Syndication






Statistics
Users
  Total:25,209
  Visited Last 30 days:110
Forum Messages
  Total:20,452
  Last 30 days:11
Forum Evaluations
  Total:23,757
  Last 30 days:40
Journal Entries
  Total:4,149
  Last 30 days:6
Connections
  Total:14,064
  Last 30 days:20
Downloads
  Total:63,823
Journals
Name Visits Posts Pics Videos

Houston-72012596166100
1/21/2012Houston, TX

TheHoskensProject39,7111082901
1/19/2012Dome-ville, central, FL

30213,98819640
1/11/2012Belfair, WA

Workshop6,690630
1/8/2012Florissant, CO

Eschete-Dome9,60721400
12/30/2011Lafayette, LA

Tanglewood38,0566882,05242
12/12/2011Colorado Springs, CO

Our-simple-home3,246223080
12/5/2011LaPorte, IN

NorthPoleHome11,86025780
11/23/2011North Pole, AK

Beaver-Creek-Ranch18,173142160
11/14/2011Santa Rosa, CA

ICF-Construction4,490500
11/11/2011Elkridge, MD

Little-Help-from-my-...3,92811150
11/4/2011Rockwall, TX

YaNYca6,597810
10/29/2011Boston, MA

The-Man-Refuge1,732310
10/19/2011San Antonio, TX

Seven-Peaks-Faswall-...19,019402770
10/17/2011Graeagle, CA

mckernanmc4,534320
10/6/2011Amite, LA

Family-Affair762100
9/28/2011

1860s-Texas-rehabnew...28,270431910
9/26/2011Boerne, TX

Jay-House2,7486180
9/26/2011Sebastopol, CA

Large-Family-Compoun...941200
9/23/2011Covington, GA

Woodchuck-Ridge2,738480
9/12/2011Akron, OH

Forever-Home-Sweet-H...5,29634310
8/24/2011Issaquah, WA

Clarksville-MD1,604200
8/22/2011Eldersburg, MD

steve-n-carolyn7,7194140
8/21/2011Sun City, CA

Old-York1,432200
7/27/2011Bridgewater, NJ

Carriage-House7,26520282
7/24/2011Ft. Collins, CO

DomeSweetDome8,87518291
6/4/2011Suffolk, VA

Goodpasture6,978562880
5/28/2011Westminster, CO

TheCastle2,371160
5/25/2011Cheshire, CT

Marks-Log-Cabin5,826392210
5/12/2011Altoona, PA

Bill3,770100
5/4/2011Tucson, AZ

Mueller-Dream-Home2,215100
4/15/2011

Oklahoma-Steel3,340650
4/13/2011Minco, OK

DutchG1,984200
4/5/2011

HiddenInOhio3,1239130
4/1/2011Elyria, OH

MagnoliaHouse2,273100
3/29/2011Houston, TX

Buffaloader3,422200
1/11/2011Valley Center, KS

SouthernEcoHome12,05120210
1/9/2011Blacksburg, VA

Austrian-Chalet5,466780
1/2/2011Twin Lakes, CO

Vista-Ridge4,65021660
12/21/2010Swanton, OH

OurFarmstead10,393601890
12/10/2010Pennsylvania

sherman7,498211410
12/7/2010Downers Grove, IL

AirparkHome-Remodel17,61522460
11/8/2010Hillsboro, OR

Holloway4,358200
11/7/2010Petersburg, VA

Building-Our-Lakefro...2,955110
11/5/2010Piscataway, NJ

SunburyGalena-Build2,870100
11/3/2010Galena, OH

BUILDING-OUR-GREEN-D...3,063800
11/2/2010Pattison, TX

RR-Homestead9,80831740
10/26/2010Janesville, CA

Casa-Paradiso-Vieque...3,304200
10/19/2010Chelsea, MA

Millerbuild4,1455110
10/1/2010Carstairs, AB

VilanoBeachCasa-de-S...12,188381170
9/20/2010Saint Augustine, FL

Delisledigs4,640300
9/16/2010Jacksonville, FL

h20dave4,572430
9/10/2010Waterloo, AL

Mountain-Idyl4,207900
9/9/2010Asheville, NC

High-over-Lake-Granb...6,54912230
9/8/2010Granbury, TX

Homestead24,78264850
9/8/2010Smithville, MO

philandjan4,288100
9/2/2010

octagonaltopsider34,93210920
8/25/2010Cupertino, CA

Commons3,349200
8/21/2010Atascocita, TX

Our-First-OB-home3,784300
7/27/2010Gardner, KS

Louisiana-Mediterran...11,664311870
7/21/2010Sunset, LA

Crows-Nest3,380100
7/20/2010

Patterson-Project3,824400
7/16/2010John's Island, SC

Hidden-Meadow-Home4,9752100
7/13/2010Murrieta, CA

New-house-in-Selah-W...3,379140
7/4/2010Belfair, WA

Arnold-CA-Alpine-cha...10,38022100
7/2/2010Arnold, CA

Working-Wilton29,579343010
6/16/2010Wilton, NH

JJ-Residence3,120100
6/7/2010San Antonio, TX

Thompson-Valley-Home4,397330
6/6/2010Monticello, FL

Naperville-Webster-S...12,7282360
5/21/2010Naperville, IL

Gary--Suzi4,256100
5/7/2010

crystal-falls-home14,78520270
5/5/2010Cedar Park, TX

Kapoho-Retirement-Ho...4,105130
5/4/2010Santa Ana, CA

NC--New-Construction3,818100
5/3/2010

Collins-on-Cobblesto...3,89721910
4/30/2010Waynesville, NC

Dwight--Colleen-Hart...4,519130
4/30/2010Vaughn, WA

Riley15,82332950
4/29/2010Cave Creek, AZ

The-New-Ries-Homeste...6,63419980
4/21/2010Polk/Richfield/Erin/Hartford, WI

OwensNewHome35,7351023810
4/17/2010Chandler, AZ

The-Season3,421130
4/10/2010Mount Airy, NC

The-Naas-Place3,590200
3/30/2010Pittsburg, CA

Phil-and-Lauras-home6,552400
3/20/2010Tulsa, OK

Southport-NC-Home7,047201281
3/18/2010Southport, NC

Loris8,247110
3/11/2010

Seaton-Station3,626140
3/10/2010Siloam Springs, AR

Backwoods-Project7,076390
3/4/2010Jeffersonville, GA

ICF-in-Ann-Arbor17,226293710
1/25/2010Dexter, MI

DancingPines4,555200
1/25/2010Clinton, LA

Log-Cabin3,885150
1/23/2010indianapolis, IN

The-Kinzel-House3,532100
1/21/2010New Orleans, LA

PahrumpProject9,2735390
1/17/2010Spokane, WA

Richfield-Home3,882100
1/16/2010Richfield, WI

TheBeachHouse7,29413200
1/16/2010Shoreline, WA

Artist-Haven-Home7,849970
1/13/2010Kansas City, MO

SOPHIA--SAMUELDELAWA...7,25811310
12/2/2009Smyrna, DE

Plant-City-Craftsman10,3344100
11/22/2009Plant City, FL

WestermanFarm4,532130
11/10/2009Dickson, TN

Shane8,572600
10/31/2009San Antonio, TX

ADCountryHome5,4651130
10/31/2009Fort Worth, TX

ICF-Keller-Tx40,724321220
10/6/2009Roanoke, TX

digs8,073100
9/30/2009Tracy City, TN

threegables10,451201340
9/29/2009Hartland, WI

LittleLakeCorner52,8981016040
9/29/2009Groveland, FL

Utah-Casa4,890200
9/28/2009Saratoga Springs, UT

Tornado-Reconstructi...4,397800
9/24/2009Port Neches, TX

toolehouse35,541891450
9/20/2009Reno, NV

Bobs-Blog42,406614140
9/16/2009New Florence, PA

Blessings3,752100
9/11/2009farmville, NC

Schrammelot8,2967900
9/11/2009Pierson, FL

PennsmithLostValleyT...23,506552150
9/9/2009Dripping Springs, TX

River-House4,167220
9/7/2009Clinton, NJ

SantaFe-in-AJ4,029100
8/28/2009Apache Junction, AZ

Dennis-Dream-Home16,948385050
8/27/2009Readington Twp, NJ

Massive-Undertaking4,9221100
8/26/2009Wimauma, FL

Lafayette4,107200
8/11/2009Cramerton, NC

Dream-site-on-the-La...4,465200
8/5/2009La Porte, TX

