Hurry Up and Wait

I've come to the conclusion that building a house is easier than building a small cottage on a lake.  I think once I get things started that will change but the permits and procedures are driving me nuts!  Once we committed to the project I just wanted to dig a hole but things don't happen that fast.  As I alluded to earlier there are some "extra" parties involved in a project like this.  First is the health department.  Because of the need for a septic system and being so close to the lake it has to be designed and approved before you can even apply for any other permits.

Tomorrow at noon the health department will have our designed system and application.  Then I can apply for a construction permit from the county.  That will take a week to review but to keep things rolling I'm mailing in the application tomorrow morning along with all the documentation they request.

Once I have the county permits secured then I get to approach the Apple Canyon Association Building Committee for their approval.  I found out last week that they only meet once a month on the first Saturday of the month.  Since that is this coming Saturday I am planning a road trip to Apple River to attend the meeting.  Even though I'm a week away at best from presenting my application to them I just don't think it can hurt to introduce myself, in person, and let them know what we are planning to build.  Laying the ground work can only help head off any items I might have missed or any concerns they might have.

One thing that made me feel a little better this morning is when I talked to the sub contractor that will be digging for the foundation he told me they are probably still 2-3 weeks away from even being able to get their equipment to the site.  Since most of the roads into the area are gravel there are weight restrictions at certain times of the year when the roads are still too soft.  Who would have thunk?  So even if I had all the permits and approvals I would still be waiting.

So I will take a big deep breath and relax.  Unlike building a house we really have no deadlines.  We don't HAVE to have it finished because we have to move out of one place and into another.  I am learning in my semi-retirement to slow down and relax more.  I still have a long way to go but I'll get there.

Omens and Bald Eagles

OK I know what you’re thinking, what on earth do these two things have in common? 

First the bald eagles.  Ever since I was in my teens I’ve been fascinated with bald eagles.  That was back when they were endangered and DDT was outlawed in an effort to save them.  Elton Fawks, from the Quad Cities, was actively involved in annual counts and, in some part, was credited with saving them from extinction. 

I'm also very superstitious and believe in omens.  Probably more good omens than bad.  Bad luck for others usually is good luck for me.  Good things happen to me on Friday the 13^th.  My 13^th birthday was actually on a Friday the 13^th.  I walk under ladders, etc. 

While I know today is Friday the 18^th but this morning, while driving to a meeting with the lumber yard manager, I saw something I have never seen in my entire life.  Not even in the Quad Cities where it is common to see several eagles by the river.  I was so shocked I swerved off the highway to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.  On a small frozen pond, outside the city limits but just off the highway, were over 100 bald eagles standing on the ice, eating or just resting!  An unbelievable sight.  I wish I would have had a camera. 

So I took that as a good omen since I was on my way to have the two biggest questions answered on our project.  1)  What will the lumber package cost? and 2)  Will my Amish contractor friend travel that far to frame it for us?

Well I was right on the omen!  I have my framing crew and the lumber bid was $10,000 less than I had estimated.  I am now significantly under budget with firm bids on 67% of the items needed.  There aren’t any real big items in the remaining 33% so even if I miss some of my estimates, which I will, I can’t have anything that will throw us off significantly so I am VERY excited. 

FULL SPEED AHEAD!  

Budget Update

Had a good week regarding the overall budget estimates.  I almost hate to say that for fear it will jinx us next week.  We came into the start of the week $5800 over budget.  What is bad about that is I have only been quoting things like the foundation walls, slab floors, digging and septic system which means I was barely out of the gate and I'm that far off.  I try to focus the most effort in order of construction tasks so I won't worry about things like kitchen cabinets or light fixtures for quite some time.

As time permits I have been sending out some requests for other smaller items like garage doors and gutters.  As more quotes came is last week the numbers improved so as of tonight we're only $700 over!  That is a $5000 gain last week.

With any luck I might here back next week on the (2) biggest budget items yet to be decided.  The lumber package and the labor cost to frame it up.  I'm hoping I feel this good next Saturday night!

The Amish Lifestyle

I think it is a pretty commonly  accepted opinion that the Amish are known for high quality work.  I can tell you from experience that this is true and they have a tremendous work ethic as well.  

Over the years I've done a few projects with some Amish carpenters that live in a community about 30 miles from where we live.  When we decided to build a house a few years ago there was only one person I wanted to frame it for me, Ruben Schwartz.  I was aware of Ruben's work from observing other projects of his and I can honestly say it was the only time I haven't gone out for multiple bids on a project because 1) I felt the price was fair and 2) I knew the quality I could expect from Ruben and his crew.

My big goal, or sales job, now is to somehow convince Ruben to travel a couple of extra hours each day and come do another project with me.  

Ruben and his crew raising the first wall at our house project (3) years ago.

Amish Dos and Don'ts

What I haven't quite figured out is what the Amish lifestyle allows and doesn't allow.  I am beginning to think there are varying degrees of Amishness!  Kind of like different religions I guess.  I had heard, before I met Rueben, that the Amish didn't use electricity and phones and other new technologies were not acceptable.  Well I think when it comes to business or making a living that changes somewhat.

