Help me save money on an addition.

[Torvy]

Curious where was the trap? I do know running vent lines can be a pain sometime and took me multiple trial and errors as I struggled with it when I did my own rough plumbing. It would have been so much easier to put a non state code compliant air valve for one of my bathroom sinks lol.

Trap is still under the sink, just a few inches higher that it would be according to the code.

 

[MohanKabeer]

Utilizing your skills and resources wisely can definitely help keep costs down. Consider sourcing materials from your friends with sawmills and exploring FB Marketplace for deals. As for shortcuts, focus on efficient planning and maybe DIY certain tasks to save on labor costs.

 

[dodge man]

It’s been a while since the OP posted I assume he is still following. A picture of the front of my house, not the greatest but gives you the idea. Just a couple of ideas since your original post mentioned stone. The middle part is a cultured stone and we got lucky a found a couple of brick layers that did a good job. On each side shake looking vinyl siding, it adds a little texture. None of this added a huge cost. This was done on an external remodel.

If you are using the vinyl shakes I would use it in rectangular areas. The peaks on the end of our house are done it it and the angular areas seem to be more likely to lay flat.

Also our house is about a 1900 sf ranch, there is a little bit on the right side cut off in the picture plus an attached garage.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Yep, still here. Still working through it. I have a meeting with the city to get my first permits next week. Still planning and plotting, moving forward. The plan thus far is dig and pour the foots myself (I wonder if I need a Chinese mini ex for that, HA I wish!) I have a few block guys I am talking with to lay the block. Hoping to get that done by mid May then a couple buddies are going to come into town and a couple local buddies and we are going to frame it up and get a roof on it hitting the ground running very early June. I will hire out siding, maybe window install.

Will hire someone to put a new roof on the entire structure. But first I need to put eaves (an overhang on the gable end of the roof) on the existing side, right now there is none and that just doesn't make sense to me. I want a 12" overhang on the addition and so obviously the existing needs to match.

Might do some of the electrical WITH an electrician from my neighborhood who has done some electrical work for me. He will pull the permit but let me do a lot of the work, thats what we did on my garage build, obviously this will be a more complex so I will probably have to utilize him a bit more than I did on the garage.

I will hire someone for drywall and mudding, no desire to do that.

There is A LOT of stuff to get done and I realize I can't do it all, I am just trying to do as much as it as I can. I am a teacher so I will have 2 months starting late May to accomplish as much as I can in that time. Once I go back to work in early August I will start needing more help if I want to get it done in a timely manner. As I right now my goal for those 2 months is get it framed, roofed, and the existing wall removed between the addition and the existing.

As that wall goes down we will start the interior work on the existing structure. Changing up an existing bath, a few changes to my sons room, another half bath off the laundry room and then start on the kitchen. During this time I hope to have insulation guys and dry wallers in buttoning up the addition. We will be out of the house staying at my brothers down the road (he will be out of town from July to October). Whatcha think doable?

 

[drajj5]

Yep, still here. Still working through it. I have a meeting with the city to get my first permits next week. Still planning and plotting, moving forward. The plan thus far is dig and pour the foots myself (I wonder if I need a Chinese mini ex for that, HA I wish!) I have a few block guys I am talking with to lay the block. Hoping to get that done by mid May then a couple buddies are going to come into town and a couple local buddies and we are going to frame it up and get a roof on it hitting the ground running very early June. I will hire out siding, maybe window install.

Will hire someone to put a new roof on the entire structure. But first I need to put eaves (an overhang on the gable end of the roof) on the existing side, right now there is none and that just doesn't make sense to me. I want a 12" overhang on the addition and so obviously the existing needs to match.

Might do some of the electrical WITH an electrician from my neighborhood who has done some electrical work for me. He will pull the permit but let me do a lot of the work, thats what we did on my garage build, obviously this will be a more complex so I will probably have to utilize him a bit more than I did on the garage.

I will hire someone for drywall and mudding, no desire to do that.

There is A LOT of stuff to get done and I realize I can't do it all, I am just trying to do as much as it as I can. I am a teacher so I will have 2 months starting late May to accomplish as much as I can in that time. Once I go back to work in early August I will start needing more help if I want to get it done in a timely manner. As I right now my goal for those 2 months is get it framed, roofed, and the existing wall removed between the addition and the existing.

As that wall goes down we will start the interior work on the existing structure. Changing up an existing bath, a few changes to my sons room, another half bath off the laundry room and then start on the kitchen. During this time I hope to have insulation guys and dry wallers in buttoning up the addition. We will be out of the house staying at my brothers down the road (he will be out of town from July to October). Whatcha think doable?