Williams-New-Home-Si...3,932110
8/2/2009Windsor, NC

Cobblestone-Lane4,229100
7/30/2009Great Falls, MT

PensacolaBeachHouse3,936110
6/22/2009Gulf Breeze, FL

12YEARSINTHEPLANNING4,442120
6/16/2009LADSON, SC

The-Cortes-Adventure9,352320
6/13/2009Snowflake, AZ

Steinys-Hideaway4,390200
6/9/2009Venice, CA

DreamHome21,370261900
6/7/2009Orlando, FL

CastleHeims11,92321590
6/5/2009Cedar Rapids, IA

Utah-Warehouse3,843220
5/20/2009Fairview, UT

Where-to-start5,406610
5/16/2009Lemoore, CA

Castle-Rock-Lakehous...8,61910840
4/27/2009Necedah, WI

Oleg8,686360
4/22/2009San Diego, CA

MoeCompound3,850340
4/9/2009Camano Island, WA

Huckleberry-Home4,082200
4/8/2009Williamstown, NJ

Vonk7,637100
4/7/2009Zeeland, MI

Small-Timber-Frame7,149110
4/2/2009Central Mass, MA

EatonLoch-Haven4,716110
4/1/2009Roanoke, VA

windowsnsiding4,370110
3/28/2009Long Island, NY

Arkansas-First-Timer15,52439880
3/27/2009Trumann, AR

Back-Home-In-Crisp5,597111510
3/22/2009Ennis, TX

Victor--Susan-0811,981211210
3/17/2009Ruckersville, VA

Rick-and-Tinas-dream...4,980120
3/14/2009Auburndale, FL

Keener-Road6,1924100
3/11/2009Elizabethtown, PA

NC-Newbie4,113100
3/10/2009Boone, NC

MadisonGA4,3671130
2/26/2009Madison, GA

Techbuilt-Scammed5,488100
2/25/2009Rebew, LA

choanne8314,065100
2/9/2009charlotte, NC

WilliamsinVegas24,552301190
1/29/2009Henderson, NV

PhilesBryant5,692260
1/20/2009graham, WA

MortgageSmart4,206100
1/19/2009Cocoa, FL

QuarterlyHouse43,596136990
1/12/2009Orlando, FL

RabbitRun11,886311690
1/11/2009Afton, VA

Sonave-Sunsets4,290120
1/9/2009Yucca, AZ

Heart-of-PA7,4069160
1/6/2009Lewistown, PA

Krusehome5,035200
12/27/2008Lake City, FL

BrunkHouseAlmaKansas5,883260
12/26/2008Garden Grove, CA

Raider-Bills-Tenn-Ho...7,7846320
12/22/2008Largo, FL

Andel-Ranch19,083334020
12/17/2008Rogers, TX

Elijahs-Home5,262460
12/6/2008Vero Beach, FL

ranch-house4,619100
11/25/2008springfield, IL

Howard-Georgia-Retir...6,427670
11/9/2008Harlem, GA

The-Woods-Journal4,872110
11/6/2008Doraville, GA

StansTLH7,6481090
11/1/2008Tehachapi, CA

Kevin--Kerrys-Dream4,793350
10/17/2008Northvale, NJ

Katabatic-Wind5,274470
10/16/2008Huntsville, AL

Elmhurst-Modern6,654120
10/14/2008elmhurst, IL

Accessible-House4,9353100
10/14/2008Munford, TN

Cherry-Valley-Vista4,466120
10/5/2008Duvall, WA

Jon-and-Mollys-House6,797150
9/25/2008Ellicott City, MD

Proctor-ICF5,071110
9/25/2008Fredericksburg, VA

Hawaiian-Bungalo10,261111020
9/23/2008Holualoa, HI

Pete--Rhiannon5,925430
9/19/2008Springfield, MO

2008-Cedar-Ln7,71214350
9/19/2008Seaville, NJ

dmaceld11,96414880
9/16/2008Nampa, ID

Help-with-Goulds-and...5,951100
9/16/2008tampa, FL

Consulting4,380100
9/2/2008Orlando, FL

AlaskaICFREMOTEHouse8,02719380
8/17/2008Wasilla, AK

NC-Pond-House4,872320
8/4/2008Wilmington, NC

MargaritaVilla4,499240
8/4/2008Raleigh, NC

Latest-update5,9588100
8/4/2008Sierra Vista, AZ

ANDREA4,272400
8/2/2008Dallas, TX

The-Ridges5,44311130
7/31/2008Logan, UT

Avenida-Del-Sol7,97513520
7/31/2008Peoria, AZ

dream-home-ohio4,948600
7/30/2008Zanesville, OH

Penetang-Craftsman4,595360
7/27/2008Penetanguishene, ON

Tristan--4,608600
7/25/2008Lebanon, NJ

Dreamy-Design-in-Glo...7,760100
7/9/2008Clifton, VA

need-help-Jim5,089110
7/8/2008Bandon, OR

deltona-fl-custom-ho...5,6244140
7/6/2008Deltona Beach, FL

Ingraham-House-Chape...4,967200
6/29/2008Cary, NC

famborgie3,986100
6/26/2008Lockhart, TX

95821-Addition11,7267140
6/24/2008Sacramento, CA

Cajun-Homestead9,56512930
6/22/2008Lafayette, LA

West-Texas-Ranch-Hou...5,739110
6/18/2008Andrews, TX

Quail-Bluff-Pasco5,5909290
6/10/2008Pasco, WA

Spyders-Web4,119100
6/10/2008Norman, OK

mike-and-tori-darnle...6,133510
6/2/2008Rainbow, CA

Lin-Washington4,434100
5/29/2008Fresno, CA

Capernall-House4,652420
5/15/2008Belleville, MI

Hidden-Valley-Texas4,567100
5/7/2008Southlake, TX

cosdreamhome30,297731470
5/5/2008Colorado Springs, CO

Sowle-Family-House6,828590
4/29/2008South Burlington, VT

Cyberdoc-Residence4,920200
4/25/2008San Diego, CA

Fortune-House4,229100
4/17/2008Mooresville, NC

Joeb11,133400
4/15/2008Oakland, FL

Alvin-House4,359200
4/14/2008LaPorte, TX

Thomas-Home--Raintre...12,558271800
4/9/2008Lee's Summit, MO

Greg--Kathys-New-Hou...5,955200
4/3/2008Barryton, MI

Where-is-Waldo20,22444830
4/2/2008Marion, OH

Nimmerrichters-Fores...4,256100
4/2/2008Waldorf, MD

Mayfield-House4,701100
3/31/2008Mayfield, UT

beamanhouse4,524100
3/27/2008Manistique, MI

Kanak-ICF--Virginia6,882900
3/26/2008Fredericksburg, VA

Sheldon-St6,014300
3/21/2008Orlando, FL

Bert-9,712310
3/20/2008Southern, CA

Our-Ohio-ICF-home14,25420270
3/20/2008Mansfield, OH

ericdc4,842310
3/8/2008Uniontown, PA

EurekaHouse-ICF7,2955150
3/6/2008Berkeley, CA

Superstition-Views8,355281600
3/6/2008Mesa, AZ

Blue-Springs-Project6,2148230
2/24/2008Broken Arrow, OK

Our-House4,193100
2/24/2008Miami, FL

httpownerbuilderbook...6,234830
2/19/2008Clayton, NY

JourneyBackHome4,365100
2/3/2008Oviedo, FL

Collier-Home6,022110
2/1/2008Little Rock, AR

DDs-ICF6,006330
1/27/2008New Smyrna Bch, FL

EurekaMT-Timberframe5,5091430
1/24/2008Eureka, MT

The-Larnerd-House6,8075210
1/21/2008Newport News, VA

Casa-Bella4,804100
1/14/2008Pueblo West, CO

Gordon-Lake-House8,62517510
1/3/2008Oakland, IA

STEPHANIES-DREAM5,44717570
12/30/2007Lower Burrell, PA

Florida-Waterfront-C...8,099310
12/29/2007PB, FL

6158-in-Montgomery-T...5,108410
12/23/2007Conroe, TX

ClearwaterHills7,415260
12/14/2007Paradise Valley, AZ

BobDonna3,792100
12/12/2007Sacramento, CA

AboveTheAppleTree3,908100
12/8/2007La Farge, WI

Casa-Nostra5,361230
12/2/2007Bangor, PA

Building-the-Dream-i...7,033700
11/29/2007Gladstone, OR

Ingram-Fleming-ICF-H...6,926480
11/29/2007Plant City, FL

inniagara3,589100
11/24/2007Niagara Falls, ON

SchnabelEstate4,423240
11/16/2007Avon, IN

WeAreBuildingAgain10,27027560
11/15/2007Orlando, FL

Lake-Pleasant4,265210
11/14/2007Erie, PA

Green-for-Dean4,484100
