In the Manchester NH area I built a earthbermed Structual Insulated Panel home. 1800 feet above grade, 800 in the basement walkout. Peak heat demand is 21000 BTU/hr and I have 15ft ceilings throughout. I heat everything with 1 Woodstock soapstone woodstove. I burn about 2 1/2 cords a year. I think the standard construction is rated for 160 mph winds.
House Building - Save money
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dmccarty
Super Star Member
We looked at modular homes and in the end the price did not justify the comprises we would have to make with a floor plan. At the time the widest module you could get on the road in NC was 14 feet. So you pretty much were stuck with one room dimension being 13 feet. Later the state allowed 16 foot wide modules on SOME roads.
The bottom line was the the module home "builders" we checked into did not have prices that much better than stick built. In fact one builder was more than stick built.
Later,
Dan
dmccarty
Super Star Member
I had been a big fan of ICF's for years. Going back to the early to mid 90's I was researching ICFs. In the end, we did not use ICFs simply because it was going to cost more than stick built. We wanted WINDOWS in the house. Eddie said it one way but I will say it another. Windows are holes you poke into the wall. Why spend more money on a ICF wall then poke big holes in the wall?
Instead we built with 2x6 studs with an R value of 25ish and then poked big holes in the wall.
:laughing: It was cheaper.
Every major room in the house has an 8'x6' or larger window. We have big holes in the wall. I am sure we would be a bit warmer in the winter with smaller holes but we like the view. We finally did put up energy efficient blinds which helps. Summer cooling is kinda a wash since we open the windows quite a bit. Heat is from the wood stove and the heat pump is only run during the hotter, humid days of the year. So the big hole in the walls kinda worked out in the end.
On the other hand the OP is in coastal FLA. Building with ICF's in Hurricane country makes since if you DESIGN and BUILD in protection of the windows and doors. ICF walls are not much help if the windows blow out, the winds get into the house and tears the roof off the house.
One of the concerns being raised about ICFs when in the early 2000's was termites. While the termites will not eat concrete or the ICF, they COULD use the ICF material to tunnel through and up into the attic to find wood. Some ICF brands were putting borate in the ICF to stop the termites.
Later,
Dan
Instead we built with 2x6 studs with an R value of 25ish and then poked big holes in the wall.
:laughing: It was cheaper. Every major room in the house has an 8'x6' or larger window. We have big holes in the wall.
I am sure we would be a bit warmer in the winter with smaller holes but we like the view. We finally did put up energy efficient blinds which helps. Summer cooling is kinda a wash since we open the windows quite a bit. Heat is from the wood stove and the heat pump is only run during the hotter, humid days of the year. So the big hole in the walls kinda worked out in the end.On the other hand the OP is in coastal FLA. Building with ICF's in Hurricane country makes since if you DESIGN and BUILD in protection of the windows and doors. ICF walls are not much help if the windows blow out, the winds get into the house and tears the roof off the house.
One of the concerns being raised about ICFs when in the early 2000's was termites. While the termites will not eat concrete or the ICF, they COULD use the ICF material to tunnel through and up into the attic to find wood. Some ICF brands were putting borate in the ICF to stop the termites.
Later,
Dan
radioman
Super Member
eddie- alot of what you have said is so true. All good points, and great ideas.
I want to add two more things. zoned HVAC and sun location.
HVAC-Depending on type of house you build, zoning is a wonderful thing. take my house for example. Its a raised ranch with huge 6 by 10 windows facing south upstairs in living room. In winter, its gets warmer in living room then bedroom on west and north side. zoned heating balances out the comfort resulting in heat savings. for AC, the lower level is always colder even with vents closed when ac is on then upstairs, but with zoned AC the first floor is balanced out compared to upstairs resulting less AC run time.
Sun location. When I moved here, my garage doors faced the south and had no windows. I had to use the light everytime I went in there during day. I replaced it with simple windows last month and I am marveling on how much light I have now and I can see without turning on the lights when I need something. Remember I mentioned my huge windows in living room?, it too faced south so its gets warmer in summer/winter when sun is out, and chilly when cloudy in winter.
As eddie mentioned, you need to think through on how you WILL, not want using the house features/layout. think where is garage/front door is located. N,S,E,W? same with rest of house.
I want to add two more things. zoned HVAC and sun location.
HVAC-Depending on type of house you build, zoning is a wonderful thing. take my house for example. Its a raised ranch with huge 6 by 10 windows facing south upstairs in living room. In winter, its gets warmer in living room then bedroom on west and north side. zoned heating balances out the comfort resulting in heat savings. for AC, the lower level is always colder even with vents closed when ac is on then upstairs, but with zoned AC the first floor is balanced out compared to upstairs resulting less AC run time.
Sun location. When I moved here, my garage doors faced the south and had no windows. I had to use the light everytime I went in there during day. I replaced it with simple windows last month and I am marveling on how much light I have now and I can see without turning on the lights when I need something. Remember I mentioned my huge windows in living room?, it too faced south so its gets warmer in summer/winter when sun is out, and chilly when cloudy in winter.
As eddie mentioned, you need to think through on how you WILL, not want using the house features/layout. think where is garage/front door is located. N,S,E,W? same with rest of house.
