My house, barn and pond project

[rtdiggr]

Just curious why didn't you put a full basement in? Up here that is standard issue, usually the only crawl space is if you have a side split or a back split and sometimes they will but a crawl space in the 4th area.

the place looks like it is coming along good.

Shane

 

[Tororider]

Nice stuff Rex.

Eddie, the only poisonous snake in Michigan, naturally living anyway, is the missisauga rattler. It is a smaller snake that isn't very agressive, almost have to step on it to get it to bite from what I am told, although I don't plan on testing that theory if I ever find one.

Rex, did you go with a prefab house? It looked like there was a piece of a house on a trailer bed is why I was wondering.

Also, have you stocked the pond with fish, or are you planning to?

Keep the pics coming, and good luck with the knee recovery.

 

[EddieWalker]

Toro,

Snakes AND snow in Michigan!!! YIKES.

In my travels, New Zealand is my favorite place for a variety of reasons. No snakes or reptiles is just one of them, but a good one.

Eddie

 

[rexcramer]

Just curious why didn't you put a full basement in? Up here that is standard issue, usually the only crawl space is if you have a side split or a back split and sometimes they will but a crawl space in the 4th area.

the place looks like it is coming along good.

Shane

I saved tens of thousands on my property because I am in a 100 year flood plain, which is good for the wallet but bad for basements. Any basement would have had to be 1 foot above the 100 year flood plain level, basically making it a walk out basement and putting my house WAY up in the air. Basically I have so much more room in this house than my old one, along with my finished barn, that a basement was not a priority for me.

 

[rexcramer]

Nice stuff Rex.

Eddie, the only poisonous snake in Michigan, naturally living anyway, is the missisauga rattler. It is a smaller snake that isn't very agressive, almost have to step on it to get it to bite from what I am told, although I don't plan on testing that theory if I ever find one.

Rex, did you go with a prefab house? It looked like there was a piece of a house on a trailer bed is why I was wondering.

Also, have you stocked the pond with fish, or are you planning to?

Keep the pics coming, and good luck with the knee recovery.

Hey Tororider I recognize you from the Pond Boss forum. I am just getting some ideas together for introducing fish, the fatheads will be going in as soon as the ice is gone, and probably perch and bluegills a month after that.

Yeah the house is a modular, about 1700 square feet. I know my limitations, and there is no way I have the knowledge or patience to build a house. I did the clearing, dirt hauling, water line, septic field, and pole barn myself, so I wanted the house to be easy.

I will be getting some pictures up soon of the house.

 

[rtdiggr]

I saved tens of thousands on my property because I am in a 100 year flood plain, which is good for the wallet but bad for basements. Any basement would have had to be 1 foot above the 100 year flood plain level, basically making it a walk out basement and putting my house WAY up in the air. Basically I have so much more room in this house than my old one, along with my finished barn, that a basement was not a priority for me.

That makes sense, i was just curious but i have seen quite a few house on this site and other sites that don't use a basement.

I agree with the flood plain, there is so many houses going up in our area that they really don't seem to care about the flood plain. I really don't know how it gets past the city or the fact the sump pump runs all day and night. Some people just have to be in certain areas.

Shane

 

[Tororider]

Hey Rex, I thought I recognized the name. Eddie is also a poster at Pond Boss too. Are you going to go with Largemouth or small?

I was looking at modular too, I think it is a cost efficient way to get a nice house that has better quality control than stickbuilt if you don't have time to be onsite. Now I am thinking when I build, at least two years out, that I will do ICF

Eddie,
The missisauga is so rare that it isn't a worry. In my 25+ years in Michigan the only encounters I have had with them has been coming out the side of the riding mower once, and through the glass at the Detroit Zoo. My cousin studied in New Zealand for 6 months and she says the same, beautiful country. I was unaware of the lack of reptiles though.

 

[rexcramer]

That makes sense, i was just curious but i have seen quite a few house on this site and other sites that don't use a basement.

I agree with the flood plain, there is so many houses going up in our area that they really don't seem to care about the flood plain. I really don't know how it gets past the city or the fact the sump pump runs all day and night. Some people just have to be in certain areas.

Shane

In my case the flood plain deal is more of a formality, since it hasnt flooded on my property since before anyone around here can remember. I also built my house more than three feet over the federal flood plain level, so if there was a once in a hundred year flood the water would STILL be three feet below the main level of my house. I also filled my crawl space with sand to the flood plain level, so I would be surprised if my sump pump EVER turns on.

I also had an engineering firm send a request to FEMA to remove my floodplain designation so I dont have to pay flood insurance.

 

[rexcramer]

Hey Rex, I thought I recognized the name. Eddie is also a poster at Pond Boss too. Are you going to go with Largemouth or small?

I was looking at modular too, I think it is a cost efficient way to get a nice house that has better quality control than stickbuilt if you don't have time to be onsite. Now I am thinking when I build, at least two years out, that I will do ICF

We ended up going with a home from General Housing Corporation, which are built up here in Bay City. We were able to tour the plant during construction and see how the houses are made. General also had the highest quality (and was most expensive lol) with better doors, faucets, Pella windows, etc.

As far as fish I will have to see whats available when the time comes. Most likely it will be largemouths, but if smallmouths are available I will have a decision to make. The other fish I stock will be the same ones as you are, but in proportionally smaller amounts.

 

[rtdiggr]

FEMA, when do you think you will get your anwser back.


Shane