Buying Property and Building Your Own Home - Tips, Tricks, Advice

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

I must be a gluten for punishment. Even after reading this through, we just put some acres under contract this weekend. Significantly less restrictions than what you have experienced, but stressful all the same.

I have no idea what I’m doing. Whoops.

Congrats! How long is your feasibility study period?

We finally got our infiltration testing done and the results back. In a twist of good luck we somehow got sandy soil instead of glacial till, right where they house will deposit all the runoff from the roof. That shit was draining at 12 inches per hour as opposed to the glacial hill in the driveway area that was only drawing at 2 inches per hour. It’s the first piece of good luck we’ve had on this project.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by DETRoadster

Congrats! How long is your feasibility study period?

We finally got our infiltration testing done and the results back. In a twist of good luck we somehow got sandy soil instead of glacial till, right where they house will deposit all the runoff from the roof. That shit was draining at 12 inches per hour as opposed to the glacial hill in the driveway area that was only drawing at 2 inches per hour. It’s the first piece of good luck we’ve had on this project.

Good news is welcomed news with your track record! I still tell people of your middle finger building you built out there

We have 45 days, but the only real “restriction” we have is no mobile homes. I don’t have to get a presidential pardon to cut down a tree or anything like you, so I am certainly optimistic for what we need.

Our goal is to build a shop of sorts with living quarters that we’ll write a check for or have quick terms if financed to be debt free ASAP. From there, squirrel away as best we can to build the permanent residence. We’ll just see how long the interim will last with a stay-at-home mom, two year old, one month old, and me who is home-based for work.

We’re young. YOLO?

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Good news is welcomed news with your track record! I still tell people of your middle finger building you built out there

We have 45 days, but the only real “restriction” we have is no mobile homes. I don’t have to get a presidential pardon to cut down a tree or anything like you, so I am certainly optimistic for what we need.

Our goal is to build a shop of sorts with living quarters that we’ll write a check for or have quick terms if financed to be debt free ASAP. From there, squirrel away as best we can to build the permanent residence. We’ll just see how long the interim will last with a stay-at-home mom, two year old, one month old, and me who is home-based for work.

We’re young. YOLO?

Barndominium?? I love me a nice barndominium!

[Bc2005]

When we built an addition there was a requirement that footings had to be poured on “undisturbed soil” so they could limit/prevent new building on landfill areas. The guy that assessed the footing base used a long pole with what looked like a tin can on the end, with the lid partially cut at an angle so he could use it to scoop out soil.

He walked up to the excavation, used the “can” on a pole to push down and take a scoop of soil from where the footings were going in, and then held it up to his face and “assessed” the soil. Based on that analysis he filled out the engineering assessment (in pencil) and declared the soil base acceptable for our footings. We then paid him $400 (IIRC) for his work. Not a bad gig if you can get it.

[W Cole]

Originally Posted by Bc2005

When we built an addition there was a requirement that footings had to be poured on “undisturbed soil” so they could limit/prevent new building on landfill areas. The guy that assessed the footing base used a long pole with what looked like a tin can on the end, with the lid partially cut at an angle so he could use it to scoop out soil.

He walked up to the excavation, used the “can” on a pole to push down and take a scoop of soil from where the footings were going in, and then held it up to his face and “assessed” the soil. Based on that analysis he filled out the engineering assessment (in pencil) and declared the soil base acceptable for our footings. We then paid him $400 (IIRC) for his work. Not a bad gig if you can get it.

Are you sure he didn’t stick the long pole into the dirt until refusal to judge the density of the soil? The further the stick goes in the less dense the soil.

The denser the soil the narrower footings you can get away with. You can tell how well the soil is compacted by just driving stakes.

[jsf721]

I swear after going through major Reno’s 2x in my life I’d rather just buy the home I like done !

Maybe I just suck at it ? It’s always way more expensive than planned and I keep thinking of things I
forgot or didn’t know I needed. Change orders are expensive.

[spazzyfry123]

I didn’t realize just how difficult it would be to stake out corners of the proposed house. I just can’t pick where I want it.

If THIS is this difficult, I’m starting to question the whole project