Rueben and his crew had the nicest power tools sold on the market.  Electric compressors, nail guns, saws, etc.  They can't drive automobiles, they are driven to and from the job sites each day by a hired "driver", but they drive heavy duty equipment and lifts on the job site.  I had no way of contacting Rueben after working hours but from 6:00 a.m. until about 6:00 p.m. if I needed to talk to him I just called his cell phone!

They arrive at sun up when the van drops them off and depart at sun down, just before dark, when the van returns to pick them up.  Long days of steady hard work.  The crew would average about (10) men.  Everyone had their jobs to do and they did them with little conversation until break time.

The manager of the lumber company helps coordinate Ruben's projects and while meeting with him today I offered to pick them up every day and take them home every night if he would work for me.  That would require me to rent a (15) passenger van for about $1000 but it would be well worth it.

Dave, the lumber company manager, thought Ruben would like my offer and is going to present it to him this week.  IF that happens I look foward to spending virtually an entire week with them both in the van and on the job site.  It would be interesting to learn more about their beliefs and lifestyles.  Ruben has a very dry sense of humor but he is really quite funny once you get to know him.  IF they agree to do my project they will frame, roof and side the entire house in a week.  Maybe less.  Ruben built (48) buildings last year!  Can you imagine that?  Some were farm buildings but that is almost a building a week so our little cottage will be small in comparison to most of his projects.

Should know within a week or so.  Wish me luck!

Editing As I Write This

I once again marvel at the convenience of the internet.  As I write this I am trading e-mails with the draftsman on some last minute changes that were needed after we saw the elevation views.  I print them out, make my changes and sketches, scan them and e-mail them back.  How fast and cool is that?

You can see from the front elevation below the windows were too small.  We changed them to double casements.  We will also add shake siding on the gable or peak area and trim out the windows differently to add more curb appeal.

Front Elevation

The rear elevation looks a little strange in two dimensions.  The reason is the middle section is actually two walls that project out at an angle.  You can see what I mean from the side view.  The area down the center or in the middle will be a fireplace with stone from floor to ceiling on the inside.  Just siding on the outside.

Rear Elevation

Side Elevation showing North wall of garage.

Use It Or Lose It

Early in the planning phase I was debating between a slab foundation, a crawl space, and a full basement.  For several reason I decided to go with a full basement.  Not only does it allow easy access to plumbing, electrical, etc. but you don't have to waste space upstairs for things like furnaces and water heaters and it really is cheap square footage.  I've also listened to my wife and friends that suggested we have a 2nd bathroom and will now put one in downstairs.  For less than $1000 in additional fixtures and materials we will have a full bath downstairs to handle extra guests or overflow.

Even though we have no plans on finishing off the basement, other than a bathroom, when I got to looking at the initial layout the only thing that prevented having a great space for a lower level rec room was two steel beams right down the middle of the room.  I asked the draftsman to look and see if we might have some other options and he made a great change.  Now, as you can see below, if we ever decide we want to have a room down there we'll have a perfect location.

Budget Update


Last week at this time my first bids were starting to come in.  The foundation and concrete portion at that time was 7% over what I had in the budget.  I've since received a few additional quotes and as of this afternoon we are now 7% under.  That is why you get multiple quotes!  Even if the low bid is maybe not the particular sub contractor I want to use having a lower bid from a competitor puts you in a very strong negotiating position.

I'm still way off on my guess for what the excavation would cost but with only one bid in thus far on that item I'm still optimistic I can bring that down.

The first floor plan hasn't changed much but I'll show it below anyway.  Made the vanity larger and th closet smaller in bedroom #1.  We figured we would be using the bathroom MUCH more and would rather have more counter space.  I also had them flip the tub so the wall with the plumbing would be on the backside of the smaller closet.  That way IF we ever had a plumbing issue we could access the piping through the wall in the closet as opposed to having to take out kitchen cabinets and create a real mess.

Was hoping for some elevation views today to share but they didn't get them finished.  Should have them by th next post.

First Floor Main Level

Second Floor Loft

First Big Bid

Got an e-mail at about 6:00 p.m. tonight from the guy drawing up our plans.  He said he will have the final version to me tomorrow.  I had asked for a couple of small changes last week so now I'm VERY excited.  While awaiting the official final version I've sent out over a dozen quote requests for everything from foundation to HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning).

Got my first bid back last week.  It was from a subcontractor that does multiple things.  That is appealing because if one sub can do excavation, pour walls, pour floors, and install a septic system that significantly reduces the number of different people I have to select and coordinate.  Without getting too specific, in case they happen to find out about my blog, the bid was about 10% over what I had in my original budget.  The good news is 10% isn't that far off.  The bad news is 10% in this case equals $3000.  I'm not unhappy with that, since it is the first bid and my budget was not exactly based on the most thorough knowledge of construction costs or the area we will be building.

The real BIGGIE will be the lumber package.  It represents the largest cost in the entire project.  To arrive at that number I need the full prints and a meeting with my selected lumber company.  I am hoping to set up a meeting next week.

There are currently two items that are preventing me from officially starting this project.  First is the lumber estimate and the second is closing on a lot we purchased in Cedar Falls less than a year ago when we thought we were going to build here.  We have an accepted offer and are supposed to close in about 3 weeks.  If all goes well that will provide us the cash to kick things off and hopefully break ground this spring.