Anyone with good advice on building a house?

Then you need to threaten to sue him. He's costing you money, mental anguish, and has been paid under a contract he is in (or should be) violation of.

Even if you don't, that will get his attention, not just cause of the possibility of a lawsuit, but also for the hit that his reputation would take. Builder's thrive on that. Also, leave public bad reviews on his facebook, HomeAdvisor, etc...

You can also threaten to hire ppl to finish the work and make him cover the costs. Either way, you'll have his attention. Most likely he has other builds where he's going to make more money and he's focusing his resources there.

Sucks that ppl jerk you around on what's most likely been a lifelong dream for both you and your wife.

 

You're seriously being too nice and amicable. Give him a hard deadline and tell him no more BS. If his subs are jerking him around, that's on him, not you. He needs to step up and get this done and you need to tell him so. I'd be in his *** every other day. Not unreasonable for you to be doing the same.

JM2C.

 

First, let me say I'm sorry you're going through this Lucky. This should be a stressful time, but a fun stress and not a bad stress.

I agree with cuch here Lucky. The builder is taking advantage of your kindness. It seems as if they stretched themselves too thin and you're the nicest guy so you're getting the shaft. I wouldn't wait until Monday. I'd call him today and give him specific examples like you've given us here and tell him that you want it finished. And if it's not finished in the time you want you will find someone else to complete the work on his dime and you'll make sure to find the most expensive people around.

 

I have had to get tough with the last two contractors I have used. Otherwise they are always going to other sites and not finishing mine.

In your case, if you still had the leverage of the money, I would think you could be patient. But given that they already got paid? I think you might have to get tough.

 

Sooooo your solution..... is to rape the contractor until he gives in?? Cuch doesn't mess around!

 

Good for you. That said, what's "a lot of work"? Sounds like more BS. Demand a detailed daily report with hours spent per item. It's not like this is a removation where they're running into issues with a 50 y/o house. This should be cake.

Don't go prevent. Keep blitzing.

And no, I've never heard of shower doors being a foot over size. Someone must've wrote it down wrong. Even with 9' ceilings, you still would would have to allow for the the shower base and room at the top. Maximum height would be apprx 97", not 119". Maybe they added a foot instead of subtracting it in error, which does happen from time to time when people aren't paying attention to what they're doing.

And free feel to let him know that you'll be handing him the bill for the storage unit Thursday evening if the house isn't ready.

 

Lucky, you moving in tonight? 8am tomorrow? What's the status? lol...

 

Nice. Bout damn time.

If your builder gives you any flack buy Cash a 6 pack of PBR and tell him the builder hates God, guns, Van Halen, gold chains, and Firebirds.

 

Lucky, you guys all moved in? Status? Pics?

Lol....

 

Lucky, where ya at with those pics? lol...

 

Lol... just giving you hard time. That said, sup with Comcast? They should've been ready to connect you a week ago.

 

How's the new house, Lucky? Does it feel like home yet?

We broke ground last week. The basement is all dug out and they will be pouring the walls starting this week.

 

Awesome. Sine the day they broke ground I've been out there over my lunch every day. lol...I asked the guys if me being there looking over their shoulder bothered them and they all said it was great and they all did the same thing when they built their houses...lol

 

Friends of ours built a house a few years ago. After everything was framed my buddy was walking through the house with the plans. He noticed that something looked weird between the garage in real life and the way they were drawn on the plans. Turns out that the garage was 6 FEET shorter than it was supposed to be. The contractor had to tear down half the house and change the foundation. lol....It was a HUGE screw-up.

 

I thought about creating a new thread, but it seems Lucky's house is pretty much done, and this is the same topic. Lucky, if you want me to start a new thread just let me know.

Anyhow, I think with what Lucky has written and what I add could potentially help someone else if/when they decide to build their own home.

My wife and I purchased our lot a number of years ago. About 1 year ago we started the design process. The plans were finalized about 1 month ago. We would think we were finished and then we'd brainstorm and decide that something wasn't right. A year is relatively long, or so we are told, in regards to designing a house. However, I think it was a good idea for us to not only take our time on the design, but also own the lot for awhile before building. I think we had time to work through any what-ifs and (currently) there is nothing we feel like we would do differently.

We had a cold snap here so the builders thought it would be best to hold off on the footings and foundation pours last week. They are finishing up the footings today and pouring concrete tomorrow.

 

Thanks dude. Yeah, this soil is nice and rich. We even have a natural spring on the back line of our property with a larger creek about 300-400 yards back further. Tons of deer and turkey. Kids are going to love it. And we've got 5 kids so a big house is kind of needed. Well, maybe not needed, but greatly appreciated. lol

I'm about to drive out to the lot and watch them pour the footings. Should be pretty interesting.

 

All the footings are poured. Walls should be going up today through Wednesday.

 

Wow! That sure is such a pretty area you live in!

 

Thanks Surfs. Our lot backs up to a 1100 acre nature preserve so it, hopefully, will always be that way.

 

Awesome...Got to love the privacy and the woods for the kids.

 

These were taken on Friday. These are the basement wall forms being placed. They should be completed tomorrow and then cement poured on Thursday.

 

Pouring the walls today!

 

So I talked with the owner of the concrete company today.

He said that they will blanket the walls and keep the forms up until Monday. He said they usually don't keep the forms up that long, but this will help retain heat (it's in the high 30's right now) and ensure that the concrete gets to the required 500 psi before the weather gets below freezing. I think he's doing this to ease my mind a little. I've been pushy with my questions and the demand to not pour if we don't have to. That 500psi mark should happen before dark.

I also requested another company come out and do random sampling of the concrete before they poured it (It took about 15 trucks) to ensure that each truck was filled with concrete at between 65- 70 degrees F and that each mix was consistent with the additives etc. Also, they will take random core samples after it's poured to ensure that the temps etc are proper. It cost me a little extra money, but I think it will pay for itself in me being able to relax and not have to listen to my wife. lol

Once they remove the forms they can start framing. They will wait until the roof is on before they pour the basement floor foundation. The owner said that with the plumping and electrical for the basement still needing to be done that it will just be too difficult to pour the slab before it gets really cold. He said that since it won't hold up progress to wait, it would be better to wait until the spring/summer. I agreed.

So, starting next week I should start seeing some framers out there. My builder said it will take them through the Spring and into the Summer to finish (weather depending). Then it will be another 8-10 months for the electrical, plumbing, and finishes throughout.

My wife and I, along with our builder and his wife, are going to Vegas in February for the International Builder's Show. Our builder said that he goes every other year or so and he thinks my wife would really enjoy it and get some great ideas for interior stuff. I agreed because I want to gamble...lol

 

What were the temps when you poured?

 

So all of the basement walls have been poured and the backfill is nearly complete. The backside of the house still has a little bit to go in regards to backfill because we built up the house a little and the basement walls are 12' high. As you look at the house the right, back side is where the walkout will be so those back walls are lower. The 3 stall garage is on the left, the round part jutting out will be the kitchen nook. Again, this is the basement level, so the kitchen will be up higher and then there is a 2nd story that will go over the middle portion of the house.

The basement slab will be poured this Friday. And they will start framing any day now.

 

Here are the front and rear elevation plans to better get an idea of what you're looking at: