New House Build in WV

[buckeyefarmer]

Merry Christmas!!
The window looks nice.

 

[EddieWalker]

Windows look great. Are you you weathertight now?

 

[TnWV]

Windows look great. Are you you weathertight now?

Everything but the garage doors, haven’t got the concrete in there yet, so doors have to wait. I did sheet the wall between the house and garage, so I can install a door there to block it off, if needed.

 

[TnWV]

We ended up with 4-5” of snow overnight last night and temps in the teens with a warmup to only 22 today. Glad it’s Christmas Day and I wasn’t planning any work today anyway.

Will be in the teens again in the morning, so we will make a run to Menards to pick out vanity lighting for the bathrooms. I need to know what vanity lights she wants to make sure I get boxes in the correct place. May still just stub the wire up in the wall and use an old work box later, to make certain they are correct.

It’ll warm up a bit in the afternoon, so I’ll continue wiring for the rest of the day.

 

[Milo]

... HVAC guy coming this week to get a material list together, and will get going on it after Christmas sometime. That is costing more than I wanted, but we are using all Lennox equipment, and this guy has been real good to me on my current home and my in laws house....

Your guy may do this but I'll just mention it anyway because it was this time of the year for me as well and I (and my carpenter and drywall guys really appreciated it). When they came to run the ductwork they brought a basic electric furnace and and just set it in the middle of my house so we had clean heat instead of the propane or kerosene heaters we were planning on using which emit moisture. As they did the ductwork they covered each register hole with scraps of plywood. They then left the electric furnace and told me to call after the drywall was primed and they'd return and install the heat pump and air handler and pick up the electric furnace.

 

[TnWV]

Your guy may do this but I'll just mention it anyway because it was this time of the year for me as well and I (and my carpenter and drywall guys really appreciated it). When they came to run the ductwork they brought a basic electric furnace and and just set it in the middle of my house so we had clean heat instead of the propane or kerosene heaters we were planning on using which emit moisture. As they did the ductwork they covered each register hole with scraps of plywood. They then left the electric furnace and told me to call after the drywall was primed and they'd return and install the heat pump and air handler and pick up the electric furnace.

I’ll have to check into that, seems like a good idea.

 

[TnWV]

Slow progress but we are getting there. Wiring is about 85% done. AEP showed up unexpectedly on Tuesday and hooked power up. They told me the day before that it would be the end of January, so that was a nice surprise.

I hooked a circuit up in the panel and installed a recept so I don’t need an extension cord from the current house. I may work on getting the rest of the circuits in the panel tomorrow.

Wife and her dad started insulating outside walls that are ready. Hopefully they will continue with that tomorrow.

Wife’s closet


Master bedroom



Nice to see insulation going in, get closer to drywall everyday. Got stood up 3 times this week by a drywall contractor. I’m not having good luck finding one. The good ones I know have either moved out of state or retired. Hopefully something will come through soon.

The mild weather this week has been nice, I hope it continues for a week or two, at least.

 

[rScotty]

Nice to see insulation going in, get closer to drywall everyday. Got stood up 3 times this week by a drywall contractor. I知 not having good luck finding one. The good ones I know have either moved out of state or retired. Hopefully something will come through soon.

The mild weather this week has been nice, I hope it continues for a week or two, at least.

I'm curious about the drywall contractors where you are . Here in the Western USA I have a friend who does drywall. When he gets a contract he hires friends to help. But he is one of the last professional drywallers. It's hard work.

Most drywall here for the past 20 years is done by Spanish-speaking crews. Generally there will be one guy who knows something about drywall, speaks some English, acts as the foreman, and he is the person the contractor negotiates with.

Then he shows up with about 20 of his buddies - most of whom are clearly just labor - and the job gets done very quickly. Quality is variable; and often just on the acceptable side, The price is always reasonably inexpensive.... and can be downright cheap.

The English speaking foreman is likely to bid on jobs involving tile, stucco, concrete, sod, roadwork, and roofing. But not framing, plumbing, or electrical. Yet.

