In this segment of DIY's Be Your Own Contractor, some of the contractors talk about deciding on how to position the house on the property. House Positioning - Once the land has been cleared, and trees have been removed where necessary, the next step is to determine the exact positioning of the house. A number of factors may go into this decision but, as Lynn Underwood of Vail, AZ points out, the first thing to obtain is a legitimate survey of the land (figure A). This is essential to determine exact boundaries and be absolutely certain that the entirety of the structure(s) being built is completely on the land that you own. Lynn refers to surveying as "cheap insurance" to make certain that your site selection is done properly. Lynn points out that zoning regulations may establish necessary set-back distances from property lines, and the survey helps ensure that these are followed appropriately.
- Engineer Al Sain of Butler, PA, was able to use his engineering expertise to rent surveying equipment and do the survey himself. In most cases, however, do-it-yourself contractors would opt to hire a professional survey team.
- Betty King and John Spracklen relied on their architect to help them determine the best positioning of their house which sits on a 30-acre lot.
- Andy Beasley of Hillsdale, CO pointed out aesthetic considerations such as taking into consideration scenic views, surrounding topography and sun exposure. For his house, solar energy was a consideration as well as wanting to take advantage of the mountain vistas in placement of windows and views.
- Regardless of the location, the direction of sunlight throughout the day and seasons should play a role house placement (figure C). Considerations may include:
- Deciding which rooms you want to have receive greatest sun-exposure or natural light;
- Which rooms you want to have a sunny "feel" (e.g, breakfast room);
- The ability to watch sunsets (e.g., for porches and verandas);
- Placement of rooms where you'll have houseplants;
- The possibility of a greenhouse addition, and
- The potential for using passive solar energy.
- Passive solar energy refers to the practice of collecting and using energy from the sun without any mechanical or electrical devices. By strategic positioning of buildings, exposed walls and windows, energy from the sun can be used to produce warmth and reduce utility needs.
Excavation Begins
- Once you've decided on a position for the house, the major step of starting to "dig in" can begin. Doug Kerr of Los Angeles, CA took the do-it-yourself concept seriously for this phase, and rented a backhoe and front-loader. He recruited family members and friends to get involved in the actual process of earth-moving (figures D and E). Doug acknowledged that he wouldn't have attempted this phase himself if it weren't for the fact that he didn't have rigid space constraints when clearing the land.
- Michael Buchtel of Williamsburg, VA took a more standard approach. He subcontracted the job of excavation, but worked as a general laborer himself to help with the work Large excavation equipment such as bulldozers (figure F) was necessary for this job.
In the segment that follows, the contractors continue discussing the process of excavation. One talks about his decision to take on the project himself -- by hand.
RESOURCES :
The Brand-New House Book: Everything You Need to Know About Planning, Designing...
Model: 0609805835
Author: Katherine Salant
Full title: The Brand-New House Book: Everything You Need to Know About Planning, Designing, and Building a Custom, Semi-Custom, or Production-Built House
Three Rivers Press
The Well-Built House
Model: 0395629519
Author: James Locke
Mariner Books
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