Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mother of four builds home from scratch after watching YouTube tutorials
CBS News ^ | 1/12/2017 | Christina Capatides

Posted on 01/24/2017 2:45:46 PM PST by simpson96

Just a few years ago, Cara Brookins and her four kids felt trapped -- powerless to stop the domestic abuse happening around them, prisoners inside their own walls.

You see, for a short time, Brookins was married to a man who she says “descended into full-blown paranoid schizophrenia.” And even after the two were divorced, he continued to come around and frighten her family. (snip)

Brookins didn’t have enough money to buy the sort of home that could comfortably house her four kids, but she wanted them to be in a safe place. So, they moved out of the house she shared with her abusive husband and into a tiny home outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. Then, shortly afterward, Brookins had an epiphany.

“I had rented this cabin for a Thanksgiving getaway,” she tells CBS News. “And driving there, we passed this house that had been ravaged by a tornado. It was this beautiful dream house and it was sort of wide open. You don’t often get the opportunity to see the interior workings of a house, but looking at these 2x4s and these nails, it just looked so simple. I thought, ‘I could put this wall back up if I really tried. Maybe I should just start from scratch.’”

As it turned out, she had just enough money to buy all the construction supplies and an acre of land. So, without looking back, she and her family jumped headlong into the project.

“Once I had bought all these supplies and they were all piled up, there was no way out,” Brookins explains. “There wasn’t enough money to pay anyone to put them together. There was no plan B.”

Faced with the overwhelming task of constructing a house with their own hands, Brookins and her family turned to an unlikely source: YouTube.

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-78 next last
To: simpson96

WOW !!


41 posted on 01/24/2017 3:33:51 PM PST by painter ( Isaiah: �Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 21twelve

Amazon had a Delco starter for a 65 or so that was highly rated with a 25 buck rebate.

The starter works great and the rebate showed up in the window advertised.

That was an old and grimy starter I swapped out. I haven’t changed out a small block Chevy V8 starter since the mid 90s when I had a K10.


42 posted on 01/24/2017 3:34:57 PM PST by wally_bert (I didn't get where I am today by selling ice cream tasting of bookends, pumice stone & West Germany)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: CGASMIA68

My first 35mm camera was an XG-1, then upgraded to x-700. I’ve still got the bodies and lenses, but film processing is expensive. I’ve saved literally thousands of dollars in the ten years I’ve had the Nikon. Might upgrade soon to a D810, and go full-frame.


43 posted on 01/24/2017 3:36:02 PM PST by PLMerite (Lord, let me die fighting lions. Amen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: wally_bert

My D80 does plenty of things I haven’t explored yet. Most of what I shoot is existing-light landscapes, or at least usually not people.


44 posted on 01/24/2017 3:40:17 PM PST by PLMerite (Lord, let me die fighting lions. Amen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: gaijin; simpson96

$94 for the dealership to change the cabin air filter on my wife’s car last time she had it in for service. Thankfully, she declined. I had no idea where it even was so I watched a couple of YouTube videos that night. Next day, I bought a Fram filter, spent fifteen minutes putting it in and saved $79 for my trouble.


45 posted on 01/24/2017 3:40:33 PM PST by philled (If this creature is not stopped it could make its way to Novosibirsk!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Abby4116
Yes, I saw those .. thank you.

Not a disbeliever, merely a skeptic   ;-)

46 posted on 01/24/2017 3:42:36 PM PST by tomkat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: tomkat

Like you, my husband is a carpenter. He is bigger and stronger than I and building a new house is a large project for him. I could have all the necessary info in my head, but completing it would be impossible for me. Even Sheetrock is heavy, let alone bundles of shingles, rafters, etc.


47 posted on 01/24/2017 3:42:53 PM PST by NorthstarMom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: simpson96

I hope she’s armed because that rat bastard is still out there. Kudos to this beautiful family.


