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SVreX
SVreX SuperDork
12/29/10 1:49 p.m.

I know every once in a while construction questions come up here.

I'm going to add some how to/ informational subject content to my website.

What are some of the best topics? I know we've talked a lot about container houses and alternative energy and construction techniques.

Any others come to mind?

Of course, I'm probably asking all they wrong people...I'm sure you guys sick of hearing me blab!

T.J.
T.J. SuperDork
12/29/10 1:56 p.m.

Here's a few suggestions:

Shop/detached garage planning/construction.
Pole barn construction.
Garage loft building.
A link to your website.

oldtin
oldtin Dork
12/29/10 2:10 p.m.

Site selection, working with terrain and local climates. Barns and sheds...

SVreX
SVreX SuperDork
12/29/10 2:15 p.m.

I promise to put the link up soon. Site's being completely reconstructed. I'm trying a new approach, that most construction companies don't consider.

Ignorant
Ignorant SuperDork
12/29/10 2:20 p.m.

Trim... Tips for crown and trim.

SVreX
SVreX SuperDork
12/29/10 2:21 p.m.

I'll throw you guys a bone...

I'll put a section in just for you guys- a section focusing on construction DIY projects for car buffs.

SVreX
SVreX SuperDork
12/29/10 2:24 p.m.

Ooo- Iggy, you're gonna like what I've got to say about trim! Very few pros even know the best way to cut crown- I generally complete an entire house in less time than a lot of carpenters do one room.

Hmmm, guess I might have to give away a few trade secrets!

JFX001
JFX001 SuperDork
12/29/10 2:39 p.m.

Post & Beam with SIP's (personal interest for barn conversion)

Geo-Thermal and you

DIY spray foam insulation

Wainscotting

SVreX
SVreX SuperDork
12/29/10 2:41 p.m.

Post & Beam with SIPs- you mean RENOVATING with them, not new construction, right?

Wainscoting- panel, stile and rail, or general?

JFX001
JFX001 SuperDork
12/29/10 2:47 p.m.

New construction....I've read both the pro's and con's of ICF/SIP...just want a best case scenerio for a barn conversion.

Panel wainscotting with a chair rail.

*EDIT....more like a barn conversion into a Saltbox.

slantvaliant
slantvaliant Dork
12/29/10 2:52 p.m.

How about "Design and Construction for Maintainability"

914Driver
914Driver SuperDork
12/29/10 2:58 p.m.

Basic wiring do's and don'ts.

One page tutorial on how to get through the building permit process.

Air Compressors 101, 110 vs 220, capacity and hard plumb or flex?

Doors? Windows or not?

Fire safety?

BAMF
BAMF Reader
12/29/10 5:25 p.m.
914Driver wrote: Air Compressors 101, 110 vs 220, capacity and hard plumb or flex?

At the design and custom fabrication studio where I work, we have a screw type compressor with two reservoirs. Everything is hard plumbed to a handful of drops we have in our 3,000 sqft. Hard plumb is pretty nice.

For me, I'd love to know about retrofitting a horizontal loop ground source heat pump system to a 1930s era house for radiant heating and cooling.

Zomby woof
Zomby woof Dork
12/29/10 6:22 p.m.

My old farmhouse needs a few new exterior doors.

I have no idea where to start.

I did windows during my recent kitchen renovation, and learned the hard way, why not to buy windows from Lowes depot. I had no idea that you can order any size at no extra cost.

phaze1todd
phaze1todd Reader
12/29/10 6:52 p.m.

Basement waterproofing

and building a Locust

SVreX
SVreX SuperDork
12/29/10 8:38 p.m.

Maybe SPELLING a Locost??

EvanB
EvanB GRM+ Memberand Dork
12/29/10 9:34 p.m.

Buiding your own house? My grandpa designed and built a house after studying architecture books while in the army and I would like to do the same someday.

nutherjrfan
nutherjrfan HalfDork
12/29/10 9:40 p.m.

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

depending how hard I work this year, total complete slacker here, amongst other things, I will see if I can tackle something like this - finding an inexpensive plot of land with public utilities would help. I'm sure the e36 LSx conversion kit versus do it yoursen' argument could be applied to this guy's ideas, however I'm a big ol' dummy and need instructions.

SVreX
SVreX SuperDork
12/29/10 9:45 p.m.

I'm developing a product line of smaller homes like Jay Shafer does, only better, and cheaper. Jay is an internet guru who practices what he preaches, but he primarily sells ideas, not houses.

And yes, I own his book (so I do applaud what he stands for).

What are you wanting to know about Tumbleweed?

SVreX
SVreX SuperDork
12/29/10 9:46 p.m.
EvanB wrote: Buiding your own house? My grandpa designed and built a house after studying architecture books while in the army and I would like to do the same someday.

Are you expecting a couple of pages on a website to cover it? There are thousands of books already written on the subject.

Can you be a little more specific?

nutherjrfan
nutherjrfan HalfDork
12/29/10 9:50 p.m.

well hoping I can hit the ground running in Jan. and get a decent job and justify the several hundred dollars for his workshop this summer I'm open to inspiration/direction.In reply to SVreX:

EvanB
EvanB GRM+ Memberand Dork
12/29/10 10:45 p.m.
SVreX wrote:
EvanB wrote: Buiding your own house? My grandpa designed and built a house after studying architecture books while in the army and I would like to do the same someday.
Are you expecting a couple of pages on a website to cover it? There are thousands of books already written on the subject. Can you be a little more specific?

I wasn't really being serious about it being covered here, I know there is way too much to write on a forum.

It would probably be a whole other topic but I would be interested in hearing if anyone here has done something of the sort.

Being a previous architecture major designing a home appeals to me and I already have a few books on the subject.

GhiaMonster
GhiaMonster New Reader
12/30/10 8:37 a.m.

I second the section on building permits / legal issues. I know this will have to be a generalization as the process changes widely from one area to another.

SVreX
SVreX SuperDork
12/30/10 1:51 p.m.

OK, so here's the list I'm currently working with:

Shops, garages, barns, and sheds- How to cope when you're stuffed with stuff

Where the rubber meets the road- Construction projects for car buffs (workbenches, tire rack, installing a compressor, etc)

Rise up!- Garage loft building

The crown jewel- Trim tips for getting the most out of modern tools

Snug as a Bug- Sorting through the quagmire of insulation options

Just stay fixed!- Ideas for lowering maintenance woes

Permission to Build Freely- Tips for handling building permit processes

Come in and Enjoy the View: A shopper's guide to windows and doors

Fire safety

I'll save these for later:

Fun-in-a-box: A primer to designing and building shipping container buildings

Alternative construction techniques pros/cons (include ICF construction)

Site selection, working with terrain and local climates(maybe)

Renovating with SIPs

Basement waterproofing

These are probably a little too detailed or broad for this site:

Pole barn construction Geo-thermal/ Horizontal loop ground source heat pump Building a house

Anybody else?

914Driver
914Driver SuperDork
12/30/10 2:05 p.m.

Detached? Check.

Heat? Check.

Insulated? Check.

Lighting? Check.

220? Check.

Doors front and rear for ventilation-safety-emergency exit? Check.

12 X 42 X 8 high storage above? Check.

SWMBO's potting shed out behind? You Checkya!

Block & Tackle to lift engines or bodies? Check.

It's 24 X 42 because the City Fathers won't let me cover more than 25% of my property with building.

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