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Hello all…First post. I have been getting FH for several years and have decided to make the plunge. I am buying a lot and building most of my own house. I know my limitations and my strenghts (I have been in construction from 18 till 27, then I became a property adjuster…I know what some of you think about that). Getting to the point, my skills are rusty and I am looking for some ideas or tips as to building a home solo. Especially on those days when a wall needs to go up and all my buddys are nowhere to be found. Also, any good books out there about this subject?
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There's a great book from Taunton called 'Working Solo'. Lots of tips for all types of layout, moving, raising walls and beams by yourself.
Start going pushups, too. Lots of them.
*I have been working mostly alone for the past 10 years, and I prefer it. Building a new house is one exception where I think I'd hire a helper for at least the foundation and framing, maybe longer if they were good company, an eager worker and let me pick the radio station 3 days a week.But if you intend to build it alone, use your head, instead of your muscle, for most material handling. Have several sections of 3" ABS around for moving beams, slings of sheet goods and such. Find, or build, a wheeled cart to stack studs on to get 50 of them from one side of the deck to the other. Have another cart for headers, trimmers and common length cripples. Try to figure out a way for your materials to be dropped on the deck, as long as they're not in your way (directly onto some pipe is my favorite way to get a unit of sheathing or heavy beams). Use leverage, nail guns, and wall jacks as much as you can. Cut on saw horses more often than not. Avoid bending over. Learn to prefab as much as you can while the wall is horizontal on the deck. And by all means, avoid ladders whenever possible.
*I,m doing this has we speak, cannot offer any advice due to I,m learning as I go. All I can say, Become the inspector best buddy, use trusses, keep it simple, very simple. and very important keep everything square to the nano second especially on slab.
*Good advice so far, but before you build think through your design. Design the home not only for how you live, but how you are going to buid it. Recognize where, and when you are going to need help with various stages and plan for them. The other thing is to admit to your limitation. At some point the stuff you did as part of a construction crew in your mid twenties, although not impossible as you get older, are just not economical. Budget for equipment rentals that many of the subcontractors or builder you might have used would have as a normal part of thier tool inventory. Bid the whole house out to both a single general contractor and then to individual sub contractors. Establish a time line for completion using the affore mentioned and then take you best guess at how long it will take you. Remember, unless you are independenly wealthy, banks want to convert a construction loan to a morgage in a year or less. They will also want to make periodic inspection to see where thier money is going. Keep good records.These are just some of the things I have learned while working alone. Come back to this site often! There are some great people here that give great advice.Best of luck.
*I think Jim's right on in saying to hire help for at least part of it. Seems to me that it's a lot easier for 2 people to stay motivated than just one. But I realize that varies a lot from person to person. Take a good look at your personality before you start. Look at the house you live in now. Do you get things done? I mean 100% done? Or do you have a lot of unfinished projects in various stages? What you've done where you live now is most likely what will happen when you build the new house, in spite of your best intentions. And don't overlook the safety factor of having a second person around just in case the unexpected happens.
*Whale, I am doing just what you speak of. I'm on month 18 of my project of a 2,895 sq. ft., two-story Victorian. Drywall, fireplace, cabinets, computer network, etc. I've done almost all of it myself aside from electrical and mechanical. Its been quite a task and frustrating during some points but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm the old "have to do it yourself to do it right" thinker. Sure, if I contracted it out it would have been done faster and probably cheaper (you add ALOT of extras when you do it yourself. I can give you a two page list of extras the wife and I have dreamed up). But the fact is, when its done, we'll be 100% satisfied and if anything goes wrong, my wife will know who to call for a comeback as hes sitting right next to her. Email me direct if you have any specific questions. I've experienced everything from banks not wanting to loan money to me to the Port-a-Let guys dropping the toilet off at the neighbors house which by the way he has been living in for over 20 years so I still don't see how the guy got confused?Mike
*Wow, thanks for all the replies so soon. All of it has been very good advice. Its actually good to hear some of you guys say the same things I was thinking, such as knowing my limitations. Hey crazy legs...a cart to move the plywood and studs around the deck is a great tip. When I first started framing, I was that cart for my first boss. At 38, one bad lift and my project takes the slow road. And mike...I agree about the extra's, thats one main reason I am doing this. I want the most bang for my buck.
