[narlus]

It's kinda funny that everyone who's bashed N8's houses have never posted a pic of theirs Lets see them people!!!!!

i have ink:

 

[DH biker]

1724_heated. 2 bath (Master has whirlpool tub), living pre-wired for 5.1 surround sound....... $189k here in NW Louisiana.

Around here 200K would buy you less than a shack...maybe something more like a trailer home.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Around here 200K would buy you less than a shack...maybe something more like a trailer home.

It's the nice thing about living in NW La. We are 175 miles due east of Dallas, Tx (3 hrs on the freeway) and we are 3 hrs south of some of the best XC mtbing in central western Arkansas (Womble). It is 4 hrs to New Orleans (if you ever want to go there again). Houston is about the same distance. We can ride bikes 12 months a year since we very rarely have snow to deal with.

The cost of living is reasonable, such that a two person family making $60k per year can afford a house like I build. Property taxes are cheap (thanks to a Homestead Exemption Rule), although sales tax is nearly 9%.

The winters are quite mild and the summers are hot and humid and central refrigerated AC is a nessessity.

 

[douglas]

yup its easy to bash...and opinions are like assholes

and if you know anything about selling, you would already know your best bet is to go on the bland side of things

but.....in the pics, the #1 thing I didnt like was the tile/back splash, not sure my opinion would be different if I saw the kitchen in person

next was the fact the cabinets were not flat/even on the top

 

[narlus]

yup its easy to bash...and opinions are like assholes

and some smell worse than others.

 

[N8 v2.0]

next was the fact the cabinets were not flat/even on the top

Been there, done that in the 90's... in my opinion, I find flat across the top cab's boring. But that's me.

 

[hooples3]

looks good, nice and clean.. I like the arches.. I recently bought a house built in 1915.. and it has all that detailed moulding in it.. picture frame moulding as well

 

[vallEbikes]

I really like the arches, but the kitchen looks pretty bad IMO

 

[jimmydean]

I like the overall look, but the switch plates stood out to me. Looks like a nice place and you can't beat that price. My house would be about $250k for 940 sft 2 bed 1 bath 1 car garage on 1/4 acre. But I'm also nearly an hour outside of downtown, but 15 minutes to some of the best XC trails anywhere.

 

[justsomeguy]

Some interesting critiques. The proof of the marketability of the design decisions will be whether the house sells at his price, right?

Bland can sell, but how about living in bland (every surface painted white, "neutral" carpet [except for the numerous urine stained sections], no window coverings [she hung sheets...]) for 6+ years?

I dont' think that bland is always more marketable.

 

[N8 v2.0]

I dont' think that bland is always more marketable.

Well, the last spc house I built was a cool mod blue and 90% of the new home buyer who looked at it hated it. Yet it was quite stylish and the color is every where. I repainted it a beige-ish color and BAM! it sold right away.

I am in the business of selling the most houses in the shortest amount of time possible. Bland is what I'd say most people want for some reason. A lot of people say they want color/style/ect, yet they will buy a totally bland neutral house every time. This of course is based only on my observations since I've been building homes over the last 10 years. A spec house is kinda like a blank canvas on which the home buyer can modify and personalize to fit their tastes.

 

[DaveW]

Around here 200K would buy you less than a shack...maybe something more like a trailer home.

heh it's about what an empty 500sqm section would cost on my street! :hot:
If you could get one that is.

 

[blue]

and if you know anything about selling, you would already know your best bet is to go on the bland side of things

Yep. When my parents sold their home, they repainted everything in very neutral colors (my mothers piss-colored sponge painting in the laundry room was the first to go), so the new owners would have a "blank canvas".

****ing hippies.

 

[partsbara]

It's the nice thing about living in NW La. We are 175 miles due east of Dallas, Tx (3 hrs on the freeway) and we are 3 hrs south of some of the best XC mtbing in central western Arkansas (Womble). It is 4 hrs to New Orleans (if you ever want to go there again). Houston is about the same distance. We can ride bikes 12 months a year since we very rarely have snow to deal with.

and you think that is a 'nice thing' ???

damn, you aren t very fussy... personally i d rather be than live that far from anywhere... but each to his/her own... can t argue with the prices either... for 190 - 200K here you can t buy ANYTHING... last week while at the real estate agent, we were shown several trailer homes that were 290 - 300K... prices out here are fricken mad... definately out of our league at this stage... sux being a first time home buyer... oh well.. the rent is payed and we are moving into a 1900 sq ft place with sick views... rents for about 1300, worth about 700K apparently... lake tahoe / downieville is about an hour away...

staying in a hotel is getting old.... :redhot:

 

[DRB]

The whole idea of a spec home is to make sure that its a blank canvas not what N8 wants to buy or live in. The owner, with a little vision like some of you are showing, comes in and easily personalizes the whole thing with paint and furniture. One of which they probably have and the other which is pretty cheap. Lastly those colors are easy to cover with whatever the new owners wanna slap on the walls.

