08-04-2010, 01:33 PM
Bob:
This is not a dumb question at all. We have a garage (with full bath) and guest house that we wanted to be finaled first, and then bring the main house along to a state that finalizes things from the county's perspective but allows us to completely finish as time and budget allows. We took out three separate building permits at the outset in order to have maximum flexibility. Originally, we never thought we'd get as far as we did on the main house before a pause. We're from Canada and the exchange rate and labor conditions on the Big Island were such that it made sense to go farther than we had orignially planned. We have a good arrangement with project management as we are building long distance and good trades so we decided to keep going while all was in place. However, we'd like to take our time on the final 'finishing' parts of the main house, given the cost and not wanting to rush and compromise on the final product. So, we are interested in knowing what it would take to final the main house as far as the county is concerned but allow maximum flexibility for finishing the kitchen and baths at a later date. Also, since we have the guest house (less than 500 square feet) and garage complete it is plenty adequate for sleeping, bathing and cooking (with outside BBQ). We also have purchased all the kitchen and laundry appliances for the main house but don't want to get into all the cabinetry work in kitchen and baths at this time. We'd like to leave the flooring and tiling in the bath and kitchen to a time when we can do it right and as our budget will allow. Any experience out there as to what 'minimum' is needed to meet these requirements for a final? In the main house, there are 2 baths and, of course, the kitchen. We were thinking of putting a simple plywood run for counter, put in a sink and faucet, and hook up all the appliances.
This is not a dumb question at all. We have a garage (with full bath) and guest house that we wanted to be finaled first, and then bring the main house along to a state that finalizes things from the county's perspective but allows us to completely finish as time and budget allows. We took out three separate building permits at the outset in order to have maximum flexibility. Originally, we never thought we'd get as far as we did on the main house before a pause. We're from Canada and the exchange rate and labor conditions on the Big Island were such that it made sense to go farther than we had orignially planned. We have a good arrangement with project management as we are building long distance and good trades so we decided to keep going while all was in place. However, we'd like to take our time on the final 'finishing' parts of the main house, given the cost and not wanting to rush and compromise on the final product. So, we are interested in knowing what it would take to final the main house as far as the county is concerned but allow maximum flexibility for finishing the kitchen and baths at a later date. Also, since we have the guest house (less than 500 square feet) and garage complete it is plenty adequate for sleeping, bathing and cooking (with outside BBQ). We also have purchased all the kitchen and laundry appliances for the main house but don't want to get into all the cabinetry work in kitchen and baths at this time. We'd like to leave the flooring and tiling in the bath and kitchen to a time when we can do it right and as our budget will allow. Any experience out there as to what 'minimum' is needed to meet these requirements for a final? In the main house, there are 2 baths and, of course, the kitchen. We were thinking of putting a simple plywood run for counter, put in a sink and faucet, and hook up all the appliances.