DIY Network

Lake Tahoe Timberframe: Finish Work and Final Thoughts From "Be Your Own Contractor: Vacation Homes" episode DBCV-110

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In this episode of DIY's Be Your Own Contractor: Vacation Homes, viewers met homeowners Paul and Lori Bergeron who acted as their own contractors on the construction of their family vacation home on Fallen Leaf Lake in California's Sierra-Nevada Mountains.

In this segment, the do-it-yourselfers discuss some of the finish work and give some final advice about being your own contractor.

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Finish Work

The interior trim-work is another job that homeowner and do-it-yourself contractor Paul Bergeron took on himself. Detail work and craftsmanship is something that is important to Paul and, as in the kitchen installations he undertook, doing it himself help assure him that the job would be done to his demanding specifications. To simplify and speed up the job, he used natural wood but avoided complicated joinery and routing in creating the trim. The money he saved by doing the trim-work himself helped finance an upgrade to the doors.

It wasn't always easy getting the type of lumber -- or other materials -- used in the interior work. Having access to a local supplier who could help source out his material needs was a big help. "It's important to establish relationships up-front with your local retailers and suppliers," he says. "It's also important to have the area representative come out and see your job. They become stakeholders in your job."

Take My Advice

"I think it's important for you to recognize your limitations," Paul says in summary. "I think most people could probably be their own general contractor if they're willing to segregate and set out a certain amount of time. I think you've got to be willing to give it fifteen to twenty hours a week of your time. If you don't have that time, I don't think you should bother taking this on. Also, if you don't have the support of your family, I don't think you should take it on."

"The best piece of advice I have for anybody that's going to take on a project like this," he continues, "is to maintain your priorities. In my case, this was an important part of what I was doing, but yet at no time did it become a greater priority than my family. Involve your family in it. Involve your children in it. When you look back, you want to have the memory of doing it with your family."

RESOURCES :

Timberframe : The Art and Craft of the Post-and-Beam Home
Author: Ted Benson and Jamie Salomon
Publisher: Taunton (September 15, 1999)
ISBN: 1561582816
To order this book from Amazon.com, click here.

The Timber-Frame Home
Author: Ted Benson
Publisher: Taunton; 2nd edition (March 20, 1997)
ISBN: 1561581291
To order this book from Amazon.com, click here.