*I did it when I was 40. Year and a half, nites and wknds while working full time. Ugh.You will need to utilize at the least, some of your friends for general labor help. Big pot of food, and when your done, a few beers. Add to this the favor you owe em and it'll give you bodies when you need them. Get some of your buddies in the trade for technical help (precision) and owe them the same. Still, I hired help framing the roof. Hired out the sheetrock and shingling and borrowed the plumbing and some of the electric.Took me a cpl. years to repay the favors, and generally all they really wanted to do was help.Unlike Jim's recommendation of less ladders, I defied gravity with anything I could come up with, and this was on a hillside. Creative and as safe as I could make it was the method. Pump jacks sure made the hillside possible. Wide sidewalk picks made it bearable. Working alone is ok till something happens, then your laying in the mud with no one to help. I wouldn't recommend it when your life could hang in the balance, but you gotta do what you feel you can handle. Long hours, family only when they visit the site, poor conditions. It isn't pretty.My landlord at the time of building, loaned me a 16 ft (travel) trailer that we could keep nails, shovels, etc, the stuff I didn't carry to work each day, in and to get outta the weather. Spent a cpl nites in it during those long summer weekends. Built 15 mi. from where we were living but the commute was on the way home from work. Union work, so when 4 rolled around I was on my way. To do it now working on my own would be impossible. I wouldn't get something done here or there.It's a real challenge, but a damn good treat when it's done. Make sure to have a hole party once you get it dug. Those invities will be your part-time helpers as you proceed. Take a picture of all of you in the hole with the fill pile in the background. Provide shovels (as props) and other implements of earth moving. They'll never know in the future you didn't dig it by hand.Best of luck.
*You'll figure out the details as you go. Thinlk ahead as much as you can. Have some time in the bank for when you get behind. And have some attitude in the same acount for when you get discouraged. in other words - be sure to maintain balance. I built mine alone, except for occasional weekend friends. Poured the footers on June 15 and finished the roof in October. Had three inches of rain the morning I poured footers and a drought the rest of the summer. Rained the night we had 85% of the roof on finally. After closing it in, I went back to work and did the interior and finish over the next year. Moved in in May so it was a little less than a year for about 2600 sq ft. Still needs a little finish work five years later.I worked fouteen hour days for a year and felt totally exhausted for the next two years. That can lead to discouragement or depression for some. I'm the eternal optimist so it never got to me for more than a couple of hours but my point is that you'll need something to draw on mentaly and emotionally to keep it up. The excitement of building your own place helps but if schedule goes long you'll need to dig deeper. Decide now where your bottom is. God, friends, wife, books, this forum, whatever.You'll need someplace to go. We'll be here....
*Jason, Thanks for the compliment.Whale, Working alone is not as weird as many people seem to think. Building is a decentralized process and, according to the U.S. Census of Construction, well over half the "building concerns" in the U.S. have no payroll. Of those that do carry employees, about two-thirds have four or fewer. Some of the solo builders, no doubt, use their index finger exclusively for building, calling subs to build their houses and additions. But clearly there are many thousands of solo builders who actually use tools every day. Even the very large residential contractors, who do in fact build the majority of the new houses in the U.S., rely extensively on small sub-contractors.I've spent much of my adult life working for myself. I've had crews but I've found it's easier and more enjoyable to work alone. I have friends, however, who really can't stand to spend the day toiling away by themselves. Much of it has to do with your individual temperament.As far as the question of what you can do solo, I've found that there are only a few things on a house that you can't do solo. With a little practice, furthermore, you can do most of the work smoothly and efficiently. Many jobs--painting, roofing, laying tile, bricks and blocks--are inherently one-man jobs. I lay up all of my foundations and all of my fireplaces and chimneys, for example, by myself without any difficulty at all. Other jobs--framing, installing windows, siding and trim, installing cabinets--are more challenging to do alone and are customarily done by crews of two or more. But many of these jobs can be completed by one person--as long as he's willing to take the time to set things up or to build a jig or a bracket. I routinely build and raise walls, frame roofs, install sheathing on walls and roofs, and install windows (ones I can pick up)--by myself. Although these tasks require forethought and the use of site-built jigs and brackets, they usually proceed smoothly. Once in a while, I run into a job that requires a special tool. To lay out a foundation, for example, I use a laser level. To hang drywall on ceilings, I use a drywall lift.As far as the economics of working alone, people will argue this question until they are blue in the face. All I can say is that I have always done better when I've worked alone. I do invest time in setting up my jobs and building jigs and brackets and I have spent money on tools that enable me to work alone. On the other hand, I don't spend time doing payroll; I don't have to match employees' Social Security; I don't have to pay for worker's comp; I don't have to scramble to find work so I can keep my employees busy. Most importantly for my mental health, I don't have to answer for their mistakes.If you want to get the details of my techniques, you'll just have to buy my book. In doing so, you'll be contributing to a college fund for a worthy nine year old child--my son. Best of luck, Whale
*Whale: I started my house at age 38, finished at age 39. Only because I farmed out the foundation and framing. To each his own. More power to you.Before the last second story wall goes up, have the yard deliver the drywall with a crane. Well worth the extra $50-250, if any. My yard will send a boom truck for free on orders over $500. Cover the drywall and get weathered in. You may have to beef up the floor joists with a few vertical 4x4s, but it is sweet not have to haul all the drywall up the stairs. Makes a nice picnic table for the year until you use it. obviously, have it laid in the middle of a room, not blocking any access.You'll be at the job site a long time. Make it comfortable. Set up one room with cooler, hot plate, tunes, etc. Hand tarps to keep the dust out. Set up another room as tool and small supply storage. Make it secure. Shelves, pegboard, workmate bench, table saw, etc. A place for everything and everything in its place. -David
*Whale, i admire you for taking on such a large job. i personally am going to do what alot of the guys reconmended and thats sub out the /foundation and framing and alot of the the jobs where time vs money is economical. When I do my remodel I figure it'll take me alone about 2-3 weeks to do the frameing, get a framing crew in there and they'll knock it out in about 3 days worth the cost to me, same as dry wall im a geezer and the rockers can come in and knock out in no time what would take me a 4 days plus equipment rental to do. But Like the guys said we're here to cheer you on. Good luck bud
*I worked on my own for a while, but even then the boss was a jerk! Seriously though, good luck, find reward and satisfaction in a job or task well done and carry on!
