Replies

1. 
   junkhound | Oct 09, 2014 11:13am | #1

   a. make at least a small 'campaign contribution' to a local councilman so you have an AHJ side advocate (dont know how that works in Canada though)

   b. take advantage of all 'pre-permit' visits to AHJ to establish working relationship with AHJ - thos folks gotcha by the balls, so dont fight it, be lavish with compliments without being a sycophant (e.g. "I'm glad you told me that", "you have helped a lot", etc. even though you know you are getting ripped off by the AHJ)

   c. learn how to 'game' the permit system  (no joke, in my area permits are >20% of my building costs even gaming the system!) 

   e.g. want to have a basement workshop but not pay the additional sq ft permit fees? - call it a crawl space and have the ceiling only 6 ft, 5-3/4", have a 12" thick footer; cover dirt at top of footer with poly per code - after permits all signed, pour your floor after digging oout that extra 12" to bottom of footing, now you have a 7'-1" basement ceiling. etc....

   d. maximize use of surplus materials (e.g. habitat stores, craigslist, dumpsters, etc.)

   e. only the difference between buying tools and resale price counts in cost of building, no count if yu keep the tools for 'hobby'  

   f. last but not least, DIY - would take me more time to find a contractor even if they worked free than to simply DIY.

   g.  Building for re-sale?  In the USA, have a close relative (son/daughter/parent) live in the building for 2 years or more for free or for < 1/2 nominal rent in the area, then capital gains on sale of property is not taxed. 

   etc...

2. 
   Mike_Mahan | Oct 10, 2014 05:11am | #2

   Three ways to reduce cost.

   There are only three ways to reduce cost of a building.

   1. Reduce the size.

   2. Reduce the quality.

   3. Reduce the complexity.

   The third would involve a detailed look at the program for the house rather than any offering any generalities.

   Since this site is Fine Homebuilding I wouldn't pick 2 as an option.  Put your money into a small, simple, well built house.

1. 
   DanH | Oct 10, 2014 07:46am | #3

   I think you could add "Reduce

   I think you could add "Reduce the fanciness."  Or, perhaps, "Reduce the ostentatiousness."  This is different from "quality".  Exotic materials, filigree woodworking, "dramatic" windows, etc, don't add to the durability or functionality of the house, but they can certainly run up the cost.

   There is an important distinction between "quality" and "expensive".

1. 
   Mike_Mahan | Oct 10, 2014 12:02pm | #4

   I put these in the complexity category. But there are different levels of quality. And sometimes quality can be compromised. Cheaper materials are not always bad. The decision must always be how good is good enough.

3. 
   DanH | Oct 10, 2014 07:56pm | #5

   (I'm sold on "quartz".)

   (I'm sold on "quartz".)

1. 
   MarkH | Oct 10, 2014 09:40pm | #6

   Quarts has more VOCs than

   Quartz has more VOCs than Granite, but is more flexible.  Granite has a higher probability of radioactive emissions. Formica is safer, unlikely to crack, and is less expensive than either.

1. 
   DanH | Oct 11, 2014 06:59am | #7

   I also like "solid surface",

   I also like "solid surface", though it's a bit easier to scratch.

   I don't quite get how Formica is "safer". and it shows wear worse than the rest and delaminates.

4. 
   gfretwell | Oct 11, 2014 10:46am | #8

   Glasses are more likely to bounce than break on formica.

1. 
   MarkH | Oct 11, 2014 11:10am | #9

   Yeah, granite is rough on glass!

2. 
   DanH | Oct 11, 2014 04:15pm | #10

   Yeah, the one thing that bugs me about quartz is that it's so hard.  Haven't broken a dish on it yet, but clumsy ole me hits the surface hard with a dish fairly often, so it's only a matter of time.

   But SWMBO is delighted with the stuff, so that's the important thing.