Small House Plans DIY

[john the architect]

Since I am the original architect for Castleblock and have worked with Habitat for Humanity here are my thoughts. Design for the Kukui and other similar plans was very much concerned with the lifestyles of the end users. If a home lasts, has lower maintenance, and less utility costs, then the occupants have income left over to send kids to college, a home left over to pass along, and generally a better life.

Building a deficient shell, which is not the major part of a construction budget, is false economy.

Although I do plans with some sophisticated materials and construction systems, the Castleblock walls can be build with less-skilled labor than traditional framing (think owner-builder) and panelized roofing and wall systems are much the same: less labor, more semi-skilled work on site.

If there is no budget for a decent shell (not wastefully inefficient, just reasonable and durable) then there is not a real budget for a finished house.

When clients ask for a house, I always encourage them to not build more square footage than they need, and I go over what those needs are very thoroughly. Same with how many units you can build, be conservative and reasonable and you will have finished something well.

John Maloney
310.562.0362
johnmaloney3@me.com
Hawaii Architect AR8082
www.jmagreenbuilding.com