*38, I wish I was 38! At 53 I'm doing a timberframe, something I've never done before and I'm doing it my way....(the hard way...) That is Timberframe, SIP, Timberframe. Once in a while I've got a kid who shows up and gives me a hand (at $20.00 per hour) he shows up when and if he feels like it. Average week he's here 10 hours. It's a monster of a house (nearly 5000 sq.ft.) and I lost a month with a bad back. I'm doing everything from the foundation to roofing! The only advantage I've got is equipment. I can use any piece laying around the shop. 700 pound beam to put into place? no problem! I use my little finger to pull the lever On the forklift which does the lifting. Work on a 18/12 pitch roof? No problem! I use a work platform and it's like shingleing a wall! I know it won't be done before the permit expires but who cares, I'll file for an extension. I do have to limit how much I do, at my age few are still banging nails, evan fewer will tackle anything this big. I like it though, when it's finally done it will be done my way...And I get to choose the station on the radio!
*helen & i built our 1st house before i could cut a board straight or owned a chisel set...i was working heavy & marine const... when the company folded i went on unemployment and spent the next 6 months finishing it...probably about 12 months in all..our 2d house i build with my crew whenever we got slack or as i saw fit... that one took 2 years...and really crimped my business...sure do have a lot of equity though...
*Every so often, I walk my 3 1/2 acres with my four year old son and wonder if I should just get to it now or spend the next 9 years teaching him how to swing a hammer so that by 13 I'll have a decent helper that likes my music too.....
*I envy you, Tim. I'd give a lot to have those years back with my son.
*Just a thought , If you have a place to store supplies start buying what you need for your house when it is on sale or you can get a deal on.about half of my house is still in my garage. I bought a lot at lumber yard inventory reduction and close out sales. I should be able to finish this house with out a loan from the bank. If you could buy all of your lumber in full bunks the yard should cut you a deal. Example Yard had 3/4 CDX on sale for $17.50 sheet I call and ask what his bottom dollar would be if I bought 4 bunks ,$15.75 sheet.
*Tim, at 13 he won't like your music. Start now. Joe H
*I built my house solo...just moved X-country, so had no friends or contacts in the area...I also had only a basic knowledge of construction. Same as others, though...I prefer solo.Subbed out the foundation, oil burner installation, and sheetrock. Did the rest of the work solo while the wife took care of the paperwork.I still remember setting the three 46' long, 12" deep LVL's for the main beam on day one. Solo. Yee-hah!The others are right...work smart. Stay organized. Set detailed timelines for each project segment and work like a bandit to stay on those timelines. Not "three weeks to frame," but "1 day for lally columns and main beam, 3 days for 1st floor platform, 3 days for 1st floor walls,..." etc.Work with your lumberyard for timely delivery of materials, and use boom truck deliveries whenever possible. Lugging 50+ sheets of 3/4 T&G ply up to the attic (third floor) was no treat. Lugging 24 squares of shingles to the ridge was even less thrilling. Got me in good shape, though. Have the small stuff on site or in the back of your truck. Every trip away from the site for nails, screws, another tube of PL-400, etc, will kill your productivity. Took 11 months to get the CO. Most everything was done except landscaping and detailed interior trim. Busted my arse in those 11 months. If I wasn't at work, I was on the jobsite pounding nails, pulling wire, sweating pipe, etc. Never saw a TV. We were renting a beach house while building, and the only time I laid out in the sun at the beach was a half-day I took off on Father's Day. Felt guilty, so I hit the house after lunch.Amazingly, I had no gaffs. No injuries. Zero cost overruns...even came in a bit under, so that money was plowed into upgraded kitchen appliances.The only estimate that I was way off on was sweat equity. Thought I'd end up with about $70-80K, ended up with over $200K.I truly loved building this place. I really enjoyed the final trimwork...built-in cabinetry, built-up crown, raised panel wainscotting everywhere. I'm still adding details today. That said, I could never do a house solo again. Too many distractions to be that selfish for that long of a period of time again.One thing never changed throughout the construction process, though...I still hate painting.Use your head before you use your hands.
