I won the Forum prize? No way!! That's SO awesome!! You guys ROCK! :) Talk about making someone's day! Great to hear about the tickets on Southwest, I love them too. Keep up the good work on the site, guys!! Baine Thomas

Betty's Forum Posts: 17
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Permit Ready

Posted to Sheldon-St by Betty in Orlando, FL on 3/21/2008 4:01:40 PM

Submitted the revision this Monday after I received the comments from Orange County.  I had to draw the two staircase detail cross-section, made a few other changes to the plans as requested, took it to Hurricane Engineering, had a few comments added to the stair details, then signed and stamped.  It was quite painless.  Hurricane Engineering, Tom, was great and was very helpful.  Received word from Orange County that the permit was ready on Wednesday.  Now, I just have to pay the $19,000+ fee to complete the process.  I did everything without the help of my designer.  Now, I am sure I should have done the full plans myself.  I did all the important part anyway.  Using the designer delayed my project and cost me an additional $5,000 in impact fee because I missed the deadline for the impact fee increase. 

Things to work on next:  Decide on an insurance company, excavation for footer, footer.

Administrative process

Posted to Sheldon-St by Betty in Orlando, FL on 3/7/2008 7:42:46 PM

It has been months since my last entry.  So many things to do.  Well the land was cleared in 10/07.  Received an incomplete set of plans from the designer after making full payment in 10/07.  Full payment was required for release of the final plans, but the plans were no where "final."  Had to wait an additional two months for revised electrical plans which did not include the electrical riser and a cross-section which is too simple to get through permitting.  In the end, I had to do all the electrical revision/riser/electrical calculations, cross-sections of the the four balconies, two entries, and stairs detail myself.  Luckily, I had bought a software on eBay to do this (Instant Architect-$7).  I probably could have done the whole plans myself with a good software, but I had thought that a designer would be beneficial for such a big house and since I had heard that Orange County was tough.  I will probably think twice in the future.  I had Ramon (407) 277-4667 do the energy/HVACcalc.  for $200.  I had trouble getting the HVAC contractor do the calculations in a timely manner.  Also, I did not want to commit to any one HVAC contractor yet.  I just want to get through permitting first and then make the decision later.

I finally finished the plans myself and submitted it to Hurricane Engineering at the end of 1/08.  Trusswood who is doing the trusses emailed the truss plans to engineering in 2/08.  So far, Hurricane Engineering and Trusswood have been very good.  Received plans back from engineering end of 2/08 and submitted them to Zoning/Building Dept.  Zoning gave out an address for a fee of $18 after some minor revisions on the site plan.  Not sure why a site plan (which is not a survey) has to be certified or stamped by an architect, engineer, or surveyor, but it does.  

Anyway, I am now in the permitting stage and received comments from the reviewer with some request for revisions yesterday.  Hopefully, I can get through permitting within the next few weeks.

The surveyor had been out to mark the four corners of the house in 11/07.  I had thought there would be more to it than just four stakes.  It looks so simple, I think I could have done this part myself.  Dirt was also brought in for the driveway in 11/07 at $75/truck load (nonshell-I wonder if this is too much?).

Shopping:  Bought a few outside lighting on clearance from Lowe's.  Bought over 50 American Craftsman windows from Home Depot during the 20% off sale in December.  Bought a few bathroom fans at 50% off from Home Depot last weekend.

Last month, we also went out to Lynnette's dream house.  She have made a lot of progress.  She is using Polysteel ICF, and I have to admit that ICF have excellent insulating ability.

I guess that is enough update for now... until next time. 

In the Beginning

Posted to Sheldon-St by Betty in Orlando, FL on 9/7/2007 7:56:55 PM

All right... have to backtrack.  In February, we closed on our land after receiving the DEP informal wetland determination.  That took about 30 days.  We submitted the application for the CAD to the county in March.  In April, we submitted the EPD conservation impact application and the ERP application to Florida DEP.  What a long process just for a driveway through the wetland to get to the upland in back where the house will be built.  Since we limit the wetland impact to less than 4,000 sf, the state fee was less, and it did not require mitigation.  We received the ERP permit in July.  The county was a different story.  They do not follow any deadline.  They require mitigation for any amount of impact.  We finally received their permit a couple weeks ago.  For those who are looking to buy land-STAY AWAY FROM WETLAND!

Now on to the ranger drainage district application.  Waiting for the surveyor to put the improvement and the flow arrow on the survey, then will submit.

Signed contract with an out-of-state designer, Frank, at end of February.  Still do not have the full plans yet.  Hopefully, by next week.  Part of the problem may have been due to some major changes in July, but gosh, everything seem to be taking so long.  I hope I can get the building permit by December at the latest.

Shopping:  eBay has good sales on faucets.  Bought some exterior lamps from Lowe's last week.  They were on sale for 40% off.  Also, got 10 ceiling fans from Light Style when they were on sale.  Bought a set of Jeld-Wen French patio doors from Contractor Best.  Will be picking it up this weekend.

Spoke with Mark Hewitt today about clearing the land.  May start within the next 1-2 weeks.

Thank you to Lynnette and her husband for all their advice and help.

Next week: will follow up with A/C and heating estimates. Will need to finalize windows and doors brands/sizes, get truss estimates and truss plans drawn, and get everything seal and stamped by engineer before applying for building permit.  Okay, this should be enough until next time. 

Ellen's Forum Posts: 1 Journal Entries: 27 Interview Answers: 128 Send Private Message Image from Ellen's blog 10/12/2007

Sounds like we are going to be neighbors.  The following might be helpful.  We used Orlando Decorative concrete for the slab & block walls.  C & C General carpentry 407-791-8772 for framing & trusses.  MGW Insulation 321-460-3809, Malcolm, Jerry Tile & Floor services, 407-927-5757, Jerry did our tile and hardwood floors. Chris England with C & J painting and doing an excellant job.  We actually order our cabinets from Lowes and they installed them.  Granite Master did our countertops. Stop by sometimes Ellen

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