Major project started today!

[Nat]

Wife and I bought 7 acres and are going to build a new house and shop. We currently live in and own a 1400 sq ft house sitting on 3.4 acres, with a 30 x36 shop. We're going to sell the present house after the new one is finished and it should be free and clear with money left over, Debt free. sounds nice don't it? I bought a ford 555B backhoe and started clearing for the house today, I'll try to take some pics. this will bee the 5 th house we've built. The kids are now grown and gone and we can build to suit ourselves. I figure it will take 9 months to finish the house and shop, I'll let you know, Later, Nat

 

[gsganzer]

They say that by the seventh house, you'll have finally built your dream house. That means you have two more to go. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Good luck, send lots of photo's.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

My contractor has a 1989 ford 555. He said the only trouble he's had was when he left it running and it somehow overheated (of course the water was gone). Ended up needing total overhaul on the 3 cylinder Perkins. Watch your coolant level and make sure your radiator is good. Might even put an overheat alarm buzzer on it. Simple insurance.

 

[KiotiJohn]

We'll be looking forward to monitoring your project Nat. Debt free is the way to go. The only thing I owe for is my tractor because that was 0% fincancing. May as well use Kioti's money, right? John

 

[Nat]

No pics yet, I did get the house site cleared, but wife not satisified with the angle of the afternoon sun, and I can't change that. I want to turn the house, after all it's going to be hidden so who cares what direction we face it. She wants anyone coming in to see a certain angle of the house first, and I want the driveway to come in at a certain spot, so we are studying some more on it. I'll update with pics as soon as we decide. BTW second grandchild came a week ago, mom and little Cassie Rae doing fine

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( She wants anyone coming in to see a certain angle of the house first, and I want the driveway to come in at a certain spot, so we are studying some more on it. )</font>

Easier to curve the driveway around than have the house facing in the wrong direction. Don't ask me how I know this! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Congrats on the new grandbaby!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Our first grandchild came along this past February! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

We are just finishing a 1600 square foot addition to our house. As you probably already know figure out how much you think you are going to spend and double it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Nat]

My camera died and I'm just now getting the new one hooked up. I have made a good bit of progress on the new place. I cleared the area for the drive shop, and house. I used the Ford 555B Backhoe that I bought

I Had 90 tons of crusher run hauled in for the drive

I had to dig 5 feet deep in the slope for the shop so that the drive up to it wouldn't be to steep, I dealt with that for 5 yaers where I am now as you can see on the pic of the hoe. I have the footing and foundation in for the house and shop, waiting for the building inspector before I can pour the slab and start framing.<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/natangell/New%20House/DSCF0003.jpg">
I will try to keep up to date with pics and progress.
Later, Nat

 

[Nat]

I thought I would give an update on the progress on the house and shop. I have the area graded and the drive put in. The basement is dug and the footings poured , the foundation walls are up, and the concrete floor for the basement is poured and finished.

IMG]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/natangell/New%20House/DSCF0001.jpg[/IMG]
I started framing on New Years day And got the Kitchen and dinning room floor joist in place before quitting for the day. I had forgot how heavy southern yellow pine 2 x 12's are! The only girder I had to make was 3 2 x 12 x 16 ft, and that sucker is tough to handle by yourself.

My son helped me on Mon. and Tues. and we got all the floor system in and all the subfloor down. I'll start with the wall framing on Fri.
I take pics and keep you posted on progress as I go along.
It sure does help when you have these sitting around on the job

This is my son's bobcat. The builders supply brought the framing material and we used the forks to move the lumber to where it was the easiest and after the floor system was in we put the wall framing up on the floor. This is what I cleared the land and dug the basement with and is now for sale, I'll buy me a loader tractor after it's sold

Here is the start on the shop, I have the block walls up 8 courses and was going to frame on top of them, but building inspector turned it down, said you can only go 4 times the wall thickness high for a foundation without floor joist to tie the sides together, so I have the block mason coming back and I'll just have 3 wall of the shop made of block and the front will be frame and siding to match the house

 

[Nat]

Well ,I have part of the walls up