Building first home

Just closed purchase on a piece of land and planning to build my first home in the very near future. Since TW is full of so many great minds I figured i'd post up to see what everyone thinks about home plans.

This is the plan we've picked out.

http://www.westhomeplanners.com/House-Plan-1479.html

We are going to leave the basement unfinished, just what's required for local code.

As far as construction, I am planning on using independent concrete forms for the foundation and walls to the roof line.

There have to be a lot of home owners on here so any thoughts/suggestions. What would you change, where would you spend extra and where would you save?

Am I off my rocker for building my first house instead of buying?

 

This will be fun to follow

 

Want to head up north and build it for me?

 

What are you planning for flooring? I started out with a pretty small Cape (24'x34') and I will offer that all tiling we did we placed at a 45-degree angle. Really makes a smaller sized room look bigger. And it looks a little less industrial.

 

Where are you ?

 

Also, if you can, I would pay whatever it cost (of course within reason) for at least a full 8' ceiling height in basement. if you could do 9' you'll be happy you did because there's nothing worse than a basement ceiling that's scraping the top of your head. Been in so many that, by the time you drop a ceiling to clear all the pipes & duct work, you don't have any ceiling height.

Also, LVL -vs- 2x10 joists with lally coulmns is worth whatever it costs. I put a 20x22' addition on and I think it was $600-800 to "upgrade" from having 2x10" joists with a lally column right in the middle of the room (read that right in the middle of my POOL TABLE) to LVL beams that can clear-span that distance no problem. Easily the best $$$ I've spent in a while.

 

Thanks MT, definitely insulated not independent... Logix is the brand im looking at. I've heard good things, and stayed in a couple houses for a month that were constructed using the forms. Definitely quiet, and nice constant temperature.

The builders we have giving us quotes are going to deal with modifying the plans. Walls need to be thicker and trusses have to be engineered for our local snow load as well...

 

We are thinking wood and tile. I like the angle idea, not only makes it look bigger, but probably a little less 'spec' home ish.

 

Terrace... up on the north coast.

Yes! The lot has a little slope to it so we can have the basement walk out to the back yard. Builder gave the same advice on the joists... I have a pool table to put down there as well so definitely dont want any beams hanging down.

 

oh , Ripbum

My wife is from there , my stonemason too .

So , I assume your area requires rainscreen too , being on the coast ?

Have you considered radiant thin slab over framing heat or exterior insulation over your framing ?

 

Sounds like you'd enjoy a trip up. Maybe fit in some fishing!

Radiant thins lab over framing. That is on floor eating correct? We were thinking of putting a heat pump in, and I think that works along with it? Could be confusing ideas though?

The icf forms have insulation on the interior and exterior built in. Part of why we are leaning that way, suppose to e more efficient as far as heating and cooling. Not that we need much cooling up here.

 

Blown in insulation. Insulate, insulate, insulate.

 

I had my house built in 2007. It's nice get to pick everything from flooring and fixtures to the lay out of the house and see it all come together. It gets stressful at time but the pay off is a the end when everything is done congratulations and good luck.

 

Radiant thin slab over framing is basically 1 1/2" of concrete poured over standard framing with tubes containing hot water ,

You use the same type of tubes in the slab in the basement .

You can get Air to Water heat pumps now specifically designed for hydronic heating systems .

This heating system needs to be figured out early in the planning process as it has to be allowed for at the framing stage .

I was reffering to foam insulation over the exterior of the framing system , or are you considerring ICF's for your exterior walls to the ceiling line ?

 

I wouldn't use masonite siding like that elev. shows....

 

We use wood where I am

 

Most of the houses around here will use Hardie or Certainteed fiber cement siding. Some of the $money$ houses I bet use wood though.

 

Wood is cheap here , and we don't have extreme heat issues like in Texas

 

Ya I'm planning on icf right tithe ceiling.

Siding will be either hardyboard (or similar) or cedar. I have a friend that mills it. Just have to decide if the extra maintenance is worth it.