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Message
Another home construction thread (I need help)
Posted on 7/23/15 at 6:47 pm
Posted on 7/23/15 at 6:47 pm
This post was edited on 6/26/17 at 8:25 am
Posted on 7/23/15 at 9:34 pm to man117
I would tile the kitchen as well. Wood and water are not friends but this is the mistake I've seen over and over and people I know end up wishing they had gone with tile since they had a bunch of trouble
Posted on 7/23/15 at 9:46 pm to man117
quote:
3.5 ton, 14 seer A/C (this is something that was quoted)
AC is going to be too small in south LA. I have 2232 living in my current house and have a 5 ton 12 SEER.
Posted on 7/23/15 at 9:57 pm to man117
I don't see a reason you couldn't have that built in the 250-275 range. Where exactly down south?
Posted on 7/24/15 at 5:40 am to man117
you have to get more city specific than south La- that price is fine in some places not in others
The A/C is definitely undersized
Why not use nail down wood? there is very little difference in price with new construction and a heck of a lot better product
The A/C is definitely undersized
Why not use nail down wood? there is very little difference in price with new construction and a heck of a lot better product
Posted on 7/24/15 at 6:14 am to 756
Assuming this house is slab built, there is a BIG difference in price between nailed down wood and engineered. Agree that wood has no place in a kitchen (had it in my last house, so I speak from experience).
You've covered the big stuff, but lots of money is spent on smaller things you haven't detailed....interior doors, knobs, lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, quality of cabinetry can account for the big difference in quotes. Ask bidders to give you a category by category breakdown for the allocated amount in each area. Then you can truly compare one to another.
You don't mention fill and dirt work, or driveway and sidewalks. A decent quote should include allowances for both items.
You've covered the big stuff, but lots of money is spent on smaller things you haven't detailed....interior doors, knobs, lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, quality of cabinetry can account for the big difference in quotes. Ask bidders to give you a category by category breakdown for the allocated amount in each area. Then you can truly compare one to another.
You don't mention fill and dirt work, or driveway and sidewalks. A decent quote should include allowances for both items.
Posted on 7/24/15 at 7:45 am to 756
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/26/17 at 8:25 am
Posted on 7/24/15 at 8:06 am to hungryone
This post was edited on 6/26/17 at 8:25 am
Posted on 7/24/15 at 8:10 am to man117
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/26/17 at 8:26 am
Posted on 7/24/15 at 8:36 am to man117
quote:
quote:
The A/C is definitely undersized
What size would you suggest?
The only way you'll get this right is to calculate the manual J load of the space you're cooling
Google -- Manual J Calculator
Posted on 7/24/15 at 10:58 am to man117
Nailed down hardwood on a slab requires installing a pinned together subfloor to receive the nails, plus all of the sanding/finishing expenses. Engineered goes down over an easily installed vapor barrier atop he slab and is prefinished. Thus it is generally lots cheaper in an over slab situation. Tile goes directly over slab and can be the most time/cost efficient. It has the advantage of being easy to clean, flood proof, and cool in summer. Area rugs can soften sound and look.
Categories seem standard....you can now put your quotes side by side and see what differs, and ask questions about those differences. You can determine what is really important to you and what is less important. Swapping an insulated fiberglass front door w/sidelights and transom, for example, will potentially save you 2-4k and increase your energy efficiency over a solid wood leaded glass fancy custom door. Ditto for the $1.5k in glass shower doors....can you live with a nice shower curtain instead? Gutters may be optional to you, same with operable shutters. Regarding flooring, see what you like and find out what it costs per square foot....it may be way cheaper or way more expensive than you think.
In short, educate yourself about the costs of the materials you like and find out if you can afford that level of finish. The level of finish you've described would cost roughly $140/square foot in my area just a few parishes away. I've heard from various ppl that labor costs in H-T are high, good subs are expensive and have all the work they can handle.
Categories seem standard....you can now put your quotes side by side and see what differs, and ask questions about those differences. You can determine what is really important to you and what is less important. Swapping an insulated fiberglass front door w/sidelights and transom, for example, will potentially save you 2-4k and increase your energy efficiency over a solid wood leaded glass fancy custom door. Ditto for the $1.5k in glass shower doors....can you live with a nice shower curtain instead? Gutters may be optional to you, same with operable shutters. Regarding flooring, see what you like and find out what it costs per square foot....it may be way cheaper or way more expensive than you think.
In short, educate yourself about the costs of the materials you like and find out if you can afford that level of finish. The level of finish you've described would cost roughly $140/square foot in my area just a few parishes away. I've heard from various ppl that labor costs in H-T are high, good subs are expensive and have all the work they can handle.
Posted on 7/24/15 at 12:48 pm to man117
quote:
man117
Out of curiosity, is this just the cost of construction or does it include the cost of the lot?
Posted on 7/24/15 at 1:08 pm to misterc
quote:
Google -- Manual J Calculator
Manual J undersized the unit for my house in South LA.
Posted on 7/24/15 at 1:29 pm to hungryone
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/26/17 at 8:26 am
Posted on 7/24/15 at 1:30 pm to lsufan1971
Posted on 7/24/15 at 1:32 pm to Ziggy
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/26/17 at 8:26 am
Posted on 7/24/15 at 2:41 pm to misterc
quote:
The A/C is definitely undersized What size would you suggest?
I would not go smaller than 4.5 but 5 would not hurt. A lot depends on lot site, which direction house will face and how much heat gain will occur on the West and South sides.
My experience has been most architects undersize because they rely too much on a calculator- MFG claims and government standards. In South LA you are dealing with high humidity as well as heat.
Posted on 7/24/15 at 2:49 pm to man117
I have built and lived in Houma, 124 is not bad for that area- Houma is an expensive housing market.
Bert Theriot is one of the best builders in the area- give him a call--
Engineered vs Hard wood- difference in cost if you know where to buy is under $.075-1.00 sq ft depending on materials- engineered wood will leave you disappointed if you have average wear and tear or have a pet. This is not an area I would cut corners.
Bert Theriot is one of the best builders in the area- give him a call--
Engineered vs Hard wood- difference in cost if you know where to buy is under $.075-1.00 sq ft depending on materials- engineered wood will leave you disappointed if you have average wear and tear or have a pet. This is not an area I would cut corners.
This post was edited on 7/24/15 at 3:42 pm
Posted on 7/24/15 at 3:50 pm to 756
quote:
man117
Drop me a line when you can - ziggy.td@gmail
Posted on 7/24/15 at 4:07 pm to Ziggy
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/26/17 at 8:26 am
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