11/10/2007San Jose, CA

The-Ponderosa5,7828220
11/4/2007Perry, OK

FlagholeRoad4,428260
10/25/2007Franklin, NH

Beckynray5,217300
10/24/2007Powhatan, VA

Spicewood-TX6,041330
10/20/2007Austin, TX

Powderhorn14,811481760
10/4/2007Florida

Luray-VA-1stTimeBuil...7,956730
10/4/2007Luray, VA

kittyfhughesnet4,502250
9/27/2007Noblesville, IN

Scott-Family4,548100
9/25/2007Trinity, AL

Taking-the-Plunge6,8526180
9/18/2007Springfield, OH

RozBuildingAdventure4,666100
9/14/2007San Pablo, CA

Helpful-Tips5,253200
9/13/2007Encinitas, CA

Poplar-Creek-Farm6,0855250
9/10/2007Oakland Park, FL

TheWillemsHome11,8791750
9/10/2007Galloway Township, NJ

ComfortHome5,037200
8/30/2007Dublin, OH

10000-sq-feet28,71925260
8/26/2007La Habra Heights, CA

Bird-house6,0533400
8/22/2007Ithaca, NY

Circle-S_ICF_House23,896462640
8/21/2007Sparta, IL

New-England-Saltbox4,513100
8/16/2007Columbia, SC

RamblewoodatJeterFar...5,1076330
8/10/2007Kansas City, MO

Kraemer-Collinwood-H...4,993200
7/21/2007Delano, MN

BigOakBuilderTX7,513270
7/20/2007Wharton, TX

Johnson-Family-Dream5,035100
7/20/2007Normal, IL

Pensacola-Waterfront4,695100
7/16/2007Pensacola, FL

19225-ROBERTSON-ST10,39315320
7/12/2007Orlando, FL

Thattle-Dew-Farm5,004220
7/12/2007Halls Harbour, NS

WindyJ8,22311260
7/2/2007Knoxville, TN

Vistoso-Green-Home5,899310
6/28/2007Tucson, AZ

Lewis-Chapel-House7,229200
6/25/2007Dunlap, TN

father-daughter4,726200
6/25/2007Loveland, CO

davewhite5,416100
6/24/2007Nanaimo, BC

NutmegWedgefieldOrla...6,350600
6/22/2007Orlando, FL

4600SF-Dream-Home-in...8,404410
6/19/2007Mooresville, NC

Coeur-dAlene-Idaho-H...5,634240
6/13/2007Coeur d Alene, ID

Tampa-Bay7,474490
6/10/2007Ruskin, FL

Dream-In-Progress7,021540
6/7/2007Shawnee, KS

todd-in-tullahoma5,048100
6/4/2007tullahoma, TN

TheOwens5,496300
6/1/2007Dickson, TN

Country-Cleaver5,547140
5/29/2007Springfield, IL

South-Dakota-Lake-Ho...5,8766110
5/23/2007Sioux Falls, SD

Gods-Home5,140200
5/18/2007Eustis, FL

hammock5,078110
5/14/2007Martinez, GA

Grove-St-Rocklin5,230300
5/13/2007Orangevale, CA

Gardeners-Delight5,839330
5/13/2007Norristown, PA

Newman-Family5,962100
4/26/2007oralndo, FL

do-over-house5,921200
4/25/2007Roseville, CA

Mountain-Building5,343370
4/21/2007Hiawassee, GA

Alaskan-Log-Home5,766120
4/15/2007Tok, AK

Warner-Dream6,669600
4/11/2007Astatula, FL

RehmannSchreiner6,78418150
4/2/2007Maple Grove, MN

outspokenbikeguy7,5674140
3/29/2007Sanford, FL

SmelltheForest24,295471480
3/23/2007Colorado Spgs, CO

PolkCityProject8,6087110
3/21/2007Norcross, GA

DwaynePam5,840200
3/21/2007Normal, IL

cypressknoll5,300100
3/20/2007Palm Coast, FL

candlepower10,084241550
3/20/2007Lansing, IA

Team-Rosa6,028200
3/19/2007Springfield, VA

GLOUCESTER5,467120
3/17/2007Newport News, VA

Ohiodreamhome5,6254140
3/16/2007Reynoldsburg, OH

Gypsy-Love6,580110
3/12/2007Highland, NY

Rockport-TX5,691100
3/10/2007Rockport, TX

Forrest-Towne5,538220
3/10/2007Brinnon, WA

Dreams-Come-True5,073100
3/8/2007Glen St Mary, FL

Almost-A-Country-Gir...5,034100
3/7/2007Addison Township, MI

BrandonBuildingBlog5,679100
3/4/2007Layton, UT

SafecreteHouse6,926300
3/4/2007Raleigh, NC

newbie-6,007100
2/21/2007north plains, OR

BuzzardsNest7,793310
2/14/2007Saint Lucie, FL

woodfamilyhome6,436200
2/10/2007Keno, OR

vegascastle5,769100
2/3/2007Henderson, NV

newsteel5,603100
1/28/2007Florence, SC

Dream-Home-20076,170100
1/27/2007Gwynn Oak, MD

DelgadosAdobeAbode6,934200
1/18/2007San Diego, CA

bobindeltona7,297250
1/14/2007Deltona, FL

Highland646,237300
1/8/2007New Orleans, LA

SmallProjectSilverSp...8,7281020
1/7/2007Silver Springs, NV

BeehlerHome11,46511640
1/3/2007Kalamazoo, MI

eveningshade6,171110
12/25/2006Evening Shade, AR

Bruce in Petrolia, O...5,538120
12/21/2006Petrolia, ON

smahmud5,797100
12/18/2006Alexandria, VA

1000-hours-to-liftof...6,646100
11/25/2006uniontown, OH

FettConstruction6,766460
11/24/2006Vincennes, IN

Northeast-Ohio-Home6,977100
11/10/2006Parma, OH

Buchanan-Mountain8,93014590
11/1/2006Dickson, TN

Our-Future-on-Badin-...6,807100
10/24/2006New London, NC

nowi-fe-haven6,203100
10/22/2006Griffin, GA

klonus6,147100
10/16/2006Madison, WI

OurAddition8,772100
10/13/2006Chuluota, FL

bigal7,053100
9/30/2006Whittier, CA

Stella-Maris-II6,826100
9/11/2006Orlando, FL

Lake-House8,223100
9/6/2006Kansas City, MO

My-First-House19,829100
9/5/2006APO, AE

Angie-Mossy-Oak-Acre...9,155740
8/15/2006Lake Helen, FL

Peaceful-Valley-in-M...6,815100
7/23/2006Republic, MO

Lake-Wales-Fl6,611100
7/17/2006West Palm Beach, FL

JohnKat7,075110
7/16/2006Fort Worth, TX

Cedarcrest7,099100
7/15/2006Sparrows Point, MD

MRailey7,815100
7/13/2006Dallas, TX

Villa-Di-Capri-Hacie...10,470100
7/10/2006Hacienda Hts, CA

New-2-This7,6094370
6/26/2006Stafford, VA

End-of-the-Road7,273100
6/26/2006Homer, AK

shapiro6,774100
6/21/2006Camp Verde, AZ

ShangriLaw7,887100
5/27/2006Lebanon, IN

Kokinos-ICF-Project8,825110
5/16/2006Los Gatos, CA

Jennifer-and-Darko7,048110
5/8/2006Holly Springs, NC

LeFamily7,642100
4/29/2006Irvine, CA

jrh12,552110
3/25/2006North Bend, WA

Pete-Maniscalco7,867100
3/8/2006Welton, AZ

H3brewing7,875110
3/2/2006Cleveland, MO

85-Hall-Ln9,0901000
3/1/2006

Michigan-Owner-Build...4,7446130
11/13/2005Ray Twp., MI
See all journals...
Current Top-Rated Posters
Lists
Name Items
Cabinets2
fabric structures2
Faucets2
Georgia builders?2
Granite countertops2
House Features2
Initial thoughts2
next step9
Questions I need ans...3
Tanglewood Punch Lis...23
To Do - Interior16
To Do Exterior7
Water / Sewer2
Home The Book Bookstore Forums Construction
Journals
Owner-Builder
Connections
Resources

 


This website is an incredible resource and I can't thank Mark enough for putting so much work into it.
Guy in San Luis Obispo, CA


Brian's Forum Posts: 86
Journal Entries: 108
Interview Answers: 248
Average Forum Rating: 3.87



Image from Brian's blog

Subscribe to this journal...


