Multi-phased 1 1/2 story home project in Austin, TX

[ScottA]

I do the same thing. I can see things in pics that I don't see when looking at the house. Maybe it's because the camera compresses the view so you can see more at once. I hurry every chance I get but you can't rush these things. Many of my design decisions are made after the fact. I have a basic idea of what I want to do but details evolve/change as more parts are added. I'll spend hours sometimes looking at things from different perspectives before comming up with the right ideas. I just yesterday decided how to do the front stairs I'll build later this week.

[phalynx]

Scott,

You sound a lot like me (even the same name).  My wife will ask how we will do "this part" and I just tell her, I'll figure it out as I go.  So many things I just visualize based upon the problem I am given.  I have found, at least with my skills, that if I plan everything out to a "T", I'll mess something up at the very beginning and the entire plan is shot.  I simply plan ahead with only the critical parts in mind.  Everything else, I plan as I go.  For me, I don't have experience of building house after house.  I don't know all of the gotchas so for me to plan out every detail is silly.

Our favorite statment is "Hey, it's our house and we built it ourselves.  Who's going to know?" 

On another note completely unrelated.  I had a realization this weekend.  We had some friends come over and they were just in amazement that we could build such a thing.  Build you own house???  Who helped?  Well who did the plumbing?  Who did the electrical?  Who did the siding?  How could just you 2 build this whole house?  That's unbelievable.

My realization is, I really think that this is where the problem is in society.  That people think that building your own house is unbelieveable. How can we have all gotten so lazy and out of touch.  I think those of us building our own houses are the "Pioneers at Heart" that built this Country.  An maybe, just maybe, the ones who can slowly turn it back around.

Building your own house isn't hard, it's just hard work.  It's scary that the 2 different meanings have become 1 in America.

[glenn kangiser]

Americans have come to believe that being a specialist is the way to go and they are doomed if that job disappears for the most part.

I have always wanted to do it all -- didn't want an employee etc. to get me by the short hair.

For the most part you are right.  I would say the people here doing their own house are in about 5% of the population as far as their abilities go.  The rest are specialists and have been convinced by the educators and jealous job protecting trades that they can't do it. 

Question authority I say-- if it's not authority, question it anyway.  If it's me don't bother --

Whatever it is - if you want to do it -- do it - read a book - the net - whatever.  You can do it.  Brain surgery anyone?

[John Raabe]

All true.

As jobs, education, and commerce all get more and more complex, we are led to believe that everything must be done by a specialist.

But the haze of complexity starts to dissipate when you just get in there and start working it out. Once you take the leap and as you're thinking, forum reading and studying, your intuition and "common sense" kick in and you start to see a path that moves you towards the goal. When you're learning, discovering and inventing your way through this - you can sometimes find yourself in a sweet spot called by some brain scientists, "flow".

That is a very alive and engaging place to be and I think it is one the great motivators of this self-building process.

[phalynx]

Oooh, a master bedroom.....  Well, it's a cozy master bedroom.  But, since we will only have built ins,,, no problem.  Did I mention that I hate sheetrock?  I don't think we are going to last the week.  I am almost certain, we'll move in this week.  It's no where near done, but done enough to get in there......

[Redoverfarm]

phalynx You are the adventuring kind aren't you. Moving in before you are done.  You think your DW complained about trying to keep the house clean before.

I guess asking you to come and help me with my drywall is out of the question.

[phalynx]

Redoverfarm, I may need to mention that I HATE drywall.. 

We are living in a large 5th wheel.  We really don't mind the cozyness of the camper but I mind the 524.00 monthly payment.....  I choose move in.. 

[Redoverfarm]

Yep money talks.

[phalynx]

Master bedroom complete!  (-paint).  Don't know what color yet...

[Sassy]

Looking really nice!  What type of flooring is that in the bedroom?  You have really done a beautiful job!  I'd be moving in, too!  Only trouble with that is you get comfortable, get your stuff in & then you don't feel like completing stuff...     I hate doing drywall, too!  Whew, a whole house - that's a lot of drywall. 

[phalynx]

Sassy,

The flooring is a very very expensive Mahogany flown in from the base of single mountain in Europe.  We purchased it at a very good price of 28.79 a sq ft.  It's beautiful isn't it?   HA!  just kidding.  It's Pergo Prestige.  We liked the look of it and since we have a large dog with large claws, real wood wasn't going to be durable.  (We use Suave shampoo too!!,, we don't spend a fortune on our hair, Suave just makes us look like we do) 

For everyone's consumption, we did some more work this weekend.  Added a front porch to the deck.  Very handy...  Now, the table saw can go out on the front porch with the miter saw..  Whheweeeee, we'z goin be tru renecks fo sure.




Look how happy my puppy is now!

[Redoverfarm]

Making good progress. But you have to move the frig onto the porch to fit in that catagory   Still putting off the chimney I see.  I know it is not high on the priorities.

[phalynx]

Yea, the chimney is on hold for at least winter.  The fireplace we want is $4000 so it can wait.

Hummm, fridge on the front porch.......  HONEY,, I think I can get your table to fit in the kitchen now!

[glenn kangiser]

Cut a hole through the wall so that only the front of the fridge is in the kitchen.  Throw a chain and padlock around the back so the Bodine boys don't make off wit it.

[phalynx]

Glenn, that's perfect. I can then call it a "built in".  I'll add this suggestion to the "built in's" thread.  My wife is sure to approve now.  Now if I can figure out how to add a door to the back of the fridge, I'd be able to get a cold one from either side.

[glenn kangiser]

We did that in our other place when I remodeled -- the back is in the bedroom surrounded by a sheetrock wall -- the bedroom had more room than we needed for a spare bedroom.  Actually the oven and microwaves are in the bedroom - the fridge is in the utility room.

[glenn kangiser]

Here is a pix.

[phalynx]

We did just a little work today.  Saturday was shot due to other commitments.  Just some more rocking upstairs.  We'll probably tackle the closet in the master bedroom tomorrow.

[phalynx]

Not a whole bunch of major progress to date.  I have been tacklling little projects.  I built a lot of the built-in's in the master closet.  I Was going to take a picture of it all but my wife had already put all my underwear in there.  No one needs to see that!   

We did some tile work in the master bath on the floor.  I can tell you, do not buy marble that says "imported from China".  Even the natural stone in China sucks.  Most of the pieces were broken and they epoxied the pieces back together...  uh no thanks...  It's super brittle.

[Redoverfarm]

What about the flue? Winter is coming. Just ribbing ya as I know you will get to it in your own time.

[phalynx]

I was looking at it yesterday as a matter of fact.  I am thinking of getting a cheap fireplace insert for now and then upgrading to the expensive fireplace later.  Also, I am hoping that with all the insulation that we have in here with the mild winters we have and all the hot air that spews from my mouth, we'll be able to heat the place without a fire..    never know..

What's really funny is I fully intend to tap your offer of the drawing.  But, I work for a technology company and I don't even think we have a fax machine..   I have never found it here. 

[glenn kangiser]

I had a fax but after reams of junk faxes I went to manual only.

[phalynx]

I remember the days of "fax-o-fishes".  Anyone else ever get one?

[glenn kangiser]

I didn't have that but got a million timeshare vacations in Hawaii.

[phalynx]

oh yes and the daily penny stocks before they discovered my inbox.