# Sovereignty Module: Raise the Roof

## Complete Primitive Shelter: From Emergency to Permanent

Shelter is the first survival priority after immediate safety. This campaign covers emergency shelters, semi-permanent structures, and permanent primitive dwellings using only natural materials.

### Chapter 1: Emergency Shelters (Built in Hours)

| Type | Time to Build | Capacity | Warmth | Rain Protection | Materials | Best Climate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debris hut | 1-3 hours | 1 person | Excellent (insulation) | Good (if thick) | Sticks, leaves, debris | Temperate, cold |
| Lean-to | 30-60 min | 1-3 people | Poor (open side) | Moderate | Poles, branches, leaves | Mild, short-term |
| Snow cave | 2-4 hours | 1-3 people | Good (32°F inside) | Excellent | Packed snow | Winter/arctic |
| Quinzhee | 3-5 hours | 2-4 people | Good (32°F inside) | Excellent | Loose snow (piled, settled) | Winter |
| Tarp shelter (A-frame) | 15-30 min | 1-2 people | Poor | Excellent | Tarp + cordage + poles | Any (with tarp) |
| Brush wickiup | 2-4 hours | 2-4 people | Moderate | Moderate | Poles, brush, bark | Temperate |
| Rock overhang (improved) | 30-60 min | Variable | Moderate | Good (natural) | Existing overhang + wall | Any (where available) |

Debris hut construction: 1) Find or place ridgepole (8-10 ft long, one end elevated 3 ft on stump/fork). 2) Lean ribs (sticks) along both sides at 45° angle, 6 inches apart. 3) Pile small sticks/brush perpendicular to ribs (lattice). 4) Pile leaves/debris 3-4 ft thick over entire structure. 5) Stuff interior with dry leaves (sleeping insulation). 6) Block entrance with stuffed debris bag or brush door. Critical: debris thickness determines warmth. 3 ft minimum for cold weather. Body heat alone warms interior to 50-60°F in freezing conditions.

### Chapter 2: Semi-Permanent Structures (Days to Build)

| Type | Time to Build | Capacity | Lifespan | Materials | Best Climate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wattle and daub hut | 1-2 weeks | 2-6 people | 5-15 years | Poles, woven sticks, clay/mud | Temperate, dry |
| Sod house | 1-2 weeks | 2-6 people | 10-30 years | Sod blocks, timber frame | Prairie, grassland |
| Bark house (wigwam) | 3-7 days | 4-8 people | 3-10 years | Saplings, bark sheets | Forest (birch/elm available) |
| Tipi/teepee | 1-2 days (with hides) | 4-8 people | 5-15 years (hides) | Poles (15-20), hides/canvas | Plains, mobile |
| Pit house | 2-4 weeks | 4-8 people | 20-50 years | Excavation, timber, earth | Cold climates |
| Thatch hut (round) | 1-3 weeks | 2-6 people | 5-20 years | Poles, thatch grass, rope | Tropical, temperate |
| Adobe (sun-dried brick) | 2-6 weeks | 4-10 people | 50-200+ years | Clay, sand, straw, water | Arid, semi-arid |

### Chapter 3: Permanent Dwellings (Weeks to Months)

| Type | Time to Build | Capacity | Lifespan | Materials | Thermal Mass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Log cabin | 2-6 weeks (2 people) | 4-8 people | 50-200+ years | Logs (8-12" diameter) | High |
| Stone house | 2-6 months | 4-10 people | 200-1,000+ years | Stone, mortar (lime) | Very high |
| Timber frame | 1-3 months | 4-12 people | 100-500+ years | Heavy timbers, joinery | Moderate (with infill) |
| Cob house | 2-4 months | 4-8 people | 100-500+ years | Clay, sand, straw, water | Very high |
| Rammed earth | 2-4 months | 4-10 people | 200-1,000+ years | Subsoil, forms, tamper | Very high |
| Cordwood masonry | 1-3 months | 4-8 people | 50-100+ years | Short logs, mortar | High |
| Earthbag (superadobe) | 2-6 weeks | 2-6 people | 50-100+ years | Bags, earth, barbed wire | Very high |

### Chapter 4: Roofing Systems

| Type | Materials | Slope Required | Lifespan | Waterproofing | Weight | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thatch (grass/reed) | Long grass, reeds | 45-55° | 15-40 years | Excellent (if steep) | Light | Moderate |
| Bark (birch/elm) | Large bark sheets | 30-45° | 5-15 years | Good | Light | Low |
| Sod/earth | Sod, waterproof layer | 10-30° | 20-50 years | Good (with underlayer) | Very heavy | Moderate |
| Wood shingle/shake | Split wood (cedar best) | 30-45° | 20-50 years | Excellent | Moderate | Moderate-high |
| Slate/stone tile | Thin stone slabs | 30-45° | 100-200+ years | Excellent | Very heavy | High |
| Clay tile | Fired clay tiles | 30-45° | 50-100+ years | Excellent | Heavy | High (making tiles) |
| Metal (if available) | Sheet metal | 15-30° | 30-50+ years | Excellent | Light | Low (installation) |