This journal has been viewed 39712 times.



Newest << >> Oldest


Ceiling drywall started

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 1/19/2012 12:42:20 PM

We picked a rainy day to start on the drywall. Picked up in the rain, had to cover the drywall with plastic on the way back to the dome, and unload in the rain. Thankfully it was not raining hard, and the drywall stayed dry. We got three sheets placed on the ceiling. My first attempt at using a RotoZip tool was, ahem, not too accurate. The next two electric boxes went MUCH better (see pics).

We are using a backer board system for the ends of the drywall sheets called "Buttboard"made by Trim-Tex. Basically you screw both ends of the drywall to the Buttboard. Since there's a very small valley cut into the Buttboard, it forces the ends of the drywall to bend into the valley, giving you a 1/8" shallow V across the seam. When you mud over it, the seam tape doesn't make a bump. It seems to do as it's supposed to; anything to make the sheetrock easier to finish!

Photos

The first attempt at using the RotoZip cutout tool. Not so good.
Next cutout came out just fine!
The T-braces helped a LOT!
Patrick puts in drywall screws
Three panels up, several dozen to go.



Comments (0)

Ready for drywall

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 1/11/2012 3:32:00 PM

We went through the dome and pulled extra nails, checked clearances and generally cleaned up getting ready for drywall. Got the upstairs bath fan put in and a few other items done, ready to put drywall up!

Photos

Toilet and shower drain for upstairs
Patrick painting the front door.



Comments (0)

Electric entrance conduit completed

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 12/29/2011

Got a few minor items done, and one major accomplishment. Our oldest dug the trench from the transformer to the house and we placed the main electric power conduit to the meter location, while the youngest dug out all around the house to expose the foundation a little, and washed and scrubbed it so we can seal it and paint it. We had a little issue with fire ants getting into the house in one corner. Although they are gone now (thanks to Amdro fire ant bait), we are going to re-seal and paint the bottom edge of the dome where the panels meet the foundation. We also had a little time to ride around on the mini bikes, have a bonfire, and fill the cracks in the dome floor with concrete sealer. Fun family day!

Photos

Matt and his cruiser
Pat in the hole. It's been almost five years since I placed the conduit under the transformer, so we had to dig around to find it. Ended up with a pretty big hole under the transformer trying to find the conduit so we could connect to it.
Pat getting ready to glue his end of the conduit.
Getting ready to place and glue the last turn on the conduit.



Comments (2)

Things are picking up, passed framing and insulation inspection

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 12/10/2011

Good times working with the oldest lately. Got a framing and insulation inspection and passed both. We needed one extra 2x4 in a load-bearing area of the wall (which we put in right away) and all was good. Got all the floor and corner blocking installed. I want the double 2x4's on the floor so there's more to nail to when I put up the drywall and the baseboards, too. The extra blocking will let me lift the drywall up to be 1" or more off the cement, so finish flooring will still be under the drywall. Also if I have a minor flood (clothes washer hose bursting, leak somewhere) the drywall shouldn't get wet. Now that the framing inspection is done, we can put up drywall, and finish out everything. The only thing left is all the final inspections!

Photos

Blocking on the floor plate.
Bosco decided to shake his head JUST when I took the picture...
One of the maples we planted is turning red for fall. We planted six, and four of them made it through the first year. Looking pretty good!



Comments (0)

Almost ready for framing inspection!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 11/30/2011

Got a lot done in two days again. Installed the stair risers, ripped out the tub apron and re-framed it, put in the Unistrut for mounting the outside electric meter can, and a few other things. It's getting a little cold too, so we tried out the propane heater. It's nice. The dome is very well insulated, too. We closed the windows and went to bed at 9 pm, and the inside of the house was 66°F. With NO heat at all (except the heat of two adults sleeping), the temp in the morning at 8 am was still 66°F. The low outside was 35°F that night. We LOVE our dome.

Photos

Stairs with risers installed
Stairs close up
Re-framed tub apron
Main water valves in their new box
Support Unistrut for electric meter box
The new temporary heater
Luke approves of the heater.



Comments (3)

FINISHED with the fiberglass-laced drywall !!!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 11/19/2011

I am SO happy to report that we are finished with the 1/4" DensDeck drywall. This stuff is very water resistant (rated to sit outside for up to a year), but it's reinforced with fiberglass, and cutting it gets itchy powder everywhere. It comes pre-glued on the interior surface of the dome panels, but NOT on the entryways, window dormers or door dormers. On those surfaces the builder has to cut to fit all those funky triangular shapes and use spray foam (expanding foam in a can, like Great Stuff) to glue the pieces on the Styrofoam surface.

According to the instructions, you spray on a bead of expanding foam every 6" or so and put up the panel, and kind of pull it off and press it back in place to squish the foam around, and it's supposed to get tacky and stay after a few minutes. After getting hit in the head by one of the first panels falling off, I decided to brace them in place for 20 min.  THAT worked just fine. I also decided to put a bead of sticky stuff every 3" or so, just to make sure it stays.

Photos

Had to make a custom "corner cover" for this little area.
The high profile entryway drywall gluing. That's about 10 feet in the air. FUN.
We were given a small countertop about two years ago. Stored in the garage, it absorbed moisture and warped about an inch (the ends are 1" up off the cabinets at either end!). As you can see, we decided to pile nail boxes on both ends in an attempt to UN-warp it. We will see how it goes in a couple weeks.
The kitchen area. The four cabinets in a row will have a kitchen sink in the middle, and the two off to the side will just be a short extra countertop. The stove/oven will be in between them.



Comments (0)

LOTS more accomplished.

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 11/4/2011

Hard at work Thursday and Friday. Today was "cutting holes in the house" day. Cut a hole in the bathroom wall over the window for the vent fan, cut a hole for the dryer vent, cut two more holes for a power outlet at each door (per code, must have one outlet at each entryway). Since the exterior of the dome is fiber-reinforced cement covering a steel wire mesh (not your average stucco), it took a special carbide grit Sawzall blade to cut through, after drilling a pilot hole with a carbide masonry bit. Anyway, we got that done, added in a couple more power outlets I had remembered we needed (near the alarm panel and near the internet router area). After that we got almost all the drywall panels in the window dormers glued up. Only two more dormer panels to go, and THAT's done. I'll be really glad, since the panels are 1/4" fiberglass-reinforced drywall, so it ITCHES!!

Photos

The bath vent duct barely fits between the ceiling drywall and the top of the window dormer. Actually it had to be forced into an oval as you see. We'll just lightly squash the flexible duct to fit on there.
And the bath vent opening on the outside. The expanding foam is great stuff. It will be cut away when cured so it doesn't look bad.
Near the kitchen door, you see the power outlet in its weatherproof housing, and the dryer vent. That's a paver leaning against the vent, keeping it straight and flush while the foam sealing it cures.
Drywall on the interior of the dormer with bracing, while the glue cures.
Nice new drywall. That small mis-alignment at the top will be mudded and covered with drywall tape.
Bosco, don't you think that stick is a little big?



Comments (0)

PASSED rough electrical, and solving the cold shower problem.

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 10/21/2011

We PASSED the electrical rough inspection! There were a couple of minor items, but easily corrected. The scary thing is now all we have left is insulation inspection, framing inspection, and the final inspection! Framing is almost completed, insulation basically is as well, but after those are done we have to drywall, install everything, and completely finish the project. That's a LOT to get done before the final inspection!! Now, the temps have been dropping and the well water is cold anyway, so we got this handy little propane gas "camp shower" and ran the showerhead in the window. The heater turns on and off when you open and close the water flow switch. Worked perfectly, and I couldn't be happier to have a hot shower.

Photos

Patrick places pavers for the front walk
The last couple times we tried to stay the night, "bath time" was the only issue. The well water is freezing cold, so we mounted this propane-powered outdoor shower just outside the bath window.