*Solo!..holy mack'ral there Andy! ha ha lot's of ambitious people..and good insight too.I had help from my brothers, a lawyer and meat cutter...so its been legally butchered! keep it small in scope, one story. make provision for secure storage. If you're not used to working alone, this will be a wake up call!Stay away from vaulted ceilings, quirky bumpouts, and otherwise ostentatious designs. Humongous windows too.Good luck and enjoy the work,Dan-O
*Mongo brings up a great point that I overlooked in my post. I too HATE painting so I recruited my two retired parents to do it. My dad loves it because it keeps him from having to do projects at his house that my mom dreams up.Mike
*Mongo, I'm not even going to ask how you put up those LVL's, but I sure wish I was there to see it.
*Frenchy, too bad your not here in Michigan...I'd love to help you out. I got started building my own home as well, timberframe/SIP.Everyone here has given you good advice, particularly with scheduling, pricing, friends, subs, and so on. Here are a couple more that I learned while building my own home (actually, the wife and I). Form a partnership with a local lumberyard. Even if some of the items aren't as cheap as they might be at the big-box; the service level is worth the extra cost. I can't count how many times their suggestions, advice, and assistance helped me not only in building my first house, but in all my "professional" jobs since. It's a whole lot easier getting thousands of dollars from someone you know than someone you don't (particularly if somethings messed up). Keep perspective. There are a whole lot of things you can probably do better/faster/cheaper than if you hired subs, and whole bunch you can't. Don't get too bent out of shape if things don't go as planned, cost more, are harder, etc. And don't take it out on yourself or those around you. In five years, you'll laugh all the way to the bank, and at that minor thing that set you off "that day".Buy quality; in your tools, your plans, and your materials. I could tell you my famous "$39 Black and Decker saw that exploded and caught fire while using it story"...but we'll save that for another time. I'm sure I, and others will think these up as we go...
*Get a bunch o' different kinda clamps....
*Built my own house 18 years ago and it's still not done. We did move in 8 months after we broke ground. I have two bits of advice. First, be prepared to take a break at a certain point in the construction, especially if it is your second "job". I was completely exhausted after eight months and needed a little time to recover. Everyone I know who has done a similar project agrees.Second, don't be afraid to ask those friends of yours for help in the big labor phases of the job. We had work bees for the foundation, the framing, hanging drywall and for an addition a few years later. These were more fun than you can imagine and people are eager to help if you will just ask them. Plan the date well in advance, be prepared, have enough materials, have jobs for the unskilled, spend plenty on food and drink. It will be one of the great experiences of your life. You will be thinking of those friends when you are working away on finishing the details.
*another tip. They told me but was too stubborn to listen. When you start digging your footing, get the backhoe to dig a deep hole where the drive way will be. every time concrete truck wash out, wash in the hole. after concrete phase is finish backfill the hole. Since its under the driveway you will never worry about digging up concrete. All those little piles of wash out that I hauled to the dump drove me crazy. also rocks everywhere in the grass. You can also toss the broken block for your foundation in the same hole.
*FredB, I'm courious why you go to 1/32 of tolerance? Most homes that I see are built within plus or minus a quarter of an inch. There are thousands of fine homes with much larger differances. Take a tape measure into any of those grand old homes that have survived a century or more, heck take a marble and a plumb-bob. drop the marble on any hardwood floor and hang the plumb-bob against any wall/ doorframe, etc. Wood moves! it swells, shrinks and warps years after being put in place. Perfection is an illusion and a waste of time.
*Clamps, jacks, rollers, and comalongs.Frenchy, did you say sixty three years old? I couldn't quite hear ya 'cause my ears are gettin' a little blind er deaf.quarter inch is ok by me - except in the kitchen
*fred.... r u talking about those things we used to call CH's ?hell , son...they don't even mark 'em on the tapes no more...so iffen u want one , u got to interpolate 'em...
*I believe the technical term is "RCH".
*ya no, jimbo..i bet they got rid of them RCH's to be politically correct.. just one more thing to blame on them damn liberals & femanazis...
