House for my Parents

[Dr Dave]

You and your crew make it look so easy. Looks like your parents are already enjoying there new home.

Dave

 

[Depmandog]

Eddie,


Looks like your interior walls are 9', or is my perspective wrong? If 9', is that standard height for your location or a considered a premium feature?

I am sure you are aware, but you are a blessed man to have both parents alive and well, and to have the kind of relationship where you (both) want to be daily involved with each others life!

Great thread, but then you aren't a stranger to successful threads!

 

[EddieWalker]

8ft walls are still the standard, but 9 isn't all that uncommon in newer homes around here for something at this level. Higher end homes, 9 ft would be a minimum height, and in some that I've worked on, just the upstairs would be that low.

I'm classifying this as a nice ranch style house that will be finished off very nicely. It's not high end by any means, but it's going to have some features found in the best of houses. My parents are simple people that grew up very poor. They had the big house and don't want that again. This just might be the perfect size and layout for them at this time in their life.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

Eddie, Kathy likes the house and the photo of your parents. I was showing her various photos, and she said, "The garage is huge! Do they have that many cars?" I think that's going to be a common feeling with people who see it the first time. You don't see many attached garages around here that are that big. I think your parents will love having all that space.

 

[IslandTractor]

Eddie, Kathy likes the house and the photo of your parents. I was showing her various photos, and she said, "The garage is huge! Do they have that many cars?" I think that's going to be a common feeling with people who see it the first time. You don't see many attached garages around here that are that big. I think your parents will love having all that space.

True. It is interesting to see how the garage has evolved over the past fifty plus years. Once a place to keep a single car it has morphed to swallow multiple large vehicles, workshops, lawn shed, and off season storage. It is interesting to see what a true custom house like this one has for a garage space compared to cookie cutter developments or exaggerated McMansions. Garage plus pole barn in one!

 

[EddieWalker]

They only have two cars. Mom drives a 98 Taurus and Dad has a 2001 Explorer. Both are in good shape and low miles, but nothing fancy. Mom really wants to be able to park the Mule inside the garage. She has become very attached to it and drives it around every day. I didn't think it was all that big of a garage, but like the rest of the house, it's a nice size space that should be useful. From the front view of the house, it shouldn't look like a garage.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

The lumber for the roof was delivered yesterday, so I rented a ten foot lift to get the glulam beam into position. Half day rental was $30 plus tax. It took half an hour with the lift to get it into position, so that was money well spent on the tool rental!!!



Eddie

 

[Dr Dave]

Nice beam, what are the dimensions and weight of it? Also price , if you would tell. Will it be finished and exposed?

thanks Dave

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm not sure what the beam costs. They had several in the front of the store when I pulled up for sale that they had taken off of inventory. With those deals, you get what they have and pay what they ask. I was told $100 for it. 3 1/4 x 16 x 20 feet long. That's a fantastic deal, so I paid for it right then and there!!!!

It will be hidden inside the attic. Once the sheetrock goes up and the insulation is sprayed, nobody will ever see it again. Not to worry, I have a couple things going on with the ceilings that should be pretty interesting!!!!!

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Rafters and more rafters!!!! They never end, and they take forever to cut and install them. While I'm doing that, my parents are installing the OSB on the walls. They work pretty good together as a team, so I try to stay out of their way.



Eddie

 

[Obed]

Rafters and more rafters!!!! They never end, and they take forever to cut and install them. Eddie

Hey Eddie,
I just noticed this thread this weekend. I'm very much enjoying it. Like always, you appear to be doing a great job.

Why did you choose to stick build the roof rafters instead of ordering roof trusses?
Obed

 

[EddieWalker]

Thank You Obed.

Trusses have their place, but limit what I want to do with the ceilings. I also want a hip design with gable ends at the front. The garage will have trusses that I will build in place, and I thought about buying them and installing them already done, but cost is a big factor is doing this for them. Trusses cost more then just the lumber. Their savings is in the labor it takes to install them, since we're all working for free, out of pocket expenses are what is more important.

I think everyone is going to be surprised what this house costs to build.

Eddie

 

[ljohnson778]

Thank You Obed.

Trusses have their place, but limit what I want to do with the ceilings. I also want a hip design with gable ends at the front. The garage will have trusses that I will build in place, and I thought about buying them and installing them already done, but cost is a big factor is doing this for them. Trusses cost more then just the lumber. Their savings is in the labor it takes to install them, since we're all working for free, out of pocket expenses are what is more important.

I think everyone is going to be surprised what this house costs to build.

Eddie

I'm really enjoying this thread... Eddie, you da man!

 

[IslandTractor]

I think everyone is going to be surprised what this house costs to build.

Eddie

Do you have any estimates or targets? I know the labor is free but it would be interesting to learn generally what you've budgetted for materials, subs etc.

Great thread.

 

[ustmd]

Rafters and more rafters!!!! They never end, and they take forever to cut and install them. While I'm doing that, my parents are installing the OSB on the walls. They work pretty good together as a team, so I try to stay out of their way.

View attachment 287337 View attachment 287338 View attachment 287339 View attachment 287340

Eddie

Looks like you are using screws for the rafters (at least you are using an impact driver in one picture). Just curious, any particular reason why?

 

[EddieWalker]

Screws and nails are both fasteners, neither are load bearing, stuctural or capable of holding a load. Both are designed to hold wood in place, but not support any weight. In this case, the design of the rafters creates all the strength and the fastener is just there to hold it in place. Screws have two advantages. One, they allow me to move the wood when getting it exactly where I want it. Second, it's easier to use the driver up on the ladder then the nail gun.

Eddie

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Do you have any estimates or targets? I know the labor is free but it would be interesting to learn generally what you've budgetted for materials, subs etc.

Great thread.

It used to be that contractors like to tack 30% on to the price for their profit. I don't know if the market can bear that much nowadays or not.

Eddie, are you guys planning on subing out any of the remaining work? I'm guessing bricks or stone and maybe sheetrock?

 

[EddieWalker]

We'll sub out a few things. Already hired a crew to do the finish work on the concrete and we'll bring them back to do the porches and walkway. I'll put on the decking on the roof, but will hire a crew to install the shingles. Sheetrock is pretty easy, so we'll do all of that. HVAC and duct work will by done by somebody else. The fireplace is being installed by the company that sold it to them. and the carpet going into the bedrooms will be done by others. I'll do everything else with their help.

Eddie

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Are you going to build or buy cabinets? Keep taking pics. We are enjoying the build! Thanks!

 

[EddieWalker]

We are going to buy cabinets from either Lowes or Home Depot. This is one of those really big decissions that will decide what so much of the rest of the interior will look like. Currently, we're liking a pecan color with maple that is glazed. Don't want to go country, but not looking to be high end either. Just want a really nice, fit any situation type of cabinet. Kraftmade seems to be the front runner right now, but they are all pretty comparible in that price range. Plywood sides and shelves, solid doors.

Then they want granite counters. Dark chocolate is the current color range, but that might change lighter or darker. Still unsure and probably wont decide until the cabinets are installed, wich will be some time in the spring.

Eddie