J F
Veteran Member
I was talking about me, Stu. 
Cheers.
Cheers.Building a stick frame house in the woods in 90 days
- Thread starter pclausen
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mjncad
Super Member
Before life got in the way I was designing what was to be our final house, and I used the ADA guidelines that would be useful in a residential situation as a guide. Since ADA is aimed at commercial construction; there are a lot of the guidelines that don't apply to residential. The only downside to designing to ADA guidelines is that it makes the house bigger to accommodate wheelchairs, and the extra square footage drives up the cost. However; I'd rather have room instead of bumping into things.
You can get the ADA Guidelines here. ADA Standards for Accessible Design
I'm thoroughly impressed with seeing a stone base and actual rebar used in the concrete flatwork.
This was the removal of a "plain" column and replacing it with something a bit nicer.
Nicely done column/pilaster Jay.
Peter,
Another quick note on checking the double hung windows.
Be sure to work the upper window up and down as well. Most double hung windows are made to pull in for cleaning the outside from the inside. The instructions should be on the window sticker.
If the window is not installed correctly it will bind when trying to do that.
Another fellow pictured a window like yours with the frames bowed in on the outside. He said, " Does this look familiar?"
It may be your camera, but the window on your mom's bedroom looked that way. Take your level and put it against each side and bottom, or a long straight piece of molding if your level is too short.
Look to see if the outside edges of the windows on the outside of the house are bowed in or out on each of the 4 sides.
You could use the same technique to check the outside door frames of the sliders that look so bowed in the pictures with the door handles against them and a gap at the top and bottom.
That has to be fixed and may require some of the siding to be removed and shortened.
Ron
Another quick note on checking the double hung windows.
Be sure to work the upper window up and down as well. Most double hung windows are made to pull in for cleaning the outside from the inside. The instructions should be on the window sticker.
If the window is not installed correctly it will bind when trying to do that.
Another fellow pictured a window like yours with the frames bowed in on the outside. He said, " Does this look familiar?"
It may be your camera, but the window on your mom's bedroom looked that way. Take your level and put it against each side and bottom, or a long straight piece of molding if your level is too short.
Look to see if the outside edges of the windows on the outside of the house are bowed in or out on each of the 4 sides.
You could use the same technique to check the outside door frames of the sliders that look so bowed in the pictures with the door handles against them and a gap at the top and bottom.
That has to be fixed and may require some of the siding to be removed and shortened.
Ron
srs
Veteran Member
Peter, here is the foam I was talking about. Designed not to distort the window. Be careful with the stuff you are using.
GREAT STUFF? Window & Door | Draft Stopper for Windows and Doors
Also here are a couple of pictures of how the trim was done in my house. The trim carpenter only did finish work for the builder including the installation of cabinets and building shelves. What a perfectionist he was! Didn't matter if it was cabinets or base trim, he always took pains to make it right.
GREAT STUFF? Window & Door | Draft Stopper for Windows and Doors
Also here are a couple of pictures of how the trim was done in my house. The trim carpenter only did finish work for the builder including the installation of cabinets and building shelves. What a perfectionist he was! Didn't matter if it was cabinets or base trim, he always took pains to make it right.
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mkane09
Silver Member
That's what it's all about...taking pride in your work. My first boss, a Norwegian physical therapist, made his own furniture out of teak. I went to his house one day and he wanted to show me a dry bar he had built. First thing he did was pull it out from the wall and, with absolute pain on his face, admitted that he put a plywood back on it. Mind you, NO ONE would have ever known, but he did. It was absolutely beautiful. We re-build his daughter's VW bug and when we got to the part of refitting the pistons, I told him I needed a clean piece of wood about a foot long. Sven went into his shop and was gone...10 minutes....15 minutes... I finally went in there to see what was taking so long and here he was, planing a piece of white oak, exactly 12 inches long.
It's a shame that all the good framing work in this house is being covered up by people who obviously don't take pride in what they do. Don't let them ruin what was destined to be a very nice little house for your Mom.
mkane09
J F
Veteran Member
Yes, just a bit of pride in your work makes a lot of difference. And Stanley, it looks like your guys definitely had it. :thumbsup:
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OP
pclausen
Veteran Member
So I meet with the sales guy, owner and foreman (the guy I call the builder) on site this afternoon to go over my concerns. I had previously emailed the owner some pics and links to specific pages here on the forum discussing the trim work. He got upset reading some of the comments and felt it was not fair to show a few closeup pics of the problem trim areas. A lot of the trim work was fine, but there were some trouble areas as pointed out here.