*Whale,Good luck to you on your project. I hope to do the same thing myself in another year,after we get rid of the daycare bills. I've completely re-modeled two houses now without a lot of help and I'd agree with all of the previous posts about how tiring it can be. Also, be prepared for the inevitable fact that because you don't work at a particular trade day in and day out, there's going to be some things that just don't come out as well as you'd like. You are going to have to accept some degree of imperfection. The more you plan things out in advance, the better the little details should come out. I've been an electrician for the last twenty years and as many times as I've seen concrete formed and finished,block laid,plumbing DWV's roughed, drywall finished, etc. whenever I do it myself there's always those little things that crop up and make me ask, "Now how and the ---- do they do that?" There are some sharp people on this site to get advice from so make use of them.
*I think worse than placing the LVLs was nailing them together. Tired arms from the overhead hammer swinging...I swore LVLs had 16d repellent in them...they're tough to nail off.In addition to the LVLs, I used TJIs for all joists. Super nice for solo ops. I ran 34-footers the full depth of the house. Easy to lift, though somewhat flimsy to carry by myself. Knowing every joist was dead-on made things go pretty fast during layout.
*I have GC'ed my own house. I contracted out most of the stuff but did a lot of my own insulation, a lot of "extras" as mentioned by others. It's been 17 months and I'm just about done painting inside. Then it's floors, doors, trim and maybe we get to move in. If you are doing it ALL by yourself, and you have a regular job, it is going to take you YEARS to do it (well, maybe not if it's a small house). A possible downside, is that before you are finished, you may actually hate your not-yet-finished house because it takes over your life -- you won't have time for anything else.
*Come on crusty, lighten up. Your dream home need not "take over" your life. It just becomes a part of it. I like football. So as to not have to knock off on sunday, the wife got me a small (not mini) tv. Foundation football. It even made it up on the roof. Had all the dogs barking in the neighborhood.
*Whale,I've been building a 2000 sq ft + garage addition on my house myself. I was in a similar situation as you. I had worked part time for my father for about 10 years while I was in school. I was rusty when I decided to do this 25 years later. It was funny how some of my old man's tricks came back to me as I went along.I grossly underestimated the time it's taking to do it. I'm 2 years into it now and am just now ready for drywall. It's not a standard style house so I can use that as part of the excuse. One of the best things I did was spend a Sunday afternoon reading through the building code. I used yellow highlight and yellow stickies to mark important pages. Then I called the building inspector and asked questions about things I wasn't sure of. If you're lucky the building inspector will be very helpful. The first inspector I dealt with was a real jerk but he was eventually fired by the town because of all the complaints. The current inspector is a very nice guy who sees it as his job to help people like us succeed. If you are doing anything out of the ordinary, check to see if the town has any bylaws that are more restrictive than the code. Our town had them for setbacks and also for the max height of buildings. I thought I was alright but it turned out the town had its own definition of "grade". I had to lower the roof height of a tower by 9". People have recommended farming out or getting help with the framing. That's an excellent suggestion. I did most of it myself with some weekend help from friends. Two people framing is much more than twice as fast as one person because you eliminate the need to travel from one end of a rafter to another (for example) to nail in the ends. I ended up hiring my 18 year old nephew for part of a summer to help with the rest. He was happy to get $10/hour cash and I was happy to have the extra set of hands. After a few weeks he became pretty good at it too.Attitude is also important as several have pointed out. I've tried to treat it as a hobby and I'm still enjoying the work. I've averaged only the equivalent of two to three days a week on it and I always take Sundays off. The other advantage to dragging it out is that you can pay for a lot of it as you go. We got an equity line of credit on our house for the big expenses so we don't have to worry about construction loan schedules. Now that rates are low, we're considering refinancing our mortgage to get enough to cover the rest of the construction and yet still have the same monthly payment.Finally, as others have pointed out, this forum is an excellent resource. I've benefited greatly from the advice I've received here. Visit here often!Best of luck!Roger
*Another vote for the best previous advice to watch your back, use machinery for heavy stuff, minimize ladders even if it means building a deck, and buy before you need it. One of our big price breaks was Nixon's '74 price controls, local yard had to sell remaining stock way under cost to meet gov't rules on price controls - got 5MBF of 18'#1&SS 2x10s for $52MBF!. Take advantage of sales when you see'em. Most of the plumbing was from closeouts and surplus stores bought over previous 4 years and stored, etc. 1st house when 25YO, 5000 sq ft, about $3.50 sq ft in mid '70s. Like someone else said, the sweat equity payoff can be huge. Took 3 years to move in, another to finish - full time office job concurrently. Included bulldozing 500 ft of road and clearing property. Family solo w/5&7 YO "help" -- everything; plans drawn,septic, dug well, elec, plumb. -- nothing contracted. Wife says if I build another in retirement she's too old to help, plus, cooking tar for the roof in 55 gal barrel over a wood fire plus tarring outside of basement walls are her 2 worst lifetime job memories. :) (hand digging the well came in a close 3rd) Injuries - 157 chain saw stitches, none others building the house.
