30 July 2017

Lot cleared + Budget Angst

I've been out of the state on vacation.  On our way back from the Utah Arches and Canyonlands, we stopped by the property to see the progress.


Hard to tell from just this photo, but there was a 40-yard container on the road for a day that got filled with brush and debris.  You can see some logs on the left side of this picture. We'll cut them up and use them for firewood next year.

Excavating for the footings comes next.

I have been actively getting estimates for stairs, siding, in-floor heating. We're still working on finalizing the lumber package due to some questions about the glulams -- should be resolved soon. Plans are to begin framing at the beginning of September. With a roof on by the end of the month.

Here's the stairs I'll be getting for the exterior, and I got them to do the railing in black instead of yellow (for no addt'l cost!).



I've also been totalling up other costs and needs. I've decided to forego bringing in a propane tank and service, instead relying totally on electric.  What I realized is that I'm going to blow-out a standard 200-amp service due to electric in-floor heating, and electgric on demand water heating.  Not to mention an electric range, and an eventual hot-tub.

I have budget angst, and and am already looking for ways to cut costs and save money.  The first compromise was deciding to do pre-fab and site built stairs instead of the custom ones.  Even the outside pre-fab stairs will end up costing $4K, whereas the custom ones would've been more than double.  And the single, center-stringer stairs on the intrior have evolved into a double stringer, site built stairs, saving a cool $10K...! Yikes.

1 comment:

  1. Have you thought of having the stairs designed and then just buying a welder? If you have time, and appear to have the skillset, that's the best way I've found to trim costs. Also, you learn a skill in the process.

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