Started New House

[saltman]

Well I finally decided to hire a GC and start the new house. They are off to a good start, dug the footings last week, finished the rough plumbing today and get the first inspection tomorrow. This home will be 1728 sq feet with a 670sq foot wrap around patio, 12x12 pitch, metal roof, Hardi siding and 100% off grid with propane and solar power.

I did the Well about 4 years ago and just had the septic put in before the foundation guy started.

Kind of scary but exciting as well.

[teg]

Looking forward to see how it turns out. We want a house off the grid some day. Was the plan designed by you or did you have an architect? Doesn't look like sunlight will be in short supply...

[saltman]

I found a house I liked on the internet and then printed the floor plan and elevation photo and took it to an Achitect who added all the local code stuff and expanded the plan a bit.

Here is the original photo. My house will be almost the same but with a Metal roof and a stamped cement patio rather than a deck, otherwise it will be almost he same.

50,000 to run electrical to the house and 20,000 minus 30% in tax credits for solar so that was an easy decision. In 20 years when I am retired all I will have is a property tax payment! No water bill, no electricity bill..

[dave1949]

Originally Posted by saltman

50,000 to run electrical to the house and 20,000 minus 30% in tax credits for solar so that was an easy decision.

That is a no brainer. Looking forward to watching your house project grow. It's really interesting to see construction in areas so different from my own.

I envy you your solar elec. capabilities. You probably get three times as much sun insolation as I would here. Plus you won't have a problem giving your batteries a good place to be installed. Last I read, lead-acid batteries function best/live longest around 70 deg.
Dave.

[teg]

I see in the second photo that you have water spigot, is that from a solar powered pump?

[saltman]

No the solar will not be in place for a few months. I use my generator to fill my 10,000 gallong tank that sits about 100 feet higher than my house site on top of a hill, so all of my water is gravity fed once it makes the 700 foot trip from the well to the water tank.

The fire department requires the storage tank here as well as fire hydrant and a fire srprinkler system in the house.

We got the first inspection out of the way today so they will be pouring concrete next week!

I'll be using my tractor this weekend to get my 3,000 foot driveway in order.

[saltman]

Lot's done last week, all the forms are in re-bar is in and they are pouring some 40 yard of concrete tomorrow.

I ordered my inverters from Backwoods solar yesturday and hope to get the county approval on my off grid solar plans soon.

I will post some photos this weekend when I go out to check out the slab.

Derik

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for posting. I always enjoy seeing homes being built. As a contractor, it seems like I'm always going the same thing over and over again, so it's fun for me to see what others do, and how they do it around the country. I also find it very interesting to read comments on what the contractors do right, and what they get wrong.

What does concrete cost there per yard?

Eddie

[firefighter jim]

Saltman, Where s the trees?

[kebo]

Firefighter jim, you beat me to it! I don't think I could live somewhere that had no tree's closeby. Just me, but I am sure the OP is OK with it. To each his own. Good luck with your house, hope it turns out just like you plan for it!