New House Build – Questions

buckybadger wrote:

^That’s my mistake on the cabinets. Not place the order, but just the process of having them all picked out this far ahead seems strange to lock in price. They’re queued pending measurements to lock in our price. I’m not much for visualizing things without physically seeing them especially this far ahead.

That’s the plan then with the breaker. Thanks for verifying.

We’ve got enough furnaces available that it shouldn’t be an issue to throw one in. My in-laws throw furnaces in sheds and garages for single events in a moment’s notice.

If anyone is wondering why late Fall and early Winter suddenly becomes excessively wet, blame me. We’re really hoping for the dry spell to continue until we are sealed up.

The drywallers will want the furnace fully functioning. Temp heat is a NO NO. It can cause the drywall to flash.
Budget for the ducts to be cleaned at the end of the build.
A good HVAC company should come in at the final and do an authorized furnace cleaning. If they don’t the furnace warranty could be voided.

Winter build blow! FYI – Hopefully you have a good job Sup that is there EVERYDAY.
My moto was (walk every room every day, once in the morning and before you leave) Don’t let issues fester, then you’ll have a small problem become a big problem.

Running HVAC isnt just for temp, keeping that humidity in check is important for anything with wood.

Nothing will pi$$ off your subs more than poor working conditions where they are stalled bc you don’t have your jobsite conditions in check.

Update/Questions:

– We had to completely shift gears on windows. The Andersen 400 series were available in the black color Mrs. Bucky wanted, but only offered white or grey jamb liners that were clearly going to clash and be visible against the look she wants. We swapped everything out for Marvin windows and were able to jump into a production slot that was vacated by a recently cancelled project. They should still be here in about 5-6 weeks. Thankfully the main guy I’ve worked with and known for many years here at the yard here caught the jamb liner thing and is super easy to work with.

– We cannot find a door manufacturer who will do 2 different colors. It’s the norm to do so for each side, but with the Covid chaos all the major ones made nearby in the US have opted to only do 1 finish on the entire door for the indefinite future. On a side note, for anyone who has not priced out a wood textured fiberglass door with sidelights recently…be ready to have your mind blown (in a bad way).

– Who has recommendations for fireplace manufacturers, or businesses that come out and to the build from start to finish? Our contractor will do as much or as little of it as we want. He’s currently planning to frame the box for the fireplace from floor to ceiling (per fireplace company’s dimensions) and let them handle the rest. We had Haleys and Brekke both suggested to us in rural SE MN. We’ve got a quote from Haleys that seemed to be plenty for what we are asking, but would love something to compare it to.

That’s all for now. I’m sure I’ll have more questions in the coming weeks as things accelerate, the weather deteriorates, and my few remaining hairs fall out.

That’s too bad about the windows, lotta better options out there.

We use mostly superior fire boxes. Great quality. Fireplaces are the most tested item ever with underwriter laboratories. There is not another product on the face year if that is tested as extensively as a wooden fireplace. Do not let your framers frame the opening until you know exactly which box you’re getting and your mantle location. Additionally what you’re doing For a surround. If you generically frame a box now, you’re most likely needing to rip it open and rebuild it.

As for that fiberglass door, what you’re explaining is very confusing. Why is your painter not doing that? There’s hundreds of a better quality products to use as a finish that are accessible to your painter that will far exceed the crap most manufactures will use. I haven’t put a fiberglassDoor in a house for about 25 years. But with all the wooden doors that we install every one of my painters will give us any finish we want

For a wood burner these are great.

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The fiberglass door we are basically seeking is shown in the attached picture. I have no interest in a wooden front door and I do not like the look of steel despite it being cheaper. Different strokes for different folks. We’d love to get the inside finished white…but the companies most used through our yard won’t do a different interior color than exterior for now like they used to do as a result of the backlog of orders. I believe the current company listed is Bayer, out of right here in MN if I am not mistaken. If anyone knows of a company that’d get us essentially that door and sidelight with a white interior and different colored, wood textured exterior ordered today – I’m all ears.

We are going with real stone that has been picked out for the fireplace. I agree on the framing. Nothing is being framed until the final box is purchased with specific dimensions. The one business wanted $1800 to frame out the fireplace floor to ceiling. I’m leaning towards letting our contractor do it as he generally does and has it factored into his labor. Also on the fireplace, going with a real wooden mantel (combustible) increases the overall height from the fireplace, correct? Or at least that’s what I gathered per code.

We’ve been all over on the windows. We went and looked at the same specific signature window line of Marvin in a recently finished build (well over a million dollar house) and they looked great. They were a price jump from the Andersen 400s, but the quality showed. The warranty process seems pretty consistent across comparable lines from competitors. Ultimately, it’s the look that the Mrs. wants in a product our custom home builder trusts and I’m not fighting her on it.

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Can’t go wrong with Marvins.

We get quite a few custom items from Bayer Built but they are slowly telling us no. They would typically do what you want but due to labor shortages they are cutting back on custom items.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Can’t go wrong with Marvins.

