Building and Construction - New here with questions

Author

New here with questions

RPM1

2006-06-25, 9:25 am

Hello all,

My husband and I had our modest little home built 9 years ago. We were
young and we learned a lot, still are learning. Anyway, one of things we
learned is that when the guy digging the foundation says he had to "backfill
because he hit ledge" halfway thru we should have pitched a fit and made
them do it right! <sigh> Fast forward and here we are now with a
foundation which is failing. The builder has long since skipped town.

So, we have to expand our house [not a bad thing], break down the failing
1/3 of foundation, steel beam reinforce and do spread footers on virgin
ground in effort to set things right. We'll end up adding close to 700 sq
ft to the house and it'll have more character. We've signed on with the
best well known and respected engineer in these parts. Of course, he wants
to start everything right away because the housing market has slowed. I
feel more comfortable with starting in the spring as the time frame will be
better for our young son in school in the event that we have to move out for
a while. I'd rather do that during summer break so it doesn't impact school
work. I'd like to rent an RV and stay on site if possible to be able to
supervise and monitor progress.

So, I hope you guys don't mind me hanging out here and occasionally asking
stupid questions.
I'll do my best to read up on past posts first and follow other relevant
discussions.

At this point I'm wondering if I can be the GC...

I can hire an independent construction inspector as my consultant as needed.

I know some of the subs I'd like to work with. They're not the cheapest but
they're rooted in our community with excellent reputations so they're not
going anywhere.

I can ask a GC, or two, to line item estimate the build so I have something
to compare against.

In the meantime, over the next 10 mos or so, I can buy items needed when on
sale and store them in our barn for the job.

My work schedule is flexible so I can see that workers show up and I can
check the work as it goes.

First question:

Is it possible to buy lumber during the low season, when prices should be
better, and have the yard store it for me?

Thanks in advance,

Ruth CM
Upstate NY

chuckster

2006-06-25, 5:25 pm

Check out this site, and choose your contractors carefully!
www.MySturdyBuiltGarage.com

RPM1 wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> My husband and I had our modest little home built 9 years ago. We were
> young and we learned a lot, still are learning. Anyway, one of things we
> learned is that when the guy digging the foundation says he had to "backfill
> because he hit ledge" halfway thru we should have pitched a fit and made
> them do it right! <sigh> Fast forward and here we are now with a
> foundation which is failing. The builder has long since skipped town.
>
> So, we have to expand our house [not a bad thing], break down the failing
> 1/3 of foundation, steel beam reinforce and do spread footers on virgin
> ground in effort to set things right. We'll end up adding close to 700 sq
> ft to the house and it'll have more character. We've signed on with the
> best well known and respected engineer in these parts. Of course, he wants
> to start everything right away because the housing market has slowed. I
> feel more comfortable with starting in the spring as the time frame will be
> better for our young son in school in the event that we have to move out for
> a while. I'd rather do that during summer break so it doesn't impact school
> work. I'd like to rent an RV and stay on site if possible to be able to
> supervise and monitor progress.
>
> So, I hope you guys don't mind me hanging out here and occasionally asking
> stupid questions.
> I'll do my best to read up on past posts first and follow other relevant
> discussions.
>
> At this point I'm wondering if I can be the GC...
>
> I can hire an independent construction inspector as my consultant as needed.
>
> I know some of the subs I'd like to work with. They're not the cheapest but
> they're rooted in our community with excellent reputations so they're not
> going anywhere.
>
> I can ask a GC, or two, to line item estimate the build so I have something
> to compare against.
>
> In the meantime, over the next 10 mos or so, I can buy items needed when on
> sale and store them in our barn for the job.
>
> My work schedule is flexible so I can see that workers show up and I can
> check the work as it goes.
>
> First question:
>
> Is it possible to buy lumber during the low season, when prices should be
> better, and have the yard store it for me?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Ruth CM
> Upstate NY