NorTracNY
Platinum Member
I get the impression that the quality and pricing of modular homes can vary significantly. We found that many places that sold lower quality manufactured homes would also sell modular. For us the price was untouchable from a good modular place compared to the stick builders we looked at. Some of the stick builders were constantly trying to steer our designs into what was popular at the time despite us telling them what we wanted.
Eddie's post I think is right on. I agree with others that you should look at the shell of the house and how you'll heat/cool it first. Everything else can be changed later.
dmccarty
Super Star Member
Kitchens and bathrooms.
Check out IKEA. You will likely have to travel to get to one. The nearest one to us is two hours away. You have to assemble the furniture and cabinets you buy from them but they have the instructions and furniture/cabinets well designed. We have bought bedroom furniture and living room furniture and have been very impressed with the quality of the stuff.
The furniture is more "modern" looking so it will no appeal to all.
IKEA has a large selection of cabinets. We bought good quality aka expensive cabinets for the kitchen and baths. I think we could have gotten the same quality from IKEA for a third of the price. The IKEA store was not built when we built the house. If it had been and I knew what I now know, I think I would have bought from IKEA and done the install myself.
They have a website and you can get a catalog. The catalog and website are good with planning software and such but going to the store is a much better experience. At least use them to as a price comparison.
Later,
Dan
Check out IKEA. You will likely have to travel to get to one. The nearest one to us is two hours away. You have to assemble the furniture and cabinets you buy from them but they have the instructions and furniture/cabinets well designed. We have bought bedroom furniture and living room furniture and have been very impressed with the quality of the stuff.
The furniture is more "modern" looking so it will no appeal to all.
IKEA has a large selection of cabinets. We bought good quality aka expensive cabinets for the kitchen and baths. I think we could have gotten the same quality from IKEA for a third of the price. The IKEA store was not built when we built the house. If it had been and I knew what I now know, I think I would have bought from IKEA and done the install myself.
They have a website and you can get a catalog. The catalog and website are good with planning software and such but going to the store is a much better experience. At least use them to as a price comparison.
Later,
Dan
showcattle
Gold Member
I didn't read the whole thread. When we built, we cut costs on light fixtures, bathroom fixtures, etc. I figured it's easy to replace that stuff.
forgeblast
Elite Member
Ikea is a good place to get furniture for the whole house not just one room.
Our ikea stuff is still going strong after 10 years. Nearest one was 2 1/2 hours away. we rented a u-haul to go down pick everything up and take it home.
Nearest furniture place would let us get 1/2 a room for what we spent at Ikea.
Painting, mask and paint easy money save.
Landscaping is easy with the box stores and their modular blocks for edging. Also go with some smaller trees shrubs and you will save money too.
I would spend more on insulation, get the foam in there it will pay for itself.
Our ikea stuff is still going strong after 10 years. Nearest one was 2 1/2 hours away. we rented a u-haul to go down pick everything up and take it home.
Nearest furniture place would let us get 1/2 a room for what we spent at Ikea.
Painting, mask and paint easy money save.
Landscaping is easy with the box stores and their modular blocks for edging. Also go with some smaller trees shrubs and you will save money too.
I would spend more on insulation, get the foam in there it will pay for itself.
Chuck52
Veteran Member
If you and/or the wife are thinking about putting in a fancy Jacuzzi style jetted tub, really think about it. We put one in when we added a master bath to our home and so far the grandkids have been the main users. They use it to "swim" in for a bath, while DW and I have used it maybe five times in ten years. It was not cheap.
If you are going to have NG or propane, consider an on-demand water heater. They seem to be worthwhile. OTOH, if you go geothermal, you may get your hot water that way.
Chuck
If you are going to have NG or propane, consider an on-demand water heater. They seem to be worthwhile. OTOH, if you go geothermal, you may get your hot water that way.
Chuck
dmccarty
Super Star Member
If you do go to IKEA, and you should, it will take you hours to walk through the place. We have been three times. The first time was to check it out. The second and third trip was to buy. Since I have a full size pick up we could bring the stuff home easily. For both trips the truck was packed.
IKEA is like Disney. They know how to keep people flowing. Once you are on site they do not want you to leave. IKEA has a very good cafeteria. The food is cheap and good. If we lived near to IKEA we would go there to eat at least a couple of times a month. :laughing: Take a cooler, a big cooler, because IKEA sells the food served in the cafeteria as frozen food. IKEA's chocolate bars are VERY good as well. Deserts are pretty danged good too. I wish we had taken two coolers.
You really could furnish your entire house at IKEA. They sell furniture, plates, kitchen appliances, cabinets, cups, bath fixtures, etc.
Later,
Dan
IKEA is like Disney. They know how to keep people flowing. Once you are on site they do not want you to leave.
IKEA has a very good cafeteria. The food is cheap and good. If we lived near to IKEA we would go there to eat at least a couple of times a month. :laughing: Take a cooler, a big cooler, because IKEA sells the food served in the cafeteria as frozen food. IKEA's chocolate bars are VERY good as well. Deserts are pretty danged good too. I wish we had taken two coolers. You really could furnish your entire house at IKEA. They sell furniture, plates, kitchen appliances, cabinets, cups, bath fixtures, etc.
Later,
Dan