you will have made so many big decisions, that the little decisions will make your brain melt. You will want to light the entire hardware section on fire. When you’re sitting down and going over those big picture plans, take note of the little details you like and decide on them then.
Don’t let things snowball:
This is HARD! Renovations have a way of getting out of control. You get in a groove and just want to keep going. Make a list of what you’re doing, or create a budget- and stick to it. Inevitably surprise costs will come up- so save any extra cash for those expenses and avoid financial stress.
FOLLOW US on social media:
Website | https://howtohome.com/
Instagram | http://bit.ly/2WqVfSp
Twitter | http://bit.ly/2RRyYij
Facebook | http://bit.ly/2MC3Hdc
Youtube | http://bit.ly/2SifqTH
SUBSCRIBE to the How to Home Podcast:
Itunes | https://apple.co/2DL0lSp
Android | http://bit.ly/2B9k7Fm
Stitcher | http://bit.ly/2DM0W6c
Spotify | https://spoti.fi/2GcRCKo
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR FILTERBUY.COM
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