Comments (2)

Bath seat, wiring and yard work

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 10/7/2011

Got a LOT done in two days with the help of my oldest son. Finished the wood top on the bath seat, got more wires run, and lots of yard work. I keep finding things I missed (an alarm wire here, a telephone wire there). Pat and I put in blocking on corners for the drywall to screw to in several places, and I think all the blocking is done except for some I noticed on the way out. We'll get that next time. I needed to run a couple more wires for alarm sirens and sensors, got that finished.

Pat got most all the yard whipped into shape, as I have been hiding in the house doing work inside while it was VERY hot out during the summer months. It was pretty nice out this week, 78°-82°F high and a cool breeze. Got several other items put onto my list to get done in the next two weeks, and then we get a rough electrical inspection probably next week.

Photos

Bath seat with plywood. This will all be covered by a sheet of DUROCK and a layer of LATICRETE Hydro Ban, a liquid-applied waterproofing that you can tile right over. Makes for an easy DIY shower area.
The septic area (mowed), and near the house and electrical transformer
The GRIM REAPER. The weeds didn't stand a chance. LOTS of dust due to dry conditions, that's a painter's respirator he's wearing.
We used scrap plywood to screw into the sides of the stairs, so the drywall would have something to screw to along the bottom edge between the studs.



Comments (0)

FREE Tickets to the 2012 Int'l Builder's Show!!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 9/26/2011 3:19:32 PM

Click on this link and it will let you register for FREE!! It's well worth going, even if you have to drive a ways to get there.

buildershow.com/solarinnovationsinc


Comments (0)

Alarm wire run, bath seat built!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 9/25/2011

Got almost all the alarm wiring run for the alarm system. You'd think 1,000 feet of wire would be enough... no, about 100 feet short. I'll get it next time. Also, I built the bath seat. You can see it below, built like a truck could drive on it... hey, that's how I build. Next trip I will get the alarm wire finished and do the rest of the blocking/bracing in the walls.

Photos

All the home runs for the alarm wire go to the closet...
Bath seat framing
And ready for a top. The top will be TWO layers of 3/4" plywood. Partly to make the top of the seat even with the rim of the tub, and partly to make sure it WON'T flex and let a tile crack...
Bosco the giant puppy



Comments (0)

Internet, phone and cable TV run

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 9/16/2011

Got a LOT done in the last two days. Spent a lot of time running cables. I ran two Cat5e and one Cat6 cable to several places (can use the Cat5e for phone). I ran those to a lot of the same places I ran the RG6 TV cable, I plan to have a little multi-outlet faceplate that has a TV jack, a phone jack and a computer jack. I am finished with the wires, except for the alarm system wire.

I also glued in place some pieces of 2x4 along the perimeter of the dome first floor, even with the bottom of the joists so there's something to screw the ceiling drywall to. According to the plans, you're supposed to cut a 1/2" slot all the way around and slide the drywall into this slot. That sounded like a cluster to me, plus the drywall on the dome is 1/4" DensDeck, reinforced with fiberglass, and every time I cut into it I get covered in fine fiberglass particles... no thanks.

I had some spray foaming to do, so I tried foaming in a couple of the electrical boxes that needed to go in the wall... wow. Sounds easy... "Just cut a hole, slide in the box, and spray a little expanding foam in behind it to hold it!" Yeah, while the foam is busy expanding and pushing the box out of the hole, you grab for anything you can stuff in the edges to hold it without getting the foam everywhere. Anyway, I also finished the overlook wall with the sliding window in it. I need to place one more 2x4 in it, but it's basically done.  Pics below.

Photos

All the cables for phone, internet, TV, etc. come together under the stairs.
Luke helping with the cable.
Perimeter boards, being held up by extra 2x4's while they glue
These were stubborn, I had to brace them with little scraps of wood AND hold them up with 2x4's.
Electrical box foamed into the wall.
Fan box for the ceiling fan. I placed a 7/16" bolt in the concrete seam of the dome and cemented it in place, slid on the fan box and foamed it in to keep it from moving. It's not going anywhere.
The overlook wall with the sliding window in it.



Comments (1)

Electrical rough-in complete, TV cable run

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 8/31/2011

The electrical wiring is all run and ready for inspection, and the TV cables are all run. Next is telephone, computer, and alarm wiring. More pics below!

Photos

All the TV cable runs coming together under the stairs, where there will be a junction box.
Spaghetti ready to be installed in the breaker box
Nice clean orderly runs.



Comments (2)

More wiring progress

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 7/26/2011

As of today, we've got the conduit for the main service cables figured out, a good electrician friend Kevin helped us pulling wire and joining it all up, and we're moving right along. THIS YEAR IS THE YEAR! We are going to get a certificate of occupancy and final inspections on this house THIS YEAR. We pulled permits in early 2006, and now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Photos

Breaker box
Wiring in the wall
More wire around the stairway
Bathroom wall wiring



Comments (0)

Electric chainsaw is FUN!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 6/19/2011

I'm trying to cut grooves for the electrical wire in the dome insulation (Styrofoam). I tried drill bits, I tried a hand saw, I tried a couple other things... nothing worked well. THEN came the electric chainsaw. Wow, all I can say is I wish I'd tried this first. After removing that annoying tip guard, it worked perfectly. Cuts a nice 1/4" groove, made it 2" deep, and it's easy to push a piece of Romex cable into the groove with a paint stir stick. Being 2" deep, you can push in two or three electric cables without a problem, and since the groove is in a dome seam, you'll never be putting any nails there to hold a picture or anything. The Styrofoam is 7" thick, but at the seams it's only 4" thick since the concrete for the outside is thicker at the seams than on the rest of the panel. The chainsaw worked very well, but it looks like a blizzard inside while you're doing it and afterward.

Photos

You can see the grooves and the way I snaked a piece of extra electric wire into the window framing area. The orange is old expanding foam we used to fill gaps early on.
Chainsaw... FUN!!
After the "blizzard".



Comments (0)

Electrical progress

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 6/12/2011

Got all the boxes mounted and the breaker box is in. Now I am going to get help running the wires. Since I'm not ready for that, I got some trim 2x4's placed and glued against the dome interior (to screw drywall to), finished the urethane on the second floor subfloor, and did some general cleaning up. Back up next weekend and get going on the wire!

Photos

Breaker box mounted!
Trim 2x4's on the dome wall. I cut the 2x4s to fit, sprayed expanding foam on them, and used the little piece of 2x4 to wedge them in place while they glued.
Swept up, put a couple things away... suddenly you have space!



Comments (0)

Gas line inspection, stair railing, and such

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 5/7/2011

Got a gas line inspection, and we PASSED. That gives us another 6 months on the permit to build. Next up is the rough electrical inspection. Since it's likely I will lose my job in September when the Shuttle program is finished, I will have a lot of time to get things done... anyone need a highly skilled electronics tech in about four months? 

I also got the stairway railing up, needed that to finish mounting electrical boxes, same with the wall next to the water heater. Need a place to put a light, outlet and a disconnect box for the water heater. You can see the boxes for those, as well as the little paper tags I have hanging from the boxes. The tag tells what the box is for, in case I forget what I was planning.

Photos

Stair railing
Railing from other side
Water heater and wall
Other side of water heater wall. Eventually this wall will be extended to enclose a bathroom, but that will probably be 10 years from now. Maybe 20.



Comments (0)

Second-floor bedroom "balcony" window mounted, faucet fixed

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 4/7/2011

It's been a couple months, and we haven't been able to get to work here for one reason or another... but my little brother is in town and wanted to see the DOME. He and his wife helped install the sliding second-floor bedroom window and deliver a few other items, and fix a clogged tub faucet. Next time we may actually get some electrical work done.

Photos

Sliding window (closed) and Holly
Holly and Ryan from the bedroom balcony window
In the hammock, relaxing



Comments (2)

Something old, new, borrowed, and... golden oak

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 2/6/2011

I just finished another project, and it turned out GREAT. My wife's parents have a small cottage and when the original door was replaced, we took the old door with the intention of doing something with it as a keepsake. The upper part of the door was a big window, so we cut the upper half into a framed piece of glass. After thinking for a LONG time about what to do with it (mostly we thought we'd use it for a collage of pictures) I decided to make it an overlook window for the dome's second floor. I bought some pocket door hardware and cut it down to the right size, and built a frame for the window, and then put the pocket door hardware on the window. Now we have an overlook window that slides away into the frame, and won't get in the way!

Photos

Frame halfway done, window hanging in the track.
$50 for door hardware and frame.
Completed frame (all except for the trim).
Closer pic of the frame and roller track.



