OT-Attn Carpenters/Homebuilders

[MaxFarmer]

From another thread I posted on 7 months ago.....

Is now the time to build a house? The wife wants one really bad and I'm only 1/2 a kid away from my end of the promise....(our house is gettin small).

probably the time to start talking to builders unless your doing it your self.

around here they book up quick and are probably booking late summer/fall now.

Yeah, its the same here, thats why I'm askin. Some friends of ours is getting thiers built next, and we'd like to use the same guy but like you said, we need to get on it. I just didnt know how much more interest rates are going to drop, if materials are going to keep going up or start going down...etc...

My honest advice: Its always a good time to build, or remodel, if you NEED to. Right now interest rates are very low, they are practically giving the stuff away. But to do it for that reson alone, in essence your just wasting money. It sounds like you NEED to for more room. Then by all means, right now is a great time to do so. Be very leary of anything that sounds too good to be true. There are alot of hungy builders out there right now that are looking for work, sometimes there are reasons they dont have work. From my experience make sure they spell out exactly what type of products they are using EVERYWHERE so you dont get nailed with upcharges later. Unfortunatly I see alot of that happening to good people.

Check out our website there are alot of good ideas on there. www.gryboskibuilders.com . I run the Renovation division so you can see a couple of my projects as well. Feel free to PM or E-mail me

Make that about 1/4 a kid away--we're due again Feb1!

I own another house not too far away (1 mile) that is old but liveable while I remodel the one we are currently in. I'm having a helluva time finding an available hombuilder, let alone an affordable one! I'm seriously considering doing a lot of the work myself. I'm kind of a jack of all trades, just very intimidated...... Hell the poineers built their own houses and some of them are still standing today! My wife doesnt think I can do it....
A few questions--Is it cheaper and or better to build a basement or just go up 2 levels? We currently have a basement under the house, and I'm not to sure of the work involved to add on to an existing basement vs. just pouring some footings, tying them into the existing basement, and then building up 2 stories?

Anyone need a winter job? :hug:

 

[slowlmm]

much cheaper to pour a slab and start building. a quick and easier way and is actually stronger is the preformed panels tht are now availble very cool stronger then stick frameing and easier. just get your plans done send them off and your ready to go

 

[MaxFarmer]

Who makes the pre-formed panels that you speak of? Do you mean like Pre-framed walls, etc?

Do you want your cement slab 100% level or does it ever-so-slightly have to have a slope to it (for drainage just in case)?

 

[Fingers]

Living space on a slab is not recommended in your area. At least a crawl space should be under the living areas.

Monolithic stem walls are a good option and can be cast in place, precast, or build up with ICFs. I lean towards the ICFs myself. From there up it is simple stick framing.

Pre fabbed panels are great, but there is a break point where they just don't make sense. If the addition is basically three walls and a roof, not a good deal. However, once you go two stories and about 400+ sq ft of new floor, the prefab becomes attractive from a time savings point of view if nothing else. The big thing here is YOUR labor is free and the prefabs save labor most of all. So the $$ savings to you, the main labor, is minimal with prefab.

The other thing to consider is modular. While you are setting up the foundation, they build your addition. Foundation is cured and sealed, you have an addition in 1-2 days after that. Serious time compression. Trim out takes another week maybe. Depends on how hard you work on it.

 

[MaxFarmer]

Living space on a slab is not recommended in your area. At least a crawl space should be under the living areas.

Monolithic stem walls are a good option and can be cast in place, precast, or build up with ICFs. I lean towards the ICFs myself. From there up it is simple stick framing.

Pre fabbed panels are great, but there is a break point where they just don't make sense. If the addition is basically three walls and a roof, not a good deal. However, once you go two stories and about 400+ sq ft of new floor, the prefab becomes attractive from a time savings point of view if nothing else. The big thing here is YOUR labor is free and the prefabs save labor most of all. So the $$ savings to you, the main labor, is minimal with prefab.

The other thing to consider is modular. While you are setting up the foundation, they build your addition. Foundation is cured and sealed, you have an addition in 1-2 days after that. Serious time compression. Trim out takes another week maybe. Depends on how hard you work on it.

That's some great info right there! Thank you very much!

 

[McRat]

All I know is to be CAREFUL.

We picked an unreliable contractor and it is costing dearly. Like a train wreck. Robbed us, did crap work, tried to stop us from finishing it when he abandoned the job, and last week the pussy put a lien on our house for $6,000 when he owes us $70,000 worth of materials and labor still he billed for and never started.

 

[paint94979]

All I know is to be CAREFUL.

We picked an unreliable contractor and it is costing dearly. Like a train wreck. Robbed us, did crap work, tried to stop us from finishing it when he abandoned the job, and last week the pussy put a lien on our house for $6,000 when he owes us $70,000 worth of materials and labor still he billed for and never started.

oouch

If you were to tackle doing it yourself would there anyone helping you doing it? Say a friend who is a contractor?

 

[T2CH]

All I know is to be CAREFUL.

We picked an unreliable contractor and it is costing dearly. Like a train wreck. Robbed us, did crap work, tried to stop us from finishing it when he abandoned the job, and last week the pussy put a lien on our house for $6,000 when he owes us $70,000 worth of materials and labor still he billed for and never started.

Sorry to hear this

Did he contact the lien agent before he started work?
Here in VA, we cannot put a lien on a house if the lien agent was not contacted before hand and can be squashed with just a visit to the local courthouse.

Sounds like you are going to be in court before this mess gets straightened out.

 

[Skyhigh4by]

Nebraska is in the tornado belt is it not? I know I would want a pretty hefty basement if I was building there.

 

[WolfLMM]

ICF is the way to go. I have pics of a project we have going on if you are interested in seeing them. Good luck

 

[MaxFarmer]

All I know is to be CAREFUL.

We picked an unreliable contractor and it is costing dearly. Like a train wreck. Robbed us, did crap work, tried to stop us from finishing it when he abandoned the job, and last week the pussy put a lien on our house for $6,000 when he owes us $70,000 worth of materials and labor still he billed for and never started.

Oh man, I couldnt even imagine. Right now we're leaning torwards a couple of mennonites to do the job. My wife wont let me do it myself.

Nebraska is in the tornado belt is it not? I know I would want a pretty hefty basement if I was building there.

The house we are adding on to already has a basement with a tornado shelter in it. Where I am trying to consider basement or not is on the addition to the current house.

ICF is the way to go. I have pics of a project we have going on if you are interested in seeing them. Good luck

I am def. interested! Thats the whole reason I started this thread!
Thanks a lot so far everyone!

 

[Fingers]

ICFs like this?

http://mysite.verizon.net/mcelravy1

 

[WolfLMM]

Here are some.

 

[Kat]

Here are some.

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OT- But that must have a awesome view

 

[MaxFarmer]

I'm hearing a lot of good things about the insulation forms for basement walls. Opinions?