I found Mark's book and immediately realized I was on to something. After reading this book (and some others) I concluded that this was where I needed to focus. Mary Beth in Dublin, OH

Brandon's Forum Posts: 10
Journal Entries: 12
Interview Answers: 167
Average Forum Rating: 3.13



Image from Brandon's blog

Subscribe to this journal...

Hot in South Louisiana

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 6/22/2008 9:56:47 PM

Like my friend Chris said, "I can tell you are very busy because you haven't updated your blog in a while."  Well that is very true, especially with school being out now and I have been there everyday since May 23rd.  I have been trying to work in the mornings and evenings because the daytime is ridiculously hot with indexes reaching 100 with a sick amount of humidity. Just a quick update, bullet style, since the framing was complete.

• Plumbing, electrical, and A/C all passed inspections.  Plumbing was slow (they know you need them more than they need you), electrical and A/C guys were awesome.  We are running propane (250 gallon) to cook, fireplace, outdoor BBQ and boiling pots for crawfish and crabs, and two outdoor tank-less water heaters (haven't decided on the brand yet, any recs. would be appreciated).
• Roofing completed, 64 squares at $30.00 per including a torch down roof (pics)  for a 2/12 slope over the dormer in the back. (Certainteed Weathered wood)
• Brick layer completed his work in one week 12,000 bricks (Arkansas rose with a flush joint to make the brick a little aged) Pancho and crew did a great job given the 6 gables that I had.  You want what manual labor is like, trying laying brick three scaffolds up with a crew of 4 and show me what you got. He also came under budget for me by about $3000.  Really awesome.
• Painting for all the gables and dormers above the first floor is done thanks to my wife. We are using Valspar paint and she has picked great colors that really go with the theme of the house.
• Before sheetrock was hung, there were several things I did with some help (hired my little brother for $50 a day (trying to get that work ethic in him).
• Pre-wired speakers throughout the house including outside. Free speaker wire (thanks Chris). Layed fiberglass batts on the underside of the floor joists to muffle sound coming from the second floor.
• Did all the venting outside the house (cooktop, bathrooms). Funny thing about that is that every trade I asked to do it, they pointed the finger and said that was the elec. job, or plumb. job or A/C job.  Bottom line is that it turned out to be my job and I am alright with that.  I just keep moving forward with the end in mind (I have been trying to practice the 7 habits of highly successful people).

I will update sheetrock and what Nicole and I are doing to the porches later. We are working on the overhangs and I think we finally got  the "hang of it."

More to come

Brandon and Family

Photos

Nicole painting the gables, not easy for her, but I am so proud.
Pancho and Lupe finishing up	Arkansas rose with a rough aged finish	I dare anyone to outwork Lupe
Torch down for 2/12 pitch roof
Styrofoam was cut vertically to fit the wires.		The overhangs under the porch will have T & G cypress for the back and T-111 4x8 plywood with a wood grain for the front. (Nicole and I are working on it).
Sheetrock started with purple rock for water protection in baths.	I promised Brianna she could cut my hair if she made honor roll. OOPS!	The best trade so far.

Framing Complete

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 5/18/2008 7:16:20 PM

A few loose ends to tie up with the framing, but overall we are done.  The plumbers have about two more days of work.  Electrician will start Monday and A/C guy right after.  Nicole and I spent the whole weekend caulking the Hardi siding and getting it ready for primer.  I did a lot of cleanup as well.  After Thurday's rain everything was a mess.  We will have about four more days of sunshine so hopefully framing will be completed.  I decided to wait to install the front door until sheetrock is done. For $2,200 I would like to protect it from the rigors of construction.  I have to say that prepping for paint is a lot harder than it looks especially with our 20-foot gables, but with the man-lift we rented for Tim and Johnnie, we are trying to get our money's worth. I installed the chimney stack myself and Tim and Johnnie will finish wrapping it in siding.  Not that easy 20 feet in the air, but I got it done.  Very proud of what we have accomplished so far but the road is still long and winding ahead. 

Photos

		Stairs are framed
Nicole gettin' her caulk on	Spanish cedar	Please nobody call the child labor protection agency on us.

Framing 3rd and 4th Week

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 5/5/2008 9:12:34 PM

A lot has been happening (good and bad) since my last post.  The roof was completed as well as the dormers. I used Permafelt synthetic underlayment that will allow us to shingle after we paint to avoid the mess.  It cost $200 more than black felt but you can wait 6 months before shingles and it has more traction.  Definitely worth it.  We got our fireplace framed out, the plumbers started to stubb out (Fred's plumbing), and the siding (Tim and John) got rolling today.  They got as far as they could because the flashing is going up and they should continue after that. I am using a 8 1/4 inch Hardi lap (the larger slats look better).

