I just got back from several months at work at sea. That's great that I won another forum post. I look forward to reading and participating in your forums again. Just too bad we don't have the Web at sea. I go to meet with my designer again next week and resume the design process. Andy D., Corpus Christi, TX

Patricia's Forum Posts: 2
Journal Entries: 6
Interview Answers: 15
Average Forum Rating: 3.50



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2012 January Update

Posted to Workshop by Patricia in Florissant, CO on 1/8/2012

We decided to just build a steel building. We used Red Bear Excavations, Sun Peak Engineering and Creative Concrete. Very happy with the process and the contractors.

We also managed to get an electrical easement with the Forest Service and Teller County. The electric installation (13 poles) cost us approx. $28,000. We decided against solar, since both our closest neighbors complain their systems just weren't enough power through the harsh winter season.

We are looking at Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for our first floor, walkout basement, and roofing. Anyone know of an architect, engineer, builder, SIP company to refer us too?

I have been playing with a design program, but would like help with orientation and suggestions for our lot. We have a view of Pikes Peak, but it isn't facing south and our main entrance will be facing the north side where the snow really hits.

Photos

Posted by Peter in Burlington, WA on 1/9/2012 Peter's Forum Posts: 18 Interview Answers: 36 Average Forum Rating: 4.32 Randomly Selected Image 1/9/2012	How much power will you be using? If you consider the current value of the 30% Federal Tax credit, for that outlay you could have gotten a $40,000 solar system, which is pretty substantial as the prices continue to come down.
Posted by Patricia in Florissant, CO on 1/10/2012 Patricia's Forum Posts: 2 Journal Entries: 6 Interview Answers: 15 Average Forum Rating: 3.50 Image from Patricia's blog 1/10/2012	Our closest neighbor installed the top of the line system in 2006 for $30,000. He is now thinking of connecting to our electric because his solar isn't enough and he has to rely on his generator too much.  In addition, his system has been struck by lightning twice and has been a big expense to fix. At least, if our poles get hit with lightning the electric company fixes them. It might be the cold temperatures, which can go to minus 35 degrees and the high altitude (9,200) that play a factor. You would think being in Colorado and having approximately 360 days of sunshine would be enough to generate the power you need. They moved to California and rented their home. The renters were already complaining in November that the solar wasn't enough and having to use the generator. Of course, when you are on solar, you don't put up Halloween lights. So even though you might be "solar wise", the people you rent to might not be. Also, it took them over two years to get a renter.
Posted by Peter in Burlington, WA on 1/10/2012 Peter's Forum Posts: 18 Interview Answers: 36 Average Forum Rating: 4.32 Randomly Selected Image 1/10/2012	The cold and the altitude will facilitate the output of the solar panels. Considering that the price of solar panels continues to decrease and the availability of the Federal Tax credit, you may be able to get twice as much capacity as your neighbor got back in 2006.

Workshop

Posted to Workshop by Patricia in Florissant, CO on 6/13/2009 11:50:26 AM

Since we are still in negotiations with the Forest Service and Teller County, our home plans will have to wait.  Depending on the solution is where we will build.  We are instead going to build a workshop 30'x60'x15' steel frame with a small cabin inside.  This can later be a place for guest when they visit.  Checking with different steel frame manufacturers and looking for a builder.  We figured we would get the experience and contacts from the builder.  The workshop will have a generator, hot water on demand, septic, fireplace, cistern, propane tank and possibly radiant heating.  Really have to work with the county to make sure the cabin and heating will suffice for a certificate of occupancy.  Here in Texas, we have run into someone who built a home inside a steel building and they are happy with the energy savings.

Well Installation

Posted to Workshop by Patricia in Florissant, CO on 2/12/2009

I was amazed how easy it was it have a well done.

I went online and found the application for a well permit and saved it to my computer. I hired Black Mountain Drilling located in Divide. They helped me fill out the permit and gave me great advice. I received the permit within two weeks.

We hired a water witcher for $200 and he found two veins crossing, and that is where we drilled. We hit water at 135', we drilled to 240' with 20 gpm. One neighbor drilled 500' and had to have it fracked and still only got 1/2 gpm, another neighbor drilled 450' with 6 gpm, another neighbor didn't find water, and another has drilled two wells with 1/2 gpm and both are dry now. I believe the investment of $200 was well worth it.

I will put the drill company's name, the witcher, and pump company's information within a day or two. I'm in the process of changing computers.

Photos

Capped Well

Reading

Posted to Workshop by Patricia in Florissant, CO on 4/20/2008 12:54:56 PM

I purchased and downloaded a bunch of books from the bookstore here.  Thank goodness I am retired, so I have the time to read.  I also read a lot of books when I go to Colorado for the summer. I already have so many notes and worksheets.  I am rather impatient and once I start a project, I will not stop until it is over.

