Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Oakdale Calif. Cowboy Capitol of the world
Posts: 481

Sometimes things have a funny way of taking place. We moved to our present locale a few years ago. It's 2 acres with an older doublewide mobile home. We had planned to build a house when our other one sold. With the California real estate market the way it is, things went on a different path than I had planned and the other house finally sold. After the dust setteled and we saw what was left (after buying our Odyssey) we realized we couldn't afford the house we had hoped for. As my research went I had planned to build an ICF concrete home. It is like styrofoam legos with concrete poured between two walls of blocks. Concrete and steel for rebar went through the roof. My wife did her research and found info on SIPs homes. Structurally Insulated Panels. These are panels of OSB with a core of expanded polystyerene, kinda like an oreo cookie. Then I put out contact information and a few companies contacted me. The first one was looking at over $200.00 a sq.ft. so it would be over $600,000.00 for a turn key house. Then another company called. They showed how I could save mega bucks with one of their pre fab kit homes. I could build it my self and hire subs as needed and get the same home for around $70.00 a sq.ft. The company happened to have one home left from an order that a contractor failed to pay for and has to get rid of it at a deep discount. They are throwing in a 2 or 3 car garage at cost and free shipping. This is just a "dry shell" 3,500 sq.ft. two story home with garage, exterior walls, floor joists, sub floor, roof trusses, and roof sheathing, 4 sets of stamped archetect plans designed to our floor plan, and the specalized tools to cut the openings, and no shipping. They will hold it in their wharehouse until I need it. www.valubuild.com Like I said, I was going to go in a different direction, but now it looks like I am going to be building the houe myself. I'll keep you posted with pictures as things progress. It sounds a bit daunting, but I am a DIY type, and have lots of neighbors who are contractors and work in the various trades if I get stuck.

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I void warranties! www.instructables.com '01 Ody LX, '93 Mazda MPV (retired) '88 GMC 3500 retired from caltrans to the country, '92 Toyota Corolla wagon, '73 Gremlin X Levi edition (Being restored) '49 GMC p/u project and several thousand Hot Wheels!

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Registered: May 2003
Location: Montreal QC Canada
Posts: 1102

Sounds like a great project if you have the time ! 3500 sq.ft. is pretty big !!

I love DIY jobs but could only dream of the time needed for an entire house !

Pre-fabs have the advantage of a dry, in-plant pre-build. My own house, whose convential site construction you probably followed over at www.mpvclub.com, benefited from unseasonal temps at the right moments and never got rained on 'till the shingles were all nailed, so I got lucky.

Another house was raised accross the street : barely 2 weeks from concrete basement to shingled roof !

Websites from house plan firms will show you plenty of ideas for floorplans. We have a few up here, like www.dessinsdrummond.com and www.plandesign.com

These places sell plans for dyi or people who want to contract out the job, and there are plenty of pics.

We also have a few pre-fabs mnfctr like www.maisonsbonneville.com and www.profab.ca

These might help you with ideas / features for your new home.

Keep us posted !

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2003 Odyssey EX, Slate-Gray Pearl, oem f/r mudgards & wheel locks, Form Fit hood deflector, oil-jet kit, 2 extra 3rd row tether anchors, Michelin Hydroedge

2008 Nissan Sentra 2.0S, 6-speed stick, Magnetic Grey, oem wheel locks.

Last edited by Blueprint on 02-12-2007 at 03:35 PM

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Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Oakdale Calif. Cowboy Capitol of the world
Posts: 481

I think I have seen those house plan companies. DW has her idea and can not find the exact thing she wants. The house package includes archetect drawings to our specs. The package will be in the $50K range. Then I have to get a materials list of all the interior framing, plumbing, wiring, etc. We already have some of the bathroom fixtures like antique clawfoot tubs and stuff we have picked up over the last few years.

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I void warranties! www.instructables.com '01 Ody LX, '93 Mazda MPV (retired) '88 GMC 3500 retired from caltrans to the country, '92 Toyota Corolla wagon, '73 Gremlin X Levi edition (Being restored) '49 GMC p/u project and several thousand Hot Wheels!

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Registered: Apr 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2094

There's tons of ways to save money, just depends on how long you want to drag it out. We've been renovating (i.e. gutting and starting over) a 150 year old home and have found a lot of tricks.