There were 14 people at the house today and I took the day off to handle a lot of things.  The plumbers cut out the the Styrofoam to get to the pipes.  They were a little apprehensive at first because they also had to drill through the top sill plate which is made of metal, but they got it done.  All of the windows are in (even though two of them are broken!)  Windows should come with just the frame, and the glass installed later.  I have heard from several people to expect windows to break (should that really be the norm?!).  Anyway, the front door should be here tomorrow and installed.  The staircase is still not framed.  Just waiting for the traffic to die down and there are still some loose ends before we are completely blacked in.  I only have three weeks until school lets out so the countdown has begun.  I accomplished a lot today being off and I wonder how these things would have gotten done if I weren't there.  I am being very pretentious.  The French doors in the back are fir. If you look at the pic off the balcony into the two back dormer windows, look at the left hand side and you can barely see a barn with a green roof and a steeple made to look like the barn at Churchill Downs.  That is the home of Kentucky Derby champ Kent Desormeaux.  He has a track in front of the barn.  Cool view!

Later

Photos

	Rear view
View from balcony		Permasoft roof felt
	View out of dormer windows
	Stairs to above garage

Framing Second Week

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 4/22/2008 9:18:37 PM

The second week of framing ended with a lot being completed including all of the first floor walls.  The second story walls began this week along with the roof panels.  Minor changes had to be made but nothing major really.  We have been really blessed with great weather and Alex and his team are really working hard to compensate for some measurements not being exact.  The thing with SIPs panels (I'm learning), is that the panels have to dead on, b-lls accurate (industry term).  The panel designer, foundation guy, and framer have to all be on the same page from beginning to end.  Not an easy task, but like a friend of mine who does remodeling told me,  if everything on the job goes exactly as planned,  hell is freezing over and watch out for the lightning.

 I have put a few flooring examples in as pics. Mannington Hickory and Shaw Midori Porcelain.  We also found a paint to which you can add an iron supplement to become magnetized to use in the girls room. No tape or thumbtacks in the new walls.  Windows will be delivered tomorrow (Meritech vinyl Low-E in Sandstone color).  I hope to get the plumber started this Friday to stub out and move on to the next phase.  I have to say that all my management skills as a teacher are helping me to preemptively see the next stage and order what the trades call for. I do not want materials as a reason for down time if I can help it. At this point, this is all I can do until we get to the finish work.  Congrats to Chris and his family (Louisiana-Mediterranean blog) on the completion of his home and I hope he has many fond memories of being in that house.

Photos

Shaw Midori	Mannington Hickory
	T-Rex in action (it better be for $1,100 a week).
Living room looking up

Framing First Week

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 4/13/2008 6:05:08 PM

Framing began this week on our project and with great weather the entire first floor was completed.  In four days Alex and his crew erected the first floor (interior and exterior) walls.  The second floor space joists and floor sheathing also began and it looks like this week the weather will allow them to erect the roof.  The project is moving quick and with the summer vacation only 6 weeks away, I'll admit that my mind is not on school.   We have changed our minds on flooring selections, choosing not to stain and instead doing wood and porcelain throughout. (Shaw Midori, and Mannington Hickory hand-scraped)  We will try to get the cabinet selection finalized as well.  We are looking for places to save money and have found a few things on the following (Craigslist.com, Fastfloors.com, and of course eBay.com).  We have decided to maximize the area above the garage for a future game room and framed it accordingly.  (You only got one chance to get it right.) The kids are helping out by picking up screws and nails to reuse and cleaning up the work site.  We are trying to include them in the building process as much as possible to get them to feel pride in ownership.  I hope they learn as much as possible.

Brandon and family

Photos

Wall height 9 feet. Brianna 5'4"		foyer to living room
Kitchen with room on top	Chillin' in Garrett's room
Laundry room	View from road	Rear view
Three-car garage	Balcony in living room

Phase 2

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 4/6/2008 6:11:42 PM

Over the weekend Fortress Frame panels were delivered, and just like the concrete trucks lined up on the day we poured foundation, I am humbled by this.  I am still a little awestruck that we have gone this far and have been so blessed to be able to build our dream home.  Jeff, Van, and all the boys at Fortress Frame have been hard at work, and now it is time to put the pedal to the metal.  God willing, the weather will be good this week so Sean and his crew can get rolling.  My wife and I went to the Parade of Homes this weekend to get some last minute ideas.  I will post some of our selections at a later date.  Right now, I am trying to focus on getting this baby framed up.  One note, I have selected a Spanish Cedar 5' x 8' front door with a dark stain and saw it up at a home this weekend and it is awesome.  I'll post some more pics later this week to show progress. 