Its surprising that N8 even took a chance with the multiple paint colors in the hallway like that. But it should give perspective owners an idea of some possibilities.

 

[-dustin]

and you think that is a 'nice thing' ???

damn, you aren t very fussy... personally i d rather be than live that far from anywhere... but each to his/her own... can t argue with the prices either... for 190 - 200K here you can t buy ANYTHING... last week while at the real estate agent, we were shown several trailer homes that were 290 - 300K... prices out here are fricken mad... definately out of our league at this stage... sux being a first time home buyer... oh well.. the rent is payed and we are moving into a 1900 sq ft place with sick views... rents for about 1300, worth about 700K apparently... lake tahoe / downieville is about an hour away...

staying in a hotel is getting old.... :redhot:

if it makes you feel any better, at this time next year, i'll be paying $1000 for 800sq ft.

 

[N8 v2.0]

if it makes you feel any better, at this time next year, i'll be paying $1000 for 800sq ft.

Here you could be paying $1000/month on a $120,000 used home and own it.

 

[-dustin]

no ****. i tried convincing the g/f but she wasn't diggin' the idea. guess i have to come up with a ring first

 

[JRB]

I like all of N8's houses he has posted. I thought the weeping mortar was weird, but even kind of liked it. I wouldn't mind cookie cutter for a home. I guess I am unique enough that I don't need special things to set me apart.

 

[narlus]

I like all of N8's houses he has posted. I thought the weeping mortar was weird, but even kind of liked it. I wouldn't mind cookie cutter for a home. I guess I am unique enough that I don't need special things to set me apart.

dude, you live in TX...it's ok, we understand...

 

[BillT]

As far as spec houses go, it is pretty nice. I like the kitchen especially the backsplash - is the granite pure black or does it have flecks of other color in it? You don't go into a spec house to find color matched switch plates (painting a switch plate is bad idea, btw, especially if ever plan on using it) and high-end lighting.

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

Alexis DH, if you need to resurface any flat natural stone face, don’t use a grinder. Get a Makita GV5000 (5”) or GV7000 (7”) and silicon carbide sanding pads. This type of sanding pad is the most commonly used type. You start out with a 60 or 80 grit, then to a 120, then a 240 (gives the “honed look”), then a 320, then 500 (starts to give the “high polish look”), then 600 for real bling-bling. Your other alternative for polishing natural stone or porcelain is diamond impregnated polishing pads, very pricey and not as forgiving.

Usually the only time a fabricator will polish the top surface is when he either:

1. Is trying to flush out a stubborn seam that will not lay flat due to a warped slab or shotty setting installation.

2. When a customer has found a slab that they really like all except for the finish polish, then they might have the fabricator hone, re-polish, or even sandblast or flame the surface.



Typically, when you purchase 2cm or 3cm natural stone slabs (granite, marble, travertine, etc.), from a slab supply house, the top face will already be at finish polish (gloss, honed, flamed, etc.). The slabs will most commonly be dimensioned at around 4’-6” x 9’ x (2 or 3cm). After the fabricator cuts to fit, he will then shape and finish polish all exposed edges (bull nose, flat polish, even chiseled), but most often he will match the type of pre-existing finish on the slab top surface. Upon request, there will be a laminated matching stone rip epoxied to the under side of the slab perimeter (before shaping & polishing of the edge), which makes the slab look twice as thick as it really is.


When trying to figure out if you want to remove the existing granite pcs. consider a few things:

1. Are they structurally sound and intact or are they loose.

2. If you did remove them, would you have to damage any surrounding materials (concrete, other stone, etc.)

3. Are they currently so badly damaged, that it would not be realistic to have them re-surfaced.



Gres Porcellanato or any type of porcelain is nice. It’s durable, attractive, and impervious to water… but I personally prefer natural stone over porcelain anytime. If the granite isn’t badly damaged, its worth having it refinished, and a lot cheaper.

If your interested, post some close up pictures of the granite and I’ll tell you what I think.




