Introductions

So it has been months since I was accepted as a blogger for finehomebuilding.com and it wasn’t until today that I finally got up the courage to write something. I confessed in my bio to being a frustrated writer so I can at least be proud of my level of honesty.

So why the delay?

I could talk about a lot of things that have happened in the past few months that have taken my attention away from my duties as a blogger – though these be mostly self-imposed – but despite their various levels of gravity, these would all really be excuses.

The truth is that we all have priorities we must balance. For me, one of the easiest priorities to put on the back burner in a crunch is doing something that is mostly for myself. As torturous as writing may be for me in the moment (especially is someone might actually read what I wrote) at the end of the day is an activity that sustains me. Not writing is like working through lunch – I know I should feed myself but sometimes other demands seem more pressing.

The two other factors that contributed to this delay include that all to common drive for perfection and the vagaries of building. The process of housebuilding itself has shattered any self-delusion that the former is attainable and the latter has taught me that despite any amount of planning, you cannot account for emergency surgeries, weather or incompetence. I imagine the concepts of self-care, “good enough” and flexibility will be recurring themes throughout this blog.

But don’t get me wrong, this blog is not going to be just about my philosophical views on writing/creativity/humanity/social justice – though it will contain a fair amount of that. The reason I wanted to blog here and not elsewhere is that I have spent the better part of the past two years planning and executing the building of our first home.

I have learned a lot and want to share both the successes and the things I would have done differently. We aren’t done yet and I suspect one is never really “done” with a house. But I want to write about what I learned in the hope of helping someone, who is considering this roller-coaster ride, make an informed decision. There are many considerations, both philosophical and practical, that anyone building a house must face. To whet your appetite here’s a list of some of the topics I hope to cover – subslab insulation, global warming potential, pex piping, EPS vs. XPS, deciding on windows, orienting a house, radon mitigation, damp-spray cellulose, double-wall construction.

Hopefully, this blog might help someone avoid some of our missteps or maybe even think about something they would not otherwise have considered.

There will also be some posts that are less about “hard skills” and more about “soft skills” – including how to keep your marriage intact through this process. Regardless of the focus of each post though, I hope to write something useful and honest.

I have taken the leap – my first post – and commit myself to a weekly post about something – hopefully interesting.

Take care.

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

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Not So Big House

This book earned author Sarah Susanka a reputation as a small house guru, yet, that wasn’t exactly her goal. This book isn’t about building a small house, it’s about building a smart house, one that matches how we live, and prioritizing beauty and comfort over size.

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Musings of an Energy Nerd: Toward an Energy-Efficient Home

Fine Homebuilding readers know Martin Holladay well and love his practical, cost-effective approach to energy-efficiency and green building. In this book, he walks you through every step of planning an energy-smart home that is healthy, durable, and comfortable.

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Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid

If you are designing or remodeling a traditional home and want to make sure that you get all the finish details right, this book is for you. Marianne’s drawings are illustrative, covering every aspect of interior and exterior finishes.

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