He assured me that this was going to be a top notch job once complete and one he will be very proud off. He said to please allow them to complete the trim and get it filled and painted before passing judgement. He also agree there there was more work to be done in some areas on the walls, and that this is very common. He went on to say that they will fully support their work and to contact him directly with any issues/concerns/problems discovered after mom moves in. Anything of a serious nature (like a leak or HVAC malfunction, they will come fix immediately. For minor issues, he said to put together a list, and once we think we have everything, they will come back and get them all knocked out at once. We will have a full 12 months after the move in date, so discover any issues, and they will come take care of them. So I feel a lot better about the whole situation after today.
Day 93
Not a lot took place today. They did a little more work on the T&G ceiling, and it is starting to look nicer. They will be sanding out any imperfections before staining it. I'll be sure to approve the prep work before they clearcoat it.
Outside they did the final prep for the stamped concrete that will be poured tomorrow.
And the rock guy came out and put up a little sample for us to approve before he gets rolling. I think this will look very good once completed.
He assured me that this was going to be a top notch job once complete and one he will be very proud off. He said to please allow them to complete the trim and get it filled and painted before passing judgement. He also agree there there was more work to be done in some areas on the walls, and that this is very common. He went on to say that they will fully support their work and to contact him directly with any issues/concerns/problems discovered after mom moves in. Anything of a serious nature (like a leak or HVAC malfunction, they will come fix immediately. For minor issues, he said to put together a list, and once we think we have everything, they will come back and get them all knocked out at once. We will have a full 12 months after the move in date, so discover any issues, and they will come take care of them. So I feel a lot better about the whole situation after today.
Day 93
Not a lot took place today. They did a little more work on the T&G ceiling, and it is starting to look nicer. They will be sanding out any imperfections before staining it. I'll be sure to approve the prep work before they clearcoat it.
Outside they did the final prep for the stamped concrete that will be poured tomorrow.
And the rock guy came out and put up a little sample for us to approve before he gets rolling. I think this will look very good once completed.
dave1949
Super Star Member
It doesn't really cut much ice to tell you he will fix the problems, there shouldn't be problems such as his crew created. Especially in the case of the sliding doors where the trim and possibly other stuff will have to come off to fix it. I would stay on him and get a schedule of fixes well before occupancy and more payments. It's maddening, I am sure. :smiley_aafz:
On the T&G ceiling sanding. I found that sanding to make the thickness mismatches on butt ends blend-in/even results in the stain not being taken up the same where it was sanded and not sanded. I think it is because sanding removes the mill glaze. It might be less noticeable with a low gloss finish, or not. Maybe someone here knows of a finishing technique that will fix that.
On the T&G ceiling sanding. I found that sanding to make the thickness mismatches on butt ends blend-in/even results in the stain not being taken up the same where it was sanded and not sanded. I think it is because sanding removes the mill glaze. It might be less noticeable with a low gloss finish, or not. Maybe someone here knows of a finishing technique that will fix that.
FairfaxStu
Gold Member
Wow, a whopping 12 months. Granted it is better than nothing. When my builders came back out last week for my closet door, one of them noticed a minor flaw in the backsplash in my kitchen that he had installed some 5 years ago. Anyway, he did not like it, so he came back the following day with a tube of caulk and spent about an hour removing the old stuff, prepping and putting in new. He called this "warranty work" that was "off the clock" meaning I pay zero and his boss is not even aware of it. Two things are in play here. Firstly, I have done over $300K worth of business with this company with my addition and kitchen remodel projects. Secondly, when I see truly quality work, I reward the craftsmen that did it with $100 handshakes. That is how you maintain a solid relationship, IMHO.
-Stu
Tororider
Veteran Member
I will play devil's advocate for just a moment. I can understand the builder's frustration with having his work critiqued on an Internet forum. You are admittedly showing us the imperfections to ask for suggestions so the images we see are not a full representation o the work being done. I am not disagreeing that repairs need to be made, but when/if I build I won't be telling the builder what I learned on tbn. Not that there's anything wrong with that. The important part is that Peter and his mom are happy with the work being done. Anything we suggest/critique can be helpful to the degree that Peter allows. I really admire guys like Peter an Obed who put these projects out there for all to see.