[House] Here we go....

[Admiral Blue]

I am an internet structural engineer and I see all kinds of problems with that garage construction. LOL, had to dust off that thread from a long while back.

Congrats on the build! AWESOME. Way to go on getting the lot on the water! You will love it. All the best.

[Chuck A]

looking good

[snide]

Originally Posted by Chuck A

very looking good indeed

Fixed.

[Cybercowboy]

Best part is when they put the roof on and get it totally in the dry. That's when you start coming up with "ideas" that will "help". Like maybe we really don't want to go with tile in this room. How much would it cost to move this wall over three feet? Stuff that will endear you to your contractor.

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

Best part is when they put the roof on and get it totally in the dry. That's when you start coming up with "ideas" that will "help". Like maybe we really don't want to go with tile in this room. How much would it cost to move this wall over three feet? Stuff that will endear you to your contractor.

My wife has already racked up changes that are costing me $8000 out of pocket, I told the guy if he wants any more money I have to say ok first.

[Chuck A]

Originally Posted by snide

Fixed.

i try to use that word when really needed
Indeed

[C5SilverBullet]

Foundation!

[C5SilverBullet]

Framing underway

[Stevedore]

Looking good! I enjoy seeing others' progress on projects like this.

We used to talk about having a house built, but never got around to it, and now that we're actually looking to move, I think the stress of buillding would be too much for me/us. So we're looking at resales.

[Norm]

Outstanding! Looks like you're going to have a really nice place.

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by C5SilverBullet

My wife has already racked up changes that are costing me $8000 out of pocket, I told the guy if he wants any more money I have to say ok first.

I only wanted a few things done my way and got overridden every time by my contractor and my wife. First was I wanted to stick to the house plan and go with 10' ceilings instead of 8' that the builder said he was going to do (all the big rooms are vaulted anyway, but still), 6" studs instead of 4" studs, and 12x12 pitch roof instead of 12x8. All of those were in the plans I chose, the builder insisted I didn't want that. I lost that battle basically because he dug his feet in, saying he was doing me a big favor. It's fine with they way he did it, but I still wish I made him. He kept quoting me when I first interviewed him that I wanted to keep it under $190k. Literally a week after we broke ground I got a $30k raise. Figured I could afford to do it right.

The other thing I wanted was a three car garage versus the two car in the plans. He said no way, it would be too hard to match the roof line. Gave in on that too, but did make them make it 6' deeper which makes it at least able to have freezer/fridge/cabinets/work bench without a problem.

[snide]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

I only wanted a few things done my way and got overridden every time by my contractor and my wife. First was I wanted to stick to the house plan and go with 10' ceilings instead of 8' that the builder said he was going to do (all the big rooms are vaulted anyway, but still), 6" studs instead of 4" studs, and 12x12 pitch roof instead of 12x8. All of those were in the plans I chose, the builder insisted I didn't want that. I lost that battle basically because he dug his feet in, saying he was doing me a big favor. It's fine with they way he did it, but I still wish I made him. He kept quoting me when I first interviewed him that I wanted to keep it under $190k. Literally a week after we broke ground I got a $30k raise. Figured I could afford to do it right.

In some parts of the country, 6" studs on exterior walls are mandatory. I would have insisted on this.

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

I only wanted a few things done my way and got overridden every time by my contractor and my wife. First was I wanted to stick to the house plan and go with 10' ceilings instead of 8' that the builder said he was going to do (all the big rooms are vaulted anyway, but still), 6" studs instead of 4" studs, and 12x12 pitch roof instead of 12x8. All of those were in the plans I chose, the builder insisted I didn't want that. I lost that battle basically because he dug his feet in, saying he was doing me a big favor. It's fine with they way he did it, but I still wish I made him. He kept quoting me when I first interviewed him that I wanted to keep it under $190k. Literally a week after we broke ground I got a $30k raise. Figured I could afford to do it right.

The other thing I wanted was a three car garage versus the two car in the plans. He said no way, it would be too hard to match the roof line. Gave in on that too, but did make them make it 6' deeper which makes it at least able to have freezer/fridge/cabinets/work bench without a problem.

Ours tried to talk us out of the 18' ceiling in the living room, that was the main thing I wanted. He even had my wife convinced that we didn't need it, but to me it screws up the whole thing. You lose the second set of windows, the balcony, and makes the roof line stupid.

He is an old immigrant, and doesn't understand why people want things that are "flashy". He does first class work, best material etc, just doesn't do much flash. He told us this is the biggest house he's ever built.

[mrvette]

WHY HVAC twice as much air?? extra windows?? why??? Hell, here in Florida we shade windoze as much as possible....

12-12 roofs are not walkable, 4-12 is all ANY house needs, even winters up north.....use metal roofs, standing seam, they don't make shingles NEAR as good as decades ago.....they don't even offer slate roofs either....ceramic seems to be a Ca./SW thing......

8-10' ceilings are fine.....and if you have a second story you really want very restricted airflow between them......

[04 commemorative]

and make the halls 6" to 12" wider.....and central vac !

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by mrvette

WHY HVAC twice as much air?? extra windows?? why??? Hell, here in Florida we shade windoze as much as possible....

12-12 roofs are not walkable, 4-12 is all ANY house needs, even winters up north.....use metal roofs, standing seam, they don't make shingles NEAR as good as decades ago.....they don't even offer slate roofs either....ceramic seems to be a Ca./SW thing......

8-10' ceilings are fine.....and if you have a second story you really want very restricted airflow between them......

Because it looks right down the water, and it is what I want.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by C5SilverBullet

Foundation!

Dig a basement, THEN you can call it a foundation

[C5SilverBullet]

Originally Posted by Dave

Dig a basement, THEN you can call it a foundation

I wish we could have a basement.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by 04 commemorative

and make the halls 6" to 12" wider.....and central vac !

My first house had a central vac 3 story townhouse....but just a vac, no rug beater action.....

and I agree on wider hallways, I remember one of my apartments, decades ago, I cut the corner off the HVAC chase to get an armoire (clothes closet) around the corner into the bedroom, left it that way until I moved out.....fixed it when I left, the crew was happy......

[Dave]

Originally Posted by snide

In some parts of the country, 6" studs on exterior walls are mandatory. I would have insisted on this.

They're all but mandatory here. Code calls for either:
R19 (2x6)
or
R13+5 (2x4 with 1" exterior foam sheathing)

I'm building with 2x6 plus 2.5" exterior foam. Should put me close to R30 net.