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

Thomas's Forum Posts: 3
Journal Entries: 8
Interview Answers: 63
Average Forum Rating: 3.57



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Sheetrock

Posted to httpownerbuilderbookcomblogsusersTheCottersaspx- by Thomas in Clayton, NY on 2/19/2008 3:34:32 AM

Well, finished up on all the electrical and insulation. Today my sheetrock contractors start working. Again as is usually the case, the electrical and insulation jobs were bigger than I imagined. Started with a helper with the insulation but he failed to show up for work one day because I guess he thought it was better to get high than it is to work. So I ended up doing 90% of the insulation myself. Next house that will be a job given to a sub.

I think I am finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I know my wife is getting itchy to move in. She by the way has been a great help to me.  Learning a lot and I think the next house will be easier. I hope so.

Electrical

Posted to httpownerbuilderbookcomblogsusersTheCottersaspx- by Thomas in Clayton, NY on 1/27/2008 5:13:33 AM

Well, starting to get to the interior. Started the rough electrical on 1/22, and hope to be done with that within two weeks; then on to the insulation. As for the outside, septic and water are complete and all that remains is the siding. Also have one window and two doors to install. Hope to get those done this week.

So far so good, except for a few problems this project has run pretty smooth. Of course I am over budget, but actually so far not too bad. Mostly for things I did not foresee and for upgrades to certain features. Good budget planning is essential. That's it for today; will be back in a few weeks with an update.

Roof trusses

Posted to httpownerbuilderbookcomblogsusersTheCottersaspx- by Thomas in Clayton, NY on 12/10/2007 6:26:25 AM

Trusses arrived last Wednesday, and when I first looked at them I thought no way that they would be up in a week. Well because I have found a great framer who has a sense of responsibility and an unbelievable work ethic, the trusses were fully up on Saturday.

The excavator is currently installing the septic system, and this week I hope to have the water completely hooked up and ready to run to the house. The one problem I am having is with the electric company. They seem to be dragging their feet, or maybe there is too much red tape to take care of. Whatever the problem, I need to get power and am not interested in what their problems are.

Photos

Roof trusses being delivered	House with roof trusses installed

Framing

Posted to httpownerbuilderbookcomblogsusersTheCottersaspx- by Thomas in Clayton, NY on 11/25/2007 5:56:41 AM

Finally getting to the framing stage. The weather has not been cooperative, and the going has been slower than I would like. Problems with my architect have also slowed things down. I just have a hard time believing that you pay good money for a service and there are just so many mistakes in it.

The floor has been installed, and this week I hope to finish off backfilling and hooking up electric and water. Also, I think we will be starting on the septic system. It seems I need about 2-3 weeks of halfway decent weather to get the housed closed up . This is important because if it doesn't happen, nothing will get done on the inside and will just push my schedule farther back.

Have found a great window salesman who has helped me out a lot with selecting windows. His price and advice have really been outstanding for me. He has pointed out errors that were in the plans and in doing so I've got to believe has saved me a lot of frustration down the road. Anyone looking to buy windows I would suggest to you that you check out salesmen from your nearest Pella distrubution center. In my case his prices were better than anywhere I could find and the personalized service has been outstanding.

Foundation

Posted to httpownerbuilderbookcomblogsusersTheCottersaspx- by Thomas in Clayton, NY on 11/4/2007 4:36:08 AM

Well here we are in November. Foundation wall is up and now preparing for drainage, backfilling and framing. Partner and I took 9 days to put up ICF's, and the work was more involved than I had thought. If footer had been level, and we had one more guy, I think it could have been completed in five days. The problem I now face is whether I should pour my basement floor. I am concerned about the weather heaving it, should it get cold early this winter. I hope to have the house framed in by the beginning of December and be able to work in it for the rest of the winter. We will see.

Groundbreaking

Posted to httpownerbuilderbookcomblogsusersTheCottersaspx- by Thomas in Clayton, NY on 9/19/2007 7:01:39 PM

Finally started groundbreaking on the new home. Started ironically on my wedding anniversary date. Well, the digging took about a day and half, and now I am laying out the footers. The first attempt at it was a total failure and not until I got home did I find out why. It seems that the architect that I used had two different standards for the footer width. On the detail drawing he showed it as being 18 inches wide. So using that dimension, a friend and myself started laying out the foundation and naturally it would not work out. So when I got home and after much head scratching I noticed on the foundation plan that the widths were scaled out at 20 inches. Hmmm. I hope there are no more surprises. Having a friend lay out the footer frames, and hopefully will have them poured by Monday.

Property closing

Posted to httpownerbuilderbookcomblogsusersTheCottersaspx- by Thomas in Clayton, NY on 9/2/2007 7:53:16 AM

Well, finally, after numerous delays, false promises, and high expectations, the day of closing on the property has arrived. We will meet with the lawyers Friday and close on the property. The following Monday I hope to start construction.

 I am experiencing a lot of apprehension, self-doubt and a feeling that I am forgetting something that is vital for the house to be built. I have planned the house since November, 2006 and although I think I have everything lined up, there is that nagging feeling I haven't done something I should have. I certainly hope that because of my planning, the construction phase will go somewhat more smoothly. I feel pretty good about my main contractor who has come with high recommendations and is easy to deal with and has assured me that he will stay on the job until completed and that it will be done in the allocated time we have decided on. We will see.

Anyway, after the foundation is dug and the footer is poured I will be setting up the ICF's and when that is done, my main contractor will come in and frame and roof the house. Hopefully we will be weatherproofed by early to mid-November, That is the goal.

Property

Posted to httpownerbuilderbookcomblogsusersTheCottersaspx- by Thomas in Clayton, NY on 6/10/2007

Well finally put a purchase offer and had it accepted on a piece of land the wife and I both liked. It was a three-acre lot with a pond on it in a new housing development that I hope will be very popular. There is a river nearby (200 yds.) and the development is off the main road by about 150 yds. I did feel a little rushed into buying this property by the agent and let her know that as some things happened that I thought were a little too coincidental for comfort. However this lady does have a vested interest in doing the right thing for me as I told her that if we were treated right and received a good bargain on the property, she could have would be considered to sell our current home.

Anyway, things now start to get busy and hopefully we will start building by August.