*Roger,Do you, by chance, live in a small college town in southern MN?just curious....-Randy
*Good luck. I've done it twice. First time was easier because a bad winter shut down my building business when my house was weathered in. That gave me 2 or 3 solid months on the inside of the house.Second one is still under construction, and we've been living there for two years! Different circumstances, office job instead of constructions job. Burned out one winter and had a hard time hauling my butt over to a cold, dark unfinished house to work after work. I kept up the weekends though. I found the hardest part to be stealing time from my kids. Now that we're in the house, progress has slowed to a crawl largely because I'm spending more time with them. The house'll be there when they aren't. Still, my boys will have some idea of how to build a house, and that's something that will likely curse or bless their lives!Andy
*Hey Whalemania good going! I was 29 when my wife and I bought our 2 acres. Kept looking at modulars and "custom-type" homes where they put up and you pay to nail the trim in. Then one day I said to wife--I'm going to build it myself. She said sure why not! The only experience I had was building a small tool shed for my father in law. But I knew how to wield a hammer. My rec to you is that if you know framing, you know how important it is to have things SQUARE! So do the framing yourself if you have the time. Get help if you can and then when the drywall guys show up things will go very well. I did everything except the foundation (poured) and the drywall. Frame, roof, plumbed, elect,heat, trim cabs installed. It took me about 6 months to build a small 1300 sf ranch. ( I did trim work after we moved in.) I had some help from brothers in law. We had 3 kids, one a baby at the time and I was working full time too. All things are possible. Just stay focussed and you will get it done. We have been here over 30 years now. House is still in great shape. Wish I could build another!
*Randy,Actually I'm in a small town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Why do you ask? Did your town go through a recent change in inspectors for similar reasons?
*If you do it all your self, you'll be your own best friend or worst enemy. The trim guy will cuss the framer if it's not square and plumb. The window installer will cuss him too if he doesn't read the RO's right on the plans.The painter will cuss the trim carpenter if he leaves gaps, gaffs, and dings.The sheetrock finisher will cuss the hanger if he leaves big poorly fit gaps and doesn't drive his screws snug. You could go schitzophrenic cussing yourself out so do it right the first time.
*Buy the tools! If you get good quality tools they will more than pay for themselves while you're working. Then once you're done you'll have an easy time of selling them and recapturing a good percentage of your cost. It's well worth the cost of a good air nailer for the speed it helps you build at. The same goes with the rest of the equipment. I realize that cost is a major consideration, yet speed of completetion has value too! If you deduct the sale of the used tools from their cost they become positively cheap!
*Roger,Your description sounded a lot like a house being built in my childhood home town by a "nutty professor" in his spare time. After three years he finally has a few windows in and some house wrap on. The framing was exposed to the elements for a full two years. It looks loke an old fasioned court house - square plan with 3-story tower front and center and 12' ceilings. It could be a really cool house if it doesn't rot to the ground before he finishes it.Good luck to you.-Randy
*I built our first house when I was 26 with very little experience. I made lots of mistakes - mostly doing things with very little efficiency, wasting wood, etc. But it turned out well in the end. We put 90K into it and sold it six years later for 199K. We could have built for a lot less, but I subbed out all the utility work.Lots of good advice so far.The thing that surprised me the most was the sheer physical effort involved. You visualize getting a certain amount of work done one day and then you realize you need to move the pile of 40 sheets of 3/4 ply. By the time you're done with that you've killed an hour and you're dead tired. The next day you need to make up some time, but first you have to go to the big box store to pick up yet another 100 studs and other assorted items. That takes two hours by the time you unload the truck and put them where you need them and there you are, almost time for lunch and you've got nothing accomplished. It is exhausting and relentless.The other thing that I didn't expect - and this is something you might want to stop and think hard about - is the psychological effect of having to live with the hundreds of little mistakes you make and changes you wish you could have made after it's too late. Even though 90% of the people who saw my house loved it, these imperfections ruined the house for me. I now live in a classic craftsman style bungalow built in 1924 and the rehab jobs I'm currently doing on the attic and basement are more rewarding for me than my "old" house and the little imperfections typical of the 77-year-old house we live in now don't bother me at all.Good luck to you.-Randy
*And member ----> 2 people can do some jobs 5 times faster than 1 person can.
