Posts made by todd burch

Actually, that's 1 cold in, 1 hot in, and 1 (via a loop) out. The wrong valve makes make more sense.

@solo said:

My guess, they bought the wrong valve and did not have a cap for it so they looped it to go to the shower head, I'm also guessing that valve is for a tub as it has two outlets, one for faucet and other for shower head.

It's a shower, but two heads. One in the wall and the other from the ceiling. Makes sense about accommodating the wrong valve, or, perhaps even varying the installation options. Maybe that's a 3-head valve?

I've heard mixed opinions (and they all seem to be opinions) that you either DO NOT put spray foam between the roof rafters, or it is OK to put spray foam between the rafters.

I was in a house the other day that was loaded with spray foam - it was put everywhere, and I mean LOADED on. The house, still being built, was probably 10 degrees cooler inside than out, and it even had the windows open (no wall coverings up yet). It seemed to be pretty effective.

I was walking through my buddies new house last weekend, and saw this in the master shower. Why would this loop be used?

Makes no sense.

Awesome!

Met the developer today - great guy. A back-woods, country-boy, for sure. He's gonna do some dirt work for me and put in a couple 12" dia culvert pipes, side-by-side, so I can drive to the back of my property.

No land fill. Maybe some cow pies though.

I know, I know. It blows my mind it is not flat.

Get this... my dad's lot has a 5' slope across where the house pad will be. The builder had quoted ~$10K for the pad, but once they found out it had a 5' slope, the pad cost tripled to $30K. Maybe they have to call in an out of state contractor....?

I do have a legal survey. Just got that earlier this week. To big to post here.

You guys have SOLD me on getting a topo survey, but I am abstaining from getting one "right now while the survey crew is onsite surveying for the road".

Very good information.

My buddy, who builds a new house every 18 months it seems, subscribes to an internet topo service, and said he could get one on my property. Also, he has another friend who is an engineer who used to take surveys, and said we could rent the equipment and do it ourselves.

Thank you all!

Is terrain resistance part of a typical topo survey?

@juanv.soler said:

Hi Todd, do it.
Topo survey is fundamental. And watch out for the terrain resistance too.
._)

Humm... "terrain resistance". Do you mean like how much of this bulldozed dirt will slow water down that is running across it in a heavy downpour?

Another question.

Besides being informational and interesting to look at and study, what other value can I get from a topo survey? (Can I (how can I) justify this expense?)

Thanks David. He does know the lot - he is one of the developers of the subdivision. I have a corner's survey already (just got it the other day). The plot is not flat, plus is has a large gully and a pond on it. It might take Google Earth a couple more years before there's a new photo update.

We really want to take advantage (view-wise, wildlife-wise, feature-wise) of the gully which will be in our backyard.

Wifey wants to save the money and not get it, but I'm leaning towards getting it.

I have a 3.41 acre lot. At 1 foot increments, a topo survey has been quoted at $1,500-$1,800 US. Is that reasonable? Any idea why the range instead of a hard number?

Tip #2: Guys, if you need to pee in the middle of the night, it's easier to sit than stand.

Is this the kind of tip you were looking for?

Here's an inspiring house. Lots of nice features we like.

http://www.oldhouseonline.com/an-eco-friendly-farmhouse/

Down here, you don't see that many porches (in the country) that are (appear to be) an extension of the foundation. Most are wooden with 2X6 or 2X4 floor boards. I like the zero-maintenance aspects of this stone-over-concrete porch.

Similarly, the roof proper covers the porches, whereas, more common around here, separate porch-roofs are used. Would this eco-house roof be more expensive?

We both like dormers, but prefer a gabled dormer better.

What are the clips on that roof? Are they for ice and snow?

The interior floor plan (kitchen/dining/family room) is similar to the "Round Top" model on the link to the country cottages above (which my wife likes the best). I like this eco-house better, as the kitchen island is parallel with the through traffic.

Todd

Congrats leedeetee. Sorry about having to back off the full marathon. I've not run any at all, but might get inclined to run a half. I'm 6'2" and 15.5 st, and that's up 1 st from just a couple months ago (but down from 16 3/4 st just before that). Most I have run is 7 miles (23F and raining) around the holidays. I try to run 3 miles a couple times a week, but as the number shows, I've been slacking off.

My wife has run 4 (5?) halves and a full. She won't run any more fulls, but wants me to do another half with her. We're both close to 50 (<2 years away).

Her favorite t-shirt: "Toenails are for Sissies"

Todd

@honoluludesktop said:

So, reward the Architect on the basis of keeping cost down, not on his design, creativity, and skill? Maybe for a warehouse, but not your home. You get what you pay for.

I'm thinking that's why you hired him in the first place maybe?

@honoluludesktop said:

Mike, just a personal prejudice on my part, but a Internet design competition for a house won't attract talent, or produce meaningfull Architecture. Mies said that God is in the details. Great buildings begin, and end with the plan, and building sections. Elevations are like decorations on a cake, less to do with substance. Good plans come out of colabration with the Client's vision of family, and the Architect's understanding of house.

I see it as a fun thing.

Thanks Wyatt!

As of today, there is no plat registered with the county. The developer is supposed to meet with the County Commissioner's court soon to get the plat, subdivision and proposed road all approved. I have not met or spoken with the developer yet.

In due time.

Todd

Don't know the directions. My distances are from me and my 100' rule with an assistant that was more worried about speed than accuracy.