[N8 v2.0]

When you say you've built these houses, what exactly is it that you personally do? Do you swing a hammer or are you more of a project manager or what? Just curious.

I am a licensed residental contractor and I own my own business. I design, finance, over-see the construction, hire/fire subs, deal with my clients and work crews, yadda, yadda, yadda... I do not normally swing a hammer but I can if need be and there are several dozen items a builder has to do himself so you have to know a little about every thing.

 

[Wumpus]

A few homes I've built over the past several years:

and now with a front garden

Where are the trees? Is it that hard to build a house and leave the trees?

 

[Crashby]

Just curious, If you sell a this torquoise striped wonder for 185k, what is your take home cut after total investment?

... or average ROI per home is ok too if you dont want to give specifics...

 

[N8 v2.0]

Where are the trees? Is it that hard to build a house and leave the trees?

Well, most construction around here is in old cotton fields, so the trees are long gone. It is the one thing that kinda sucks on new homes. But, on the bright side, large trees on a homesite cost bucks to remove if they are going to be where the house is going. Also once the tree is removed, drill shafts have to be made and piers poured to support the foundation beams...which costs some bucks too...

 

[N8 v2.0]

Just curious, If you sell a this torquoise striped wonder for 185k, what is your take home cut after total investment?

... or average ROI per home is ok too if you dont want to give specifics...

Now, now... let's just say after overheads (liability insurance etc) that this one house will count as much as if my wife worked at a good job.

 

[Andyman_1970]

Those are some nice houses N8, that typical high roofline southern house is not really my taste but they look nice.

 

[Westy]

Those are some nice houses N8, that typical high roofline southern house is not really my taste but they look nice.

Aren't those rooflines just big ass heat collectors?

 

[N8 v2.0]

Those are some nice houses N8, that typical high roofline southern house is not really my taste but they look nice.

Yeah... most are 9-in-12 pitches which is a total waste of lumber since it make for a HUGE attic space of which only the area over the garage is normally decked. The 9-in-12 pitch is required by most developers in their covenents.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Aren't those rooflines just big ass heat collectors?

Yup... this house had a ridge vent system along the roof's ridge:

 

[ssk]

I've always heard you can get more house for less money in Huston than here.

Maybe in locations that suck. Property values are going up fast, especially close in town and in the few areas not deemed flood zones.

My house is basically the exact size of yours but 30 years old on the west side of town. I've seen a 42% rise in it value over 6 years. It needs a few updates though.

Ive been looking at some 55 plus neighborhoods for my wife's parents. Some of those designs would be great for a young couple with no kids.

 

[Andyman_1970]

Yeah... most are 9-in-12 pitches which is a total waste of lumber since it make for a HUGE attic space of which only the area over the garage is normally decked. The 9-in-12 pitch is required by most developers in their covenents.

This is an interesting phenomenon I noticed when I moved to the south.........

 

[narlus]

two questions/observations.

why put dark stain on lovely maple cabinets???

that turquoise trim is nauseating.

 

[N8 v2.0]

two questions/observations.

why put dark stain on lovely maple cabinets???

that turquoise trim is nauseating.

Why not?

 

[N8 v2.0]

This is an interesting phenomenon I noticed when I moved to the south.........

It's so bad that sometime I have to add fake dormers to make it look like a 2 story...

 

[Westy]

It's so bad that sometime I have to add fake dormers to make it look like a 2 story...

How wastefull, How much would it take to just make it a real 2 story? If'n your using truss roofs I guess it would be quite a bit.

 

[dh girlie]

Hmmm...there are some places (around and on vaulted ceilings) where crown moulding just does not look right...I like the wall color, but not diggin the green...or the dark cabinets...I love the arched doorways. Why wood laminate and not wood?

 

[blt2ride]

Looking nice! Is there room for dirt jumps in the backyard? Just kidding, I like the ceiling borders...if that house was in Southern California, it sell for between $500,000-8000,000--if not more!

 

[N8 v2.0]

How wastefull, How much would it take to just make it a real 2 story? If'n your using truss roofs I guess it would be quite a bit.

Yeah... it would cost considerbly more. At the moment there are no new home being built on anything less than an 8-in-12 pitch. The days of the 4-in-12 are long gone from our area.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Hmmm...there are some places (around and on vaulted ceilings) where crown moulding just does not look right...I like the wall color, but not diggin the green...or the dark cabinets...I love the arched doorways. Why wood laminate and not wood?

• Agreed. Ceiling vaults look cleaner without crown but locally crown is king and the more of it the better!
• Maple cab's finished naturally would have been best but maple is rarely used here. Local builders are stuck on the "French Country" look and I am trying to push past that trend.
• Wood lam wears so much better than real wood. Both are similar in cost.

