Hard to believe it is only a week until Christmas. My husband asks what I want for Christmas and all I can think of is our Quonset house built and for us to be celebrating next year's Christmas there!
Where are we at now in the process...
Our architect has submitted the drawings to structural engineer for approval and then we will move on to the nitty gritty details. Also, Austin has been interviewing/talking with general contractors. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous most of them would think we are crazy for wanting to be so involved and do as much of the building as we can. Turns out we've only been laughed at once out of 5 GCs that have been talked to. We need a general contractor in order to get the construction loan from the bank. The GC will have to submit their portfolio and what not to obtain the financing.
The idea is for us to do what we can and let the GC do the rest. The tricky part of that is agreeing on what we can actually get done safely, correctly, and in a timely manner. Still working on that list and trying to agree. The one thing we for sure agree upon is that we want to erect the Quonset, kind of like a barn raising experience. Hopefully the friends and family will be showing up to participate.
I'm getting a little less nervous about this huge undertaking and much more exciting. With the plans being finalized that means I can start shopping for items to repurpose or build for the house. Second hand stores, here I come!
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Storage options during the build
We aren't expecting our Quonset to arrive until February, but we've been struggling with where on earth are we going to store the thing?! Apparently it will come on 2 pallets that are approx 2' wide x 3' high x 10' long. We realized that they wouldn't fit in the garage where we're renting because all of our stuff is hiding in there. The land has a shed, but it's not big enough to accommodate the pallets. There was also a 200 sq ft building but we tore it down and were debating rebuilding, but that is where the garage will go eventually. After much pondering and research, we have decided to go with renting an 8' x 20' shipping container. We are going to rent because that will take care of what to do with it after we're done and it's quite reasonable. We are just now deciding between 2 different companies here in Colorado: http://www.brekkestorage.com/ or http://swmobilestorage.com/. We should have a decision tomorrow, we are just seeing who will give us a better price. The shipping container also comes with a large lock and the door and is fairly tamper resistant. This will be useful not only for Quonset storage until we can build, but also while we're building a safe place to lock up tools and materials.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Starting to navigate the financing and permits
I thought I'd post a little blurb about what we're going through this week.
First: we were really hoping that if Austin got his GC license through Jefferson Country that we could get a construction loan and do most of the build ourselves and sub out the stuff we didn't want to or couldn't do. Ya, that was a bust. After the big economy crash, banks now require the builder or GC to have a portfolio and references and the whole works.
Second: Navigating through permits at Jefferson County. We have a checklist of everything we need to pull together. Like my husband says it's kind of a "spaghetti list". Lots of "this is dependent on that" and lots of may or may not apply. Austin put in a call to the permit/zoning office yesterday and is still waiting a call back.
Now what?
Well that's a really good question. I think the site survey is the next thing on our list. We are also starting to try and get some bids on excavation/foundation and to redo our septic tank. The other piece is the financing. We really want to build this house ourselves. That means we are going to have to be creative for financing or how we would utilize a construction loan. The husband is going to start calling some GCs and builders to see what we can do.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them here.
Thanks.
First: we were really hoping that if Austin got his GC license through Jefferson Country that we could get a construction loan and do most of the build ourselves and sub out the stuff we didn't want to or couldn't do. Ya, that was a bust. After the big economy crash, banks now require the builder or GC to have a portfolio and references and the whole works.
Second: Navigating through permits at Jefferson County. We have a checklist of everything we need to pull together. Like my husband says it's kind of a "spaghetti list". Lots of "this is dependent on that" and lots of may or may not apply. Austin put in a call to the permit/zoning office yesterday and is still waiting a call back.
Now what?
Well that's a really good question. I think the site survey is the next thing on our list. We are also starting to try and get some bids on excavation/foundation and to redo our septic tank. The other piece is the financing. We really want to build this house ourselves. That means we are going to have to be creative for financing or how we would utilize a construction loan. The husband is going to start calling some GCs and builders to see what we can do.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them here.
Thanks.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Floor plan established
We met with our architect Edie http://www.green-ridge-design.com/ and saw the floor plan options she had designed. They are way better than anything we could have come up with. Our quonset will be oriented with the openings facing North/South and there will be no windows along the East/West sides. However, we do have 4 skylights that will be bringing extra light in.