I am currently in the same boat. I did not use your software to set the house up. I used Cedreo, and took lots of (screen shots when I finished the design). I like that it gives you measurements that follows closely to actual prints. I too am doing a renovation similar to you and will also be doing a complete roof raising. This will expose my entire house to the elements for a short period of time. Like you I don't "Do this for a living" but understand the order of operations. I had to create a spreadsheet! Much like restoring a vintage automobile, document a checklist with everything from start to finish. This is time consuming but I am adding things almost daily, small details that strike your mind need to be put on paper and in order. This took a ton of stress off my shoulders; perhaps it will for you as well! My home is concrete slab with block walls. So thinking of any plumbing and possibly electrical issue(s) must be worked out prior to a pour. My wife is busy packing up the house at the moment and boxing things up. We are both getting excited about the demo.... in preparation for the truss company to deliver them (on-site). I am glad I paid a sub contractor for the footers and the block work. I don't get along with a transient. Your project is doable! Just don't let it consume you, take the job one step at a time.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I am currently in the same boat. I did not use your software to set the house up. I used Cedreo, and took lots of (screen shots when I finished the design). I like that it gives you measurements that follows closely to actual prints. I too am doing a renovation similar to you and will also be doing a complete roof raising. This will expose my entire house to the elements for a short period of time. Like you I don't "Do this for a living" but understand the order of operations. I had to create a spreadsheet! Much like restoring a vintage automobile, document a checklist with everything from start to finish. This is time consuming but I am adding things almost daily, small details that strike your mind need to be put on paper and in order. This took a ton of stress off my shoulders; perhaps it will for you as well! My home is concrete slab with block walls. So thinking of any plumbing and possibly electrical issue(s) must be worked out prior to a pour. My wife is busy packing up the house at the moment and boxing things up. We are both getting excited about the demo.... in preparation for the truss company to deliver them (on-site). I am glad I paid a sub contractor for the footers and the block work. I don't get along with a transient. Your project is doable! Just don't let it consume you, take the job one step at a time.

Great info.! Yes, I am in the process of getting a spreadsheet dialed in. Sounds like your project is a bit more ambitious than mine seeing that you are popping the roof, that is a huge undertaking. Good luck to you sir!!

 

[drajj5]

Great info.! Yes, I am in the process of getting a spreadsheet dialed in. Sounds like your project is a bit more ambitious than mine seeing that you are popping the roof, that is a huge undertaking. Good luck to you sir!!

Ambitious, yup! Our addition is a 24x34 garage, additional bathroom, and new laundry room. We were forced to do the entire house as the 9' walls in the garage will not cooperate with the 8' walls on the house. So, with the flick of a pen - and checkbook in hand - The decision to pull the whole roof was made. Why stop there... lets go from 4:12 pitch to 8:12! Heck its only money. Good luck!

 

[MaddinaS]

Utilizing your skills and resources wisely can definitely help keep costs down. Consider sourcing materials from your friends with sawmills and exploring FB Marketplace for deals. As for shortcuts, focus on efficient planning and maybe DIY certain tasks to save on labor costs. However, sometimes it's better to hire specialists (like FM Property Services) so that you will have the best results. Good luck with your addition!

 

[redman135]

Some food for thought: Concrete slab , DRAINAGE. I did not see any referance to the slope of the section. MAKE SURE you have the floor above the winter water table AND that the slope does NOT run water into the house.

Fire Service tip: If you have a home entertainment system run multiple 10 amp wires or a 30 amp wire to home entertainment system to avoid a house fire due to overloading the usually single 10 wire to the entertainment system. Don't use strip plugs as this can cause fires, They showed a house where this happened.

Sugestion: ceiling space: install crawl ways(12-18'"wide) AND lights , especially if you have ventilation systems in the ceiling that need maintenance. Retro fits are a pain.

Good Luck

 

[drajj5]

Some food for thought: Concrete slab , DRAINAGE. I did not see any referance to the slope of the section. MAKE SURE you have the floor above the winter water table AND that the slope does NOT run water into the house.

Fire Service tip: If you have a home entertainment system run multiple 10 amp wires or a 30 amp wire to home entertainment system to avoid a house fire due to overloading the usually single 10 wire to the entertainment system. Don't use strip plugs as this can cause fires, They showed a house where this happened.

Sugestion: ceiling space: install crawl ways(12-18'"wide) AND lights , especially if you have ventilation systems in the ceiling that need maintenance. Retro fits are a pain.

Good Luck

See... proof in pudding that collaboration of minds helps all aspects of a build! I would not have thought of a dedicated circuit for the TV/accessories. That is a good idea. Wonder how long ago someone said (you know that fridge should be on its own circuit). I use a power strip along with millions of Americans for the electronics- less now that kids are grown and I don't have a game console any longer.