Great site. We have been following the discussions here for a while and I've made my first post (more to follow). Mancong in Seattle

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Survey Time

Posted to NutmegWedgefieldOrlando by Thomas in Orlando, FL on 6/22/2007

I received the letter for the CAD on 05/31/07. All the wetlands on the property were class 3, so the next day I faxed them back one of the letters saying that I accepted their determination. The letter they sent also had all the information about having the survey completed. I found what looks to be a very professional survey business located in Altamonte. It’s called Associated Land Surveying & Mapping, Inc (ALSM surveying). I talked with Jack (owner) Thursday June 7^th.  He sent a crew out there the following Wednesday thru Thursday and finished the CAD drawing on Friday.

I called him Monday June 18^th to make sure everything was completed before I drove there to pick it up. He said that the wetland plots did not go all the way across the property and that they called Al Bender (EPD) to have them place more plots. I called Al Bender Wednesday; he said he had not heard anything from any surveyor, so I called ALSM back. Jack said that they ended up talking to a lady from EPD and that she was going to have the same person that walked the wetlands to mark the remaining plots. He also said that he would send me the CAD .dwg file to show that was all they were waiting for. I have the file, and everything is as he said it was. So far I’m really happy with them and they’ve earned my trust.

One down, one to go

Posted to NutmegWedgefieldOrlando by Thomas in Orlando, FL on 5/7/2007

Wetlands - I received the IWD last week May 3. Over the weekend, I filled out the sheet for the CAD and turned it in this morning. When I was there I asked if I had everything together. The guy (forgot to ask his name) told me I had everything together, he also told me that since I had Jim Lee do the IWD that the county will most likely just agree with him. He also told me that after they agree, I would get a letter in the mail asking if I agree with them. This letter will have to be returned within 15 days of receiving it. After that paper is turned in, I will receive another one saying I have 90 days to have the wetlands put on a survey and turned back into them. Then the wetlands determination will be good for five years.

ICF - I worked with Mike, another owner-builder, in Rockledge the last weekend of April.  He is building a detached garage with a mother-in-law suite above it; after it's finished he'll build his 7,300+ sq ft house. On that Saturday, Charlie  the owner/contractor of Florida PolySteel was there to go over the assembly procedures for the 4000 series blocks that they have (he was almost two hrs. late). All I have to say is: "It's like putting Legos together with glue." They also have a material called V-BUCK that you can use instead of wood for framing out the windows, doors, garage, etc.

Charlie also told me that it would be best to use the 4000 series block instead of the 3000. The 3000 blocks are more expensive, and then you have to play around with the blocks to try and get all the rebar coming out of the footers to line up in the cylinders of the blocks. He also recommended that you zip-tie the blocks together as they can grow as you build upwards. I saw the proof in Mike’s garage; he was an inch off in both directions when we were 14 foot high. It's nothing to really worry about. Mike had the first floor of his 36 ft by 36 ft garage done in two days with mainly him and his friend Craig doing everything. I only helped for five hours on Sunday, because I left after Charlie’s class Saturday to go to Earth Day Birth Day (EDBD14, a big concert in Orlando).  Hopefully I get to work out there again.

Progressing slowly

Posted to NutmegWedgefieldOrlando by Thomas in Orlando, FL on 4/14/2007

Wetlands

I called Daun Festa on 03/27/07 to ask if they had received all the papers necessary to proceed with the informal wetlands determination. She returned my call the next day to let me know that they did have everything and that it will take approx. 6 weeks.

Utilities

I received a call from Nick Carver (407.869.8588 x250) from Wedgefield Utilities on 04/03/07. He left a message on my cell stating to give him a call. After several tries I got ahold of him. He told me what I already figured. We’re out of their service area, so I’ll need a well and septic.

Structural walls

I decided to go with ICF. One of the main reasons for this is because of their efficiency, and because I’ll be able to assemble the walls. I’ll still use a sub to pour the concrete. I called up PolySteel in Altamonte Springs and spoke with Matt. So far I’m going to go with their PS3000 forms. Matt is also a designer, so I’ll most likely use him to design the house. His cost is $1.25 per living square foot and it also includes the engineering stamps. I’m going to go talk to him next week sometime to find out more info. He said that some of the homeowners (having their homes built by them) might allow me to work hands on to gain some experience. If not, I just have to watch from the road.