Comments (0)

Finally, another chance to work on the dome

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 1/29/2011

Today we brought up a house's worth of good used carpet (Thanks Mom!). Mom just moved into a new house, and wanted all wood floors, so out came the carpet. It will be enough to do all the upstairs and the bedroom downstairs. We also re-coated the polyurethane on the upstairs plywood floor, put in some bracing for the doors to stiffen the entryways, and got started on the stairway railing wall. The county also just finished a new railroad intersection with our road, SO much nicer to drive across now!

Photos

The dome from toward the lake looking back
bracing and electric boxes
Had to cut into the window frame a bit to fit the switch box, so bracing went in there too.
The county gave us a new railroad track "passover"!



Comments (3)

Temp power run inside, second floor coated with polyurethane

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 12/4/2010

Nice and cool today. We ran two 12-ga. power cords through the 4" A/C chase and buried them in some PVC out to the temp electric box, because I'm tired of running power cords out the window all the time. NOW I can leave them hooked up and not worry about someone taking them. Got the second floor coated with polyurethane, too. It's not necessary, but in case of spills it will make things easier to clean up. Rigged up a timer and two fans to blow air in and out of the house, so the drying urethane fumes will get blown out of the house.  The fans will turn on for an hour in the AM and an hour in the PM, to clear the fumes. I want to make sure it doesn't off-gas fumes that get into the styrofoam and wallboard.

Also, big news... the inspector approved of our alternating staircase! Even though it's not to code for a "living space" like a bedroom, since the upstairs is all open "attic", they will allow the space-saving funky stairs! YAY!


I forgot to mention, while I'm doing this and that, my wonderful wife is either cleaning up after me, tidying the area, or something like that.  Today while I was "getting things done", she was trimming weeds, pulling down vines, unloading the trailer/car, picking up hoses and disassembling the drip irrigation system for the trees we planted, etc., etc.  She's a behind-the-scenes powerhouse and I couldn't do it without her.

Photos

Matt applies the urethane
The finished floor
The "weatherhead" for the temp electric run inside.
The stairway, looking down



Comments (0)

Passed our rough plumbing inspection Nov 18th

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 11/19/2010

Thanks to a good neighbor, we got the inspector into the house and got an approved plumbing inspection. Now we have another 6 months to get another inspection done.

Photos

Some of the PEX plumbing supply lines.
Hot is red, cold is blue...



Comments (2)

Getting colder... got our FIREPLACE!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 11/18/2010

Finally saw it on sale and bought this nice fireplace for the dome. It's rated to heat 700 s.f., but with the dome's extra insulation, and since it really doesn't get that cold here in FL, we can get away with this small propane fireplace.

Photos

It's a nice little fireplace!



Comments (0)

Starting on electrical

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 11/16/2010

Got a few things done, most all the electrical boxes and switch boxes placed. Put in a few ceiling boxes for smoke detectors, too. Also spent some time trying to get the dogs to understand how an alternating-tread stairway works...

Photos

How's this thing work?
Me placing electrical boxes.



Comments (0)

FREE PASSES to the International Builders Show Orlando FL!!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 9/23/2010

FOUND A LINK!! Free passes to the Builder's Show! If you haven't gone, you REALLY NEED TO GO. Even if you're not a builder, and don't intend to build soon, GO. It's amazing.

This year’s 2011 IBS Show is being held in Orlando, FL; January 12th – 15th. Register online for a FREE four-day exhibit pass at: buildersshow.com/TheDelaneyCo.


Comments (0)

Almost finished framing...

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 9/19/2010

Still have some details to do, but we got a couple closets framed in, checked on a couple things and got some tidy work done. One of these days we need to get the shed door fixed; it's been nailed shut ever since someone broke into it and took all the valuable items... but that doesn't get the house built, so we haven't worked on that. We brought Luke, the 10-year-old Lab this time... and he was SO patient. We also got started marking out the electrical boxes and placing some, as well as correcting a couple things not just right.

Photos

Luke, checking on our progress downstairs. He got tired of following us up and down...
And of course we couldn't leave him out when using the power tools.
Boy and Luke using Tapcons to secure a closet wall.
West side of the lake
Middle of lake
East side of lake



Comments (0)

Stairway installed and more

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 9/6/2010

Got the stairway installed today, and it's great! The steps are a little short at 6.6" rise, but it's really easy on the knees that way. Leia our Lab didn't seem to have too much trouble using them, but she wasn't really comfortable, either. We also got the support wall put in under the edge of the bathtub, and another half wall on the second floor. Cindy got the entire upstairs cleaned up (there was wood, sawdust and tools everywhere!) and put up some nice temporary pleated window shades. Got a LOT done in a short time!

Photos

Stairs installed
Cindy shows Leia how the stairs work.
Matt using the framing nailer to build half wall on edge of second floor
The finished half wall
The tub-support wall. This dome is all about angles...
Tidy upstairs!



Comments (0)

The stairway, almost finished

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 8/28/2010

We decided to be different (what a surprise, right?) in stairway design. The pictures below are the stairway. This is a space-saving, narrow, one-person-only stairway.  It's referred to as an alternating tread stair, or a "Jefferson" stair. Also called a monk's stair, each tread is cut so you only have half a tread. Since when you walk up a stair you only put your foot on half the tread anyway, this has the same rise and run of a regular stair, but saves floor space. The run on this stair is 10.25" and a 1" nose, and rise is 6.6". With 15 steps, a regular staircase would be over 11 feet long. With the space-saving design of this staircase, it's only 7 feet long. Saves a LOT of floor that we really don't have, and saved me making a landing and putting a turn in the staircase to fit the house.

Photos

One stair tread(cut from a 2x12), using the bottom unseen part to test wood stains
2x12 stringers, with blocks supporting the rear half of each tread
Stained treads drying
Treads screwed into the first stringer
Almost-finished stairs (from top looking "downstairs". Although the wood is almost perfectly knot-free, it's standard 2x12, #2 yellow pine off the bunk at Lowe's.



Comments (0)

Quick turnaround, back for more work

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 8/1/2010

Back up again for the day to meet the electrician and solar-hot-water guy. We liked the electrician; seems like a good guy with a good reference (a good friend has had him do work). The weekend before, we got the last two pieces of subfloor down on the second floor, and this weekend we met the electrician and came up with a plan on how to do the electrical service. We also got one side of the second-floor railing/half wall done. The other side will be for next time. We are planning to have the electrician help us by telling us what to do (since he knows the building codes) and we will be semi-skilled labor. Hopefully we'll get it done within a month, then that's another inspection we have ready. We may yet have this thing finished (enough to get a certificate of occupancy) within a year.

We also stopped by the county landfill and got a trailer-full of free mulch. It's free... but came with a few pieces of wire, some big sticks and dirt, and a couple hundred spiders. We're using it around trees and on the driveway, so it's not near the house.

Photos

What the dome looks like from the edge of the lake.
The last two pieces of second-floor plywood
The boy cuts studs for the rail with the chop saw. No, his hand is not that close to the blade, just looks like it.
The railing/half wall and Boy.
Free mulch... boy, did my 4x8 trailer look small under this loader...



Comments (0)

Finished second floor, tree check, etc.

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 7/26/2010 2:31:13 PM

Cleaned up a bit in the dome today, checked on the trees to make sure the drip irrigation was working. They are alive and well albeit a little droopy, but with 93°F weather, I am droopy too. Got the last two pieces of subfloor down; now we have a complete second floor. It was SO hot. 93°F, but the heat index was 104°. We worked inside the dome until around 5 pm, then ventured out to cut back some brush and get another tree planted. This one is only a foot tall, but it's a yellow poplar/tulip poplar, should be 100 feet tall or more, and it's supposed to grow fast. We put in a drip line to it, too.

Photos

The new maple trees are the ones with the red line above them.
The baby yellow poplar



Comments (0)

Plumbing, gas, and TREES for July

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 7/5/2010

Short trip up today, met Will from First Choice Plumbing to finish up the rough-in and install the water heater. Short, fat thing, maybe I shouldn't have asked for a 50-gal... oh, well. It fits perfectly and will go in the back of a closet anyway. Will also got the gas line stubbed in, and Roy the Tree Guy delivered and installed (planted?) 6 beautiful red maples. I planted three little apple tree sticks, and I forgot to take even one picture of them. I'll get it next time. Also set up a drip irrigation system for all the trees.

Photos

Not much to look at, but there's the gas line and overflow for the water heater
The big kid near the closest of the three trees to the south of the main entryway
The other 2 trees to the south and Will the Plumbing Guy.
The three trees to the north side of the main entryway.



