Barndominium/Shop or "real" House?

[WinterDeere]

I'll get with a reputable wood stove company to advise on stove size, type and install. I'm leaning towards a non-catalytic like an Osburn 3500 or similar.

You'd do well to join up at hearth.com, the tractorbynet of the wood stove world.

I heat my house with two wood stoves, and like most who do this full time, made the transition from non-cat to catalytic, many years ago. Non-cats can work fine, if you're only running them when heat demand is high, or size them well below your maximum need such that you never need to run them on very low burn rates. But catalytic stoves have a much wider range of burn rate, for those of us really using them as primary heat.

Put otherwise, non-cats have a burn rate range of maybe 3:1, whereas cat stoves have a burn rate range of maybe 7:1. The trade-off for the wider range of performance is extra maintenance of a catlyic combustor.

 

[ETD66SS]

"- Speaking of bringing in the groceries, I would not make my retirement home a place where I had to climb stairs. While I'm currently fit and able, a 1st story master, kitchen, bathroom, living room, are all necessities."
I agree with all these guys, I'm 76 now still perky and able but I see the handwritng on the wall. Avoid stairs. I would think about an almost "tiny house" (maybe double) and your large shop/garage. Good idea preparing early....

My father died a few years ago at 89, he pretty much used the staris up until the end.

My mother is currently 89 and still carries laundry up and down two sets of stairs.

I have about 40 years before I need to worry about the starirs. If something happens before then, I'll figure it out.

 

[ETD66SS]

Working on the last bit of framing before I can get to the upper level radiant pex installation.

I am surprised by the open web floor joists, they are not very precise. They are twisted up more than I expected, takes some prying to get them vertical.

They also have about a 1/2" arch to them. I suspect that will decrease when the subfloor is attached.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I also used open joists on my 2nd floor. I wonder if the I-Joists would be any better from a performance standpoint after the house is completed.

 

[EddieWalker]

Looking at the side view of your concrete, I have to say that I'm impressed. That looks fantastic!!!

I've never seen trusses that didn't have metal plates on them. These must be some new technology with the finger joints and glue. I really like this style of floor truss for running everything through them.