Great site. It WILL help me build my house!! Bob Potter

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Bought the book!

Posted to DelgadosAdobeAbode by Mauro in San Diego, CA on 1/18/2007

A couple of days ago, the family and I went to the bookstore. While the kids spent their time in their section, I went straight to the Home Reference section. Guess what? The second book I found was The Owner-Builder Book. I didn't even look through it, I just kept it by my side as I spent the next hour and a half thumbing through other books. 

Here in Southern California, I would not find popular books on adobe construction. There was only one called "The Adobe Home", which just had pictures and ideas. I need to find some more specifics on the subject so that I can better design the structural make-up on the software.  

I am also on the lookout for adobe construction codes in Comal County, Texas. If anyone knows where I may find information on the subject, please pass it my way, I would greatly appreciate it.   

On a closing note, besides having trouble with my current tenant, I need to put that rental property on the market within the month if I want to stay on target to moving in June. The property is a 900/s.f. two-bedroom/one-bath condo centralized in San Diego.

Retired

Posted to DelgadosAdobeAbode by Mauro in San Diego, CA on 12/26/2006

Last December, I retired from the Navy after 24 years. In August, my family and I visited relatives in San Antonio and decided we wanted to move there. After a few months of looking at the market of homes, we opted to build a home that would include all of our wants and needs just like we like. 

Before I joined the Navy, my brothers and I helped build my parents' Ranch home in Clint, Texas. It is a 3,000/sf. adobe home with a traditional Spanish-style exterior. 

Although I have never worked in construction (professionally), I do have enough home project experience and am confident in taking on this project of a lifetime. We bought a home here in San Diego in 1998. Since then we have made several upgrades that include: a 300+/sf. theater room (contracted, but I installed and designed the 6'x 9' screen and surround sound system); a newly remodeled kitchen with new thermofoil cabinets, granite countertops, for which I wired the custom lighting. I built custom garage cabinets. And, I constructed a 250/sf. beamed patio with a built-in barbecue that features a slide-in side burner (drop-slot for deep pots like for frying turkeys), a sink, GFI outlets, lighting, an attached planter big enough to accommodate a giant bird of paradise and a couple of small fan palm trees. 

The only project I did not get to was a pond with a small waterfall. I have already run the water and electrical conduit to that corner of the backyard.

In any case, we will sell this home including all the appliances and theater equipment.        

My wife and I started brainstorming on ideas for floorplans, surfing many websites until we found one that had a "general" layout that we both liked. Since then, we have pretty much changed everything except the circular family room. The changes were made much easier when I purchased the Professional Home Design Platinum software in October. It also made it easier for my wife to "visualize" the floorplan. 

I am far from being done with the plans and will have to start looking for a professional designer to groom our idea.

Now that the holidays are almost over, I will be putting full effort in getting them done.