Starting our new life

[EddieWalker]

I agree, the code in this area requires what was done. Sometimes codes make no sense at all.

Did you personally look at the code book that says this tiny top step is the way to do it? I've met a lot of contractors that will tell a person that something is code just to avoid having to do it the way it should have been done.

 

[zmountaineer]

Did you personally look at the code book that says this tiny top step is the way to do it? I've met a lot of contractors that will tell a person that something is code just to avoid having to do it the way it should have been done.

I also would think that there would be ice guard would be required. At least that’s what my contractor called it. It’s an abrasive black sheet of something, lol. As seen in these pictures below. When I asked him about it he told me it’s to keep the water from seeping I to the wood then freezing. He told me that metal flashing is not what to use.

 

[cat fever]

Looks like its there to supports the door threshold. Does look a little deeper than some ive seen.

Im not a fan of more than one step down to the porch.

Backeyefarmer is correct. It is just a 8"threshold support. My last home was the same way. I could have avoided it by raising the level of the whole pad. At some point I would have had some steps, just no way around it. Unless I did a slab on grade type build like Richard is building. (ovrsd) If I remember I'll get a side shot of it today. I don't look at it like a step as much as just part of the house floor. Then stepping onto the landing.

 

[cat fever]

Did you personally look at the code book that says this tiny top step is the way to do it? I've met a lot of contractors that will tell a person that something is code just to avoid having to do it the way it should have been done.

I did not look at the code book or talk to the inspector. Like I said in the last post, if I raised the level of the whole pad I could have walked right onto the porch with no steps. But then from the porch itself I would have had some steps to get off the porch to the ground level.

The main reason the house is up about 2' from grade is to avoid any water issues. Be it surface water or ground water. I didn't want to deal with either. On the north of my property line is a 30" irrigation line and on the south is a 6" irrigation line. I would hope neither ever breaks but I'm not taking any chances.

 

[EddieWalker]

I did not look at the code book or talk to the inspector. Like I said in the last post, if I raised the level of the whole pad I could have walked right onto the porch with no steps. But then from the porch itself I would have had some steps to get off the porch to the ground level.

The main reason the house is up about 2' from grade is to avoid any water issues. Be it surface water or ground water. I didn't want to deal with either. On the north of my property line is a 30" irrigation line and on the south is a 6" irrigation line. I would hope neither ever breaks but I'm not taking any chances.

I'm not questioning the decision to build the house higher then the surrounding land, or the need for the steps. It just seems odd that the step closest to the door is so small. Having the larger concrete pad just below the door is what I would consider normal.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My slab guy didn't pour for my threshold, so I had to add support. I didn't on one, and it has had tyvek showing for 20 yrs now, and the door threshold extends a little past the house floor. Not a door i use much. Here they normally brick that area.

 

[ovrszd]

My concrete guy is pouring my slab tomorrow. Then will pour a 54x8 front porch slab.

My builder was here this morning. They purposely discussed the doorways for quite some time. Not sure what the final decision was. Guess I'll know tomorrow.

 

[cat fever]

My wife and I cleaned up the house today. (sheetrock debris) After we were done the builder showed up and was very surprised we had it all clean. He said before they mud/tape a crew comes in and cleans. That would have been nice to know. :laughing: I said "take it off the bill it's done." He said they could come as early as tomorrow to mud/tape the house.

We also turned the furnace on today. (first time) Everything worked great, nice and quite.

Glad it's all dried in and even locked up now. It is snowing as I type this.

 

[dragoneggs]

My wife and I cleaned up the house today. (sheetrock debris) After we were done the builder showed up and was very surprised we had it all clean. He said before they mud/tape a crew comes in and cleans. That would have been nice to know. :laughing: I said "take it off the bill it's done." He said they could come as early as tomorrow to mud/tape the house.

We also turned the furnace on today. (first time) Everything worked great, nice and quite.

Glad it's all dried in and even locked up now. It is snowing as I type this.

That is a big step and reason to smile!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Just in the nick of time, getting dried in.