Building a forever home. Do's and don'ts

[ColtyJr]

What are things you would of done different or would do again. Leaning towards a barndominium type house with a basement. I live in Central NY.

 

[ShortMountain91]

https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/custom-home-must-haves.203682/&share_tid=203682&share_fid=45046&share_type=t&link_source=app

Here's a thread on here that covered a lot of great ideas for a new home. I've been in mine for a year now. I absolutely love my home but I built it myself and was able to have everything exactly the way I chose. However I sometimes think about how much money I could've saved had I went the barndominium route. I think it is a great option personally.

Things I'm glad I did:
Standing seam metal roof, spray foam insulation, encapsulated crawlspace, extra concrete & rebar in footer, paid a lot for an excellent framer

Things I would've done different:
Not much but the few I can think of are made the garage bigger, sprung for the dual fuel HVAC unit. If I would've had unlimited money I would've made the master closet into a safe room and screened in all my back porch but I was getting tight on the back end.

 

[Theringworm]

Best word of advice, don’t make it a “Forever Payment”. Build it so that it can be paid off under 10-15 years if you have to finance.

 

[Silveroddo]

Vet your builder and the subs the use. Low bid Low Bid Low bid is how most of them roll, high end houses being built by crack heads and hacks. I'll never be able to use most of the contractors around here because I know who they hire.

 

[Chesapeake173]

Hot water spigot in the garage


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[Kentucky]

Vet your builder and the subs the use. Low bid Low Bid Low bid is how most of them roll, high end houses being built by crack heads and hacks. I'll never be able to use most of the contractors around here because I know who they hire.

This statement is relative to the area…around larger cities this maybe true, because you have more “crack heads and hacks” and I will add an overwhelming number of people that think they know more about building than the contractor.

An established, respectable contractor will have vetted subs that travel with him and do all of his work…

 

[Theringworm]

Vet your builder and the subs the use. Low bid Low Bid Low bid is how most of them roll, high end houses being built by crack heads and hacks. I'll never be able to use most of the contractors around here because I know who they hire.

I will also echo that. We are in the process of a similar build. I have researched at nausea the hidden details no one sees that are important to me. From the type of exterior sheathing, insulation, dry wall thickness, air/water barriers, etc. Basically everything between the rock/brick exterior inside to the finished wall texture, down to the foundation up to the roof decking. My wife thinks I am insane. But, to me, that’s all I care about. That’s the most important part of the home to me. When I talk to the builders, if they discredit my wants, or have no experience in doing them, I move on. Cheapest is not always the best. If you want something, don’t be talked out of it. Find someone else that has done it and can/will do it.

 

[cnelk]

Since its a 'Forever Home - Think of the distant future when you get 'old'

Make all hallways & doorways 3'-0" [accommodate wheelchairs]
Avoid stairways [self-explanatory]
No bathtubs - walk-in showers only
Build south facing

 

[Silveroddo]

This statement is relative to the area…around larger cities this maybe true, because you have more “crack heads and hacks” and I will add an overwhelming number of people that think they know more about building than the contractor.

An established, respectable contractor will have vetted subs that travel with him and do all of his work…

Totally not being argumentative, but in this building market quality subs are few and far between. I live in a rural vacation community and its an issue here as well. Quality costs money, even guys that used to have a reputation for quality have fallen into the trap lately. I think its a function of houses costing 25-30% more year over year and trying to win bids.
Like I said, not trying to be argumentative, but I'd never buy a spec house, and I'd probably have to be my own general this day in age.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Since its a 'Forever Home - Think of the distant future when you get 'old'

Make all hallways & doorways 3'-0" [accommodate wheelchairs]
Avoid stairways [self-explanatory]
No bathtubs - walk-in showers only
Build south facing

I'm only 41 and my north facing driveway is an ice skating rink.

 

[Kentucky]

Totally not being argumentative, but in this building market quality subs are few and far between. I live in a rural vacation community and its an issue here as well. Quality costs money, even guys that used to have a reputation for quality have fallen into the trap lately. I think its a function of houses costing 25-30% more year over year and trying to win bids.
Like I said, not trying to be argumentative, but I'd never buy a spec house, and I'd probably have to be my own general this day and age.

