Statistics

Users
Total:	28,419
Visited Last 30 days:	140
Forum Messages
Total:	20,592
Last 30 days:	4
Forum Evaluations
Total:	24,110
Last 30 days:	17
Journal Entries
Total:	4,951
Last 30 days:	9
Connections
Total:	15,023
Last 30 days:	11
Downloads
Total:	76,254

Journals

Name
The-Last-Rodeo Angel Fire, NM
15,166 Visits \| 99 Posts \| 112 Pix \| 2 Videos
My-first-home
61 Visits \| 1 Posts \| 1 Pix \| 0 Videos
7th-and-last-Home-bu... Saratoga Springs, UT
67 Visits \| 1 Posts \| 6 Pix \| 0 Videos
Tanglewood Colorado Springs, CO
105,206 Visits \| 882 Posts \| 2,342 Pix \| 42 Videos
Bruce Fowlerville, MI
61 Visits \| 1 Posts \| 0 Pix \| 0 Videos
697-Marlin Austin/McDade, TX
4,538 Visits \| 62 Posts \| 508 Pix \| 0 Videos
Sparky New Harmony, UT
96 Visits \| 1 Posts \| 1 Pix \| 0 Videos
TheHoskensProject Dome-ville, central, FL
63,891 Visits \| 170 Posts \| 512 Pix \| 3 Videos
Mutton-Busting Nashville, TN
5,446 Visits \| 127 Posts \| 210 Pix \| 0 Videos
sevenpeacksicf Clio, CA
40,573 Visits \| 51 Posts \| 326 Pix \| 1 Videos
Gardner-Gate Price, UT
878 Visits \| 1 Posts \| 0 Pix \| 0 Videos
Mahalo Logandale , AL
818 Visits \| 1 Posts \| 1 Pix \| 0 Videos
Vilano-Beach--Water-... Saint Augustine, FL
25,088 Visits \| 41 Posts \| 119 Pix \| 0 Videos
wumifoso
1,720 Visits \| 1 Posts \| 1 Pix \| 0 Videos
insulation4us Wilmington, DE
1,565 Visits \| 1 Posts \| 4 Pix \| 2 Videos
Insulationstop Latham, NY
1,567 Visits \| 1 Posts \| 1 Pix \| 0 Videos
Our-Forever-House Omaha, NE
1,744 Visits \| 2 Posts \| 0 Pix \| 0 Videos
NorthPoleHome North Pole, AK
35,987 Visits \| 35 Posts \| 140 Pix \| 0 Videos
Homestead-II--Our-Ne... smithville, MO
1,673 Visits \| 1 Posts \| 0 Pix \| 0 Videos
Larnerd-House Chenango Forks, NY
3,547 Visits \| 2 Posts \| 2 Pix \| 0 Videos

See all journals...

Current Top-Rated Posters

	Rating	Posts
Plans by Marcy in Richmond, VA	0.00	1
sabrina in los fresnos, TX	0.00	2
Alex	0.00	1
Warren	0.00	1
Gary in Burke, AL	0.00	2
Christopher	0.00	1
Gardenmom	0.00	1
Stacy Jo in Oakland, CA	0.00	1
Tino	0.00	1
Chris in Seattle, AL	0.00	3
Rod in ocala, FL	0.00	1
Peter in Corona, AL	0.00	3
James in Beaumont, TX	0.00	1
Eric	0.00	1
Rebecca	0.00	1
Sylvain	0.00	1
Tim	0.00	2

Mark Smith, Managing Editor
mark@ownerbuilderbook.com

9/28/2016

Jeff Lewis, Webmaster
jeff@consultutah.com

	I received my box last evening and have watched the first two DVDs from the 10 Commandment series. It's fun to put faces with the names. I'm excited to start planning my home, and I truly appreciate the work you have put into helping others make their dreams come true. Bonnie H. in Colorado Springs, CO

Try one of our new Construction Bargain Strategies for free. Coupon code: CBS. One strategy could save you $1,000 or $10,000 or maybe $50,000 when you build or remodel.

Aaron's Forum Posts: 0
Journal Entries: 2
Interview Answers: 5

Private Message

Randomly Selected Image

Subscribe to this journal...

This journal has been viewed 15326 times.

Newest

Oldest

Search for the foundation sub

Posted to Buffaloader by Aaron in Valley Center, KS on 1/11/2011

I contacted a couple of ready mix concrete companies in town to get pricing information for concrete. I was kicking the idea around of pouring my own foundation; that desire has come and gone, by the way. The first company was a little short and slightly on the unfriendly side. I contacted another ready mix concrete company for some pricing. The companies name is R.A. Ruud and Son, Inc. They were very friendly, and the pricing was practically identical to the first company; also they have an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.

A day or so later after deciding not to pour my own foundation, I contacted them again and asked if they had any recommendations for good foundation subs. They said sure, and gave me a couple of names. Bob Cook Homes is the only one I have investigated so far. He has an A+ with the BBB and, after talking with him, I learned he started out in the foundation business. He later become a full-fledged builder, but still does his own concrete work due the fact that nobody does it the way he likes it. He was very friendly, helpful, and seemed to take an interest. I was very impressed and confident after speaking with him. He is number one on my list of one right now.

