Let me congratulate you on the owner-builder website - LOTS & LOTS of valuable information.  I recently purchased the 4th edition O-B Book and found out about the website from that. Richard B. Milwaukee, WI

Richard's Forum Posts: 2
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Steel Work

Posted to Plant-City-Craftsman by Richard in Plant City, FL on 11/22/2009 8:05:16 PM

Steel is delivered and set in foundation trenches.

Photos

Steel is delivered May 28th 2008	Steel is set May 29th 2008	Photo of steel in trench
Another photo of steel in trench

Starting Foundation

Posted to Plant-City-Craftsman by Richard in Plant City, FL on 5/29/2008

Well my subcontractor started to form up the foundation and set the steel. I called him the week before and he was ready to go to work. The slope of the lot was of some concern when the survey showed that the lot had a 12-ft rise from front to back property line. But after talking with the sub, it looked like it was going to be OK. It only took one day for the crew to form up the foundation for the house and the 30x40 shop that we are building at the same time. Easy digging in the Florida sand.

Photos

House foundation dug and steel set ready for inspection.	Another shot of the house foundation.	Shop foundation with steel and one of my protected Palm Trees

Getting Land Cleared

Posted to Plant-City-Craftsman by Richard in Plant City, FL on 5/20/2008

We closed on our loan on April 25th and submitted our plans to Plant City office of the Hillsborough County permitting office on April 28th and then we waited for almost three weeks before we could start clearing land. Had several very nice people help get us through the permitting process. Starting with Julie Sternfels of the Natural Resource office. She helped us with the LAL-SFD application and getting the approval to cut down some trees that were in the footprint of the house site. The trees were considered in poor condition so we did did not have to replace but we had a couple of palm trees that are protected that we could not remove. We were told that once we get CO on the house we can get a permit to take the palms out. Then we had help from John Auston 307-8352 in getting our plans moved through the permitting process. In all it was not too painful of a process.

Photos

May 20th as we prepare to start clearing the land.

Day Three of land clearing, almost done.

The Beginning

Posted to Plant-City-Craftsman by Richard in Plant City, FL on 12/18/2006

Well this is the official start of my biggest project to date. My wife and I are starting construction soon on our 3,000 sq ft Craftsman-style home. We just closed a couple of weeks ago on our land. It's 1.2 acres in east Plant City close to I-4. We plan on starting work in March and are currently finalizing the plans. See photo of land with lots of orange trees to remove.

Photos

1.2 acres with orange trees

6/4/2007

CONGRATULATIONS!! My name is Annie in Eustis, we are right now in permits stage.  My husband Mike and I are having lots of fun, eventhough sometimes we feel a little stressout finding subcontractors.  Do you mind sharing a few of your major ones?  It is amazing how different bids can be from one company to another with same specs. Wishing you the best on your project.  annie and mike