TexasCHLforum.com

without a permit,

Nowadays especially In Austin, that's possible I suppose, it sure sounds like over regulation though.
permit to dig a hole on your on land ... Next they'll tell you how far from the property line you must place the outhouse .... stinkin' laws ...

http://www.call811.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.texas811.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Keith B wrote:

SmoothFox wrote:
Crazy enough to dig unsafe hole under house, but sane enough to own guns?

I'm lost help me to understand.

So, are you suggesting that you should be required to have a psychological exam before you buy your next gun? He may have been stupid, eccentric, and misguided, but maybe he is not insane or emotionally unbalanced.

I think he meant psycological exams should be required of anyone adding onto their house?
Probably cheaper to get 3 stories by doing downwards instead of upwards, which might require additional studs in the walls etc. and possibly generate complaints from neighbors about blocking sunlight to their gardens or lawsuits from homeowners associations etc....

Gotta admire the guy for all the work he put into it. Looks like a neat place, Batcave and all.
I hope they are able to use steel or concrete or whatever and shore it up if it needs more support, instead of trying to fill it in and devalue/destroy his multi-level home.

Personally, I'd install a sump pump in case of floods to keep my Batmobile dry. I'd keep the caverns/basement/shelter/celler ... Houses with those are harder to find down here than they are up North.
I guess his Property taxes will go up now that he has more square footage and the Tax Assessor/Collector probably knows about it now.

Half-dugout homes were normal during hard times in the past. Underground housing is normal in some areas.
Basements are typically expected up North. Doing it yourself with no soil analysis nor engineering study probably isn't wise ... but many retirees can only do what their income allows. I don't think my 83 year old neighbor had any study on his carport he welded up yesterday ... it might be unsafe in high winds and decapitate everyone in the neighborhood .... guess I'll call the city inspector (NOT)

He is staying with relatives, maybe they didn't have room in their garage for his empty barrels, batteries and guns, but he should get them all back if the city decides to store them while they help him be sure the new celler/basement addition is structurally sound.

Perhaps there's a home improvement/urban renewal block grant type grant from some agency they'll put him in contact with so the poor 70 year old guy doesn't have to do all the work himself.
Lubbock and lots of ities has those programs and help some people fix up their homes for better energy effeciency etc. Basements need less air conditioning because it's cooler down there in the Summer.

RPBrown wrote:Makes my tornado shelter illigal?

You dont have any hazardous batteries for a weather radio in it do you?

Tanks of compressed gas ... news said they were Oxygen and Acetylene .... probably for Acetylene torch welding if he was going to get some steel and shore up/make support beams for his newly dug basement before he got interrupted. My retired neighbor is welding up a carport this week.

I know a place that stores LOTS of 12 volt deer feeder battieries ... ALSO >>> I think they are using GUNS to kill deer (in season), and the batteries are part of their plot ...wonder if I should call the Sheriff? (They may have canned goods and a battery operated AM/FM/Weather radio in a root celler/storm celler too ... I dunno, probably needs investigating)

I hope they return his backup power supply batteries, for when the tornado hits the area and knocks out power ... perhaps someone could hold a fundraiser and get him a Wind/solar charger and a proper concrete/steel tornado shelter installed so the poor guy doesn't have to shovel all that out again.

There is no better insulated home than underground .... Sounds like he was doing the Energy conserving thing "going green"
Just without permits, which I didn't know were even required if you do the work yourself instead of hiring it out?

SO, I guess the only issue is ... he should bring it up to code, re-inforce the underground areas for better support with beams and concrete if needed. Perhaps adding EMP protection would be a good idea while they are remodeling for him too, to protect against nearby lightning strikes..

Either that or .... he was chasing that one elusive termite queen ...

Must have been a "slow news day" in Austin.

I can't even dig 2 feet underground without hitting rock .... forget trying to transplant a rose bush.