We get quite a few custom items from Bayer Built but they are slowly telling us no. They would typically do what you want but due to labor shortages they are cutting back on custom items.

Any concerns with Bayer doors in general? I like the idea of keeping the business fairly local as long as quality is there.

Nope.
They supply a ton of doors for the builders in the Cities. I’m not sure where they buy the blanks (maybe china) then they build the doors at their plant in Belgrade, MN.

FYI – their plant is freakin huuuuuuge. They have bicycles laying all over the place to ride from building to building.

buckybadger wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
Can’t go wrong with Marvins.

We get quite a few custom items from Bayer Built but they are slowly telling us no. They would typically do what you want but due to labor shortages they are cutting back on custom items.

Any concerns with Bayer doors in general? I like the idea of keeping the business fairly local as long as quality is there.

I just put in a Bayer fiberglass front door in my own house and its very nice as it should be for what they cost! I went with claded jambs and they tend to oil can with temps fluctuating is my only complaint.

buckybadger wrote:

, going with a real wooden mantel (combustible) increases the overall height from the fireplace, correct? Or at least that’s what I gathered per code.

it varies by each individual fire box. Wood burning does tend to be higher. But every box is slightly different and the spec sheet will have all the dimensions listed out for clearances. In some cases, the home owner will need to omit a mantle because of height

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^^
X2

I believe the projection comes into play also.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

^^
X2

I believe the projection comes into play also.

Yep, more so if it “recesses”. I get a lot of requests for designs with bookcases or built ins flaking the fireplace. The side wall spacing influences mantle height. All on the spec sheets

It’s amazing how many installation instructions go unread.
Very good way to void warranties.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

It’s amazing how many installation instructions go unread.
Very good way to void warranties.

And insurance denials

What I find interesting that some install the wood fireplaces to the minimum clearances, which is just that! Just like building to “code”. It’s minimum and you can build it better. Especially with wood burning inserts. IMO

gregory wrote:

What I find interesting that some install the wood fireplaces to the minimum clearances, which is just that! Just like building to “code”. It’s minimum and you can build it better. Especially with wood burning inserts. IMO

Don’t be going Mike Holmes, the guy is POS.
(I could elaborate but BK would need to hold his hand over the sensor key.)
I’ve sent him emails letting him know that he is bad for us contractors and our industry.
There is nothing wrong with minimums, nothing. In todays world by the time it gets to the code book it is scrutinized beyond belief. If a product needs engineering buy the time it makes it to market it is overengineered.

I could go on and on.

Does all this over building make things safer and more efficient? Sure, but at what cost.

^ Speaking of costs – Does anyone know of a reliable website for selling organs?

…asking for a friend

After the week I’m having I may need a liver.

Bump With an Update & More Questions:

Update-
The floor trusses are on and the walkout basement is framed, capped, and wrapped with enough heat pumped in from our giant diesel heater/generator to keep things from freezing on the coldest days. Today has been the only rough day where that will run around the clock, otherwise it hasn’t been too bad with daytime temps often in the 40s still. The septic system is in, the well is punched. We’ve been able to get materials and everything fairly easily so far with some advanced planning. It has definitely helped to get some items at cost for working at the local yard on the side. Xcel has been absolutely brutal to deal with. They cannot tell you when they are coming to do anything (more on that below). All and all, we are happy with how things have progressed this far. It’s been a major peace of mind deal to have a local contractor who does custom homes and only does one project at a time being there every day working. It’s generally just him and 2 guys who have worked with him for over 10 years each. They have been there most Saturdays at least checking on things, keeping cement blanketed, verifying things with us, etc.

Questions-
What is everyone’s take on Midland Garage Doors? Basically everything in this build is coming from stateside, and moreso right here in the Midwest. There’s not a ton of reviews on these doors, but we are looking for something that’s quality and will last.

Has anyone worked with Eldorado Stone? The Mrs. found some she liked and ordered it for the fireplace. I’m debating just ordering more for the exterior accents and keeping it all the same, but wanted to hear thoughts from others who may have used it both inside and out.

Who has had to deal with Xcel Energy lately? We were in contact with them mid-Summer about this job. We needed power brought in about ~1000′ and knew it’d be costly. In August, they quoted us about $31,000 to do this with major frost charges included. Here we stand heading into the second week of December and I was digging and trenching our temporary propane and setting a tank up with no frost to be found (yet they would’ve gladly killed us on frost charges) We had counted on about $15,000 for them based on a similar project a few miles away. After a few “conversations” on the phone with both my contractor and myself, we told them to get bent and had our electrician bring it in for only about $10,000 total beyond the first 100′ that Xcel did. The downfall of this is that we have a panel 100′ set off the road along our driveway now. It’s not visible from the house and will be easily disguised later on, but the process was annoying.

buckybadger wrote:

Xcel Energy

I don’t know what they are but I’ve heard quite a few general grievances with Excel from my contractors this year.

