Sandra P. Hoffman writes:
>I would be very interested in hearing any more that you have to say
>on [building your own house from a kit].. Especially the practical side of
>the building, and
>decision making, and what you are happy with, and what you would
>have done differently after having been in the house for sometime.
Okay, Sandra, I'll devote some time soon to a response. Til then, here are
a few additional main points:
* Buying the Lindal kit narrowed the choices on items such as windows and
doors, and this is a good thing.
* Buying the kit meant I could serve as the general contractor, and this is
a good thing.
* Buying the kit meant that we could concentrate on details that really
mattered to us (such as orientation to the sun), without creating a bizarre
design.
* I ended up doing far more of the actual work than I expected -- I was
able to learn a great deal as the work progressed. This has been arduous
but very rewarding. (My wife also has participated a great deal at all
stages, but I always had more control over my time to devote to the
physical labour involved in the project.)
* We did not allow for safe access to the roof, for routine maintainance by
the homeowners (ourselves) -- so this week for example we hired someone
else to scramble up a ladder to look for and fix a small leak (damaged
shingle). This is probably the most common state of affairs, but I would
recommend building in full and safe access.
* We did not fully adapt the design to our climate -- we should have had
more exterior covering over entrances for the rainy season than we
realized, having been living for some years previously in Regina, where we
got used to the low amount of precipitation (But the design and siting will
allow for these to be added).
* We are happy enough with what we have that, if we ever build another
house, we will most likely buy a similar kit from the same vendor.
TTYL,
Terry
Terry J. Klokeid
Amblewood Organic Farm
126 Amblewood Drive, Fulford Harbour
Salt Spring Island BC V8K 1X2
Voice/Fax (250) 653-4099
email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
