Thank you for giving owner-builders a platform to share our experiences from. I’ve gotten several ideas from posts on your website. For instance, I’d never heard of PEX before running across mention of it on ownerbuilderbook.com; afterward, I researched it and decided to use it in my home. You are doing us all a great service. Jack Mullins

Jeff's Forum Posts: 16
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The beginning

Posted to Odd by Jeff in Boston, MA on 12/8/2007 11:40:14 AM

Well, this'll probably be the oddest house on OBB.  Well, we hope to build it anyway.  I've been toying with ideas for over a year now and have had a blog going over at Google ( http://dreamsofcastles.blogspot.com/ ) for quite a while as a repository for information and just a place to tack ideas and things found on the web.  In a way I find it a little strange that the number of houses constructed on OBB are all "conventional", not too much about them makes them different than any other house out there (other than the amazing cost savings some people are achieving), but to each their own...

So at any rate, the idea is to build a "castle".  Yep. Go ahead and have your chuckle. 

I say "castle" with quotes because I'm not crazy or dedicated enough to lay 10 foot thick stone walls with rubble fill, so it won't be a "real" castle.  The idea is to build a structure that is castle-like in look and somewhat in design, but to built rapidly by the owners of conventional materials and with high energy efficiency in mind.   The idea is also to plan the structure in such a manner that it could be added to in the future should we choose to retire in it and covert/add to it to make it suitable for a bed and breakfast. 

There really isn't all that much in the way of fixed decisions that have been made.  We'd like to build in the Texas or possibly New Hampshire area depending on where we'd like to settle for our jobs (we have somewhat flexible choices in our field as to where we could live).  The structure will be CMU with a stone facade.  We'll likely only look for enough of a loan to get the structure dried-in, and do most of the interior work other than the main electrical and plumbing ourselves.  Also we hope to incorporate geothermal and solar products in the construction as well to keep costs down over the structure's lifetime.

That's it, so far...  This'll be a very slow journal until things actually get done.  First thing on the list is to pin down a good general design of the structure.  The second thing is to take that design to an architect and have a set of very detailed plans assembled.  Next step: Get bids, find the land, and try to pin down a loan.

Comments and suggestions are always appreciated, and I expect a little grief here for choosing such an unusual project.  :)

Rich's Forum Posts: 6 Journal Entries: 1 Interview Answers: 66 Average Forum Rating: 3.67 Send Private Message Image from Rich's blog 12/22/2007

I've toured the home-made castle of a couple up in Irasburg, VT (where we hope to build soon).  Here's a few links: http://dupontcastle.com/castles/gregorie.htm http://www.forsalebyownercenter.com/listing-45532-Irasburg-VT-05845-RealEstate.aspx He also wrote a book that was really, really interesting.  He had many ingenious methods of getting the various stone pieces into place.  Good luck!

Jeff's Forum Posts: 16 Journal Entries: 1 Interview Answers: 9 Average Forum Rating: 3.45 Send Private Message My Construction Website Randomly Selected Image 12/23/2007

Hi Rich, Thanks for the info.  I've been to the dupontcastle.com site several times, and been in contact with the builder as well.  That site helped me believe that we could actually build a castle, or a home that looks like one, too.  Coincidentally, I just happened across that VT castle for sale site not 2 days ago, but I had no idea he'd written a book.  I'll have to look for it. Good luck on your project too, and thanks for saying hello! Jeff

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