okie boarder's house

So, not a whole lot has happened since the slab pour, other than getting a few tasks done and getting ready for the framers. The slab has set up well and it has been interesting to watch the changes as it cures. The process of machine finishing to this level is pretty cool and it goes through some amazing changes. We're definitely seeing more motteling (sp?) and pattern/color variation as it cures. This week, they got the septic system in, drilled the well and got the temp power pole in place. The build package is set to be delivered mid week and framing should start late in the week. We're really looking forward to this stage and seeing the house really take shape.



















We managed to increase our firewood stash this last week as ice storms hit the are we live now. Many trees throughout the neighborhood fell victim to the ice storm and had to be cut down, including two of my neighbors' trees.

skutsch wrote: Cool Stuff. A little late to the party, but still time to so some fun stuff. Mark a spot on the property and take a picture from that spot everyday, you can them combine them all and do a time lapse, its ends up being a pretty cool momento.

We did that on a house we're building right now to give to the customer in the end and to put on our web site. Next three weeks of time lapse photos will be really cool. Framing,roofing,windows and siding.

Cool Stuff. A little late to the party, but still time to so some fun stuff. Mark a spot on the property and take a picture from that spot everyday, you can them combine them all and do a time lapse, its ends up being a pretty cool momento.

Smithfamily wrote: $210 a square foot! Wow! I would love to have a house built per our specs and desires, but here too cost is high, but nowhere near that! I really like that Pex system. I am curious now to see if it is used much around my area. North west of Orlando. Keep the pictures and updates coming!

I just realized I may not have stated that correct. This contractor would have cost us $210k total if we had him do all the work. He would have bid $225k to most people, but we know him and he knocked his price down from the start. The other bids I got were $225k-250k, so anywhere up to ~$100/sq ft.

$210 a square foot! Wow! I would love to have a house built per our specs and desires, but here too cost is high, but nowhere near that! I really like that Pex system. I am curious now to see if it is used much around my area. North west of Orlando. Keep the pictures and updates coming!

peter1234 wrote: material costs are about 30% of copper

I believe that is correct...PEX is less than copper. Plus, it is far less likely to get stolen off a job site. LOL

Smithfamily wrote: Looking great! Educate me, with the blue and red "lines", water? And will that use a "manifold"? I recently made an offer on a house that had this "manifold" system in the garage. Curious of its appearance, and having no clue as to what it was, I did a "search" online (Took me awhile!!) Water direct to the end source! Very impressive and a $$ saver. Is that the case here? And install cost vs traditional? And no fear of breakage/leakage under slab? The system I looked at was through the walls and attic, a "re-pipe" obviously. What is the square footage (living) and what do you estimate your cost per/square ft, without land? And, when do you estimate the housewarming party to be?? Haha! Thanks for keeping us posted!

Yeah, as Pete said it is PEX and the manifolds give the home run and the above ground point of connections. I think this also leaves the option for the hot water recirculator my contractor is thinking about, and it might leave the option open for the small tankless units.

Our square footage is 2426 per the plans. We are shooting for around $75-80/sq ft (~$180k), but that is with us doing some of the work. Normally, this house should cost about $210 or a little higher, depending on options, in this area.

The housewarming party will probably be in the summer...come on down. :-)

8122pbrainard wrote: Jerry, I'll comment on this. With pex, (or any system) the prefered method is to "home run" all the supplies. This mimimizes fittings so you only have the potential leaks at the manifold and then at the point of use. The worst thing that could happen is if you "tee'd" a tap in a line and the pour over it with concrete and then have a problem.

Pretty cool. Slim to no chance of the material (piping) cracking or leaking under slab due to freezing or any other situation? That seems to be a common reason here in Florida for a "re-pipe". Copper piping springing leaks caused from they say, water quality, and replacing through the walls and attic.
I liked the claims for the system (Pex?) for water and power conservation and simplicity for repair.
Cost vs traditional different?

Crawl spaces are better, easier to bury the bodies

Jerry,
I'll comment on this. With pex, (or any system) the prefered method is to "home run" all the supplies. This mimimizes fittings so you only have the potential leaks at the manifold and then at the point of use. The worst thing that could happen is if you "tee'd" a tap in a line and the pour over it with concrete and then have a problem.

Yes, they did do compaction...that is their normal process. It was pretty solid...I walked around on it. We are expecting a lot of rain over the next few days and the slab pour won't be until next week, so we'll see what happens. They still have work to do to elevate the steel and tie into the stem wall, so they may do another compaction during that process. I'll check on that, though. It would be good to know for sure and make sure they have taken the correct steps. I would bet they do as this builder is very particular. If they didn't, he will get it taken care of. He hasn't seen this progress in person yet since he's been gone this week, but I'm sure he'll be looking at it carefully when he returns.

More progress. Sand and steel is in and they are almost ready to pour the slab.

Thanks! Yes, the concrete will just be burnished (some people call it). Basically, power troweled about twice as long as you would for a shop floor, so it gets super smooth and a bit of a shine to it. Like this...









I use photobucket.

Took this picture Saturday, from the road to our south. It gives a nice perspective of the layout from a little further away.

Looking Great!! How many sq feet was planned?