Comments (0)

Finally another entry!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 6/20/2010

It's been three months since we were last up at the dome. During that time we have been busy, but were able to get a final on the septic. 

This trip we installed the toilet and it DOES work (we're flushing it with a bucket of water). We permanently installed the window A/C unit in the through-wall hole on the second-floor balcony, where it will stay. The dome is so well insulated and so tight a single 12K btu window A/C will cool the whole place.  And we got almost all the rest of the plywood subfloor down, only two little pieces of plywood to put down, so it's basically finished. Here are a few pictures.

Photos

The toilet. We decided not to install the water line until the walls are drywalled, so we flush it with a bucket of water (the bathtub faucet works, so the water is right there).
The boy lays down Liquid Nail while I nail-gun the last plywood down.
A couple pieces of overhanging plywood to trim and then it's done!
All-completed area
Boy threatens with sledge as Mom looks on. The blurring is for security, I don't want images of my kids out there on the Internet if I can help it. Behind him and Mom in the wall is the newly placed A/C unit.



Comments (1)

Septic System... The Rest of the Story

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 5/3/2010

Hooray for Florida Septic!! As you may have seen earlier, our septic permit expired before we could get a final inspection. Per the health dept., you must have the septic system hooked up and the interior piping and wall finished at least to the point where they can tell where rooms are, and verify the floorplan when you have a final inspection. The permit is only good for 18 months, and when it expired we didn't even have a foundation poured yet, much less a house with identifiable rooms! We didn't realize this until the plumbing inspection, when the county mentioned they did not get a final for the septic yet.

To make a long story short, the health dept. would NOT help us out. No amount of begging would get them to open up the permit again and give us a final inspection... even though I offered to pay any expiration fee or penalty for overdue inspection. I even called the Tallahassee main office to beg/plead/express my displeasure. NO JOY! They required us to pull a NEW permit including fill out ALL the paperwork again and submit all new drawings, site plan, floor plans for the house, make all measurements, etc. As if we'd NEVER had a permit in the first place! I was going to pull out my hair (or the health dept. guy's) when I called Florida Septic, Inc. to ask if they could help me with the drawing since they installed the septic system. Trish in the front office asked me for the original site plan and floorplans, and I mentioned that I lived 2.5 hours away and couldn't meet them on site just "anytime". She said she'd talk with the guys there and see what they could do... well, I didn't hear anything for two weeks. Getting nervous, I emailed Trish to see what was going on... 

I was AMAZED when I found that not only had Florida Septic done ALL the drawings, site plan, gone out to the site and taken all measurements needed FOR ME, they ALSO pulled a new permit, submitted all needed documentation (which they prepared), scheduled the final inspection, and made sure it was completed!!!

I cannot say enough about the fantastic, over the top customer service from Trish, Ronnie and the others at Florida Septic, Inc. I am VERY happy I decided to go with them instead of the other septic installation company in the area. Add to the equation the fact that Florida Septic had installed the system almost FOUR YEARS ago, yet they provided this level of service like it was yesterday! I have to say if you need a septic system installed, I am SURE you will be pleased with Florida Septic, Inc. and make sure you tell them I sent you. I owe them BIG.

Photos

The great guys at Florida Septic, Inc. getting it done!



Comments (1)

More Floor, Ready for Hot Water Heater

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 3/7/2010

Another day, another 10 sheets of plywood! We're a little more than halfway finished with the second floor plywood. First pic is most of the floor, second is where the water heater will be (up against the sloping part of the dome roof). Next weekend First Choice Plumbing will be back again to do the HWH (hot water heater) and the gas line we decided to put in. My youngest kept putting band-aids on my knuckles, I guess I forgot how to use a hammer. At least I didn't hit myself with it. We got a lot done and stopped by Daytona Bike Week area to get some T-shirts.

By the way, we got a three-foot piece of 3/8" rebar and bent a 2" hook on one end, and bent a handle on the other end, so there was about 2.5 feet of rebar in between hook and handle. Holding the handle, you can put the hook under the edge of the plywood and pull up and drag the plywood anywhere you need it without bending over. It worked GREAT!

Photos

Most of the flooring we put down
Where I wore out... and just far enough to put in the water heater.



Comments (2)

"Upstairs" Has Been Created...

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 3/1/2010

It's interesting how you see things. We have been working for months on the second floor joists and support structure. This weekend we got the joists finished and started putting down plywood. Although there's only a few sheets put down, I suddenly realized there was a second floor now, when there was NOT a second floor earlier that day. We got four sheets of 3/4" plywood put down, and both of us pulled muscles in our backs... there's got to be an easier way to move plywood other than bending over and tugging at it...

Photos

Joists finished, tossing some plywood up
The last few joists we finished
Nailing the subfloor down
Some finished subfloor. Everything from under the blue air line and farther away is finished, glued and nailed down.



Comments (0)

GOOD News and BAD News

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 2/11/2010

The good news! We have an approved inspection, and that gives us another 6 months to get something else inspectable/finished (like the electric in the walls, or gas line).  The BAD news is when I called to make sure our inspection was okay, they said that they never got a final clearance inspection for the septic system. That was three years ago... I called and the health department wants another $450, and for us to resubmit all the paperwork for them to issue another permit, just to do a final inspection... ouch! Luckily, the septic we installed exceeded code, because recently the codes were changed. We would have had to dig up and add onto, or upgrade the septic system to meet code had we not gone a little bigger when we installed it... it still meets code, so all we need now is the new permit. 


Comments (0)

Habitat for Humanity ReStore Comes Through Again... Kitchen Cabinets!!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 2/5/2010

Just a short note about the ReStore... go often, and look through the store. We just got all the kitchen cabinets we need (we're doing a really small 8' counter and will expand later) BRAND NEW for less than $200! They are particle board, but nice oak fronts, and they should last a few years until we decide to upgrade. They had a BUNCH of cabinets, but they were literally walking out the door, and I was lucky to get the ones I did! Shop early and shop often.

Photos

Needs a toe kick cover, but that's the only problem! A perfect 8 feet of cabinets for the kitchen.
New kitchen cabinets. Happy Valentine's Day, Honey!!



Comments (0)

Second Rough-In Plumbing Inspection

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 2/2/2010

Met with the inspector on February 1st, 2010 and she looked over the plumbing and said it was all okay. She was impressed by the PEX. I don't think she'd seen PEX supply lines used in a house yet. She answered a bunch of my questions and gave me some tips, too. Very nice lady. I am glad we're building in Putnam County. The building department is VERY helpful and understanding. Patient, too. We have been building for four years now. We're getting closer!

Here's a pic of the second-floor joists, the open area next to the ladder is the only joists we have left to put up, only 7 left. The other is the toilet. For some reason it's really hard to get on and off... hmmm. Anyway, the toilet flange is a "no glue" type, you twist the flange and the black rubber seal expands to seal it to the PVC drain. Easy to remove and reposition, so we can set the temporary toilet and remove it without cutting PVC when it's time to put down tile. There are also non-wax type sealing rings for toilet-to-flange seal, so you don't have a big wax mess when you want to remove it.

Photos

The only remaining joists to be done... should be done next trip and then we'll get some floor down!
One of the most welcome sights EVER. The plastic camper toilet is getting old. The wood underneath is a spacer (to allow more pipe to remain up from the floor). I glued that to the floor with expanding foam, and I will screw the toilet flange to the wood so everything is removable when I get a real floor covering...



Comments (0)

Second Rough-In Plumbing Done

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 1/18/2010

It's a beautiful thing to see running water in the house for the first time. There it was, water running into the tub and down the drain into the septic system, all hooked up. The VERY next thing to do is get a toilet installed. The plastic camper toilet is okay, but there's nothing like real porcelain. Here are a few pictures of the main wet wall and PEX piping we had placed. Thank you, First Choice Plumbing! The crew was very professional, friendly and did great work. Ran into a few unexpected problems, most generated by me, the inexperienced owner-builder, but they overcame and conquered. I highly recommend First Choice Plumbing, LLC., they have branch offices in Pt. St. Lucie and Gainesville. Tell Joe and Will I sent you.

Photos

Main wet wall from the kitchen
Main wet wall from bathroom
Our nice Jacuzzi-brand tub from Habitat for Humanity's ReStore.
Got more joists in while the plumbers were doing their thing.
Second floor window and joists.