The layout of the house:
Main floor: Front entry will be on the North side of the house off center to the west. You will walk in to a long hallway, coat closet, lots of storage along the sloped wall. From the entry you can go left to the office/utility room (laundry and utilities will be in closets within the office). The office will have a large north facing window. If you walk straight you will eventually walk right in to the living room. The kitchen will be centered in the house with an island. The dining room is next to the stairs to the upstairs loft. Next to the base of the stairs is the door to the master bedroom. The architect was very thoughtful in this - our bedroom door opens to the stairs so we can have easy access to the kiddo's room upstairs. The master bedroom has north facing windows, walk in closet, and bathroom.
Second floor: Very simple. At the top of the stairs there is an open loft area. Each bedroom has a north facing window and a walk in closet that will use the sloped part of the wall. There is a full bathroom upstairs.
The floor plan flows very well. Has an open feel. Lots of south facing windows with a great double sliding glass door. There will be radiant in floor heating and a wood burning stove.
I think we will eventually build some sort of covering over the back patio (south facing), perhaps a pergola. The north entry will have an arched covering to match the architecture of the house.
Now that we have the floor plan we can start working on the details. Lighting placement (we're planning on doing low voltage lighting to eventually convert to solar), electrical, mechanical details, what we are going to cover the quonset interior walls with (after the spray foam for insulation).
We've got a long way to go, but it is so exciting to see your dream come to life in 2D.
Next, we need to visit the Jeffco building permit guys to figure out what all we need to done for the permitting. We also have talked about possibly moving in to the house before it is done and what we will need to get our certificate of occupancy. Good thing we have all winter to get the details together and get people lined up to start first thing in the spring. We'll have to start working on recruiting people to help erect the quonset!
Side note:
We bought our quonset from www.steelmasterusa.com and I have to say that our architect has been crazy helpful in getting the details from them on the building that it seemed we weren't getting. We found out they sell a base plate for the quonset so we can do slab on grade instead of having a raised edge to put it in. The architect was also able to get the details on how to configure the house to have the venting pipes in the right place. There are a lot of little details (like how do you attach drywall or other material to the quonset) and we are so glad that we have chosen an architect to work with.
The layout of the house:
Main floor: Front entry will be on the North side of the house off center to the west. You will walk in to a long hallway, coat closet, lots of storage along the sloped wall. From the entry you can go left to the office/utility room (laundry and utilities will be in closets within the office). The office will have a large north facing window. If you walk straight you will eventually walk right in to the living room. The kitchen will be centered in the house with an island. The dining room is next to the stairs to the upstairs loft. Next to the base of the stairs is the door to the master bedroom. The architect was very thoughtful in this - our bedroom door opens to the stairs so we can have easy access to the kiddo's room upstairs. The master bedroom has north facing windows, walk in closet, and bathroom.
Second floor: Very simple. At the top of the stairs there is an open loft area. Each bedroom has a north facing window and a walk in closet that will use the sloped part of the wall. There is a full bathroom upstairs.
The floor plan flows very well. Has an open feel. Lots of south facing windows with a great double sliding glass door. There will be radiant in floor heating and a wood burning stove.
I think we will eventually build some sort of covering over the back patio (south facing), perhaps a pergola. The north entry will have an arched covering to match the architecture of the house.
Now that we have the floor plan we can start working on the details. Lighting placement (we're planning on doing low voltage lighting to eventually convert to solar), electrical, mechanical details, what we are going to cover the quonset interior walls with (after the spray foam for insulation).
We've got a long way to go, but it is so exciting to see your dream come to life in 2D.
Next, we need to visit the Jeffco building permit guys to figure out what all we need to done for the permitting. We also have talked about possibly moving in to the house before it is done and what we will need to get our certificate of occupancy. Good thing we have all winter to get the details together and get people lined up to start first thing in the spring. We'll have to start working on recruiting people to help erect the quonset!
Side note:
We bought our quonset from www.steelmasterusa.com and I have to say that our architect has been crazy helpful in getting the details from them on the building that it seemed we weren't getting. We found out they sell a base plate for the quonset so we can do slab on grade instead of having a raised edge to put it in. The architect was also able to get the details on how to configure the house to have the venting pipes in the right place. There are a lot of little details (like how do you attach drywall or other material to the quonset) and we are so glad that we have chosen an architect to work with.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Architect Selected
It seems like we are trudging forward. We have selected an architect to work with: Edie Stevenson of http://www.green-ridge-design.com/. She is local and we are very excited to be working with her. The next steps are to work on the plans and watch as our dream house comes to life on paper.
We have decided to use an architect because we want our house to have a thoughtful layout, especially with those curved wall, and for it to flow well and be a good use of space. Through this process we are coming up with what is important to us and it really boils down to us being able to build most of this house by ourselves. The plan is to have a small or, optimistically, no mortgage, and to be financially free. It will take time and lots of hard work, but we are on our way there.
