NOTE in Newport Rhode Island, the trail adjacent to the ocean where all the mansions are located is known as "The Cliff Walk".

Great to hear that the inspection passed. Congratulations on your new place!

+1

Here's one of the house a customer of mine owns. I build most of the furniture in it. Walker-Warner Architects - WILDERNESS CABIN

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1418846141.jpg

Jeff Shelton is a supergenious! | themovement.com

Jeff Shelton in Santa Barbara... sort of like Gaudi in Spain... crossed with Dr. Seuss! This house is on a 20 by 20 lot I think... right downtown Santa Barbara

I'm imagining your car parked out front like this:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1418866983.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1418867022.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1418865959.jpg

This reminds me of one of these, but for rednecks.

http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/...r/CamHouse.JPG

My house. Niftier inside.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1418950068.jpg

This Fake Boulder In the Alps Is Actually a Tiny, Perfect Cabin
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1419039562.jpghttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1419039572.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1419039592.jpghttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1419039604.jpg

I can finally say, we have started!

ErVikingo

You've been here a long time - I should have learned your name.

Is it Erik?

Anyways, how about starting a thread on the construction of that home?
And is that going to be a raised foundation? Or slab-on-grade?

Hi David, been here too long ;) name is Juan

It's slab on grade but since we are building a concrete structure with a poured roof, the foundations are much more substantial than the typical.

Forgot the random house:


Simple but fun! The owner was rumored to own the "Wagon Wheel Motel" - a way station on the route to Palm Springs before the freeways were in. I suppose there was a time when there were a plethora of wagon wheels looking for a use?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1421100430.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1421100450.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1421100473.jpg

Thanks Juan - that does look like a substantial foundation.

Will the walls be cmu block? If so, are there 21st Century solutions to insulating them?

I'm a concrete contractor here in CA, but long before I watched a house being rebuilt in Vero Beach while visiting in-laws. The conventional roof had been blown off, and they were repairing it with steel that went from the foundation, through the walls, and finished with a retaining washer and nut on top the roof. The guy said it was a new method "guaranteed" to retain the roof in any hurricane. I've never been back to see if he was right!

Good luck - and keep us posted if you can!

David,

Here is a sample section of one of the footings (it will make sense to you!).

We are going up with CMU with the voids filled in, a Hambro poured roof. The walls and roof will have sprayed on closed cell foam insulation.

We are going for a very high "R-value" on the envelope. Also going with "low -e huricane" windows. MEP designed a modern HVAC system with ERV's and dehumidifiers. Very high SEER a/c units, low impact materials, .... (the high impact is on my wallet)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1421101608.jpg

Great plans - esp. the insulation.

For a vapor barrier, we no longer use 6 mil in Ca. Minimum is 10, but 15 has become more and more common. We are also dealing with rocks from time to time, and the 15 is more resistant to punctures. Based on what I've seen of Florida soil that may not be an issue there.

We use a lot of Stego in home construction these days. I slightly modified proprietary recipe of plastic/poly-olefin. It is extremely rugged, expensive, but much less permeable than anything else on the market out here. I can't say if it's good for FL though.

Stego Wrap Vapor Barrier | Products | Stego Industries, LLC

I see the plans call for welded wire mesh - is that standard in Florida? A lot of our slabs are over engineered (by others) in my opinion, but we don't have much demand anymore for WWM. Normal around here is #3 or #4 rebar 18" on center each way, and sitting on a 2" "dobie" that keeps it from sinking and ending up at the bottom of the slab.

That's a lot of unasked-for advice - not to mention I'm in another part of the country. For now I will just check back periodically and hope to watch the progress!

I appreciate all the advice (please don't hold back)...

If you think I should go with a thicker vapor barrier, I will ask for it. I will look into the Stego.

Regarding the welded wire mesh, there are sections where the engineer called for 2 layers (with a separation). He specified that it is not to be the "roll" kind but the one that comes in mats. The GC is already thinking of the added complication of carrying the "mats" over the tall rebar.

The soil is of very high quality but since the slab is so large I specifically asked them to over-design as I'm hoping for the least amount of cracking (even though I understand that apparently all concrete cracks).

The slab on the garage(s) is thicker than on the rest of the house.

Still trying to decide what the finish of the garage floors will be. I'm afraid of an epoxy or poly aspartic type product peeling off. Any suggestions?

I will have a day to day garage area for 3 cars and a separate (yet attached) large garage/workshop with 3 wide bays (one double depth). I plan to do some restoration work and the stuff we all like to do.