Comments (2)

We Have a Second Floor... Almost!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 1/10/2010

We got over half the second floor joists up, and now it actually looks like a second floor! We will be working on it next weekend as well, I think... and may be able to get the rest of the joists up and some of the 3/4" tongue and groove plywood subfloor laid down. Here's some pics. Eric (see the below link), you better hurry. I'm catching up. ownerbuilderbook.com/blogs/Schrammelot

Photos

Across the second floor toward the lakefront balcony door
From the second-floor balcony door toward the second floor bath window



Comments (0)

Another day, 6 more joists

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 12/27/2009

Got 6 more joists up today, the perimeter joists adjusted for the right height and Loctited in place.  Cut off the extra threaded rod, so now we don't have to worry about banging our head on those things any more.  Removed the center point of the dome, so we don't have a piece of rebar sticking up in the center of the dome any more.  Lots done in just a few hours!  Hopefully we'll get back up within a couple weeks and get the rest of one side of the second floor done so the plumber can come in and do his thing in January.

Photos

Me and boy hanging a joist
The boy up on the new joists.



Comments (0)

Another day, another joist

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 12/5/2009 8:35:41 PM

Got the perimeter joists completed and up, and got ONE floor joist put in.  Only 68 more to go...:-)  The picture of the balcony is what we got done last time, all the cement is complete (all the light gray is new cement) and the little white rectangle in the bottom corner is where the window A/C is going.  The white is a styrofoam "hole blocker" until we get the A/C mounted.  It looks like we will be able to cool the whole dome with a 12,000 Btu window A/C.  If we need a little boost, we can put another 5,000Btu A/C in a small window to help out.  The whole dome is R-28, walls and ceiling, and that's 7 inches of solid EPS Styrofoam, not fiberglass.  It really keeps the cool in!  The other picture is where 3 beams of the perimeter joist system come together and are suspended from the dome shell.  The single 2x8 joist near it is our first actual floor joist, we got all the perimeter joists made, put up, glued, nailed and lined up and then only had time to put up one joist.  That's OK, it's all downhill from here.

Photos

Finish cement on the balcony, not painted yet
Main perimeter joists triple intersection, plus one joist



Comments (0)

Shameless Plug for the Kids of the World!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 11/24/2009

This has nothing to do with construction, but I think it's important, so here goes... please consider going to children.org, which is Children International online. During the Christmas season, consider those who have NOTHING and live in unbelievably horrible circumstances. A few dollars a month can mean a HUGE difference in a poor third-world child's life.

Our family sponsored a little one-year-old girl in the Philippines shortly after our daughter Nikki was born. We were just informed that she passed away at 15 years old. She was admitted to the hospital, but probably due to weakened immune system and very poor conditions she lived in, she did not make it. There are hundreds of thousands of kids who are literally fighting to stay alive where they live. Their battles are with parasites, bad food, lack of food, and other horrible diseases. Please consider sponsoring a child this Christmas!!


Comments (0)

Another Day Closer... All Cement Done!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 11/8/2009

We've finished the cement! All patching and final cementing is complete... and, of course we didn't take any pics. Next time... anyway, here's a short video from one of our security cameras we have set up around the property.  It's amusing...

Videos

Boy putting out the campfire. I had already set up the game cameras and forgot we hadn't done everything.



Comments (1)

Another Trip for the Day, Another Wall and Some Joists Done!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 10/12/2009

Little by little, it's getting done. This time we got the pantry wall finished and three smaller joists put up. We only worked for five hours or so, but it was nice to talk together, work together and just visit. Family time is PRECIOUS, everyone! Try to have more of it. Anyway, here's a couple more pics, and we got a couple of bids on the "second rough" for plumbing... first in was $5,300, second bid was $2,500! Also, the lower bid was using PEX, which I wanted to use. That should help us get on track for the next inspection!

Photos

Older boy checks level.
The joists come together here, and are supported by the threaded rod from the dome shell.
The pantry wall. Hey, we were only there for five hours... we got done what we could!



Comments (0)

Pictures of Wood, Lots of Wood

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 9/21/2009

It's probably getting boring for some people, looking at lots of pictures of wood. We are working on the walls, and there IS stuff happening, just not as easy to see in these pics. We got the door openings framed in with headers, and all the walls squared up and straight, and we shaved 1.5" off the balcony door so it would fit the threshhold correctly when the second floor is done. Here's a few pics.

Photos

Bath doorway with bedroom to the left
Complicated corners in this dome...
Doorway under the stairs and bedroom doorway to the right



Comments (0)

Sometimes the Journey is More Important than the Destination!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 9/13/2009

Once again, we got up late (and LOVED sleeping in), got on the road late, but all went well. We got the bathtub loaded up and went to take a look at some solid-pine doors that someone was offering on Craigslist for about 25% of their cost new. They are almost exactly what we were looking for. I really wanted a light-stained solid-pine door, but the price new was WAY more than what I wanted to pay... so I was going to settle for regular, boring, hollow-core painted doors. But NO, a little searching on Craigslist (and you might want to try searchtempest.com, that will search multiple Craigslists in your area, just enter how many miles radius you want to search in).  Anyway, long story short, we now have beautiful SOLID-pine doors for the dome! The doors also came with all hardware, knobs, and frames, and they're already finished!

Photos

One of our nice new doors
Closeup of door and hardware



Comments (4)

Sometimes you can get things done when you're not even THERE...

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 8/30/2009

We went shopping at garage sales, and went by our local Habitat for Humanity "ReStore". This place is where builders, remodelers, and consumers donate both used and new construction materials, and Habitat for Humanity sells some of the donated items to help finance their housebuilding projects for the poor. Habitat renovates and builds homes for disadvantaged people all over, and provides them with a reasonable mortgage. They have to qualify, which means having an income, they must provide hours of work on site for a house being built before theirs is started, and other qualifications. Habitat for Humanity is a really good charity, they are sort of like "Extreme Makeover - Home Edition" but not extreme, and not free. They give families a step up into a decent (if small) home they can afford and gives them some "sweat equity" in the home right off the bat.

ANYWAY, there are ReStores all over the place and ours had JUST the corner bathtub we were looking for!  It was installed and then removed, but looks really in great shape. Here's a picture (not the same one, just a stock photo). New, $800+... At the Habitat ReStore, $125. Helping a charity AND getting a deal... can't ask for more!

Photos

Jacuzzi-brand tub, "Tara" model. This is a stock photo, not the actual one we got. Ours is a little dirtier and not installed in someone else's house...



Comments (1)

Slow Going, but Getting It Done!

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 8/21/2009

We were up again for just the day, and after a late start we arrived at about noon, and left again about 6 PM. Even so, we got the bedroom walls finished, and the bathroom wall up. All we need now is a small stairway wall, a couple doorways, and the walls are done! I forgot the camera, so Cindy got a couple pics with her phone... and they are not bad!

Photos

Bedroom walls
Bathroom (with red sheet as curtain)



Comments (2)

We have WALLS...

Posted to TheHoskensProject by Brian in Dome-ville, central, FL on 8/10/2009 3:29:57 PM

Thanks to Eric from Pierson, FL, we have some interior walls.  Eric is also building a dome, and he's done his framing already.  I asked him over for a day to help with my layout, and wow, it took shape quickly.  He has obviously framed before because he laid out the walls like a pro!  I would still be measuring... 

Anyway, I need to thank him and also Greg who is building a dome near mine, and let me wander through his and look at plumbing and such.  He may be helping with my plumbing in the future, as he did all his own plumbing and electrical.

And, of couse, a few pictures... and I didn't fall off any ladders this time.

Photos

Perimeter joist for second floor supported by dome shell
A really neat-looking lizard
Another joist picture
Bathroom and bedroom wall



Comments (0)


Newest << >> Oldest



Call us at 1-888-333-BUILD Email to friends! Bookmark this page!
Search
Shopping Cart

View Cart Check-Out


Welcome to OwnerBuilderBook.com.   In order to post messages to the Forums, receive our free newsletter, participate in interviews, or access User Tools, you must first register.   Your information will be kept confidential and will never be sold.  For more information please read our privacy policy.
Email:
Not yet a member? Register now for FREE!
Welcome to OwnerBuilderBook.com.  In order to post messages to the Forums or receive our free newsletter, you must first register.  Your information will be kept confidential and will never be sold.  For more information please read our privacy policy.
Email:
First Name:
City:
Country:
State/Province:
Newsletters:
Owner-Builder Connections:
This page took 1.1875 seconds to generate.