Brandon

Photos

We are going to live in an ice chest.		We will have a lot of good memories with this tree.
		The girls picking blacberries
Lots of wildlife in our backyard

One Week Till Framing

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 3/30/2008 8:49:53 PM

Since my last post (foundation), I have been doing a little cleanup around the site and creating areas where materials can be brought to the site with ease.  I have been burning the stakes that came off of the forms (haven't rented a dumpster yet and at 350 a pop, burning trash is much cheaper, just wood though).  I was informed that we are one week away from putting up Fortress Frame walls, and the anticipation has got my mind racing all over again.  My time line is starting to look a little better but there is still a long way to go.  The foundation should be cured by then (important for structural integrity). I was told that concrete takes 28 days to cure properly, and some contractors only wait a few days to build walls. This is one of the advantages of owner-building. I purchased my shingles already and had them delivered to the site. I realized that we are a few weeks away from roofing to start, but  found out that shingles are going up $7 per bundle April 1st (Guaranteed 30-year architectural shingles, told by several roofers that these are the best asphalt shingles (better than Owens-Corning), including an added delivery charge, so I saved around $600.  They should be fine since it is covered and still rather cool outside.  Not much to show this week, but hopefully I will next week.  I included pics to show what we do in South Louisiana when the crabs are running.

Photos

Catching crabs in Cameron,LA		Garrett loving the sandpile
	Easter tradition CRAWFISH!	Watching the pot boil never works

Under Dark of Night

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 3/16/2008 6:40:21 PM

The cement was poured Friday 148 cu. yards @ $94.00 per yard.  Do the math.  Although I think I got a pretty good price compared to the market.  Domingo and crew were at it at 5:30am and when I arrived at 6:15, three trucks had already dumped their concrete.  I needed a pump truck ($1,200) to get the job done and by 10:30 all of the trucks were gone.  I have to tell you, it was quite a humbling experience to realize that all of those people at the site on Friday were there because of me and my family.  I spent the weekend salvaging the 2x12s and 2x6s that were pulled off of the forms to use in the house.  I am trying to salvage all that I can and reuse and return what was not used because it is MY MONEY and not some else's, which is probably what a contractor would do.  We are even counting the hooks that are placed in the foundation that were extra and at 3.50 a piece x 30 it is worth it.  We now are playing a waiting game because the Fortress Frame panels will not be installed until April 15th ,which is something I am concerned with because I was hoping to sheetrock at the end of May.  But I can't control things of which I have no control over, we are dedicated to this project and will always move forward.  Updates will be few until then, while the concrete cures.

Brandon and family

Photos

	You could run track in these footings 32 inch x 24 inch
Nicole cleaning up		Garage opening

Sunshine

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 3/9/2008 7:11:40 PM

We finally got some sunshine and were able to dig footings and place sand.  Domingo and crew tore it up Saturday and Sunday and were able to prep for plumber.  There is rain in the forecast this week (of course) but hopefully we can get it poured this Saturday.  It looks like a bomb hit 9632 Belle Place Circle with the footings dug. Footings are 24-inch wide by 34-inch tall (huge footings, due to two story house and this foundation will not fail on me like my existing home. Having all the sand and dirt around is a kid's dream, as my three have been digging around and having a blast.  Check pics.   (Louisiana Mediterranean blog, CHECK IT OUT. Looks great Chris.)

Photos

Rain Delays

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 3/6/2008 8:05:41 PM

Like I said earlier, we are a week ahead and that is probably the last time I'll say that.  It has come to a head.  In typical LA style it is 80 degrees and sunny and later that night turns to 35 and rain.  March is here.  We have forms put up now and are waiting to bring fill sand and dig footings.  The ground is saturated right now and we are getting rain right now.  We decided to raise the house 6 more inches to be able to put brick stairs on the front porch.  I don't know about anybody else, but even though we have 2,300 sq. ft. downstairs, it looks smaller than I thought.  Did anybody else make that observation?  I included pics.  Notice the crawfish pond in the backyard.  Can't get any fresher than that.

Brandon and family

Photos

House Pad Prepped

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 2/25/2008 7:24:10 PM

Today my house pad got a hair cut as it was de-grassed and ready for the surveyor.  The ground finally dried up enough to get a bobcat out there, and  I got a birthday present as someone finally came out and actually did something I could visualize.  Hopefully by Thursday we can start with the forms, one week ahead of schedule. Probably the only time I'll ever say that.  I took pics with phone, so no photos, but I hope to take a pic with lumber soon.   Later.

The Journey Begins

Posted to Cajun-Homestead by Brandon in Lafayette, LA on 2/17/2008 9:53:06 PM

After 7 years in the making, the Billeaud family is making that jump to create something that we set out to do when we got married, and that is start this journey called dream home building.  We are using a type of SIPs called Fortress Frame (see Louisiana Mediterranean blog, Chris Hebert's home).  The electrical pole has gone up, which I think we have crossed the point of no return.  Some of our "acquaintances" have said good luck on your marriage during this time, (real friends would be behind us), but I think that this is something my wife and I can look back on and say look at what we have accomplished. Most important, I am doing this with my best friend, my wife.  I will try to keep everyone posted as I have learned a lot from this website and the friends I have made from it.  I will post pics soon.

Brandon

Photos

Posted by Chris in Sunset, LA on 2/18/2008 Chris's Forum Posts: 0 Journal Entries: 31 Image from Chris's blog 2/18/2008

Brandon Best wishes from Chris, Anna and Emily.  You know if you need anything, give us a call.  You also told me to let you know when cabinetry is up. ITS UP! Chris