Thoughts on building a home.

Another thought - rotate the house but still put the garage facing the gable end. Not knowing your lot dimensions and how the house will situation, that might be tough to make a turn into the garage with the driveway, but something to consider.

 

We did glued and screwed on all subfloor in our house. Not a squeak to be found!

 

Lot dimensions are something I'll have to get. Can't remember them off the top of my head.
I think I checked that before and a 90* turn into the garage wasn't possible. I might be remembering wrong though.

 

Since we were the builder, I only had to negotiate with the framer. I ended up having to buy a stand-up screw gun for him to use to do the work (and all the screws). And I still have (and use) that screw gun for other things!

 

Yes. These are all things that I've been gleaning from the other home building threads. A long way out from fighting with a builder, but that will be finer detailed things that I'll have organized to discuss when shopping builders.

 

Man - the more I look at that plan with the proposed rotation - you’re going to be facing your master bath straight at the road. That beautiful tub in the window is going to aimed at the least private spot on your property. Invest in some good hedges!

 

If somebody wants too look at my fat, hairy body in its glistening, steamy glory, then that's their therapy bill.

I know there are a few options for privacy. Glass options. Shrubs. Fences. I'll figure one out.

 

I'll have to get the lot dimensions, but I don't think there's room. There is, however, other space on the property that might get a bigger shop building.

 

On these options, think practically about how/where the bathrooms and bedrooms get used (which it looks like you already are a bit). Eliminating the bathrooms in the middle makes it a LONG and not so direct path from the rear bedroom to the bathroom (options 1 and 2). How likely is the study to actually become a bedroom while you live there? If not, then I’d look at turning that into a half-bath (toilet and lav only) for guests (since it is easily accessed from the main space). The “Jack and Jill” bathrooms can work very well (we did that for our house with the two kid’s bedrooms). They each have their own sink/vanity, but then a common tub/shower and toilet.

Bedroom sizes can be a tricky topic. Too small and they are cramped. Too big, and it just encourages the kids to hide in the bedroom and never come out. You need room for a bed, a dresser, a closet, and a desk for homework. Not much more. My kids’ rooms are huge (12x18) because of how the house laid out, and it’s almost like they have a studio apartment minus the kitchenette.

 

Now you can see why my wife and I ultimately decided to design our own. We had bits and pieces from probably 10 different house plans we liked, but each one had enough things about it that wouldn’t work with our lot that we just started laying it out ourselves.

 

Yeah - we try to encourage interaction in the heart of the house, not everyone hiding in their rooms. It has only been partially successful. You do need enough room to be comfortable (I’ve seen some tiny bedrooms in new houses).

Lots of ways to skin a cat for sure.

 

My view to the south with mountains. The pic makes them appear smaller and more distant than they are. That fence is big and tall because I have buffalo/bison for neighbors to the south.




And the view facing the road and neighbors. You can see the willow that cannot be touched.

 

Here's the southern view when it's not dead from winter.

 

Moo



Or whatever noise a bison makes

 

They make these noises.

https://youtu.be/T9yw3kvvfKA

https://youtu.be/3CJFZvk1oqY

 

So... growl moo? Groo?

 

Indeed! I have some in the freezer.

 

Adam,
I’ve followed this thread since you started it. Having as much time as you say you have, I suggest that you get a couple books about home and site development and take time absorbing information. After building “ground up”, several homes on acreage, I think there’s few mistakes that I haven’t made, lol.
There’s been lots of great suggestions already provided!
Here’s a couple things;
Plants take a while to grow, research where you might want neighbors views blocked and where you might want to mitigate strong prevailing winds and consider getting some stuff planted now. Then, in 4 or 5 years when you build, this is already happening.
Also, consider what the worst thing a neighbor could do/build on an adjacent property, and EXPECT it to happen after you have built the dream house. For example, maybe they have an easement along a shared property line and they turn it into a driveway. You have plenty of time to review and revise house plans.

 

Excellent advice! Thank you! Can you clarify/expound on the kind of books you mean? Like Bob Vila type of DIY stuff, or contractor text book kind of things? I never even thought about books on the topic so this is all new.

My only next door neighbor tore down the little old house and built a new one, so I don't think there will be any major surprises. Where I want to build would actually improve his south facing views. It'd move my home out of his field of view. He's a good neighbor, too. Didn't even know his name for the first 5 years he lived there.


Here's a little more of my area. Blacked out house numbers and road name for privacy of self and neighbors.

Red is my property.

Aqua square is where my neighbor built his house, and his garage is taking the space that his old house in the image occupied.

Aqua path below is the access road that the Buffalo/Bison rancher built to access their pens behind my property.

I think it's highly unlikely that anything will change in the area as far as residences go; for the next few decades at least. The canal and ponds make building south of me and blocking my views pretty impossible. I'd also not be opposed to purchasing up to the canal edge someday and having an agreement that the fence stayed where it was and they could keep bison on it. Just to ensure that nobody can build close. That would be well after the home was built though, and likely would not be necessary.