There's a Kraftmaid (kitchen/bath cabinets) outlet here in Ohio (where they're made) and we saved over $10,000 on our Kitchen cabs alone. Ebay is also a pretty good source for hardware.

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Registered: May 2003
Location: Montreal QC Canada
Posts: 1102

Just throwing out a few ideas :

PEX simplifies plumbing considerably : no welding involved !

Electrical : since it's your build, using conduits facilitates all wire pulling. If possible, Javadoc's idea of a "main" conduit from basement to 2nd floor facilitates any forgotten cable situation once the walls are closed. In any case, the Square-D panels are highly recommended by electricians.

Inner-wall framing : we have 2x4 on the main floor, and crappy 2x3 upstairs. If I was building myself, I would use 2x4 everywhere and use Roxul to give a feel of substance to the house. Outer walls are sturdy 2x6, and our engineered joists are great for channelling wires, ducts and plumbing.

Definitely pre-think a lot all aspects of the whole HVAC package.

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I have V-TEC, and I will use it...

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2003 Odyssey EX, Slate-Gray Pearl, oem f/r mudgards & wheel locks, Form Fit hood deflector, oil-jet kit, 2 extra 3rd row tether anchors, Michelin Hydroedge

2008 Nissan Sentra 2.0S, 6-speed stick, Magnetic Grey, oem wheel locks.

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Registered: Apr 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2094

quote:

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Originally posted by Blueprint
Just throwing out a few ideas :

Inner-wall framing : we have 2x4 on the main floor, and crappy 2x3 upstairs. If I was building myself, I would use 2x4 everywhere and use Roxul to give a feel of substance to the house. Outer walls are sturdy 2x6, and our engineered joists are great for channelling wires, ducts and plumbing.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: ohio
Posts: 159

Skinny2, Where is the Kraftmaid outlet located? Do you need to be a contractor or can anyone go in?

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Registered: Apr 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2094

quote:

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Originally posted by Simone
Skinny2, Where is the Kraftmaid outlet located? Do you need to be a contractor or can anyone go in?

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Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Oakdale Calif. Cowboy Capitol of the world
Posts: 481

exterior walls have the electric chases already drilled through the EPS foam insulation. I have several contractors that live on my street who I will ask for bids on various systems. We have a recycled/salvage yard here where the owner goes to San Francisco and goes to the dump where they take all the building demo. stuff and he saves it to resell to "suckers" like us who can't resist vintage fixtures and wrought iron work. Salvage lumber yards are also an option for interior framing. I think there is onein Sacramento. Haven't looked yet. Gotta get my Odyssey out of the shop (again) first before I can hunt this stuff down after an exhaustive web search for these places. Thanks for the tips. I found a large quantity of real antique beadboard salvaged from a 125 yr old house somewhere near placerville, but Ithink they want too much and I can get reproduction a lot cheaper. BTW the oldest continous hardware store still in operation in the west is in Placerville. They carry a lot of reproduction hardware too.

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I void warranties! www.instructables.com '01 Ody LX, '93 Mazda MPV (retired) '88 GMC 3500 retired from caltrans to the country, '92 Toyota Corolla wagon, '73 Gremlin X Levi edition (Being restored) '49 GMC p/u project and several thousand Hot Wheels!

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Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Oakdale Calif. Cowboy Capitol of the world
Posts: 481

Got a package from Valubuild yesterday...It had the builder's guide, cross sections drawings etc, a couple dvd's and two Hard hats and two pair of gloves. My son immediatly claimed one of the hard hats. Talked to the first of the draftpersons today. He not only does the blue prints, but he can also manage and coordinat the project for an extra fee. He is a licensed contractor and has a lot of contacts in the area and can get supplies at contractor's discount. He will submit plans, get permits etc. All the stuff that I know about, but not sure exactly how or where to start. He will also be at the job site to make sure everything is done. He know the local codes and has built with SIP panels before (a real plus). The kit comes with some special tools from Prazi http://www.praziusa.com/ They have some cool tools. I think I am going to check out the drill poerated caulk gun.

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I void warranties! www.instructables.com '01 Ody LX, '93 Mazda MPV (retired) '88 GMC 3500 retired from caltrans to the country, '92 Toyota Corolla wagon, '73 Gremlin X Levi edition (Being restored) '49 GMC p/u project and several thousand Hot Wheels!