 

[valve bouncer]

N8, promise me you won't build another house where the main feature of the front of the house is a 12 f*cken car garage door.
It'ds just as bad in Australia mind you, it's a horrible practice.

 

[N8 v2.0]

N8, promise me you won't build another house where the main feature of the front of the house is a 12 f*cken car garage door.
It'ds just as bad in Australia mind you, it's a horrible practice.

I'd be more than happy to do that but the developers are downsizing lots dimensions. 3 years ago we had standard lots that were 80' wide, and today we have 55' widths. There is no way in hell of getting a garage on the side of house with that kind of width.

 

[valve bouncer]

I'd be more than happy to do that but the developers are downsizing lots dimensions. 3 years ago we had standard lots that were 80' wide, and today we have 55' widths. There is no way in hell of getting a garage on the side of house with that kind of width.

I guess having less cars is outta the question? It just looks so wrong, almost have to turn my head when I see it.
How big is a standard lot? In Australia it's about 650 m2 now, dunno what that is in feet. Yonks ago it was a quarter acre. :angry:

 

[narlus]

Why not?

i guess it's time to trot our old friend, MR RUM RAISIN!

 

[N8 v2.0]

I guess having less cars is outta the question? It just looks so wrong, almost have to turn my head when I see it.
How big is a standard lot? In Australia it's about 650 m2 now, dunno what that is in feet. Yonks ago it was a quarter acre. :angry:

We're doing a little better than that here... most lots are 690_m2 or so. Which is about 0.17 of an acre.

Less cars??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!

A lot of clients want a 3 car on their house... which would leave about enough room for a front door and that's it.

 

[dh girlie]

yadda, yadda, yadda... I do not normally swing a hammer

This guy can sure swing a hammer....:love: :heart: that's so hot when a hot guy swings a hammer...

 

[dh girlie]

i guess it's time to trot our old friend, MR RUM RAISIN!

HAHAHA! Feel free to use my well-versed theory, narlus!

 

[N8 v2.0]

This guy can sure swing a hammer....:love: :heart: that's so hot when a hot guy swings a hammer...

HAhAHA! Of course most construction d00ds do not look like that... I can take some pix of some roofers or painters if you like.

 

[Andyman_1970]

Yeah... it would cost considerbly more. At the moment there are no new home being built on anything less than an 8-in-12 pitch. The days of the 4-in-12 are long gone from our area.

I guess that would mean those new "craftsman" styles houses made to look like the old ones are out of the question.......... :mumble:

 

[dh girlie]

HAhAHA! Of course most construction d00ds do not look like that... I can take some pix of some roofers or painters if you like.

That's ok...I see em everyday at work...none of them look like Ty Pennington...sad to say...

 

[narlus]

imagine if CHRIS CORNELL swung a hammer?

i could hear the swooning from here.

 

[SkaredShtles]

<snip>

Nice McMansion!

J/K.

-S.S.-

 

[SkaredShtles]

<snip>
that turquoise trim is nauseating.

Keep it to yourself, Bubba.

-S.S.-

 

[narlus]

sorry if i inadvertantly dissed yr home interior scheme.

 

[SkaredShtles]

sorry if i inadvertantly dissed yr home interior scheme.

No..... N8 indicated that the turquoise was to offend the sensibilities of rednecks in his area.

He seems to have offended the sensibilities of *everyone* except himself, though.

-S.S.-

 

[I Are Baboon]

Nice McMansion!

J/K.

-S.S.-

Yeah, and I frikkin WISH I owned a McMansion.

 

[narlus]

maybe a happy mealnsion?

 

[stosh]

N8 The quality of the your workmanship looks great!

Sorry I started everybody picking on you.

Are you painting the column in front of the door?

Need a project manager on your crew?

 

[dh girlie]

imagine if CHRIS CORNELL swung a hammer?

i could hear the swooning from here.

Hmmm...that would be pretty hot...however, his hotness level while he is on stage probably could not be topped...

 

[McGRP01]

This guy can sure swing a hammer....:love: :heart: that's so hot when a hot guy swings a hammer...

dh girlie....that's a drill, not a hammer. Chicks...

 

[SkaredShtles]

Yeah, and I frikkin WISH I owned a McMansion.

You have *no* idea what a nightmare it would be to keep a pad like that heated in the winter and cooled in the summer.

I'll bet in your location it'd be ~$300+/mo. for utilities alone.

And around here the construction is shoddy on those big houses.

Actually, the construction is pretty shoddy on any house built after '92.

-S.S.-