I am building my time line as I go.  I combined everything into one Excel workbook with many worksheets.  I believe it will be easier to keep track of everything.  We are going to try to build what we can with the cash on hand and when we can.

Complex

Posted to Workshop by Patricia in Florissant, CO on 4/16/2008 2:32:26 PM

Not ordinary, unusual, different, etc. That describes my husband and me.  We just don't fit the norm.  How?:

1.  We retired in our early 40's.

2.  We have no children.

3.  We want to have a summer & winter home (snow bird).

4.  Our summer home is in Texas, no mortgage.

5.  We are planning to build a new winter home in Colorado.

6.  To make it more difficult, we have no utilities (off-grid) to consider.

7.  We stay in CO for the summer months in our travel trailer.

8.  We want to build the house in stages.

9.   We are going to try to build without taking out a loan.  So we need to stretch every buck.

This leaves me totally puzzled on how to plan.  Do I plan a house designed for our liking?  Our preferences are bigger rooms, less bedrooms.  It seems when you increase square footage you also increase the number of rooms.  I purchased Punch Software to help with the home design. 

First Question: Do I design what we would like or do I design for what will sell in the future?

Second question: Can anyone tell me the approximate cost difference between SIPs and wood framing?  Saving time is not important to us.  Cost and quality are our biggest importance.

Posted by Grant in Blacksburg, VA on 8/9/2008 2008, 2009 Merit Award Winner Grant's Forum Posts: 363 Journal Entries: 20 Interview Answers: 164 Average Forum Rating: 4.05 Grant's Selected Image 8/9/2008

While overall saving time may not be important to you, getting to dry-in within a reasonable time frame is ALWAYS important.  You want to be able to construct your walls and roof and get your doors and windows on quickly enough to not cause moisture problems in the building materials.  In such a harsh environment and being reliant upon site-generated energy sources, you need to keep your energy consumption as low as possible.  It is MUCH cheaper to build for energy efficiency than it is to pay for more energy generation!  SIPs, ICF, and other such alternative envelope structures provide for a tighter, more energy efficient envelope so that you can spend less on energy generation.  With an off-grid construction investing in energy efficiency almost ALWAYS makes sense (and cents). regards, Grant

Posted by Patricia in Florissant, CO on 2/12/2009 Patricia's Forum Posts: 2 Journal Entries: 6 Interview Answers: 15 Average Forum Rating: 3.50 Image from Patricia's blog 2/12/2009

Thanks Grant for your input.  You are absolutely right about having the shell completed.  Because of our limited time, we decided to hire someone to complete the shell.  Do you happen to know anyone who does this?

Kinder

Posted to Workshop by Patricia in Florissant, CO on 3/31/2008 6:15:02 PM

I am on a kinder level for building my house.  I had a jump on some things.  Our 40 acres are paid for, survey is done, well location/permit is done, well driller is hired, engineer hired to do the perc & soil tests. Then I bought The Owner-Builder Book.  I had already an Excel spreadsheet & a worksheet for most items.  I was using Punch Professional Home Platinum version 4.5.1 to design my house plan.  In addition, I purchased the Punch software version 12.  So I am reading everything I can find and learning how to use the new version of Punch.

I am most worried about getting the energy systems we need at a reasonable cost.  We have no utilities (off-grid).  Our property is at 9,200 feet and can get up to 8' of snow.  Then the temperature can be 25-30 degrees below zero.  Selecting appliances is difficult.  Do I use propane or diesel?  Do I use a broiler or a furnace?  Do I use solar or wind generators, or both?   I plan on doing the management.  I am good at organization and management.  My husband will do some of the trades.  He even made a small air tank to use with his air tools.  That should come in handy, since we won't have an electric source.  I am very lucky to have a husband that is handy in a lot of areas.  I would like to hire a designer/engineer to review our plans, a master electricians for initial advice and an inspection after everything is complete.  Here's the catch.  We live in Texas most of the year.  The home we want to build will be in North of Divide, CO.  Since we only spend the summer in Colorado, we will have to do the work in stages.  We decided to rent a storage unit in which to put items that we buy along the way and items we find on sale.  We are going to try to build without a loan.  This why planning is so critical.

Photos

A winter picture from our RV in November, 2006

Posted by Steve in Colorado Springs, CO on 4/16/2008 Steve's Forum Posts: 87 Journal Entries: 688 Interview Answers: 204 Average Forum Rating: 3.85 My Construction Website Steve's Selected Image 4/16/2008

Howdy Patricia! We're also building off-grid not too far from you (as the crow flies, anyway) and plan to go with a wind turbine for our primary source of power.  If you poke around you can find some excellent wind maps on the web (I downloaded mine over at the NREL site); looking at the Florissant area I see that you're generally in the Cat 3 area.  That's good enough for wind power, and of course depending on exactly where you are it could be even better. Solar up there out to be excellent as well. Hope that helps, and good luck! Steve