Nice N8, it has a really clean detail... you can barely get your plans, engineering, and permit for that price around here ($1000 per sqft of living for building permit and $350,000 for .5 acre)

Sweeeeeet Job N8!

thanks. thats a whole lot of useful information.
i´ll take pictures tomorrow in broad daylight and post them here.

my granite floor is not in tiles.. the whole kitchen floor is just one piece, no unions. same with the other places with the same floor indoors. it is white with marble on it.

the ouside deck is like 8 pieces (each about 1m by 1m).
i think they were not made in slabs (i´ve seen the slabs but mine are different, indoors the whole floor is just one piece).

im not exactly sure how thick it is. i will take pictures from the sides.

i will take many pictures from the surrounding areas as well.

 

[N8 v2.0]

looks good, nice and clean.. I like the arches.. I recently bought a house built in 1915.. and it has all that detailed moulding in it.. picture frame moulding as well

Nice digs!

 

[DaveW]

looks good, nice and clean.. I like the arches.. I recently bought a house built in 1915.. and it has all that detailed moulding in it.. picture frame moulding as well

Pretty small room, but I still think it looks cool!

 

[ktmsx]

where do you live and build.????...Arizona..???...I like the counters..but I will never understand why people like the painted trim ???...I used to help my uncle build and it seems like nobody likes wood anymore....I am thinking of getting into it myself..I built my house three years ago while I was working somewhere else took some time but was well worth it....

 

[N8 v2.0]

where do you live and build.????...Arizona..???...I like the counters..but I will never understand why people like the painted trim ???...I used to help my uncle build and it seems like nobody likes wood anymore....I am thinking of getting into it myself..I built my house three years ago while I was working somewhere else took some time but was well worth it....

I build in Louisiana.

The trim is made from MDF and comes primered white. You can paint it any color you like but here in my area everyone wants white.

Stain grade trim is ok too but more costly and more trouble to install and finish correctly... and it isn't popular here at all.

 

[Jeremy R]

I build in Louisiana.

The trim is made from MDF and comes primered white. You can paint it any color you like but here in my area everyone wants white.

Trained trim is ok too but more costly and more trouble to install and finish correctly... and it isn't popular here at all.

Yep, you are right, we thought our trim was gonna be "stained" wood, and then we got prices for both.
There is a huge difference. We ended up deciding to paint our trim
the dark brown color that we wanted with the stain.

 

[ktmsx]

I build in Louisiana.

The trim is made from MDF and comes primered white. You can paint it any color you like but here in my area everyone wants white.

Stain grade trim is ok too but more costly and more trouble to install and finish correctly... and it isn't popular here at all.

it is popular here also ..that is what I don't understand but whatever floats your boat I guess...I went with solid wood downstairs even the doors..upstairs I went with the cheaper stuff...I am sure as a builder sometimes there are to many choices it is amazing what you can put in a house if you have the $$$$$$...you must be pretty busy down there.......

 

[-dustin]

you must be pretty busy down there.......

given the amount of time he's on RM, i'm going to say he, personally, can't be too busy.

 

[N8 v2.0]

If you are building a house in a warm part of the US, I hightly suggest you ask for a radient barrier OSB decking on your roof. I installed thi sproduct on a house I am building and I am amazed at how much differerence it makes in keeping the house cool.

http://www.lpcorp.com/lpstructuralproducts/lptechshieldradiantbarrier/productinformation/productinformation.aspx

 

[EPB]

1724_heated. 2 bath (Master has whirlpool tub), living pre-wired for 5.1 surround sound....... $189k here in NW Louisiana.

Ugh! I'll pay for you to come here and build me a house just like that! townhouses aren't even that cheap around here....

 

[N8 v2.0]

Cabs have some rain glass in them and most of the touch up work is done.

All that is left is the outside of the house... paint garage door, put in some plants and clean the driveway and sidewalk.
The brick has a weeping motar finish that looks sharp and gives the brick some nice texture.

 

[BurlyShirley]

You just "paint" the garage floor? Or do you use some of that heavy duty epoxy stuff that's super exp.? Or do you just clear seal it?

Edit: You said garage "door" not "floor" im tired.

 

[JRB]

get some sleep!

Don't you have someone to chastize about kayak safety somewhere???

 

[N8 v2.0]

SOLD!!!

Next up I have 3 custom homes and a spec to do...

 

[ktmsx]

so you build for customers, and build specs of your own????..

 

[N8 v2.0]

Yes.

.

 

[Morryjg]

SOLD!!!

Next up I have 3 custom homes and a spec to do...

Awesome! Keep posting pics. It's cool to see the houses and read all the opinions.....well....*most* of the opinions.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Of course opinions are like hemmeroids....

Just about a-hole has one.

 

[narlus]

and some smell worse.