*A generation ago when my DW and I officially started our lives together, we worked and rented and scrimped for three years till we could pay cash for a leaky roof on a desirable site - a couple of years later, when we were gearing up for the first major reno project, a friend who made his living in the trades told me "get a b good table saw" - excellent advice indeed - ranks right up there with "let me send Kraig (electrician) over to talk to you" - twenty some years later, the house, being a work of art and love, certainly isn't finished, but it's fun having your childrens' friends dig staying over in the log cabin - or as one of my longtime customers visiting for the first time said: "My, you live in an interesting place" -BTW, a book worth checking out is i A Pattern Language, by Christopher Alexander - should be in any good library - (in other words if your library doesn't have it, request they get it)
*Fred implies a good point - take plenty of photos before insulation and dry wall and after elec & plumbing - you will always know where everything is in the walls, same for buried pipes, etc. for renovations 20 years later.Frenchy: you actually SELL a tool after you bought it? I thought the next building for yourself after the house was a barn to store the tools. :)!David D. You know somebody with a "K" Kraig? - thought my wife was the only one used a K for Kraig for our last son.
*ya - Kraig B. - electrical, plumbing - viet-nam vet - ex farm boy - didn't appreciate the quality of his work until I had the chance to compare with others - there's little new construction in our rural area, so electritions do a lot of remodel and ag - it's a special feeling to hang a hundred feet in the air, remove a 5 horse motor from a grain auger, lower it to the ground, r&r - lots of BIG panels in ag operations - it's a privilage to help occasionaly -
*If you want to get done fast use the TJIs as mongo did ,don't use steel joist as I did! 9 screws on each end 3or 4 at each stiffner under wall partitions,you could nail up the TJIs inthe time it takes to put in 2 screws.
*I'm amazed by all of the energy out there. More power to you. However,I would listen to the advice of several others on this thread: do the parts you enjoy and hire out as much of the other stuff as you can afford. At age 45, I decided to put on an addition to our 1880 home. I hired out the rough framing, mechanicals, roof, tile work, and skim-coat plaster. What's left, you ask. Plenty! As a professional cabinetmaker, I wanted to do the cabinets for the new kitchen and bath. I also did the clapboard siding, insulation, interior trim work, and finish flooring. It took me about a year to finish the addition but I enjoyed the work and I didn't kill myself in the process. In fact, at age 55, my wife and I have found an 1880 summer place in need of much work. Some indoor plumbing would be nice for starters. We hope to begin that project this coming summer.
*Randy,That's hilarious!!! Every town needs a nutty professor and I just might qualify for our town. I do get a lot of head-scratchers standing in the road. Here's a picture of my project. We opted for the lighthouse look. We're getting bids on drywall and I'm ready to move indoors to start the finish. Take care!Roger
*Randy,That's hilarious!!! Every town needs a nutty professor and I just might qualify for our town. I do get a lot of head-scratchers standing in the road. Here's a picture of my project. We opted for the lighthouse look. We're getting bids on drywall and I'm ready to move indoors to start the finish. Take care!Roger
*> - take plenty of photos before insulation and dry wall and after elec & plumbing - Use slide film and note the exact position of the camera. Then after the rock is up, you can put the slide projector exactly where the camera was, and zoom to line up the electrical boxes and rough openings in the picture with the corresponding items on the finished wall. The picture will then show you exactly where the studs are. Drive a nail into the stud in the picture, and it'll hit the real stud in the wall -- very neat.-- J.S.
*WOW, great idea!!!
*i I have been working mostly alone for the past 10 yearsBecause of the b,f+s? : )Jeff
*Whale-I am the same age as you. Been whacking nails since before a long time ago. I solo-d four houses since I was twenty eight. It is good to be young and dumb sometimes.Hope yer healthy and strong and tireless and kidless. LEVERAGE is a beautiful thing. "The Very Efficient Carpenter" is a good read.lining walls by yourself can test your patienceA Bumpstick is also a beautiful thing.Use your brain before your back.Engineered lumber is a gift from god- lvl's , tji's,fingerjointed studs.Shingles stocked on the roof beat the hell outa any alternative.sheeting a roof alone sucksI think Ron said way back near the beginning of this -Motivation. It is tough. If you have kids or a wife- they ain't gonna see you- 'cept at the house. Make sure it isn't that damn house!Sub out the foundation , framing , and roofing.best of luckhubyou can email me at dug the builder @aolif I can help at all
*hey, doug.. when you gonna tell us about texas ?enquiring minds wanna no ....