Is that how it works in the Tenn/WVa area?

rScotty

 

[TnWV]

I'm curious about the drywall contractors where you are . Here in the Western USA I have a friend who does drywall. When he gets a contract he hires friends to help. But he is one of the last professional drywallers. It's hard work.

Most drywall here for the past 20 years is done by Spanish-speaking crews. Generally there will be one guy who knows something about drywall, speaks some English, acts as the foreman, and he is the person the contractor negotiates with.

Then he shows up with about 20 of his buddies - most of whom are clearly just labor - and the job gets done very quickly. Quality is variable; and often just on the acceptable side, The price is always reasonably inexpensive.... and can be downright cheap.

The English speaking foreman is likely to bid on jobs involving tile, stucco, concrete, sod, roadwork, and roofing. But not framing, plumbing, or electrical. Yet.

Is that how it works in the Tenn/WVa area?

rScotty

Your drywall contractors sound like many of the roofing contractors here. If there are drywall contractors like that, I have not come across them, yet. I’m sure they are around though.

I’ve known really good drywall contractors in the past, but not cheap. I’ve seen prices in the 65-85 cents per board foot, not cheap to me, but maybe it’s going rate. Unfortunately, drywall contractors seem to be scarce around here these days. All are leaving or retiring.

 

[fried1765]

Your drywall contractors sound like many of the roofing contractors here. If there are drywall contractors like that, I have not come across them, yet. I’m sure they are around though.

I’ve known really good drywall contractors in the past, but not cheap. I’ve seen prices in the 65-85 cents per board foot, not cheap to me, but maybe it’s going rate. Unfortunately, drywall contractors seem to be scarce around here these days. All are leaving or retiring.

Drywall prices in your are are quoted by "board foot"?

 

[rScotty]

Drywall prices in your are are quoted by "board foot"?

Not where I am. They are quoted by the job.

 

[civilian]

Your guy may do this but I'll just mention it anyway because it was this time of the year for me as well and I (and my carpenter and drywall guys really appreciated it). When they came to run the ductwork they brought a basic electric furnace and and just set it in the middle of my house so we had clean heat instead of the propane or kerosene heaters we were planning on using which emit moisture. As they did the ductwork they covered each register hole with scraps of plywood. They then left the electric furnace and told me to call after the drywall was primed and they'd return and install the heat pump and air handler and pick up the electric furnace.

My electrician had some electric baseboard heaters we wired up to heat the house for a month or so until the hot water boiler system was installed. Not cheap on the electric bill, but it was livable in the basement and the upper main floor was warm enough to work in.

Also, not remembering if you need inspections, but my electrical and plumbing had to have the rough inspected before insulating the walls. I am enjoying your build. Jon

 

[TnWV]

Drywall prices in your are are quoted by "board foot"?

That’s what I’ve always heard the drywall contractors talk about. They base it on a 4x12 sheet. 4x12=48x.65=31.20 per board times number of board used. Quote is based on estimated number and final bill is based on the actual used, of different. The per foot amount is based on the difficulty of the house.

Not sure all do it that way, or if any still do, but the couple I know use to do it that way, I just assumed it was the standard way of doing it.

 

[TnWV]

My electrician had some electric baseboard heaters we wired up to heat the house for a month or so until the hot water boiler system was installed. Not cheap on the electric bill, but it was livable in the basement and the upper main floor was warm enough to work in.

Also, not remembering if you need inspections, but my electrical and plumbing had to have the rough inspected before insulating the walls. I am enjoying your build. Jon

Trying to use natural gas as much as possible since it costs me very little. I’ll see what the drywall contractor recommends. Unvented stoves are easiest to use temporarily, but they also create moisture in the air, not sure if it’s enough to matter or not. I know when we built my in laws house, diesel bullet heaters were used during drywall.

No inspections here, fortunately.

Glad your enjoying the build, I’ll try to get some pictures of my electrical work tomorrow to post.

 

[fried1765]

That痴 what I致e always heard the drywall contractors talk about. They base it on a 4x12 sheet. 4x12=48x.65=31.20 per board times number of board used. Quote is based on estimated number and final bill is based on the actual used, of different. The per foot amount is based on the difficulty of the house.

Not sure all do it that way, or if any still do, but the couple I know use to do it that way, I just assumed it was the standard way of doing it.

Post #269 by TnWV references drywall pricing by ""board feet".
That is the method commonly used only for lumber measurement.
I am only familiar with drywall pricing by the surface area,.... SQUARE FEET!

 

[TnWV]

Post #269 by TnWV references drywall pricing by ""board feet".
That is the method commonly used only for lumber measurement.
I am only familiar with drywall pricing by the surface area,.... SQUARE FEET!

Sorry for the confusion, square feet is what I meant.

 

[TnWV]

I’ve lacked in posts lately, it’s just been super busy. We have worked non stop, but it’s seems like we never get enough done.

Electrical is about 90% done, just working out some lighting. We want plenty of lighting in the vaulted ceilings but I’m having trouble with layout and figuring how much is enough vs. too much and what to switch together vs. separate. This is especially true in the kitchen, I’ve never wired a house with vaulted ceilings in the kitchen and I’m having trouble deciding what will work best.

Half the house plumbing drains are complete. We had a nice day today, so I took the afternoon off and cut the plumbing vents through the roof. The metal roof made it challenging. 8/12 is steep for metal, and staying on it, even with ropes, is difficult. I guess I need a full harness to make using both hands easier. Got both vents installed and hooked the one side up to the finish plumbing drains.

HVAC is finished until I get the pad poured for the outside unit. Nice to check that off the list.

A few pics of the work.








I was planning on installing the septic myself, as I’ve done multiple times before, but decided I don’t have the time and hired it out. They showed up unexpectedly about 3:30 today and within an hour or so had the hole dug, tank set, hooked up to the sewer line coming out of the house, and buried. Those guys don’t mess around, it was their second system of the day, taking advantage of the nice January weather. They will complete the install of the aerator and drain field tomorrow.

 

[fried1765]

I’ve lacked in posts lately, it’s just been super busy. We have worked non stop, but it’s seems like we never get enough done.

Electrical is about 90% done, just working out some lighting. We want plenty of lighting in the vaulted ceilings but I’m having trouble with layout and figuring how much is enough vs. too much and what to switch together vs. separate. This is especially true in the kitchen, I’ve never wired a house with vaulted ceilings in the kitchen and I’m having trouble deciding what will work best.

Half the house plumbing drains are complete. We had a nice day today, so I took the afternoon off and cut the plumbing vents through the roof. The metal roof made it challenging. 8/12 is steep for metal, and staying on it, even with ropes, is difficult. I guess I need a full harness to make using both hands easier. Got both vents installed and hooked the one side up to the finish plumbing drains.

HVAC is finished until I get the pad poured for the outside unit. Nice to check that off the list.

A few pics of the work.

View attachment 683105
View attachment 683106
View attachment 683107
View attachment 683108
View attachment 683109


I was planning on installing the septic myself, as I’ve done multiple times before, but decided I don’t have the time and hired it out. They showed up unexpectedly about 3:30 today and within an hour or so had the hole dug, tank set, hooked up to the sewer line coming out of the house, and buried. Those guys don’t mess around, it was their second system of the day, taking advantage of the nice January weather. They will complete the install of the aerator and drain field tomorrow.

View attachment 683100

What is the size of that tank?
Looks kinda small in the pictures.

 

[TnWV]

What is the size of that tank?
Looks kinda small in the pictures.

1200 gallons. It’s two Pieces, bottom half is already in the hole. Looks pretty big in person. There will be another tank that houses the aerator, not sure on its size, and 900 sq. ft. of leach field. Unfortunately, it’ll all be buried before I get home to take pictures.

 

[fried1765]

1200 gallons. It’s two Pieces, bottom half is already in the hole. Looks pretty big in person. There will be another tank that houses the aerator, not sure on its size, and 900 sq. ft. of leach field. Unfortunately, it’ll all be buried before I get home to take pictures.

Try to get someone to take pictures for you!
Pictures can be VERY helpful if you should have future septic problems.
1200 gallons should be good for up to, and including, 4 bedrooms.
No garbage disposal....EVER !!!