I agree…quality cost money…and in a high demand market you will not find quality… I’ve seen contractors pour 20 foundations in a day in subdivisions in INDY, and every other sun is same way… trying to wire 4 house a day using hacks and cutting every corner possible…it’s wild…

Finding somebody to take their time is a market like that will cost you double…


But forever home,, I built one 2 years ago. In state of KY you don’t have to have any licensed contractor to do work if you own over 10 acres… you still have to have electrical and septic inspections. I was 1/3rd way through when covid hit… I took a layoff and finished it on unemployment…if you can’t tell already I’m in the industry my entire career, (I’ve sorted through more crackheads, hacks, and stiffs you can imagine).. I built a single level 2400 sqft ICF house, one 6” step from driveway to get onto pati, facing south, 3-0 doors and walk in showers…. I still screwed up…I had all the attic insulation given to me for free and that’s where I messed up…should’ve used spray foam… don’t get me wrong, I have plenty on insulation and it works fine, but my attic has a 9’x50, walk path built into the trusses for storage, it’s 8’ tall at peak, it’s a nice area but, I would prefer it to be conditioned space. Oh well…

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Since its a 'Forever Home - Think of the distant future when you get 'old'

Make all hallways & doorways 3'-0" [accommodate wheelchairs]
Avoid stairways [self-explanatory]
No bathtubs - walk-in showers only
Build south facing

Yup, walk in sit down shower with hand rails.

 

[wnelson14]

Hot water spigot in the garage


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would say sink in garage, hot water spigot outside for kids/dogs or easy to fill hot water in a bucket.
Toilet in Garage
Storage above garage
Plumb for solar
Plumb for backup generator
Simple shower head and handles
Outside flood lights that turn on from bedroom
Wire for camera
Wife for speakers
Wire correctly for Wi-Fi boosters
Make walk-in closets big enough
Outside soffit plugs connect to switch in garage
Water spigot in garage for extra refridge/ice maker
Avoid stairs and steps everywhere even into showers
Small little LEd built in light that look like plugs in hallways and bathrooms they come on at night and they are awesome for kids and not turning lights to go to the bathroom at night

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Best thing I have seen is my friend in IN. has a urial in the bathroom. His wife loves it, keeps floor cleaner. Don't know if it was mentioned, but mud room.

 

[83cj-7]

I’d love to build a custom house of my own. I don’t want anything big but right off the top I’d be into it for $80,000 worth of HVAC equipment. Mostly in the way radiant floor heat and driveway melt. I can do it all myself and I’d still spend that in just the materials and gypcrete! I have worked HVAC for 23 years and designed and installed lots of radiant systems. There is nothing like it.

 

[KurtR]

Icf to the roof line. Make garage bigger than you think with a bathroom and big sink for cleaning game. In floor heat in the garage . Hell if it’s forever run it out in the drive way never shovel snow

 

[AZ8]

I'm only 41 and my north facing driveway is an ice skating rink.

Yup. My elderly mom’s house is north facing. From Dec thru Jan, when it snows, her driveway is an ice rink, even after I plow it. The low sun angle just keeps it frozen. And her garage is like a walk-in freezer! I can hang a side of beef and it’ll stay frozen! Lol

At 88, she won’t venture out front after snows. It really brings out the depression in her when she can’t even check her mailbox.

 

[AZ8]

Since its a 'Forever Home - Think of the distant future when you get 'old'

Make all hallways & doorways 3'-0" [accommodate wheelchairs]
Avoid stairways [self-explanatory]
No bathtubs - walk-in showers only
Build south facing

Great advice!

 

[wnelson14]

Posted some Dos above but for Don’ts….

Don’t expect anyone to respect your property or project like you
If someone says 2 weeks add a week or two
If someone is hesitant about doing a job on your project go a different direction .
Dont expect anyone to clean up after themselves
Things will get messed up along the way and many mistakes will happen so be ready for it.
There will be delays
Whatever your budget is go below that knowone building a custom home stays on budget, lol ask me how I know
Truckers/delivery’s to job site will result in problems, broken pipes, messed up dirt work, etc
If your doing any of the work yourself plan ahead and don’t put materials in the way of the next step,
This is a tricky one if you have friend/family members that you are going to hire be aware they will most likely give a good deal but will put priority on other jobs in my experience tension will rise
And whatever you do don’t put a finish date to the project

 

[Mighty Mouse]

I have a custom barndominium under construction right now. We intend for this to be our forever home and have tried to plan accordingly. I know we haven't thought of everything, but here are some decisions we've made:

• Loft/attic trusses for finished loft above living quarters and unfinished storage above garage
• 10' tall garage door to allow clearance for cab tractor
• Ground source heat pump for long term cost efficiency
• Wood burning stove in living room for emergency heat during power outages (possibly ducted for outside air intake, still researching that detail)
• Manual transfer switch ahead of circuit breaker panel for generator hookup
• Hot water circulating system for quicker hot water at the faucet
• Toilet and sink in the garage
• 240V outlets in garage for welder, plasma cutter, large air compressor
• Electrical outlet near each toilet for heated toilet seat (wife's demand)
• Extra hookup in basement for future second washer/dryer set when the kids are old enough to do their own laundry
• Tamper-resistant electrical outlets for kid safety