re: Building a House

I’ve built 2 houses and one hunting cabin. We are in our “forever “ house now. We built a typical subdivision house the first time. This time we built out in the country so we didn’t have a HOA to deal with. We built a raised farmhouse with porches across the front and back. I was the contractor on this one. It was a learning experience for me.

It’s an Acadian style with a metal roof. The inside is yellow
Poplar that came off our place. We started it in 07 and finished in 2009. My dad passed away not long after it was done. It wasn’t the same after that and we ended up surveying out 2.5 acres and selling it.

Ours was 2 bedroom with a loft. We didn’t have plans. My dad drew out what he wanted and we built it. It’s not what I’d want to do again but it worked.

quote:

---

Solid Sheet closets with 3/4" plywood

---

Just curious - why would you do that?

Great thread. I did the outlets in the eaves for Christmas lights, drain in the garage to wash the cars out of the sun, extra large garage, extend all patio covering (can’t have too much shade in the summer). Drop wires everywhere for speakers/internet.

Should have upgraded windows and lifted the ac units off the ground.

quote:

---

You will be over budget by 20% minimum. If that isn't something that you comfortable with then don't do the project. I will never build anything ever again. The only way to avoid this is to A. Not have a wife in the picture. or B. Go with anything but a cost plus builder on a set budget. Good luck it almost broke me. 

---

This. Don't use the builders estimations for land clearing, excavation, fill, driveway, sidewalk, or anything else. Do your homework and get your own quotes for everything so that you know the real cost of things before you break ground. I was already 30k over the "estimates" my builder built in, and all I had was a slab and piers (elevated home in st tammany). The over budget all came from my pocket because I refused to end up with a mortgage spiralling out of control. And yes, I was an idiot for trusting the builder in the first place.

As far as the house, a decent window or door view of the outside of your home on all sides is the one mistake I made. On one side of my home I have to pull up a security camera or physically walk outside if I want to see whats going on in that part of the yard. Prewire/preplumb for everything you think you may ever want or need. One thing my builder did get right is hanging the leftover insulation around pipes in the master bathroom and in the interior wall between my master bedroom and laundry room. Its nice not to have hear the dryer buzzer go off at midnight or hear the water when the wife showers and I'm already asleep.

Finishing/Flooring the Attic is a must. But screw the pull down ceiling attic access. You may say well "stairs cost more" and they do, & you may be young to go up and down right now with ease, but when you get older you won't.

If you and the family can't access it, you will not use it.