Building a kit home this summer

[Durian Fiend]

Keaau Ace has a few, as in very few, 8 footers. I'd be surprised if Hilo HD doesn't have. Could always call ahead.

9 feet seems like an odd ball size.

[My 2 cents]

9’ is more common than you might think, especially in garages.  I got my 9’ smart panels at HPM, but that was a couple years ago.  Try call them.  You can get 9’ studs too (104 1/4”).

Btw, a friend told me that he had found a piece of scrap smart panel that had been laying in the mud for about a year, still intact and solid.  Sounds pretty durable to me.

[randomq]

9' is also great if you want to tie your panels into your outside joists and rafters. Adds a lot of strength to your perimeter. You might also be able to avoid some of the wall flashing https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gibraltar-Bu.../202218418

[tikicarver]

Both Argus and HPM have the 9 ft Smart Paenls in stock.. 
You can also get 9 ft studs.  
Made it easy when building my 9 ft walls

[BlackAkita]

Home Depot (Hilo) is selling 26" x 12 ft Suntuf polycarbonite panels for $37.98 each. Is this a compatible panel, and what tool do you use to cut it to the proper length?

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Suntuf-26-.../100041353

[Durian Fiend]

9’ is more common than you might think, especially in garages.  I got my 9’ smart panels at HPM, but that was a couple years ago.  Try call them.  You can get 9’ studs too (104 1/4”).

Btw, a friend told me that he had found a piece of scrap smart panel that had been laying in the mud for about a year, still intact and solid.  Sounds pretty durable to me.

OK, my mistake.  I thought we were discussing roofing panel sizes.

[Chas]

I built a 10 x 10 shed about 4 years ago an used LP Smart siding, painted it with high quality exterior paint.
it still looks like I put it up last week.
I like that the LP siding is pre-primed, so has protection from rain as soon as you put it up and can wait til nice day to paint it.

Also using it on a garage I am currently building. For the garage I got 9 ft panels..  Was nice it comes in that length.

I agree, ours is almost 5 years old. However I believe that eventually it will need to be repainted. Hardie board may keep it's color for longer, I don't know. The thought of NEVER having to repaint is appealing. We went with the LP because we wanted the "T111" look.

[Rob Tucker]

I stopped using paint twenty years ago.

[caleeallen]

For a pre-approved HPM home in Fern Acres, the only choice was LP Smartside. Hardie is pre-approved for high-wind zones, but it costs more to purchase and install. So LP it is. It tested well in Hilo.  
Slab and metal roof were not hard to choose.   Price/recommendations and water catchment.
 Now the plan is in permitting.  Next should be the official contractor bid.

[caleeallen]

We have purchased the plans, delivered the site plan, and are now waiting on septic approval. That should take six weeks. Then we can hand the project to the contractor for the official turnkey bid. Everything does take a little longer than I thought, but we are off-island.

HPM kits come with the solar water heater, which is required of all new builds on the Big Island now unless you have a variance.

On a separate note, you have to have house plans to get the permit to dig the septic. You also cannot legally (permitted) have a bathroom all by itself on your land, even if it is connected to the permitted septic. You must have a permitted building first. Then, you can put in a shed with a bathroom. That is what I was able to discern from the county, anyway.