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Registered: May 2003
Location: Montreal QC Canada
Posts: 1102

Time to rename the thread :

The House that Jack builds !

Terrific project !!

Take plenty of pics along the way (and share some ) !


EDIT --- you already have the name part covered !

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I have V-TEC, and I will use it...

---------------------------------------------

2003 Odyssey EX, Slate-Gray Pearl, oem f/r mudgards & wheel locks, Form Fit hood deflector, oil-jet kit, 2 extra 3rd row tether anchors, Michelin Hydroedge

2008 Nissan Sentra 2.0S, 6-speed stick, Magnetic Grey, oem wheel locks.

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Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Oakdale Calif. Cowboy Capitol of the world
Posts: 481

Next is to find a drafts person for the interior floor plan. I interviewed one guy who has built with SIP panels. He is a licensed contractor, does stamped blueprints, and has offered his services as project coordinator to hire out the subs and get materials as needed and let me do the stuff I can. He is semi-retired from the building aspect of the business, but does a sort of help you build it. Because Valubuild has provided all the technical assembly drawings, he said he will do the blueprints for $3,500, and if I want him to coordinate the project, his services for that will be $7,000. He will get the permits, submit plans, adjust the red lined plans etc. If I have any contractors I would like to use, I just let him know. I still have 2 or 3 other designers to interview.

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I void warranties! www.instructables.com '01 Ody LX, '93 Mazda MPV (retired) '88 GMC 3500 retired from caltrans to the country, '92 Toyota Corolla wagon, '73 Gremlin X Levi edition (Being restored) '49 GMC p/u project and several thousand Hot Wheels!

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Registered: Jul 2005
Location: Manchester, CT
Posts: 195

So how did your Project turn out ???

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Current Honda's:
06 Odyssey EX-L Res Navi Slate Green/Olive

Prior Honda's:
02 Accord EX-L Naples Gold Metallic/Ivory
02 Civic EX Radiant Ruby Pearl/Beige

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Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Oakdale Calif. Cowboy Capitol of the world
Posts: 481

Project got stalled, but now is picking up steam again. Got floor plans done, have a General Contractor (who did the floorplans) acting as my project supervisor so I am free to do as much of the work that I am able or want to do. Got some bad info from the company rep who sold me the house, and it turns out that they will not reduce the price of the engineering Dept. services eventhough I provided my own floor plans and elevations etc. Talked to G.C. and his engineer will do it for $2,500, so floor plans, deign, engineered blueprints and having the GC submit the plans to the county will run around $7,500. Actually I am ahead as the house company won't submit as they are in Florida. This also is turning out well as the California building codes have recently changed and the county will not go by the Uniform building codes. My G.C. has one of the few copies of the newly revised C.B.C.s and will be using them on my project. Another of his clients...a retired trial judge... had his plans "bloodied up" real bad because of the old codes, so he threatened to sue everyone in the (outsourced) plan approval Dept. He was sent this copy of the new codes and now has his project underway. Am currently working on getting a construction loan so I can put my money in a higher yield fund while building, then later pay off the loan and hopefully have some spare change left over. BTW what is Roxul...never heard of it. Sounds as rare here as a Robertson Screwdriver

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I void warranties! www.instructables.com '01 Ody LX, '93 Mazda MPV (retired) '88 GMC 3500 retired from caltrans to the country, '92 Toyota Corolla wagon, '73 Gremlin X Levi edition (Being restored) '49 GMC p/u project and several thousand Hot Wheels!

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Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Oakdale Calif. Cowboy Capitol of the world
Posts: 481

OOPS!!! Almost forgot, the ValuBuild rep quit 2 weeks ago, so that's why things were told to me erroneously. Have found some good deals on fixtures, tubs, sinks etc. at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It's kinda like a thrift store for the handyman. Lots of used recycled things like tubs, windows, hardware, paint etc. The items are donated then resold to help fund building projects. I think there are Habitat ReStores scattered around the country???

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I void warranties! www.instructables.com '01 Ody LX, '93 Mazda MPV (retired) '88 GMC 3500 retired from caltrans to the country, '92 Toyota Corolla wagon, '73 Gremlin X Levi edition (Being restored) '49 GMC p/u project and several thousand Hot Wheels!

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