Have You Built Your Own House?

[hsullyc]

Check with American truss after you get your plans,about doing it panelized.About a year and a half ago,it was cheaper than if I hired two guys and hand stacked it.Just food for thought.Oh ya I'm also a contractor,so any thing I can do to help,please let me know....

Thx..Dave

 

[Greenbaum]

I've built for fourteen years and was a G.C. for eight in Oregon and Washington. My advice is to get a mentor, this will save you time and money, not to forget a marriage. Most people I know that had minimal experience with building or construction, alone, took 'forever' to complete thier house. I did not read all the comments, but if you need any questions answered, let me know. I don't build anymore, I only do CASH side work. hint hint...

 

[eriknemily]

Well, I've been working for a contractor for the last 2 1/2 years. He's been building homes here on the coast for 37 years now so I'm pretty sure I have a good mentor The only problem is that we build high end custom homes. My house cannot be a high end home. So I have to balance my desire for quality with my need for economy. I think the plan is to start building in the spring and hope to have far enough along by the fall that we can start living in it before the inclement weather starts. We'll see how it goes. I'm trying to keep myself realistic instead idealistic. My next step is to complete my material list and get a bid from my local lumber yards. That's probably going to be my first reality check

 

[Greenbaum]

Well, I've been working for a contractor for the last 2 1/2 years. He's been building homes here on the coast for 37 years now so I'm pretty sure I have a good mentor The only problem is that we build high end custom homes. My house cannot be a high end home. So I have to balance my desire for quality with my need for economy. I think the plan is to start building in the spring and hope to have far enough along by the fall that we can start living in it before the inclement weather starts. We'll see how it goes. I'm trying to keep myself realistic instead idealistic. My next step is to complete my material list and get a bid from my local lumber yards. That's probably going to be my first reality check

I'm sure you already have well, septic, perk on the land? Just an idea, if your building it yourself, depending on location (coast) and understanding the experience, don't lose the extra money in time and prep with the cutting in of the foundation. That burns alot of people, we just never know what the weather is going to do, especially the coast. This is just food for thought! Keep with it!!

 

[eriknemily]

I'm sure you already have well, septic, perk on the land? Just an idea, if your building it yourself, depending on location (coast) and understanding the experience, don't lose the extra money in time and prep with the cutting in of the foundation. That burns alot of people, we just never know what the weather is going to do, especially the coast. This is just food for thought! Keep with it!!

Nope. THis is just bare land. No improvements (unless blackberries count). As for the rest of your post I guess I'm kind of confused by what you mean. Do you suggest that I don't work on my own foundation and have it hired out? I've done a good deal of concrete work (worked on a sewer plant a couple of years ago) and have a contractor friend who does concrete so I was thinking of working with him on it. Thanks for the input.

 

[eriknemily]

I've done some preliminary estimating on this building project attempting to aim high on my estimations. Everything appears to pencil for now. Do any of you have any advice on owner/builder construction loans? How those work? Do's and don't do's?

 

[Greenbaum]

I'm all "Sweat Equity", and then some! I rarely used subs on the job; elct, plumb, sheetrock, cabnet makers, insulation and finish carp. sometimes were the only other GC's I used. This is all dependant on the job! LOANS... Good luck. Stellar credit w/owning the land outright seems to help with a loan. I'm sure you already figured that. I'm not a banker, I used 'hard loans', other people's money. Usually 10% interest, but w/great terms.

Cutting in the foundation= digging out your foundation, footings

 

[torpedoman]

one other word of advice in floor radiant heat is the best investment you will make in the house.

 

[eriknemily]

one other word of advice in floor radiant heat is the best investment you will make in the house.

I'm thinking of doing that in my basement. Do you use a separate water heater for that? For the rest of my house I'm planning on getting a tankless propane water heater. I've never seen the in floor heat done before. Can I do that on a normal floor too (joists and subfloor)?

 

[Sawdust]

I'm thinking of doing that in my basement. Do you use a separate water heater for that? For the rest of my house I'm planning on getting a tankless propane water heater. I've never seen the in floor heat done before. Can I do that on a normal floor too (joists and subfloor)?

Yes you can put radiant floor heating under a joist & subfloor. Before you sell yourself on the tankless system consider the heaviest use that your hot water will ever be asked to do. Of the last 8 we installed only two customers were completely satisfied with the output from those units. Some models drop the water pressure with extended use to maintain temp. Check with a radiant heat specialist for the best option for heating the floor. Sometimes a high efficency water heater with a heat exchanger and holding tank would work best.

 

[torpedoman]

I'm thinking of doing that in my basement. Do you use a separate water heater for that? For the rest of my house I'm planning on getting a tankless propane water heater. I've never seen the in floor heat done before. Can I do that on a normal floor too (joists and subfloor)?

I used a 50 gallon water heater set at minimun to heat 1300 sq ft in colo. mts.

 

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