RicodJour

2006-06-25, 5:25 pm

RPM1 wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> My husband and I had our modest little home built 9 years ago. We were
> young and we learned a lot, still are learning. Anyway, one of things we
> learned is that when the guy digging the foundation says he had to "backfill
> because he hit ledge" halfway thru we should have pitched a fit and made
> them do it right! <sigh> Fast forward and here we are now with a
> foundation which is failing. The builder has long since skipped town.
>
> So, we have to expand our house [not a bad thing], break down the failing
> 1/3 of foundation, steel beam reinforce and do spread footers on virgin
> ground in effort to set things right. We'll end up adding close to 700 sq
> ft to the house and it'll have more character. We've signed on with the
> best well known and respected engineer in these parts. Of course, he wants
> to start everything right away because the housing market has slowed. I
> feel more comfortable with starting in the spring as the time frame will be
> better for our young son in school in the event that we have to move out for
> a while. I'd rather do that during summer break so it doesn't impact school
> work. I'd like to rent an RV and stay on site if possible to be able to
> supervise and monitor progress.
>
> So, I hope you guys don't mind me hanging out here and occasionally asking
> stupid questions.
> I'll do my best to read up on past posts first and follow other relevant
> discussions.
>
> At this point I'm wondering if I can be the GC...
>
> I can hire an independent construction inspector as my consultant as needed.
>
> I know some of the subs I'd like to work with. They're not the cheapest but
> they're rooted in our community with excellent reputations so they're not
> going anywhere.
>
> I can ask a GC, or two, to line item estimate the build so I have something
> to compare against.
>
> In the meantime, over the next 10 mos or so, I can buy items needed when on
> sale and store them in our barn for the job.
>
> My work schedule is flexible so I can see that workers show up and I can
> check the work as it goes.
>
> First question:
>
> Is it possible to buy lumber during the low season, when prices should be
> better, and have the yard store it for me?

They'd almost assuredly be looking for rent, if they'd consider it at
all, if you're taking up their space. You could have the lumber
delivered and store it in your barn, but that's not necessarily the
best alternative either. You'd be spending money earlier than you have
to and losing whatever interest you'd get on that money.

As far as acting as your own GC, sure, it's possible. You're the only
ones that can determine if it makes sense for you. Basically you're
assuming the risk of all overruns and oversights. Your knowledge of
construction, and your scheduling and purchasing skills will determine
whetherThe other caveat is that you should not fall into the trap of
not valuing your time in your financial calculations. Too often people
will remark on their project savings when they've allowed nothing for
their time.

If you want a GC to work up a line estimate, and you have no intention
of hiring them, well, that's shaky ground. It would be more
straightforward to offer the GC a hundred or two to work it up.
Consider that part of the consultancy fees.

R

Glenn

2006-06-25, 5:25 pm

"RicodJour" <ricodjour@worldemail.com> wrote in message
news:1151266247.130763.290220@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com
> RPM1 wrote:
>
> If you want a GC to work up a line estimate, and you have
> no intention of hiring them, well, that's shaky ground.

It's downright dishonest. It takes a lot of work to generate the
kind of estimate you want and you want to steal it for nothing.

crhras

2006-06-25, 5:25 pm

Most likely, you can save money by GCing your project yourself. However, if
that is the only reason then I wouldn't do it. I suspect from reading your
post that there are other, better reasons and that you will enjoy it and get
satisfaction out of a job well done. In that case, I would say do it by all
means.

As far as purchasing lumber now and storing, don't bother. If you are new
and learning you will probably blow more through inefficient use of lumber
(type, quality, construction) than a rising market will beat you out of. As
I said, if money is a concern of yours then you probably should let someone
else absorb that small risk. If the lumber market is still a concern of
yours then you can just buy it on the futures market.

"RPM1" <rpm9@earthlinkdeleteme.net> wrote in message
news:Fkvng.11860$o4.6101@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> Hello all,
>
> My husband and I had our modest little home built 9 years ago. We were
> young and we learned a lot, still are learning. Anyway, one of things we
> learned is that when the guy digging the foundation says he had to
> "backfill because he hit ledge" halfway thru we should have pitched a fit
> and made them do it right! <sigh> Fast forward and here we are now with
> a foundation which is failing. The builder has long since skipped town.
>
> So, we have to expand our house [not a bad thing], break down the failing
> 1/3 of foundation, steel beam reinforce and do spread footers on virgin
> ground in effort to set things right. We'll end up adding close to 700 sq
> ft to the house and it'll have more character. We've signed on with the
> best well known and respected engineer in these parts. Of course, he
> wants to start everything right away because the housing market has
> slowed. I feel more comfortable with starting in the spring as the time
> frame will be better for our young son in school in the event that we have
> to move out for a while. I'd rather do that during summer break so it
> doesn't impact school work. I'd like to rent an RV and stay on site if
> possible to be able to supervise and monitor progress.
>
> So, I hope you guys don't mind me hanging out here and occasionally asking
> stupid questions.
> I'll do my best to read up on past posts first and follow other relevant
> discussions.
>
> At this point I'm wondering if I can be the GC...
>
> I can hire an independent construction inspector as my consultant as
> needed.
>
> I know some of the subs I'd like to work with. They're not the cheapest
> but they're rooted in our community with excellent reputations so they're
> not going anywhere.
>
> I can ask a GC, or two, to line item estimate the build so I have
> something to compare against.
>
> In the meantime, over the next 10 mos or so, I can buy items needed when
> on sale and store them in our barn for the job.
>
> My work schedule is flexible so I can see that workers show up and I can
> check the work as it goes.
>
> First question:
>
> Is it possible to buy lumber during the low season, when prices should be
> better, and have the yard store it for me?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Ruth CM
> Upstate NY
>
>
>
>
>

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