[sokoloff]

You might be right, or you might not be.

I chose our current house in part because of the slate roof and unpainted structural brick exterior (both very low maintenance). I admire your search for low operational cost housing; I hope that your eventual house comes out just as low cost as your optimistic projections above.

[wheresmyusern]

im going to dig into every source of information i can on the subject of houses and their materials. my plan for the house has already evolved dramatically and will probably continue to, terminating in a design that stands a very high probability of satisfying my requirements. i very much hope that it works because unlike some people here, my prospects are not bright -- they are unsure at best. this is probably the only way that i will be able to retire in a house of my own without waiting until im 70.