new puna house design

[jackson]

prefab cedar log home. post and pier, metal roof. If your age is what you imply, it will long out last you and require minimal maintenance in your lifetime.

[Clayjacks]

Prefab cedar log home?!?
Sounds amazing, if I lived in Oregon.
Or maybe (sigh) I could have one shipped...

[Tink]

Rented a Lindall pre fab cedar home when I lived on Maui, so not impossible!

Community begins with Aloha

[jackson]

Not impossible at all. Lindell used to have a rep here in the 90s so there are a number of those but also other brands are shipped here all the time.

[Rob Tucker]

There are a group of woods that have good reputations. Redwood, Cypress, Cedar. All of these got their well earned reputation with old growth lumber. There is no more old growth lumber for all practical purposes.

For redwood you have to get all heart to even be red. Cedar may have the best modern potential but cedar has a number of sub species that all get called cedar. The range in quality is wide The good stuff costs more. The poor stuff is still called cedar and barely qualifies.
Know what you are talking about if you are investing in a cedar home.

Once it ships across the big water there is no sending it back.

[PauHana]

My family lived in a cedar home for 25 years. Everyone loved the smell, but it turned out my son had a low level allergy to cedar. His allergies disappeared when he moved to a double wall house. I still like the looks , but would't live in one again.

[jackson]

I see lots of these here. They seem to stand up to the weather and bugs extremely well:
http://www.panabodehomes.com/index.php

[Rene Siracusa]

Another thing I would do differently if I built from scratch again: no more than 3 steps or, better yet, a ramp. As I get older and my bursitis increases, steps become harder to deal with. Who knew? Thought I would be young and agile forever...

[shockwave rider]

Research "Universal Design", the idea that properly designed houses should work for all ages and agilities.

This design principle means things like lever handles instead of doorknobs, wider hallways and doors, no steps or changes in floor levels inside, grab bars and slightly taller toilets in the bathroom and so on. These things may keep you out of assisted living longer than another ten years and are fairly cheap to build new and very expensive to retrofit. These design standards are appealing to all ages, anyone at any age can break a bone and end up using a wheelchair or walker, and will really appreciate those grab bars and wide hallways. My parents were able to stay in their last home for 10 years longer than originally p-lanned because they designed that way.

[cinnaminnacat]

so many good ideas! I am busy following up on everything you all have written.

please keep posting.

thanks.