Main home page:

polysteel.com

Central Florida distributor home page:

polysteelunlimited.com

Florida PolySteel Unlimited, Inc.
1428 E. Semoran Blvd, Suite 105
Apopka, FL 32703

Phone: 407.884.9494

30 days

Posted to NutmegWedgefieldOrlando by Thomas in Orlando, FL on 3/26/2007

I called DEP and talked to Jim Lee. He told me I have to re-apply for the Informal WD. He also said it takes approximately 30 days. I'm going to drive down there and drop off all the papers to their secretary Daun Festa 407.893.7861.

Posted by Cara in Orlando, FL on 3/26/2007 Cara's Forum Posts: 38 Journal Entries: 136 Interview Answers: 59 Average Forum Rating: 4.04 My Construction Website Image from Cara's blog 3/26/2007

Welcome to Wedgefield. May your house-building go smoothly and your days of dealing with EPD and DEP be short and sweet :)

No Flags

Posted to NutmegWedgefieldOrlando by Thomas in Orlando, FL on 3/24/2007

Like the title says, there weren't any flags out there, well at least any we could get to without a chainsaw. First thing Monday morning, I'm going to call up DEP and see if they need me to fill out another request for an informal wetlands determination or if they can use the one they have on file and just replace the flags.

Background

Posted to NutmegWedgefieldOrlando by Thomas in Orlando, FL on 3/23/2007

The property in Wedgefield was bought during the summer of 2006. I had planned on starting the construction through UBuildIt this month. After reading the reviews about them and BuildMax, I've decided to just hire a private consultant on an as-needed basis (no one hired as of yet). So far I have spent two days on this website and I have started reading the electronic copy of The Owner-Builder Book.

In other words, I'm starting from basic knowledge and a piece of land. First off, the property has wetlands on it, and after reading about what happened with Jason and Cara (Quarterly House), I'm going to start on making the lot buildable ASAP while I gain the knowledge to proceed with the rest of the project. Today I'm going to start by contacting the Orange County zoning department to find out what I need to do to make my lot buildable. Here is the zoning department's info and a FAQ off of their website.

Can I build on this property? Call the Zoning Division with your legal description and/or parcel ID and we will check to see if it is a 'buildable' lot.

Orange County Growth Management (Map)
Orange County Administration Building
201 S. Rosalind Avenue, 1st Floor
P.O. Box 1393
Orlando, FL 32802-1393
Phone: 407.836.5525
Fax: 407.836.5510
Email: Zoning@ocfl.net mailto:zoning@ocfl.net

I'm going to get this information also:

Does a property have water and sewer access? Contact Orange County Utilities at 407.836.7000 to determine the availability of water and wastewater service, and the agency that will provide the service if the county does not serve the area.

Is a property in a designated conservation or wetland area? Contact the Environmental Protection Division at 407.836.1400 about the Preliminary Conservation Area Determination service.

Where can I find a copy of a property's legal description? Contact the Orange County Comptroller's Official Records Research Center at 407.836.5115 or visit them at 401 South Rosalind Avenue.

I'll try and make this journal as accurate and helpful to other first-time owner-builders.

If I forget to provide a link or number to a contact, please let me know so I can add it.

STARTING OUT

Zoning

I called zoning and found out I have a zoning problem. My lot is zoned R1A and the future usage is zoned rural area. They transferred me to planning, and planning said it shouldn't be a problem. Planning told me to contact Tom Blanton from zoning and tell him I need a "lot of records determination". They also said that I need to get my wetlands permit first.

Wetlands

I called and talked to Shannon from the Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD). She told me to contact the State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and have an informal/preliminary wetlands determination (IWD) done. The state will send someone out for free and place flags along the boundaries of the wetlands area. They will then send a letter with an aerial view and outline by mail when they're finished. I had one done last year when I bought the property, so I'm going to drive out and check to see if the flags are still there. If they are, I have to fill out the Conservation Area Determination (CAD) application and mail it to the county EPD to find out if they agree with it. Shannon told me to fill out Section 1 and include items 1, 2, and 6 from Section 3.

DEP Informal Wetlands Determinations

Jim Lee

407.893.3310

Suncom 325.3310

email: Jim.Lee@dep.state.fl.us

COST

Informal WD - Free

CAD - $646

Utilities

Wedgefield Utilities 800.272.1919 is the provider for that area. They said they would get back to me on whether I will need them for water and sewage or if I'll need a well and septic tank.