Comments (2)
Private Message

Design Phase

Posted to Buffaloader by Aaron in Valley Center, KS on 1/10/2011

I am in the design phase of our new home. I have reviewed numerous floor plans, and can't seem to find any that are quite right. At this point I am leaning towards designing my own. I am currently thinking I want a simple design that is low maintenance and affordable to build. My concept is a two-story home with a full basement with approx. 1,300 sq ft per floor totaling 3,900 sq ft of living space once the basement is finished. The home will be styled like a Federal/Adam/Colonial or whatever you want to call it. It will be a symmetrical all-brick home. Literally a rectangular box stacked on a rectangular box stacked on a foundation. The roof will be a gable roof with ridge vents, no valleys, dormers, nothing. I am thinking that this type of design will ultimately save money, and leaves a good potential for less problems. We will see. Here in Sedgwick County, Kansas an architect/engineer is not required to design/approve plans. The home just needs to meet the building code. I will post some preliminary designs soon. If anyone actually reads this, feedback is appreciated.

Comments (4)

Posted by Mary in PA on 1/10/2011

Mary's Forum Posts: 101
Journal Entries: 60
Interview Answers: 15

Private Message

Image from Mary's blog
1/10/2011

Hi Aaron, I agree with you that a basic 'rectangle' with simple roof design (i.e. gable) can be an affordable (and do-able) design for an owner-builder. I personally think it can also be a very classic look, rather than the multi-gabled houses I tend so see in many builder developments. If your site allows for it, you might also consider orientation of the basic 'rectangle' to take advantage of passive solar. The design phase can be very fun, and sometimes frustrating. Good luck with it!
Regards,
Mary

Posted by Aaron in Valley Center, KS on 1/10/2011

Aaron's Forum Posts: 0
Journal Entries: 2
Interview Answers: 5

Private Message

Randomly Selected Image
1/10/2011

Mary,

Thanks for the words of encouragement and advice.

Posted by Frank in Elkridge, MD on 1/11/2011

Frank's Forum Posts: 11
Journal Entries: 5
Interview Answers: 59

Private Message

Randomly Selected Image
1/11/2011

Aaron, like you, we are looking over plans for our house and we also feel a rectangular Colonial-style house would be less problematic for the trades. We are looking at a two-story house with 3,000 sf without counting the basement. We'll have a rough-in for the bathroom in the basement with a projected time to finish it within five years. Our concept will include a master suite on the main level and another master on the second level with two other smaller bedrooms. The idea is to plan for our parents to use the lower-level main bedroom and later on when we get sick of the upper level, we can move downstairs.

We are also thinking of the resale value of having a master suite on the second level if a young family wants to be near the kids' bedroom.

We don't believe in having the garage as part of the house. The garage will be to the side of the house connected to our game room.

Here is what we are thinking of doing:
Main floor: Master suite, large kitchen, study, dining room, game room - as you walk in the house you enter the foyer, and it's open to the second floor - study to the left - dining room to the right, connected to the game room. As you walk through the house, you see the kitchen - to the right is the stairway and the half bath and the game room - to the left is the main-level master suite behind the kitchen. We will insulate and/or soundproof this wall.
Second floor: Master suite, two smaller bedrooms - small laundry room and a bathroom for the two bedroom. Total bedrooms for the house, four each.

As you walk in from the garage, you enter the mud room and another laundry room.

Just an idea.

Frank

Posted by Aaron in Valley Center, KS on 1/11/2011

Aaron's Forum Posts: 0
Journal Entries: 2
Interview Answers: 5

Private Message

Randomly Selected Image
1/11/2011

Frank,

Sounds great! I too am leaning towards a detached garage. We are on the same page on pretty much everything except living with my mother-in-law... just kidding. It is exciting to know that someone else has a similar plan in mind. Thanks for the post!

Private Message

Newest

Oldest

Free Log-in!

Click here to log-in...

Free Registration!

Not yet a member?
Register Now for Free!

Search

(Advanced Search)

Email:
First Name:
City:
Country:
State/Province:
Newsletters:	Yes, I would like to receive newsletters.
Owner-Builder Connections:	Yes, I would like to be listed in Owner-Builder Connections.

Free Log-in!

Free Registration!

Statistics

Journals

Current Top-Rated Posters

Aaron's Forum Posts: 0
Journal Entries: 2
Interview Answers: 5

Private Message

Randomly Selected Image

Subscribe to this journal...

Search for the foundation sub

Posted to Buffaloader by Aaron in Valley Center, KS on 1/11/2011

Design Phase

Posted to Buffaloader by Aaron in Valley Center, KS on 1/10/2011

Search

Shopping Cart

All DVDs

10 Commandments DVD

Free Download Gallery

The Whole Enchilada

The Owner-Builder Book MP3s

Ten Commandments DVDs

Construction Bargain Strategies

Bookstore Bonus

Free Newsletter

Workshop DVDs

Movie in Riverbottoms house

Who's Online?

Statistics

Journals

Current Top-Rated Posters

Aaron's Forum Posts: 0Journal Entries: 2Interview Answers: 5Private MessageRandomly Selected ImageSubscribe to this journal...

Posted to Buffaloader by Aaron in Valley Center, KS on 1/11/2011

Posted to Buffaloader by Aaron in Valley Center, KS on 1/10/2011

Search

Who's Online?

Login

Register

Shopping Cart

Aaron's Forum Posts: 0
Journal Entries: 2
Interview Answers: 5

Private Message

Randomly Selected Image

Subscribe to this journal...