dstig1
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2010
- Messages
- 4,787
- Location
- W Wisc
- Tractor
- Kubota L5240 HSTC, JD X738 Mower, (Kubota L3130 HST - sold)
I'll play with Obed's thread title for mine as it is pretty close to what we are doing too. I'm going to use this to document our progress towards building our house. It's on the looooong time frame. Several years back I started referring to it as our "rolling 5-year plan"...because it was always 5 yrs away.:laughing: Then it got closer so became only a "rolling 2 yr plan" We've still got quite a ways to go...
We bought the land several years back. We had other property at the time but decided it was too far away from the cities so looked for a new lot closer in, so we sold that. We got a great property for a decent price. 10 acres of solid hardwood forest on a rather steep hill. It's a square-ish lot, too, so not one of those long skinny type that do you little good. The only downside it has is that it is on the north face of the slope so anything solar related will be pretty close to impossible. Here's what it looks like in topo (2' increments)
There is a fairly flat section by the road and then it gets steeper, levels off a bit into a plateau, and then gets really steep in the back section. It became pretty obvious to us that the house site would be on that central plateau.
And here's an aerial pic of it, before we had done anything to it. Rough outline of the lot lines in red. As you can see it is 100% solid forest, no clearing at all. It's mostly oak and basswood, with some cherry and a smattering of maples, and poplars in a few places. Lots of nice oak out there including both red and white oaks.
It has always been my intention to build the house largely by myself, with help, of course, but not just contracting it but doing most of the design and building. My best friend is quite experienced in construction, and I helped him with his massive remodel/addition a few years back, so he will be returning the favor. So it will be the two of us on much of this. There are pieces that will be contracted out as it isn't effective to do those alone. Excavation, foundation and getting the shell framed are the big ones. Beyond that (and plumbing - stupid Wisc rules) I will be doing most of the rest from windows to siding to electrical and all finish work. I won't do drywall as it just isn't worth the time it takes vs the cost to contract it, but all other finish work is, to me.
I will start adding to this the next few nights to get caught up to the present. This will get it started.:thumbsup:
We bought the land several years back. We had other property at the time but decided it was too far away from the cities so looked for a new lot closer in, so we sold that. We got a great property for a decent price. 10 acres of solid hardwood forest on a rather steep hill. It's a square-ish lot, too, so not one of those long skinny type that do you little good. The only downside it has is that it is on the north face of the slope so anything solar related will be pretty close to impossible. Here's what it looks like in topo (2' increments)
There is a fairly flat section by the road and then it gets steeper, levels off a bit into a plateau, and then gets really steep in the back section. It became pretty obvious to us that the house site would be on that central plateau.
And here's an aerial pic of it, before we had done anything to it. Rough outline of the lot lines in red. As you can see it is 100% solid forest, no clearing at all. It's mostly oak and basswood, with some cherry and a smattering of maples, and poplars in a few places. Lots of nice oak out there including both red and white oaks.
It has always been my intention to build the house largely by myself, with help, of course, but not just contracting it but doing most of the design and building. My best friend is quite experienced in construction, and I helped him with his massive remodel/addition a few years back, so he will be returning the favor. So it will be the two of us on much of this. There are pieces that will be contracted out as it isn't effective to do those alone. Excavation, foundation and getting the shell framed are the big ones. Beyond that (and plumbing - stupid Wisc rules) I will be doing most of the rest from windows to siding to electrical and all finish work. I won't do drywall as it just isn't worth the time it takes vs the cost to contract it, but all other finish work is, to me.
I will start adding to this the next few nights to get caught up to the present. This will get it started.:thumbsup:
Attachments
Last edited: