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Topic: Want to buy a castle, Cheap?
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montecristo
Member
Member # 131
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posted 03-20-2001 06:15 PM
    
hello guys!If you think Alasdairīs idea is so cool (like me) but a little bit impossible for you. You might as well take a look at the following link of modern-day, wish-granting faeries: CastleMagic - Castle Builders of the US btw, Alasdiar it would be so swell if you could post photos and plans of your stronghold as it gets built, pleassse! make our mouths drool and eyes water!
Just one word of caution: be sure to waterproof those tanks on the outside extremely well. Also, i found your use of septic tanks and built site scrap pretty ingenious...ok ppl! lets brainstorm here and see if we can find more of these witty modern solutions to keep the cost of building your dream-castle down, and henceforth, better your odds of getting to build one!! Alasdair and the ppl of Castlemagic also pinpointed one major advantage of castle building: sturdy, modern materiales (and relatively inexpensive ones) can be made to look period easily. Huge timbers of wood for hall roofs could also be mimicked with plaster or resin. What i gather from this is that the principal factors that make castles expensive is the size of such structures (towers, perimeter walls) and the uncommmon design (thick walls, crenelations, moats, bigger-than-needed archs & doorways, having to build [in the best of cases, i must add] in a remote or hard to reach area, etc.) well? what'ya think?
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'Freedom' is the free exercise of our habits.
-Robin Bond
Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged
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Reinhard von Lowenhaupt
Member
Member # 119
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posted 03-21-2001 11:46 AM
My 'fortified manor' is still in the finishing stages of design. Just about a week ago my wife and I finalized a floor plan, and I'm working on the relief drawings (along with a dozen other projects). When I finish, I'll post them, and send mine off to the architect.
I'm planning to start building this anachronism this fall or next spring (depending on how early winter starts this coming year). And I promise to keep everyone posted. And, you can all come and try to sack it when complete (my wife even agreed to let me do it!) Just don't use gunpowder!
I plan to use the discarded concrete tanks for the perimeter wall. For the main house, I plan to utilize an insulated form with poured concrete design (like they use for basement walls, and are starting to for homes) and cover with a stone veneer, and some parts with stucco. As for the stucco/half-timbered areas, that's the great thing about moving to New England--hand hewn timber can be found quite easily.
Things like the garage and horse stalls use the outside retaining wall as one of their exterior walls, thus eliminating some expenses. And, I'm planning on using the entry gate tower as a guest apartment (over the entry to the 'courtyard'.
In any event, it will be a lot of fun and hard work to build. And, I know the planning and zoning board will get a real laugh out of me.
As for defendability, you don't want to get into the courtyard and tangle with the dogs! And a house with a 6"-8" stone face over 12" of poured reinforced concrete is pretty indestructable. While an invasion isn't forseeable, protecting my family from the robbing murdering scum that inhabit this planet is a real issue. Especially if you live out in the country and people think you have money! I would find a stone walled house with only one real way in or out a little imposing, and move on to the next house.After all, a man's home is his castle!
Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged
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UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
posted 02-14-2001 05:19 PM
posted 02-14-2001 06:20 PM
The cost really isn't that inhibitive. The construction style is just poured concrete walls with stone veneer (the only way to tell it isn't solid stone is to drill through a wall). And, the size isn't too large for a small family. 
posted 03-20-2001 06:43 PM
posted 03-20-2001 06:57 PM
posted 03-20-2001 07:55 PM
posted 03-21-2001 12:33 PM
posted 03-24-2001 04:21 PM
posted 03-24-2001 08:16 PM
