Thanks to The Owner-Builder Book for having such a great forum! Scott in Germantown, MD

Brian's Forum Posts: 22
Journal Entries: 28
Interview Answers: 50
Average Forum Rating: 3.78
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14 month update

Posted to Ann-Arbor-ICF by Brian in Dexter, MI on 9/1/2008 9:18:51 PM

Progress has definitely slowed in the last 6 months. Once you move in, it's a lot harder to work at the same pace. Here's what we have done

• Built several boulder retaining walls
• planted all front yard landscaping and trees
• installed irrigation system
• installed underground gutter drainage
• installed 3,000 SQ/FT blacktop circle drive
• installed sidewalk
• finished small deck and railing
• finished large glassed in 2nd floor sun room
• finished all main floor living areas

I am still finishing up interior trim, I ran out and have more ordered. I also have doors to adjust, cracked grout to fix, touch-up paint, and drywall pops. We are also hydro seeding the lawn next weekend. I also hope to fire up the radiant heat in the basement over the next month, and get the final Energy Star and LEED inspections done.

In October I'll be starting on the basement, I plan to finish off about 2,500 SQ/Ft of living space down there.

I'm happy to report a $79 average electric bill through summer with the AC on! I am still adjusting my IAQ t-stat and sealing air leaks so I know we can do better!

Photos

master bed	master bed fireplace, no mantel or stone yet	master ceiling
master king bed	installing windows in the off master / kitchen	don't fall!
10' drop off the deck, then 100' drop down the hill	more deck windows going in	guest bathroom floor
guest bath shower	guest bath shower	guest bath vanity
deck almost done	master tub w/slate	see how thick the walls are!!! (12")
master slate floor	solid core doors
front living room, brazalian cherry 5' x 3/4" flooring	recessed lighting	lots of crown molding
maple inlay	master bath vanity 1 of 2	master bath HRV vent and exhaust system
vent timer	master bath	master bath
master bedroom	dual flush toilets	guest bedroom
guest bed w/private deck	circle drive going in
stone wall finished	more retaining walls
	excavating for walls	excavating for walls
lots of stone. 40 tons.	buried rainwater drains

Grant's Forum Posts: 280 Journal Entries: 17 Interview Answers: 164 Average Forum Rating: 3.95 Send Private Message Grant's Selected Image 9/1/2008

I'd love to hear the details about your Energy Star and LEED certification processes.  How much extra did/will this cost you?  What needs to be considered at each phase of your project to ensure a good LEED score?  Did you miss out on any potential LEED points that you could have gotten with advanced planning?  I'd like to get my home LEED certified to draw attention within my community to energy efficient and green building practices, but is it worth the additional costs??? regards, Grant

Brian's Forum Posts: 22 Journal Entries: 28 Interview Answers: 50 Average Forum Rating: 3.78 Send Private Message My Construction Website Image from Brian's blog 9/3/2008

Grant,    The overall process won't cost any extra, except for some time. The LEED certification was $650 and combined testing for energy star and LEED was $800 ($1450 total) but I will recieve a $2000 tax credit for my construction company and additional personal tax credits as the homeowner for 2008. The construction company was primarily formed to build this house, and I recommend everyone incorporate their building project if possible.   I don't think I would get any more points the next time around. I did all of the practical things that I planned to do anyways. I skipped the LEED credits that were impractical or didn't return a bang for the buck. Most of it just forces the builder to follow good building practices. I also started when LEED was in a pilot program, which was more complicated than the finalized building program they have now. All you have to do is register, and the registration agent helps connect you and get you setup with an Energy Star inspector (Energy Star is required for LEED certification).   I did get penalized for my house size by LEED, which is the main reason I can't get their highest rating. I have about 7,000 SQ/FT of interior heated/cooled living space and plumbing for 7 bathrooms. As your house size increases, LEED increases the amount of points you have to get at each level.

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Three month update

Posted to Ann-Arbor-ICF by Brian in Dexter, MI on 5/22/2008 7:28:40 AM

It's been about three months since we have moved in. In that time, I've gotten a lot of the little interior things done like trim, caulking, building closets, sealing tile, etc. The contractors came out to finish painting the house, and the plumbing/electrical are now completely done.

For the next few months, we will put our focus on the yard. I had to hand-trench down to the high voltage power and subdivision gas lines so we knew how deep we could excavate a hill in the front yard. Nothing like digging ditches to remind you how good your day job is.

I've got three retaining walls that need to go in, we need 300 yards of soil to extend the back yard, the circle drive needs to be installed, and we need the sprinklers and grass. Here are some recent pics.

Photos

master tub	master bath slate tile	hand dug 4' x 30' ditch
circle drive going in, driveway stone and culvert	lots of digging	silt fence I installed
we're having fun now	house paint, front	house paint, back
pushing the back yard out	cutting in a spot for my boulder retaining walls	back yard on a serious hill!

COA and Move-in

Posted to Ann-Arbor-ICF by Brian in Dexter, MI on 2/28/2008 7:31:35 AM

7.5 months after breaking ground, we have passed our last inspection, received a certificate of occupancy, and move-in is almost complete. More pictures will be posted once we are settled and have some time to catch up.

Counters in!

Posted to Ann-Arbor-ICF by Brian in Dexter, MI on 2/12/2008 9:41:01 PM

The countertops arrived today, so that's off the list. This coming week we'll schedule in all of the final inspections! Still some trim work, some grouting, and a little tub tile left to finish up.

Photos

change of plans

Posted to Ann-Arbor-ICF by Brian in Dexter, MI on 2/5/2008 7:08:21 PM

We were originally going to be moved in by now, but we decided to wait another month so we could fully complete the house (instead of just the COA minimums). This extra time has allowed me to add more detail, like the maple inlays in the brazilian cherry, and some extra tile detail. We're shooting for finals on electric, gas, plumbing, and HVAC next week!

Brian

Photos