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Craig, I'm not expert in any building
discipline, just very interested, plus having a son who is a builder of very
nice custom homes. Also, am interested in low cost, highly durable home
construction for family members and a possible employee family on our ranch
located in western SD, a very extreme climate. After considerable thought, I
believe that straw bale, plastered inside, stuccoed exterior will be the best.
Pole type-building (just like our shop) may be the low man-power winner,
however.
Given your mothers condition, is there a reason you are going
for a separate building, or would it work to attach a small apartment to your
existing home, or perhaps with an all-season porch between the two, making
caring for her simpler. Or for her to more easily come to your home, if caring
for her isn't really required? Mainly thinking of the cost and later use if the
arrangement with her doesn't work out. You setting people straight surely did
bring up some better posts in todays digest, with lots of good ideas for
bathrooms and flooring, etc. Having been in a similar situation and the relative
having means to pay her own way, if I had it to do over, I would do what you
propose, She was extremely unhappy in a very good small town nursing home with
excellent care. She just believed that family should do it, but her nephew, my
spouse couldn't handle it even though I would have been the caretaker.Best of
luck to you, and be sure to avail yourself of community help if needed to sort
out personalities and as relief for yourselves from time to time to keep
yourselves healthy enough to care for your mother.
M. Jones, concerned "neighbor" on the
net.
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