Where to build - again!

[scottydog]

Wow - so much good info! Here on Vancouver island (another big island) I have only seen hardie board used on exteriors. I like the idea of using it for interiors as I can see that it would be far superior to drywall over the long run. Structural aluminum framing is also a new one for me as we typically frame with Douglas Fir. I really appreciate all your great advice as it adds to me knowledge base as I plot out my long-range plan to buy land and eventually build.
Mahalo

[Carey]

Our house is not new, it was an early 1970's SIP (structurally insulated panel) house that was built in Keaau (there are 4 of them that I know of)... old neighbors say that the homes were shipped in a container (don't know if all 4 or one at a time...) & assembled on-site is less than a week (many of the old guys scoffed at the design & didn't think they would last...but they all made it through the 1975 earthquake...so...)

Our home needed a redo after a permitted remodel in the early 2000's did not use any structural framing when installing new, larger windows & doors... idiot builder just cut larger holes & it was finaled...so... earthquake of 2006 found all of the defects!

From what I have been able to piece together, the most likely origin of these were either Washington state or Indiana, as these were the 2 hubs of aluminum structure mfg. in the country in the '70s.

We started using the Hardie panel in the interior only because of the thickness (our SIPs have a set wall covering thickness) but did find out from a Hardie rep, that was here for a home expo, that Hardie panels are used in some higher end homes...sometimes they will double panel for theater rooms...

Good luck on your adventure!

[Tink]

I understand Hardipanel is mold and mildew resistant, but what do you add to your drywall compound to achieve same?

Are you a human being, or a human doing?

[Carey]

Most of the joint fill & tape cover is thinset with only a very slim skim coat of joint compound or plaster...

again if we were to do it today, probably would probably not use this joint compound & just do a Hardie cedarmill with batten over the joint area... lot quicker! or at least have used the 'stucco' board & left the joints & screw areas with the thinset... but we went smooth, & plaster & joint compound are smoother than thinset...so...

[Tink]

Thank you Carey! Did you,use a mildicide in your paint, I forgot to ask. Just weighing options and techniques, the Hardi panel I never thought of, good choice!

Are you a human being, or a human doing?

[Carey]

Our paints & stains do have mold resistance (Microban), but have heard pros & cons on the effectiveness of the resistance...that said, no mold/mildew on any of the walls so far (except the showers when we have had people that did not believe in sprintzing with a bleach after shower & squeegeeing the walls, and those are all tile or solid surface, so no paint to blame!)

We have also made sure there are no dark corners & everything is ventilated.... probably the most important steps here... (that and DO NOT use things like wallpaper with the old paste... that stuff would grow all sorts of things... not sure I would even advise wallPAPER... as paper will grow things)

[Tink]

Thank you so much for the info. I was concerned about mold in the corners, as airflow is compromised, and I hate mold, and really don't want to spend my time scrubbing!

Are you a human being, or a human doing?

[coastal]

@ScottyDog - Personally, the Hawaiian Beaches area seems to be everything you may want. Private water system, electricity, cable and internet, telephone and DSL (if you manage to call the right morning when someone else gives up their DSL line), paved roads, etc. My neighbor in Hawaiian Beaches builds small as well. They have a compound - small house for kitchen, bath and tiny living room, small house for bedroom, and small structure for dining. If you're looking for quiet - go to the ends of the roads, if you're looking for quiet and the sounds of crashing waves - go to anywhere from the "P" streets to the coast.

[ericlp]

Seriously, you won't find quiet almost anywhere in beaches. I hear the dogs that are almost the end of the road and I am about 10 lots from the end myself. Noise travels around here. I can hear muts barking 5 streets down or up. For the most part people try to keep them quiet.

One good thing to note is, that all of the lots are on paved county roads and zoned residential. That means, cops will come if called to pass out tickets for ANY dog barking more than 10 minutes, ANY time and the cops don't need to come listen to the barking dog like they had to in the past. I don't write the laws, but I was sure glad they have these laws in place and the cops will enforce them...when the renters a few lots down moved in with 10 hunting dogs. They are gone now. I doubt it was just me calling. Thing is, if you want 10 dogs on your .2 acre lot, good luck bringing them down to beaches or shores.

I feel if you want the most "Quietness", buy a lot not only at the end of the roads but buy on the shores side. At least they have CCR's! I don't think you can have more then X amount of dogs and no roosters / chicken (farms) there. Tho, no one around here has any rosters (too many dogs). The only bad thing about shores is, you got CCR's that force you to build over 800 sqft I think it is, so if you wanted a small house (it's more tricky) but can be done. Oh and the subdivision charges 3-4 hundred a year for a pool that you'll never use unless you can put up with all the kids going to it. Not my cup of tea, however I do notice a big difference in "class" of people from one side of the street to the other.

NEVER ever buy a lot here sight unseen. Always RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH... If you do buy one sight unseen make sure you have someone really scope it out. Lot's of bad area's (along with the good) around here. Like Drug use, etc...etc... you really don't want to be living in a hood that is established with a bunch of neighbors that already have chickens or dogs that are never ending making noise. You also don't want a lot that drops off 10-15' no matter what the price and there are tons for sale that are infested with albezia trees. Just one or two big albezia can cost the price of the lot to bring down.

You do not want to live anywhere close to Kahakai blvd. You want to be at least 10 lots away from the main drag. Further away the better.

Happy Searching! It's still a buyers market but this can change in a hurry. If you can get a lot for under 8K in the beaches subdivision its a downright steal as far as I am concerned.






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