House started

[JTD]

It's just a hole in the ground now, but it's the first step in a long process for a home.

 

[JTD]

Closer view

 

[JTD]

Side view of trackhoe for scale of hole.

 

[JTD]

View of hayfield from house site.

 

[DVerbarg]

That's one LARGE hole. What size house are you building? Ranch? Two story?

That's a great view of the hayfield. Is this view your house will be facing or is it the back of the house?

Keep us up to date with your progress! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[ejb]

Wow...nice looking view you will have from your house...where are all the rocks from the dig??? If that was my place there would be at least 40 volkswagon sized rocks pulled out of the ground by now!

 

[Thomas]

Thats sure a nice view and I see why you own a JD4700..273 acres.

 

[JTD]

No rocks at all on the property, even small ones. We've got soil that varies from beach sand to sandy clay. From 15 to 50 ft down or so we've got chaulk. When we were looking for property last year, this view and the good water source, even with the drought, convinced us to buy. Since then the agent who sold it for the previous owners has had at least two parties who looked at it ask if we would consider selling now.

 

[JTD]

For my current projects the JD4700 is a good fit. It'll just handle the Worksaver post driver which weighs about 1800 lb w/ ballest. I finished discing several areas last week for wildlife plots and planted (borrowed my neighbors drill) a total of 10+ acres with strips of browntop millet, egyptian wheat, buckwheat, sunflowers and cowpeas. I'll disc another 10 acres of rye grass when it goes to seed next month and plant more cowpeas where our future pastures will be located. We'll try planting some chufa on the eroded slopes also. In the future, we may take over the hayfields rather than leasing them to improve them. That will take bigger equipment than the 4700 though.

 

[JTD]

It's definitely a large hole and they're not finished digging yet. I think one corner has to be dug 12 foot from the current grade. The house has a walkout basement which contains laundry room, storerooms, family room, full bathroom, room for two future bedrooms, and an area for the utility equipment. There's a main floor and then an upper master bedroom. Main floor has two bedrooms with a shared bath. When we get older we may use one as the master bedroom. The house will be a prarrie style with low pitch roof and wide (8ft) overhangs. Each floor has a central fireplace. The back of the house has the hayfield view. The workshop will be built up slope, about 300 feet from the house. I'm a hobby woodworker and I'll probably build half of the cabinets and all of the trimwork throughout the house. I usually purchase kitchen cabinets since I like to have it somewhat finished before we move in. This is somewhat of a more ambitious project than my last house but as my wife says it keeps me off the streets. I do get a lot of tractor time which keeps me happy.

 

[RobS]

JTD, that is one big hole! Looks like Prairie style will fit right in to your site. Very pretty, keep us posted with the progress /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[blurrybill]

JTD,

I hope to be posting our beginnings this fall, if all goes well. We have a meeting with a much-desired architect on May 9 and we're chaffing at the bit. Congratulations on your start. Keep posting and we'll compare notes as we go along.

Bill

 

[JTD]

It's tough waiting. We purchased last August and it took from September through February to get the architect to complete the plans for the contractor. Then the contractor's been held up on his last job so we still don't have a bid. Good luck on your new house. I expect ours to take a year or so before we can move into it so there will be plenty of updates.

 

[JTD]

Primary excavation is complete. The house/shop well and the pond/irrigation wells have just been added. Waiting for start date on foundations for house and shop. Attached is the elevation drawings for the front and rear of the house.

 

[blurrybill]

We LOVE prairie style homes -- really nice!

Our update: we met with the architect and it was a match made in heaven. We're getting up to speed on the digital camera and with the new tractor arriving in less than 2 weeks, we'll be posting picts of the new baby, as well as of our property. The architect is actually famous nationally, but agreed to help us (looks like we have a much more limited budget than you folks) because of our philosophy of living, place attachment concepts, and what we hope to accomplish with our "final" home.

Thanks for sharing the impressive schematics; it will be fun seeing your dream take shape.

Bill

 

[JTD]

It'll be fun watching your pictures on your house progress. Our current estimate is at least a year of construction with the foundation pour probably occuring in June or July. All contractors are quite busy here so schedules are long. I'll be building most of the cabinetry and all of the finish trim in the house. The contractors will basically prepare my "house canvas" so I can develop the full prairie style concept throughout the house and grounds. I estimate it will take me 3 to 5 years to complete with landscaping, etc. Hopefully it won't cut too much into my tractor seat time.

 

[RobS]

Absolutely beautiful JTD! Can't wait to see the finished product as well as plenty of in-process pictures. My mom is a huge fan of prairie style and has toured many of the Frank Lloyd Wright homes around the country.

Good luck throughout (though prep and research will eliminate your need for luck outside of the weather /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif ). I'm off to meet the electricians to go over our electrical rough in soon /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Frank_Mulligan]

JTD,

Good luck to you!

We had our house built about 2 years ago and I would NOT recommend it to anyone! Even though it was modular, and small, it still took over a year to build. We had to stay at my mom's and I was always concerned with not having enough money for unforeseen dilemmas. I guess if you have your own place to stay at while it is being built and you don't have the cash worries we did, it might not be too bad.

Once again, good luck to you...I'd never do it again! Keep us updated on the progress.

 

[JTD]

We bought a fixer-upper in 1990 and started a major remodel in 1995. The house was eventually dismantled to the foundation as more defects were uncovered. Our 5 month construction project took over 14 months before we could move back in. During that time we lived at our next door neighbor's house (5 months), a coworker/friend (1 month), the neighbors across our street (6 months) and neighbors who lived up the street and were returning to the area after renting their house for many years (2 months). During that time, our neighbors/friends would only except a total of one month's rent to offset utility costs. Our cats (4) and dog were welcomed in each household and the cats never stressed out over the moves since they were still in their own neighborhood. We even managed to remain on good terms with each of our neighbors. Needless to say we were very fortunate. We sold that house last year when we moved to the South. We are currently renting. To make a long story short, we've got some experience in house construction and the typical delays. I actually enjoy the problem solving aspects of construction and the multiple decisions to be made. I refer to this as "builder's disease." My wife, on the other hand, dislikes uncertainty but is more understanding after our first construction experience.

 

[JTD]

Thanks. It promises to be fun. Sounds like you are quite busy yourself. Haven't had the opportunity to see any FLW homes but I have toured many craftman style homes including the Gamble House in Pasadena (twice).