We have decided to use an architect because we want our house to have a thoughtful layout, especially with those curved wall, and for it to flow well and be a good use of space. Through this process we are coming up with what is important to us and it really boils down to us being able to build most of this house by ourselves. The plan is to have a small or, optimistically, no mortgage, and to be financially free. It will take time and lots of hard work, but we are on our way there.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Slowly making progress
We've been working on the land some. We are trying to dry the trees that will have to be removed while standing up. To do that we got a couple draw knives and have been girding trees. Hopefully they will dry sooner then later. Unfortunately many of the trees are diseased by mistletoe on the land and they will eventually die. We are really hoping to be able to use the wood for maybe some furniture and within the house.
One building has been completely removed and the strange diseased 10x20 cabin has mostly been removed. We are going to recycle the metal. Once we get the roof off hoping that the snow and rain will wash away the rest of the mouse evidence. Our daughter just loves being on the land digging in the dirt, finding sticks, and exploring.
We are meeting with another architect on Monday and then the third candidate the following week.
The current thought for the Quonset layout is for 2 floors. 3 bed 2.5 bath. The main floor will have a large room that will initially be used for storage until we figure out the garage situation and then will be converted to a rec room. There will be an open kitchen/living room that will get all the light from the south facing windows. Plan for a wood burning stove along with the hydronic radiant in floor heating.
Lots of planning and prepping yet to do, but it is an exciting journey. As always, feel free to ask questions or leave a comment!
One building has been completely removed and the strange diseased 10x20 cabin has mostly been removed. We are going to recycle the metal. Once we get the roof off hoping that the snow and rain will wash away the rest of the mouse evidence. Our daughter just loves being on the land digging in the dirt, finding sticks, and exploring.
We are meeting with another architect on Monday and then the third candidate the following week.
The current thought for the Quonset layout is for 2 floors. 3 bed 2.5 bath. The main floor will have a large room that will initially be used for storage until we figure out the garage situation and then will be converted to a rec room. There will be an open kitchen/living room that will get all the light from the south facing windows. Plan for a wood burning stove along with the hydronic radiant in floor heating.
Lots of planning and prepping yet to do, but it is an exciting journey. As always, feel free to ask questions or leave a comment!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Getting started
I'll give you a little background info. We bought land a year ago in Pine, CO (with the help of an amazing agent Deb Christensen) and for the last year have been throwing around too many ideas of what to build. Including but not limited to: tiny houses, straw-bale, yurt, cob, kit-homes, and traditional stick build.
My mom came for a visit in May and as we were looking through Mother Earth News noticed the Arched cabins at www.archedcabins.com. This then lead to the thought of a Quonset hut home. I was only familiar with Quonets as an agricultural building.
So then began the research on the Quonset. There are a few companies that sell them in the USA and we really started focusing on Steel Master Buildings over at www.steelmasterusa.com.
Randomly one day Austin and I were sitting around talking about the Quonset and ended up calling Steel Master only to find out they were having a sale and yup, we ended up putting a deposit on a 40'Wx41'Dx19'H Q Model building. We did add on 4 skylights.
With all that said, there has been little to no information out there on how to build this Quonset as a house so we thought we'd try and journal our experiences so perhaps someone else can learn from us. Please feel free to ask questions and I'll try and keep this thing updated.
As of today we are in the process of interviewing architects to help us with the interior design as working with a curved building adds some new architectural challenges. We are hoping to have decided on our architect by the end of September.
My mom came for a visit in May and as we were looking through Mother Earth News noticed the Arched cabins at www.archedcabins.com. This then lead to the thought of a Quonset hut home. I was only familiar with Quonets as an agricultural building.
So then began the research on the Quonset. There are a few companies that sell them in the USA and we really started focusing on Steel Master Buildings over at www.steelmasterusa.com.
Randomly one day Austin and I were sitting around talking about the Quonset and ended up calling Steel Master only to find out they were having a sale and yup, we ended up putting a deposit on a 40'Wx41'Dx19'H Q Model building. We did add on 4 skylights.
With all that said, there has been little to no information out there on how to build this Quonset as a house so we thought we'd try and journal our experiences so perhaps someone else can learn from us. Please feel free to ask questions and I'll try and keep this thing updated.
As of today we are in the process of interviewing architects to help us with the interior design as working with a curved building adds some new architectural challenges. We are hoping to have decided on our architect by the end of September.
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