Starting New House Finally!

[UpstateSC_Papi]

Alan,

Looks great! Hoping to start building next month myself. Quick question, and you don't have to reply with $$, but just curious if you quoting "normal insulation" and know how much more the spray is over the roll?

Thanks!!

Michael

 

[capt jack]

Alan,
Sears does have a builder discount program, called contract sales, It's very big. I've used them several times very good results, nice discounts if you buy a whole house full of appliances. If you can't find info , the guy who use to rep our area (now retired) lives in Grayson County, PM me and I'll call him to find the new sales rep. Jack

 

[Alan L.]

I would like to apologize for my failure to check my private messages in several weeks. Somehow my options were set not to notify me. I found and responded to all of them today!

The foam insulation is about 3 X the cost of conventional insulation per square foot for the same thickness.

 

[MartyAnderson]

Alan,

When we purchased our GE Profile Appliances, I found the best price at Lowes.com. Then, took print copies of those prices to Sears & got them to do their price match guarantee. This is basically a match any competitor's price for an identical model#, then give you a 10% discount off of the matched price.

We purchased GE Profile side by side fridge, dishwasher, microwave with built-in trim kit, range, vent hood, washer, & dryer. No problems with any of the appliances in the 5 years we have owned them.

Marty

 

[Unregistered2013]

nice pics, all --

i just built a craftsman bungalow, all vinyl on the exterior, with a lot of azek --

-- here are some indoor shots --

eric

 

[Alan L.]

nice pics, all --

i just built a craftsman bungalow, all vinyl on the exterior, with a lot of azek --

-- here are some indoor shots --

eric

Beautiful home! Do you have some sort of access to the tub works?

 

[Unregistered2013]

Beautiful home! Do you have some sort of access to the tub works?

thank you!

there's a panel on the side by the toilet -- 2x2 tile, that's on there by magnets, and that's caulked in, not grouted -- you'd never know it's there --



eric

 

[rox]

While we are waiting for the brick pics from Alan's home it was wonderful to see your pics eric. beautiful, beautiful home. How many square feet in that home. It's jsut beautiful.

 

[Unregistered2013]

While we are waiting for the brick pics from Alan's home it was wonderful to see your pics eric. beautiful, beautiful home. How many square feet in that home. It's jsut beautiful.

thanks for this!

it's 1657 on the first floor, and the attic is piped for heat and electric - that's 1200 sw ft, with 15' ceilings -- i will likely finish that later --

-- plus the basement is 1657 sq ft, and the porches too are 600 sq ft, all covered, etc --

-- there is no wood on the exterior of the house -- that makes me extremely happy -- !!

 

[Unregistered2013]

While we are waiting for the brick pics from Alan's home it was wonderful to see your pics eric. beautiful, beautiful home. How many square feet in that home. It's jsut beautiful.

the whole first floor has 11' ceilings -- that makes a HUGE difference -- and makes me feel weird in houses with 8' ceilings -- almost dizzy -- !!

 

[Alan L.]

We have sheetrockers and bricklayers today!

When I got home it was too dark to take pictures.

There were a couple of hispanic bricklayers that had a story about a skunk that visited them this morning. The skunk came right up to them and in fact walked under their scaffolds on the back of the house and between them and the house. They said they didn't do anything because they figure the skunk was so friendly he must be our pet. Then they heard the others screaming on the front of the house as the skunk had mosied up there. The skunk then, unfortunately took refuge under our porch, the cedar porch at the front door of our living quarters.

This skunk was no pet of ours, and anytime you see a skunk acting friendly, especially being out in the daylight, I think about rabies. Something not right about this skunk, and he might be under the porch. This very porch our dogs must traverse to get inside their dog run from the living quarters.

Pics tomorrow, although there is not that much that is complete yet.

The sheetrock they are using is 1/2" by 4' by 12'. Fewer seams I guess. They put green sheetrock around the tubs, and are going to use concrete board inside my shower.

A couple of nights ago as I was sitting here I had a sudden thought that I needed to make sure the loose wires that are supposed to be fished out later for bathroom fixtures were still accessible. Lucky I thought of it because I found and had to pull one out of the foam. Left a trail of about 3' in the beautiful foam which I tried to place back as well as possible. Turns out the foam guy showed up yesterday to insulate around the 2 last doors to be installed, saw what I had done and he filled it in with foam so it is fixed.

