Timber Frame Hybrid Home - Owner Builder

[dave1949]

Stuff like the chimney cap makes a person wonder. How could anyone think that is going to fly, or makes any sense at all? It's bizarre really, when you think about it.

I don't think that sort of work is all that unusual, unfortunately. It baffles me as to the root cause, It's not like builders are competing with cheap foreign labor such as a manufacturing operation must. One obvious thing is the building trades aren't attracting and holding onto enough of the right people.

 

[Country Geek]

In the case of the chimney I think the crew just figured it was up high and no one would bother to go up there and check their work.

I do think this kind of thing happens more to self-contractors than to general contractors. Because the self-contractor won't be a source of additional work in the future, but the general contractor will be.

My house was built by a general contractor and the only shoddy work was done by the plumber (and boy did that cost us 7 years later...different story). My neighbors all self-contracted and they had multiple problems with multiple subcontractors and difficulty even getting people to come out and finish their work. And these aren't babes in the woods. Most of them are involved in the building trades in one way or another.

 

[jk96]

Dave I talked to the owner today to see what the plan was for the new cover. He tells me that the two younger gentlemen who did the install were on their way to the lake for the weekend. We were their stop on the way through. Maybe they had already cracked open their beer.

It would have only taken an extra 5 minutes to double check the measurements and do the install correctly. Now they have to fabricate another cover.

Country Geek you are probably correct in thinking that no one would check. Most homeowners probably would have never checked until they found their cover in the side yard after a storm. Luckily for the most part our contractors have been very good with the exception of the initial framing crew that was pulled from the job at the start.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

My first home was a spec home on a new street about 1/2 way down the street. It was one of 2 homes nearing completion but not sold. I guess I was lucky for the most part as the crews had already built about 40 homes or more and were fairly experienced. I did find out a few days after the electricity was turned on, that the outside faucet was plumbed hot.

 

[Country Geek]

I did find out a few days after the electricity was turned on, that the outside faucet was plumbed hot.

That must have made for an excellent car wash!

I had both a hot and a cold faucet plumbed to the outside of my house. Figured I'd use for for washing dogs before they came in. Have never used the hot one in 15 years. Oh well, sounded good at the time.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

That must have made for an excellent car wash!

It does! The big house in town has hot & cold water plumbed to the garage ad I used the hot for car washing....

Be well,
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

That must have made for an excellent car wash!

It does! The big house in town has hot & cold water plumbed to the garage ad I used the hot for car washing....

Be well,
David

 

[dave1949]

It does! The big house in town has hot & cold water plumbed to the garage ad I used the hot for car washing....

Be well,
David

I had hot and cold plumbed to our attached garage. It is nice for getting a bucket of warm water to clean the car up in winter. I have a wye hose adapter to allow hot-cold mix that we use for dog washing once in awhile. I would do it again.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I had hot and cold plumbed to our attached garage. It is nice for getting a bucket of warm water to clean the car up in winter. I have a wye hose adapter to allow hot-cold mix that we use for dog washing once in awhile. I would do it again.

They have freeze less faucets that are plumbed to both hot and cold. Works like a single handle bath or shower handle. Just requires a larger hole then a standard outdoor faucet.

 

[jk96]

We did hot/cold on the inside garage wall between the garage and basement living space. I originally planned to do hot and cold on the outside next to the garage for dogs, kids, etc but decided we would just drag the hose out from the garage if needed.

I know I've posted a lot of stair pics lately but here are a few more along with a couple of other items we've wrapped up. Stair railings are complete now as well. Some time ago I posted some slices from some of the old oak sills that we planned to use as inlays in the floor. I never did get around to doing them so I ended up using a few to trim out the stairs instead. Stairs are all done with the exception of a couple of risers and need to poly the posts.

Here's the desk we turned into a vanity in my daughters room. Still need to find a mirror and wall sconce.

Upstairs bathroom finally has shower doors and plumbing. We used a piece of furniture for the vanity in this room as well.