Thatch roofing: 1) Harvest material (reed, wheat straw, or long grass) when dry. Bundle into "yelms" (handfuls). 2) Start at eaves (bottom), work up. 3) Lay bundles with butt ends facing down and out. 4) Secure with horizontal rods (hazel) tied to rafters with twisted cord. 5) Each course overlaps previous by 2/3. 6) Build up 12-18 inches thick. 7) Ridge: fold thatch over top, secure with ridge roll. 8) Trim eaves and gable ends with shears. Steep pitch (45°+) is critical — water must shed quickly. Well-made thatch lasts 25-40 years. Insulates extremely well (R-value 30+).

### Chapter 5: Heating Systems

| System | Fuel | Efficiency | Heat Output | Complexity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open fire (central) | Wood | 10-15% | Low-moderate | Very low | Emergency, temporary |
| Fireplace (masonry) | Wood | 15-25% | Moderate | High | Permanent homes |
| Wood stove (metal) | Wood | 40-70% | High | High (to build) | All permanent structures |
| Rocket mass heater | Wood (small) | 80-90% | High (sustained) | Moderate-high | Permanent, efficient |
| Hypocaust (under-floor) | Wood/charcoal | 50-70% | Moderate (radiant) | Very high | Large structures |
| Kang (heated bed platform) | Wood/biomass | 60-80% | Moderate (sleeping) | Moderate | Cold climate sleeping |
| Masonry heater (Russian) | Wood (one firing/day) | 80-90% | High (12-24 hr release) | Very high | Cold climate permanent |

Rocket mass heater: 1) Feed tube: 6" diameter, angled 45° (feeds sticks in). 2) Burn tunnel: 6" diameter, horizontal (combustion zone). 3) Heat riser: 6-8" diameter, vertical in insulated barrel (creates draft). 4) Barrel: 55-gallon drum over heat riser (radiates heat). 5) Exhaust: exits barrel bottom, runs through thermal mass (cob bench). 6) Chimney: short (4-6 ft), at end of bench run. Burns small wood (wrist-sized sticks) at extreme temperature. Smoke-free exhaust. Thermal mass bench stays warm 12-24 hours from one 2-hour firing. Uses 1/10 the wood of open fire.

### Chapter 6: Foundation and Site

| Foundation Type | Soil Requirement | Frost Depth | Load Capacity | Cost | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone pier | Any stable soil | Below frost line | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
| Rubble trench | Well-drained | Below frost line | High | Low-moderate | Moderate |
| Dry-stack stone | Stable, not expansive | Below frost line | Very high | Moderate | High |
| Concrete (if available) | Any | Below frost line | Very high | High | Moderate |
| Earthbag | Stable | Surface (if insulated) | High | Low | Low-moderate |
| Post-in-ground | Well-drained | Below frost line | Moderate | Very low | Low |
| Gravel pad | Any | Surface (floating) | Moderate | Low | Low |

Site selection criteria: 1) Water: within 200 yards of clean water source. 2) Drainage: slight slope (2-5%) away from structure. Never in a low spot. 3) Sun: south-facing exposure (northern hemisphere) for solar gain. 4) Wind: protected from prevailing winter winds (trees, hill). 5) Soil: stable, well-drained. Test: dig 3 ft, check for water/clay. 6) Materials: near building materials (timber, stone, clay). 7) Safety: above flood level, away from dead trees, not on unstable slope. 8) Access: reachable by transport for materials delivery.

### Reference Card

1. Shelter priority: get out of wind and rain immediately. Debris hut in 2 hours saves your life. Improve later. Perfect is the enemy of alive.
2. Thermal mass: heavy materials (stone, earth, cob) absorb heat during day, release at night. Stabilizes temperature. Light materials (wood) heat fast but cool fast.
3. Insulation: dead air space = warmth. Debris, straw, wool, moss — anything that traps air. R-value matters. 12 inches of straw = R-40. Roof insulation most critical (heat rises).
4. Ventilation: sealed shelter = carbon monoxide death. Any fire needs fresh air inlet (low) and smoke outlet (high). Even without fire, moisture buildup causes rot and illness.
5. Roof pitch: steeper = better water shedding. Thatch needs 45°+. Shingles need 30°+. Metal can go 15°+. Flat roofs leak. Always.
6. Foundation: keep wood off ground (rot). Keep structure above water (flooding). Keep below frost line (heaving). Stone or gravel between earth and structure.
7. Size: build small first, expand later. 100 sq ft per person minimum. 200 sq ft comfortable. Heating a large space is expensive. Small + well-insulated beats large + drafty.
8. Fire safety: keep combustibles away from heat sources. Stone/earth around fireplace. Clear roof above chimney. Water/sand accessible. Fire destroys in minutes what took months to build.