I am looking to build early 2015 in Minnesota. I know there was a new code that all homes over a certin sq ft requires a sprinkler system. But I now hear that early 2015 there are more codes coming like the requirement to use an air to air exchanger. and insulation on pipes, etc.
I’m just curious if anyone else had heard about these codes, or what the costs would be associated to them.
I am working with a builder, but it seems what he is saying the cost to build per sq ft is, and what a friend of mine in the industry is saying the cost per sq ft to build is, its a $40 per sq ft difference. So I know it all comes down to features and quality of material used. but our bilder keeps trying to shrink the house to fit his per sq ft cost, instead of stripping features to allow for a bigger house.
I guess my thought process is, I can change a counter top, or floor coverings, etc. But I can’t really add more sq ft later.
I’m just curious what people’s thoughts are, and maybe I need a reality check.
any help and guidence is greatly appreciated, or links to more info that can help me. We are in the early planning stages right now.
Replies
cant speak to codes adoptions made where you are. we went through the sprinkler thing here a few years back. they ended up backing out and completely excluding residential single family homes from the adoption, tn was about to have a contractor uproar...
About the other changes that the city "may" adopt... your state and or city/county site should be able to expand on that topic.
Its hard to address your per/sq concerns because every one has different overhead expenses, profit margins, and quality standards...i would say if you dont feel comfortable with negotiations so far look at another builder and compare...but make sure you compare apples to apples.
For Minnesota the sprinklers are only for homes over something like 4500 sq ft. Dunno about other points of the code.
You really need to be asking locally rather than posting on the internet.
Codes vary widely from one place to another. Your county may have adopted one version of the IRC, but the town you live in has adopted another. God only knows what your lcoal building department might enforce. Your town may have added to any given code.
So a final answer is gonna have to come from where you're going to build at. That's where the proverbial rubber meets the road.
That's an option, not a thought process.
BillytheBuilder14 wrote:
I guess my thought process is, I can change a counter top, or floor coverings, etc. But I can't really add more sq ft later.
Sure you can...and both options would cost you more later.
A large disparity in sq. ft cost between builders is not unusual. If you're interested in determining value, than a cost/benefit analysis is necessary for any proposal. That means focusing on the economy, effeciency, and quality inherent with every "designed" sq. foot; not just comparing cost per sq. foot numbers.
Who the plans "belong to" is
Who the plans "belong to" is a highly contentious issue. There is the argument that you paid for them, but the designer may claim that the payments were not sufficient to cover what they actually did -- that much is "on spec", assuming they'll get the construction contract. This gets into copyright law and several other areas of law, and is likely to vary state-to-state, and also (of course) depends a lot on what sort of contract you signed. (Hint: Read the contract.)
In most cases you can terminate the contract at this stage, but you may start a fight if you take the detailed plans to someone else.
here comes the flingin' it and wingin' it
Just as there are non engineers predisposed to dispensing engineering advice on this forum, there are also non attorneys prone to dispensing legal advice. While opinons and anedoctal evidence presented is perfectly valid, my advice is to ignore such other non professional advice. Chances are it is wrong...and can hurt more than help you.
legally they only have to do whatever you guys agreed to, hopefully in a written contract.
Simply walk into the office of your local building code department and ask them directly!
BTW, since you are 'Billy the builder" , why not bypass a 3rd party and simply build your own house yourself as you want it to be?
deleted, duplicate
ps most building departments will even set up a pre-permit meeting with you to go over requirements.
that's great.
If your chosen builder is truly great to work with, then you should have no problem asking him or her the same question you last posed to this forum. In fact, they would be in the best position to answer it.