New Custom Home in Winnetka IL

[OGStilts]

So here's a new home we started construction on back in March. It took me almost 3 years to get permits because a large portion of this neighborhood was declared to be in the 100 year flood plain. This required all kinds of engineering, soil testing, and infrastructure that added a lot of time and costs to get this project underway.

Here's the original house that we tore down:

http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/Ash01.jpg

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And here is the hole we had to dig after tearing down the old house only to turn around and fill it back in with clay that was compacted to 95%. This is only a small sample of the dumb requirements that FEMA required me to go through to take this building pad out of the flood plain.

http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/Ash04.jpg

[OGStilts]

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[OGStilts]

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[OGStilts]

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[SLS-Construction]

OG - this is a remodeling forum, whats up with all this nice new level & plumb work your showing here? :smash::laugh3:

Looking good & I look forward to seeing the rest

[orson]

Looks like a neat house. What's the footage?

Is that fiber cement siding? What kind of trim pieces do you use with fiber cement siding, the cement trims or PVC?

[Blue]

I havent seen a two by used for floor joist since the early 80s here. Thats what I like about the forums. What is over for one guy is standard procedure to another.

[OGStilts]

OG - this is a remodeling forum, whats up with all this nice new level & plumb work your showing here? :smash::laugh3:


:laugh3: I was wondering how long it would take for someone to say something about that, go figure, it was the first response. :laugh3:

[OGStilts]

Looks like a neat house. What's the footage?

Is that fiber cement siding? What kind of trim pieces do you use with fiber cement siding, the cement trims or PVC?

Lots of restrictions by this village required us to keep shrinking this house a foot here and a foot there, add a bump here and a bump there. We are sitting right at 3,000 SF above grade plus the garage right now, approx another 1,500 SF for the basement which will have about 1,200 SF finished.

Yes thats hardi siding with LP Smart Trim. It's my first time using the LP and so far, I've been very happy with it. We've got some thin cut natural stone going on the chimneys and the facade where you don't see the siding right now.

[OGStilts]

I havent seen a two by used for floor joist since the early 80s here. Thats what I like about the forums. What is over for one guy is standard procedure to another.

Yeah, I'd prefer to use I-joists or floor trusses but again through the permit process this was one of the things that got changed out to make the village happy and it could have been changed back to I joists because other changes no longer required us to do the dimensional lumber but I was getting the deflections I needed and it saved me a couple thousand to go with the 2x12's so I stuck with them. Its caused a few hiccups with mechanicals that could have been avoided but not to bad. I'm happy with it.

[framer55]

Looks nice OG!

We see a lot of 2x for joists still around here. I am wondering how much longer. then I go to JLC and see that some communities are giving builders hassles over it because of the firemen not liking.

[naptownCr]

Looks nice OG!

We see a lot of 2x for joists still around here. I am wondering how much longer. then I go to JLC and see that some communities are giving builders hassles over it because of the firemen not liking.

The firemen don't like TJI's because if not fire protected they burn through and fail fairly rapidly. This is mostly a problem on the first floor over an unfinished basement.

So OG still using steel for beams I see.
In light of the above post about burn through I'm surprised at the steel.
Steel will fail in a fire before wood will.

[OGStilts]

So OG still using steel for beams I see.
In light of the above post about burn through I'm surprised at the steel.
Steel will fail in a fire before wood will.

Ummmmm yea steel for the beams. I've never seen it any other way around here, every architect I've ever worked with has called them out in steel. What you got cooking Nappy, you got some Bamboo beams that I haven't heard about yet? Maybe something made out of recycled tires? :grin: My interest is piqued.

[orson]

My engineer prefers steel, I'll have to ask him why when he does upcoming garage print. I don't feel like paying to have the steel company set the beams if I can do wood and we can set them by hand.

I've seen web advertisements for some kind of new fangled metal structural beams that are supposed to be super light and rigid, I think the company is out of Australia, not sure if they're available in the states yet.

[naptownCr]

Ummmmm yea steel for the beams. I've never seen it any other way around here, every architect I've ever worked with has called them out in steel. What you got cooking Nappy, you got some Bamboo beams that I haven't heard about yet? Maybe something made out of recycled tires? :grin: My interest is piqued.

No nothing more exotic than paralam beams or LVL. You can get pressure treated paralams they are green:grin:
I had many family members who were firemen and they always said that a steel beam will fail in a fire before a wood beam would. Apparently it doesn't take much heat before a steel beam begins to deform. A wood beam on the otherhand even though it is flammable will char on the exterior and insulate the interior to some extent and will fail after a steel beam bends out of shape.