48 posted on 01/24/2017 3:42:53 PM PST by Terry Mross (I was once ," verysadamerican". Mo more since "WE" won!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tomkat

Like you, my husband is a carpenter. He is bigger and stronger than I and building a new house is a large project for him. I could have all the necessary info in my head, but completing it would be impossible for me. Even Sheetrock is heavy, let alone bundles of shingles, rafters, etc.


49 posted on 01/24/2017 3:43:02 PM PST by NorthstarMom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: tomkat

Like you, my husband is a carpenter. He is bigger and stronger than I and building a new house is a large project for him. I could have all the necessary info in my head, but completing it would be impossible for me. Even Sheetrock is heavy, let alone bundles of shingles, rafters, etc.


50 posted on 01/24/2017 3:43:06 PM PST by NorthstarMom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: simpson96

Well, I’m suspicious .. having watched a lot of HGTV shows over the years, what about plumbing? That requires digging and laying pipe, etc. and then, figuring out how to supply water to the 2nd story.

This doesn’t pass the smell test.


51 posted on 01/24/2017 3:47:02 PM PST by CyberAnt (Peace through Strength)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PLMerite

I’m primarily a video person, mostly for stock stuff which pays better than photos in my case.

I’ve used a few people and except for the brightest days, I used some kind of supplemental lighting or reflector.

Since I’m cheap, I rarely rent studio space and based on what sales I’ve had, stick with objects and animals. No release form necessary. Plus my home really isn’t practical due to layout.

Maybe I might get back into hiring talent again if stock video sales pick up.


52 posted on 01/24/2017 3:48:26 PM PST by wally_bert (I didn't get where I am today by selling ice cream tasting of bookends, pumice stone & West Germany)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: NorthstarMom
Setting roof trusses 30' in the air for a 2.5 story house isn't for the weak or the faint-hearted.
Could be that they had the manufacturer hoist them on delivery, ditto the sheathing and shingles.

Then again, people CAN do some amazing things sometimes.

53 posted on 01/24/2017 3:50:53 PM PST by tomkat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: NorthstarMom

There’s a young man in the pic. U only need one.


54 posted on 01/24/2017 3:54:23 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: tomkat

“Setting roof trusses 30’ in the air for a 2.5 story house isn’t for the weak or the faint-hearted.”

My dad and I figured it out. Together we simply used weights to counter balance the rafters.

I think the mother was very cunning and willing to spend the time to learn. Heck, my mom laid the bricks for their house. I was damned surprised by that, but she did a great job.


55 posted on 01/24/2017 3:54:49 PM PST by CodeToad (If it weren't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: tomkat

I’m sceptical myself. How’d she know what and how much to buy in matErie etc. Plus, there is a loyal of specific knowledge and practices in home building, framing finishing. I’d imagone if someone did do this there’d be a lot of amusing effups along the way.


56 posted on 01/24/2017 3:57:14 PM PST by TalBlack (Evil doesn't have a day job....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad
As I said above > not a disbeliever, just skeptical   ;-)

You/dad/mom are good examples of the possibilities.

57 posted on 01/24/2017 4:00:50 PM PST by tomkat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: TalBlack
..a lot of amusing effups along the way

Yuge roger to that !

Here, hold my wifi and watch THIS !

58 posted on 01/24/2017 4:02:42 PM PST by tomkat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: tomkat

I suspect they had some friendly help. But don’t we all? Even contractors use advice from colleagues.


59 posted on 01/24/2017 4:04:48 PM PST by CodeToad (If it weren't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: glasseye

I can’t find one for putting up those soffit thingys that close off the bottom of the roof. Until I can figure it out and do it, I am comfortable knowing that my tiny little house gets lots of fresh air. I did a lot of the work here myself, and most of it was YouTube directed!


60 posted on 01/24/2017 4:05:39 PM PST by blu (If you don't read the story at the link, don't comment. Your ignorance will be on display-except Laz)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-78 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson