[House] Here we go....

[snide]

Originally Posted by DAB

if you have the coin, or talent, i highly recommend a full custom kitchen.

Can you recommend a good custom kitchen cabinet maker?

[DAB]

Originally Posted by snide

Can you recommend a good custom kitchen cabinet maker?

other than me....nope.

i don't work fast either. how long? 4-8 months maybe. depends on size, details, how many Leah walks i need to do.

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

Hope you don't mind the input. Best of luck with Casa Mullett!

I didn't have much time and just power typed this post. Didn't mean for it to come off as "advicey" sounding, was in a hurry. But man, I wish I had read something similar when we were breaking ground.

[Iron Chef]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

I didn't have much time and just power typed this post. Didn't mean for it to come off as "advicey" sounding, was in a hurry. But man, I wish I had read something similar when we were breaking ground.

Dude...it's open season here...you know that. I was as big a "help" as you

And there's a lot of stuff we wrote than can be applied to existing homes.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

Dude...it's open season here...you know that. I was as big a "help" as you

And there's a lot of stuff we wrote than can be applied to existing homes.

Got THAT right!!! and a house I totally redid next door to me in Maryland years ago, that silly lawn I had out front contributed a few yards of dirt on top of the 26 yards I had dumped in the back yard, as we rented a Robert Cat and I got my kids to drive it and do the back filling around that foundation, so the basement would not suck water like a swimming pool in every rainstorm....what a MESS that house was as a result of that water suckage.......we increased the depth of the window wells and the back basement staircase about 15 inches all around....then poured the driveway on top of it to get into the back yard...and the kitchen area with ease.....as well as graded away from house instead of toward the house.....

Same crap needed to with my sister's place in Pa. regrade the land and get the downspouts away from the foundation, ....

[DAB]

Originally Posted by DAB

"landscaping slopes toward house to create water in basement when it rains" is a very popular option.

also watch how many nails you can pick up each evening while the framing is happening. or maybe you like nails in your feet later. i picked up hundreds. magnet on a long wand works great, and a bucket to put them in as you go along.

Originally Posted by mrvette

Got THAT right!!! and a house I totally redid next door to me in Maryland years ago, that silly lawn I had out front contributed a few yards of dirt on top of the 26 yards I had dumped in the back yard, as we rented a Robert Cat and I got my kids to drive it and do the back filling around that foundation, so the basement would not suck water like a swimming pool in every rainstorm....what a MESS that house was as a result of that water suckage.......we increased the depth of the window wells and the back basement staircase about 15 inches all around....then poured the driveway on top of it to get into the back yard...and the kitchen area with ease.....as well as graded away from house instead of toward the house.....

Same crap needed to with my sister's place in Pa. regrade the land and get the downspouts away from the foundation, ....

see, popular option!!

[MrPeabody]

Okay, I'll add my two cents worth.

Floor drain in the garage. Not cheap, though.

Put a hose bib inside of your garage near the door and store the hose there, out of the sun. I have a hose that is over 15 years old because it stays out of the sun. People around here with vacation homes do this also to keep people from stealing water for nearby houses, or stealing the hose.

In general, watch the contractor as the project is in the final phases. That's when they realize they have spent more than they planned and start cutting corners and using cheap stuff.

Once framing starts, when you go to the site park a few houses away. Otherwise, plan on nails in your tires. Never drive onto the lot once the hammers come out.

Best of luck with the new place. May your family have many good and memorable times there.

[DAB]

we have several of these, one near the house (running off house water) and two down by the shop (fed from the rain water tanks that have pumps in them).

they are freeze proof, lockable, and you can put them wherever you want.

Everbilt 4 ft. Bury Depth Frost-Proof Yard Hydrant-EBYH04NL - The Home Depot

[simpleman68]

Originally Posted by snide

Can you recommend a good custom kitchen cabinet maker?

Yes, my buddy's Dad is a German cabinet builder and master carpenter.
As long as you've got $50k+ to spend.
Good Lord is his work incredible though. About as close to perfection as any work I've ever seen.

Guy hand cuts all the wood in your kitchen to flush mount to all walls.
I've seen him do cabinets in 125+ yr old homes with terrible walls and they were a dead fit plumb and square.
Scott

[simpleman68]

Lots of great suggestions mentioned but if you plan to follow any be prepared to write a larger number on your check(s).
While some guys are out to nickel and dime you, almost all the suggestions mentioned really do take more time and or more expensive equipment.
Scott

[mrvette]

Who ever you get to do the kitchen layout, make damn sure you substantiate his measures, AND the order sheet for each cabinet, not as to style, necessary but to the mechanical fitment to the room, not caring about a wall slightly outta plumb, but to make damn sure the callout will fit the room......

a 'top cabinet shop' here in Jax measured up a kitchen for a customer of mine, and it was the most screwed up bunch of orders, as well as one end cabinet was so far out of spec in it's construction, I had to custom cut a shelf to fit .....outta square by over an inch.....

over a week delay just to get the correct boxes at the house to fit the install.....

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

Having a house built, there are a few things that I wish I'd done different. This is by no means a comprehensive list.

1. Make sure they use good interior paint, specifically not contractor-grade flat paint. Egg shell/semi-gloss is the way to go. Pittsburgh Paint, Sherwin Williams, or other premium brand (not Lowes Depot.) Get all color codes in a file.
Noted
2. Go ahead and spend a bit more on your bathroom/kitchen. Even if it stings a bit. It's cheaper in the long run.
That we did, already dipping into my pocket to upgrade the kitchen
3. Spend more on windows than you were initially planning, get premium windows that will last 50 years or more. You'll save on energy too.
We did, because the sun will rise on the living room, also having them tinted.
4. Make sure you don't skimp on the HVAC. Insist on very high efficiency HVAC equipment.
We went at length about that, and did the upgrade.
5. Garage. Big. Need I say more?
2 Suburbans will fit, with 8' in front, 4' in back.
6. Laundry room, make sure it's roomy. Your wife will thank you.
Done
7. Hot water. Consider getting two hot water tanks or tankless. One for kitchen/laundry and one for the rest of the house. Size them accordingly.
Hadn't thought about it, checking into that.
8. Carpet. Just...don't. Hardwood/tile/stone flooring and throw rugs as appropriate. If going hardwood, the engineered stuff is really good now. Make sure it's at least 1800 on the hardness scale. Preferably even harder.
Zero carpet, my son's allergies won't allow it anyways.
9. Plant your trees ASAP. Plant them with them being big later in mind.
Picked out the palms already.
10. Get nicer switches/outlets than the usual contractor grade. Check out Legrand for instance. Can lights can lights can lights. If getting LED lighting, and you want to dim it, you'll find that you really need to make sure the dimmer and lights are compatible.
Doing the whole house with Philips Hue
That's enough for now! Congrats!

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

Like he asked us for any of this (but what the hell...it's what we do! )

Let me add a few things if I may. You might want to ask around at a few A/C heating companies near your place as to what system THEY recommend. Of all people, they will know what's reliable and well built and what isn't. I have a Lennox system that was in my house, and within 5 years the evaporator coil crapped out ($2300 repair, thankyouverymuch ). Make sure that if you install a 5 ton unit, for example, that you are actually moving 5 tons of air. I have a 5 ton but was only recirculating 3.5 tons of air. Why? Not enough air returns. This meant installing returns in all the bedrooms - and presto! 5 tons of air and a balanced system throughout the house.

Don't skimp on electrical outlets too. I had quad boxes installed in my office and had the circuits all upgraded so they could handle it. You can never have too many plugs.

Windows: I can stand next to the windows on a cold day and feel the difference in temperature. From what I've read, argon-filled windows really don't get you as much as low-e glass and it's very expensive. If this is a long-term house, something to think about.

With regard to paint, Cyber is absolutely correct...BUT...be aware that companies like PPG, Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, etc. also carry lines of "contractor grade" paint. I learned this the hard way. I had the interior of my last house painted and I specified Sherwin-Williams paint, but I found out later that I should have also specified the grade. Now, contractor grade SW paint is probably better than most, but if you're spending money on a premium brand, you might as well get what you pay for.

Of course, this is a question of affordability, but one thing's for sure: I'd try to stay away from "contractor-grade" anything. When I remodel the interior of my place, this is a point I'll make crystal clear.

Hope you don't mind the input. Best of luck with Casa Mullett!

That's exactly what we did about the A/C

Originally Posted by aerovette

All of the points made are very valid. Unfortunately you only get to specify when you custom build. Everything on the lists have all been an issue for me at one time or another because my builder sucked and used contractor grade EVERYTHING...except the Supervisor. He was "Border Jumper" grade.

It is custom, so we're good.

Originally Posted by Gozar

Congratulations!


Any floor plans you can share?

Oh, and I second EVERYTHING that Cyber suggested. It's worth every penny.

Kind of, I'll find them. We've altered them greatly though.

Originally Posted by MrPeabody

Okay, I'll add my two cents worth.

Floor drain in the garage. Not cheap, though.

Put a hose bib inside of your garage near the door and store the hose there, out of the sun. I have a hose that is over 15 years old because it stays out of the sun. People around here with vacation homes do this also to keep people from stealing water for nearby houses, or stealing the hose.

In general, watch the contractor as the project is in the final phases. That's when they realize they have spent more than they planned and start cutting corners and using cheap stuff.

Once framing starts, when you go to the site park a few houses away. Otherwise, plan on nails in your tires. Never drive onto the lot once the hammers come out.

Best of luck with the new place. May your family have many good and memorable times there.

Thanks, we live 2 doors down now.

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by MrPeabody

We'll need timely pics of every step of the process so we can inform you of all code violations.

I've got a spot marked to take a picture at every day, then going to do a time lapse.

[simpleman68]

Originally Posted by C5SilverBullet

I've got a spot marked to take a picture at every day, then going to do a time lapse.

That will be cool and very worth the effort!
Scott

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by C5SilverBullet

I've got a spot marked to take a picture at every day, then going to do a time lapse.

I did that with my house.

Lost all the pictures in a hard drive incident.

Lessons learned are often learned too late.

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by aerovette

I did that with my house.

Lost all the pictures in a hard drive incident.

Lessons learned are often learned too late.

Dropbox.

[C5SilverBullet]

From yesterday

[C5SilverBullet]

Plumbing

[SAYUNCL]

congrats brother

[C5SilverBullet]

Weather has been shitty, but progress was made yesterday.