Can’t go wrong with Midlands.

Deuces wrote:

Running HVAC isnt just for temp, keeping that humidity in check is important for anything with wood.

Nothing will pi$$ off your subs more than poor working conditions where they are stalled bc you don’t have your jobsite conditions in check.

Subs…
Never answer their phones, don’t show up on the scheduled date, and complain about working conditions.

Mookie Blaylock wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Mr.Beads wrote:</div>
Running HVAC isnt just for temp, keeping that humidity in check is important for anything with wood.

Nothing will pi$$ off your subs more than poor working conditions where they are stalled bc you don’t have your jobsite conditions in check.

Subs…
Never answer their phones, don’t show up on the scheduled date, and complain about working conditions.

In-Laws run an HVAC business that employs dozens of guys. Jobsite conditions will be the least of their worries. As soon as sheating is done and it’s wrapped, it will never be under 55-60 degrees regardless of exterior conditions. We kept a lean-to machine shed 65 degrees for a November wedding on a 30 degree day.

Bucky,
Been following your build thread here as I am in the process as well. We are a month or so ahead of where you are at. You seem to be very on top of things and I’m sure your contractor really appreciates it. I hoped I wasn’t being too much of a pain for my contractor as I have taken on quite a bit of the work myself. He has stated that it is refreshing to have someone so involved and can answer questions and understands the process.
As for Xcel, I can’t tell you about them as we have Dakota Electric in our neighborhood. My buddy is an independent electrician and is doing the electrical and allows me to help him. I asked “who runs the line to the house?” He stated Xcel likes to do it themselves and over charge you, Dakota will only hook up at the transformer and “you” have to run the line yourself. Well, when I called, the person I spoke to at Dakota Electric confirmed that. They then asked how big the lot was. I said the transformer is in the yard, but its 3.5 acres. They then said there was a “Large Lot” fee because the lot was over an acre. I said it doesn’t matter how big it is if all they are doing is hooking it up… Alas, I had to pay the $1000 large lot fee to have four guys roll up in two trucks and spend 5 minutes to hook it up.
Keep up the updates. I love to follow your build.
Greg

Greg Krull wrote:

Bucky,
Been following your build thread here as I am in the process as well. We are a month or so ahead of where you are at. You seem to be very on top of things and I’m sure your contractor really appreciates it. I hoped I wasn’t being too much of a pain for my contractor as I have taken on quite a bit of the work myself. He has stated that it is refreshing to have someone so involved and can answer questions and understands the process.
As for Xcel, I can’t tell you about them as we have Dakota Electric in our neighborhood. My buddy is an independent electrician and is doing the electrical and allows me to help him. I asked “who runs the line to the house?” He stated Xcel likes to do it themselves and over charge you, Dakota will only hook up at the transformer and “you” have to run the line yourself. Well, when I called, the person I spoke to at Dakota Electric confirmed that. They then asked how big the lot was. I said the transformer is in the yard, but its 3.5 acres. They then said there was a “Large Lot” fee because the lot was over an acre. I said it doesn’t matter how big it is if all they are doing is hooking it up… Alas, I had to pay the $1000 large lot fee to have four guys roll up in two trucks and spend 5 minutes to hook it up.
Keep up the updates. I love to follow your build.
Greg

Let’s hear some more about your build. Where are you roughly located? This stuff always interests me as well. I enjoy seeing and hearing how the process unfolds for everyone a little differently.

There are a lot of experienced contractors around here. I wish we’d see even more topics about home builds, projects, shed builds, etc.

House is in New Market Township. It’s been a rollercoaster ride but the end is in sight. We started the process about two years ago. My employer was seriously affected by Covid as we are in the tradeshow business and we were concerned they would keep the doors open. While I never missed any time, we halted the process for a year after buying the lot. When we resumed, the house price rose $150k. Ouch. My guess is if we were starting again right now, it would be another $100k on top of that!

We did Spancrete and have about 9 stalls worth of garage space. I put down 1800 ft of pex for infloor heat in all those spaces. Not sure if I’m pulling the trigger on the boiler right away as I figured today with everything I’ll need, it would be about $5k. My electrician friend is letting me help with wiring. I’ve purchased and used about $6500 in copper wire alone. I built all the cabinets and I’m doing the trim/finishing work and the painting.

Awesome! That sounds like an impressive build. We’re just pumping out a house with an attached garage, nothing probably as involved as that. I’m slacking on pictures but will dump a bunch here later. I’d love to see some pictures of yours as well

Passed the framing, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing rough ins last week. Insulation started today. I learned a couple weeks ago that my oldest son needs to move back in with us, so I have been feverishly working to finish a few bedrooms and bathroom in the basement the last few days. Seems like it never ends, but I love it. The alternative is to sit in my crammed apartment. We sold our house in April thinking we would be in by now, but delays have us hoping for the end of January.