We are trying to decide whether or not we want them to pull out some sections on the front corners of the house like they do on many "city" homes around here. Not sure it will look right on this country house.

We are expecting storms tonight and I am hoping he exposed fiberglass insulation in the garage does not get ruined by blowing rain through the open garage doors. These walls are getting OSB - not sheetrock, to be installed by the trim carpenter.

 

[EddieWalker]

...a story about a skunk that visited them this morning. The skunk came right up to them and in fact walked under their scaffolds on the back of the house and between them and the house. They said they didn't do anything because they figure the skunk was so friendly he must be our pet. Then they heard the others screaming on the front of the house as the skunk had mosied up there. The skunk then, unfortunately took refuge under our porch, the cedar porch at the front door of our living quarters.

This skunk was no pet of ours, and anytime you see a skunk acting friendly, especially being out in the daylight, I think about rabies. Something not right about this skunk, and he might be under the porch. This very porch our dogs must traverse to get inside their dog run from the living quarters.

Alan,

It doesn't matter how much planning you put into a project, something is gonna happen that nobody could ever imagine. Your pet skunk is way beyond anything I could have thought of, but it sure is funny!!!!

Hope you get him to leave without him spraying anything!!!

House sounds like it's moving along nicely. Congrats.

Eddie

 

[Alan L.]

Well, no wet insulation from the storms, but the wind blew up to 70 miles an hour all day Saturday, a good old fashioned dust storm. I lost a few shingles and my ridge vent almost took off. Fortunately my expensive white brick sand was wet and didn't blow away but it was so sandy in the air you coudn't see 100 feet in front of you on Saturday. I have some of West Texas on my place now I think.

I'm using an HVAC contractor that none of the subs like, but he is my neighbor and its a pretty good deal on the Trane systems. I got a call from my GC today who got a call from the sheetrockers that said the HVAC guy had screwed up, that he had a freon line outside the plate. It took me a while to convince them that it was right, since it is for a minisplit air handler that goes right there on the wall.

Hopefully there will be enough progress on the bricklaying to get some pictures today. Looks good so far.

 

[Alan L.]

Lighting is not too good, but here are the latest from a couple of days ago. They only lack one day finishing the brick, and the tape, bed, texture guy is on the premises. Looks like we won't make Easter however.

The mud guy will be here about 7 to 10 days. Then comes the hardwood floors, then the cabinets, then trim & stairwork.

The windows with flush brick work are on the front of the house and will get cedar shutters, or really "faux" shutters that bolt to the brick wall.

 

[Alan L.]

More pics

 

[Alan L.]

And, some more.

 

[Alan L.]

The bricklayers fished about as much as they layed brick. This guy has an 8-pound channel cat on his stringer.

 

[rox]

Alan,
Whooo Hooo, it's really cming along now isn't it? That attic with the HVAC tubes coming out of it looks like a giant octopuse, ha-ha.

I'm sure you must have some more pics of the front of the house with the brick done, when you have a chance if you could post a couple I would enjoy seeing them. Actually fo the brick work there were only a few pics under the porch. Like the way they trimmed around the windows with the brick, gives a nice finished look. Nice job!

 

[Alan L.]

Alan,
Whooo Hooo, it's really cming along now isn't it? That attic with the HVAC tubes coming out of it looks like a giant octopuse, ha-ha.

I'm sure you must have some more pics of the front of the house with the brick done, when you have a chance if you could post a couple I would enjoy seeing them. Actually fo the brick work there were only a few pics under the porch. Like the way they trimmed around the windows with the brick, gives a nice finished look. Nice job!

Rox, it turns out the front was not completely done when I took the pics, but I will get some now that it is done.
We are pleased with the brick job and selection.

The hardwood flooring people came and measured today and will be installing the floors right after tape, bed, and texture is completed. I am working long hours right now and only see the house in daylight on weekends, but Mrs. Alan L. will get some more pics.

 

[Jagmandave]

Isn't it amazing how much difference getting the sheetrock up makes in the look of the house? It's really starting to come together now, and looking very nice! I'm so totally jealous.........my wife and I have owned some land we want to build on for about 5 years now, but the quotes we've been getting from builders are so much higher than we've budgeted that we doubt we'll ever get it built.............