Lets start an owner/builder topic

[adias]

Guidelines on Rainwater Catchment Systems for Hawaii.

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/RM-12.pdf

Hawaii Drought Monitor
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/cwrm/drought/


Ajit

Edited by - adias on 09/10/2005 16:29:54

[bethjane]

Hip hip horay for this thread. I walked away from the island this summer determined to sell my land rather than build. (I think it was the traney bar in Pahoa with the meth bikers that freaked me out...and I thought I was "tough"!)

But after much thought and seeing how unhappy my life partner, Josef, was I decided to give it another whirl and try to take the leap.

This thread is really helping me feel like maybe we can build our own house. Thank you all, and especially Noel.

Beth

[punagirl]

Bethjane, please take no offense but if you were not crazy about the folks at the Lava Zone you are going to have a hard time fitting in and being happy in Puna. The gay-lesbian-transgendered community has been there for a long time and many of them are responsible for really cleaning up the community. Lava Zone isn't a "traney bar" but it is/was (is it reopen yet?) owned & operated by gay men. Although most nights the bar had a primarily g/l/tg crowd everyone was welcome. Not sure which neighborhood you are in but you do realized there is a very good chance you will have some of these folks as neighbors.

As for the ice heads, they are also all over Hawaii and plenty in Puna. As much as I am not a fan of the ice heads it is a reality and I realize that the problem will not be cleared up overnight.

We are getting off topic of the thread but I just wasn't sure if you were familar with the area. I just though if you had a problem with the gay-lesbian-transgendered community then you may not end up being comfortable in Puna. I also realize I could have misunderstood your post (guess that is one of the drawbacks to forums) and if so I apologize

Atlanta/Pahoa

[mella l]

Just wanted to bring this post forward as it contains so much valuable information, I would hate for it to get lost. Adjit has a great check list going and also thinks an owner builder mentor (someone who has been there and done that) would be great, I think so also! pslamont any current suggestions? Any builders/contractors/landscapers/plumbers/ electricians/framers/carpenters/ you would like to suggest? Just asking! See you all soon!!! Mella L

mella l

[wyatt]

Can anyone tell me how long it's been taking to
get plans checked for kit homes with no change to plans.

Mahalo

[emorata]

hi mella,

can only recommend a good electrician and plumber.....haven't had good experience with builders/contractors/dozers

are you in puna already and building?

email me if you want these contacts

best,

noel

[emily]

What a great topic! We will also be building soon. We have a drafter drawing up plans right now - we will be meeting with her tomorrow to see the first drawings - how exciting! My husband and I have the advantage of working for a general contractor, so that will help us out tremendously. We already have lots of contacts. My hubby will be doing most of the work himself, along with another guy that works with us.

One thing I can suggest is to start contacting subs ASAP! Get a land clearer on the schedule first - land can be cleared before you even have a permit if finances allow. Once you have good drawings that are submitted for a building permit - contact plumbers, electricians, drywallers, painters, water tank suppliers, etc. to start getting estimates. Good luck getting them to call you back. Some subs are booked months into the future, so if you don't at least get on their schedule, it will cause headaches down the road. During the building process, keep in contact with them, let them know how the project is going and when you expect you will need them - then after a date is set, call 1 week before, then 1-2 days before to make sure they will actually show up.

Some drafters use software that can generate a material list. If you are going with a custom home and not a package home, ask them for this material list. This is what I hope to do. Then, you will be able to call the lumber companies and get a realistic materials price.

Let me know if I can be of help to anyone.

Emily

[HADave]

Emily~ I agree what a great topic sharing info is what life's all about. Let me be one to say thanks for your input regarding container sales. I checked them out and they have a location in New Jersey that will ship to our home in Maine for a reasonable amount but it is the price on the container itself WOW! 1800.00 for a used 40 ft dry box, not bad. We've done checking there and storage units of any size that even available are running 1.00 per sq foot per month that translates into just over 300.00 for similar size and with the container you own it and have the option of selling when through with it.

I thought I would bring up the topic of Mold & Mildew, it has to be a consideration when building and depending on ones location it could be a very important precursor to maintaining a healthy home as well. I do know that if one can keep a home below 60% relative humidity mold should not be to much of an issue but with 100 - 300 inches of rain yearly and homes built with out the means to dehumidify its is going to happen and once in the wood its there to stay. I for one don't want to trade shoveling snow for scrubbing mold. So hear a thought, sorry not for all but those at higher elevations with westerly air flows might enjoy and outdoor furnace of sorts. Here in the northeast it is similar to Hawaii in that we have a range of climatic changes only not so related to elevation but when we have our time of hot humid and I mean humid 90% sometimes for weeks on end molds grows but some of us cure that problem with dry heat much like they do on the Island during the cooler season for warmth but what if you could have a system that you could control the discharge temperature and use it when ever you wanted as well as enjoy all the hot water you could want and even heat a pool or multiple buildings. I'm talking about outdoor furnaces that burns most anything you throw into them that will make smoke. some are so incredibly efficient that seeing them here even in the dead of the winter they will have icicles hanging from the chimneys. They are stand alone units and completely automatic all you do is throw wood or what ever at them and run a thermostat like you would with any heating system I also believe they could be controled with a himidistat so when hunidity becomes very high for long durations it will cal for dry air as long as you need it. The other up side to one these little beauties is they help keep properties in check from organic debris to large to compost and the stuff doesn't have to be all that dry either. Insurance companies also love them as there is no fire in the home and they can be kept great distances away. Good ifo about mold go to healthandenergy.com/mold.htm If you didn't not insulate your home a thought to remember is wood only has an r-value of 1.41 per inch for most softwoods and .71 for most hardwoods so I don't think you would easily over heat your home from daily use and a bit of dry air now and again would help keep things in check. Not to mention keeping bugs at bay. There are lots of these system being made just use your search engines and look for outdoor furnaces. A plan we are considering.... Dave and Peggy's count down to Paradise

[Scott_S]

Dave, I haven't experienced a problem with mold and mildew in HA with our cabin. It is closed up most of the year. I think building post and pier really helps with this. Being from Michigan I enjoy the thought of no heat or air conditioning so far on our stays it has not been a problem.

[adias]

Scott,

Can you elaborate a little bit on how your cabin is constructed?

1. Is it a packaged home? If so from where?

2. Do the walls have drywall?

3. Are the walls single wall, double wall or logs?

4. Are there sky lights that light up the place?

5. Was the house designed with good ventilation, if so how?

I guess I am trying to understand why there is no mold at your place, especially since its closed up most of the time. You must have done something right, and I’d like to know what ;-)

Mahalo


Ajit