*Texas is beryberybery hot in the summertime amigo. I learned to play golf there and lost thirty five pounds. (Most of that statement is true- I need new clothes.)Mike how the heck are you?Texas was a great trip- big time learning experience. I got pictures to post.Way different building than I had been exposed to in Ohio- we managed, and the product is pretty sweet. (as the young people say)I gotta tell you- working with IPE -awesome! That is some incredible wood- you can route a knife edge in that stuff.Regional differences were interesting... I enjoyed it.
*Art B. Of course not, what, sell a tool? Heck, my goal is to have Norm borrow my tools.. But it sounds good to she who must be obeyed
*I am an Architect in Las Vegas, Nevada. I know some people who have done what you are attempting. My Dad would have done it without thinking. I am a little cautious, but hope to build for myself someday. Anyway, you asked about a good book. The book I like is called HOUSE, and it really covers most of the pitfalls one could think of. Best of luck, Evan VauseArchitect
*Roger,What a great house! You put my little rectangle box to shame. I like those little windows midway up the tower. Is that a fish over the garage doors? The picture wasn't clear enough to tell for sure. Did you design it yourself?-Randy
*I never thought of that. You might be onto something there, Jeff.
*Yeah, that's a beauty, Roger. How about some more pictures?
*Ditto, Roger...Nice shingle job.
*Whale, is it possible that you can use your property adjuster skills to earn "extra" money on the side (maybe home inspections?), perhaps more per hour than you'd pay some subs? I could actually make in a day enough to pay someone for a weeks work, but I don't -- I just don't want to, and I can't find people who do things the way I like. You may be like that -- nothing anyone does really suits you -- so you'd best just do it yourself. You'll either be happy with the outcome that way, or have no one to blame but yourself.
*Roger,Nice house! I remember spending every summer from 1953 until 1985 at Poponesset Beach on Cape Cod....probably not far from where you are. It's a lovely area. Since moving to the mid-west I don't get back there very often.
*Thanks, folks! It's taking a long time, but I'm still enjoying it! I posted a few pictures of the fish last spring before the Gallery became a folder. Randy, here's a picture of the fish from the driveway. It took about 6 days to make it. Mike Gertin has an article on making some duck shapes in shingles in the FHB that came in the mail yesterday. I used a different technique but it wasn't that difficult.
*Here's a picture of the eastern exposure showing the old on the left and the new on the right. I'm lucky that it's an addition so I can live next door to the project.Chip, I'm in Eastham which I think is about half an hour from Poponesset. I spent a couple of summers on the Cape when I was in college in the 70's. What a great place to be when you're young, wasn't it? Now it's a great place to chase fish! ;)
*roger... time for you to post some more pics in the gallery... let's see how the whale turned out...please...
*Mike, will do! I'll take a few new shots if the weather cooperates. I don't have any good ones of the whale yet. Thanks!
*Hey crusty,I could make more money than I would have to pay some subs, but I just want to do as much myself as I can. Working for a large co. as I do now makes one feel so far removed from the were they came. I started with formwork in South Yarmouth for a year and then framed houses throughout the cape for 2 years. Now those were the good times.
*That's the perspective you need to pull this off successfully...If you're self-building to save money, you'll drive yourself and your family nuts. If the primary motivation is "cause I want to, dammit" I think you'll stand a greater chance of success. Though saving money in the process is always nice!
*wM:Congrats on your project! I'm doing the same thing myself, partly for $$ savings and partly to see if I can...Lots of good advice in this thread; some I wish I'd seen before I started. One thing I wish I had started sooner, that I'd recommend to you: Do a project journal. Whether on computer, or a bound book, or even a looseleaf - something to record EVERYTHING about the project. I'm not referring solely to the bills and plans and permits, but to a daily record of "what I done" as well as noting down plans, goals, concerns, regrets, and musings. You can even get comments and autographs from your helpers on the days you can get assistance. Another thing I wish I'd done more of was to take more pictures!I'm very glad of a few purchases I made before I started: air nailer & compressor, back-support toolbelt, wall jacks, and a good, wide tape measure. I'm not 100% sure that the air nailer speeds me up, but it sure saves wear and tear on the arms! As for the wall jacks, after I'd raised a framed, sheathed 28' wall by myself, my wife came over and told me that she finally believed I knew what I was doing. (Can't buy support like that!)One thing to beware of is that you'll never get as much done as you think you could have. It do get done, though...good luck!-TJ
*
Hello all...First post. I have been getting FH for several years and have decided to make the plunge. I am buying a lot and building most of my own house. I know my limitations and my strenghts (I have been in construction from 18 till 27, then I became a property adjuster...I know what some of you think about that). Getting to the point, my skills are rusty and I am looking for some ideas or tips as to building a home solo. Especially on those days when a wall needs to go up and all my buddys are nowhere to be found. Also, any good books out there about this subject?