[OGStilts]

Here's a little update so Rory will stop asking me if I got this house sold yet:grin:

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[OGStilts]

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[OGStilts]

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[OGStilts]

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[OGStilts]

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[OGStilts]

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[Eieio]

Looks OG.

Is that hardie Siding?

How much longer do you have, before its all done?

[OGStilts]

Oh and look at the present the neighborhood kids left for me

http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/BulletHole.jpg

Yeah, they got two of my windows.

[OGStilts]

Looks OG.

Is that hardie Siding?

How much longer do you have, before its all done?

Yep that's Hardie with LP Smart Trim. I think the color is Mountain Sage.

If I pushed it I could probably have it done in October but I've been easing back on the schedule for a number of reasons. Plus I got the baby on the way so I will probably have a week go to waste coming up so I'm thinking it will be a Thanksgiving house. Hopefully I will find a buyer before then which will want to customize it to their needs and may delay the finish a little more.

[OGStilts]

Here's some updated photos:

Stonework on the outside is finished.

http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/Ash38.jpg

Trim has been delivered and started.

http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/Ash39.jpg

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Walnut staircase is installed

http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/Ash40.jpg

[OGStilts]

This is some ornamental plaster work we started on the ceiling in the dining room. When it's done it will cover the entire ceiling with a 3-piece crown molding tying it all together.

http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/Ash42.jpg

And most of the tile work has been completed but I don't have many good photos of that yet. Here's the best photos I've got of the tile.

Master Bathroom Shower Floor
http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/Ash43.jpg

Guest Bathroom
http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/Ash44.jpg

Basement Bar Floor
http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/Ash45.jpg

[naptownCr]

You're spec building this house?
You are either braver of dumber than I thought.

[OGStilts]

When everyone else is running that's when you jump in my friend. I know two other builders who are making a killing right now in this neighborhood. Each building 4-6 specs a year here, the past two years, at twice what I'm asking for this place and selling them. It's not bravery or stupidity. It's business. Just business.

[OGStilts]

Here's some updated photos. We are in the home stretch.

http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/Ash46.jpg

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[OGStilts]

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[angus242]

Chad,

The tile work looks good. I hope any issues you had were resolved and you are happy with the outcome. :2thumbsup:

[Blue]

I didn't see a for sale sign in the yard, did you decide to keep it for yourself? Lookin good Chad.

[OGStilts]

Thanks Angus,

We were able to work out a resolution and I am happy but I'm sure I would have been just as happy working with you. As I told you, I'm loyal to a fault but I hope our paths cross on a project together in the future. That would be fun.

[OGStilts]

I didn't see a for sale sign in the yard, did you decide to keep it for yourself? Lookin good Chad.

Thanks Blue but lets keep that noise down! :grin: My wife is already hinting at moving in here. :rolleyes3: The "For Sale" sign is out closer to the road.

[ChrWright]

Looking good Chad.

[SLS-Construction]

Sweet looking place

I do have one quick question though, why are all the outlets sideways? The base board ones I understand - but the kitchen & bath?

[RCP]

Very nice, I don't blame your wife for wanting to move in!

[OGStilts]

I do have one quick question though, why are all the outlets sideways? The base board ones I understand - but the kitchen & bath?

Hmmm...interesting question but I don't have a good answer other than I like it that way. I think it looks better that way when you have a tile backsplash but we do that everywhere. Except if we were doing an addition or remodel we would match whatever is existing in the home but most of the time they are oriented horizontally around here as well.

[angus242]

Sweet looking place

I do have one quick question though, why are all the outlets sideways? The base board ones I understand - but the kitchen & bath?

It's a Chicagoland thing

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_84VBh5qWWDA/TH0oZD9ce3I/AAAAAAAAAEs/sGkyvXvy9oA/splash%201.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_84VBh5qWWDA/TH0lgHsrPTI/AAAAAAAAAEU/pteY7Zx9epQ/splash%202.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_84VBh5qWWDA/TH0lhUqYn7I/AAAAAAAAAEg/gmqepHioBsI/splash%205.jpg


Sorry for the hijack......

[angus242]

Thanks Angus,

We were able to work out a resolution and I am happy but I'm sure I would have been just as happy working with you. As I told you, I'm loyal to a fault but I hope our paths cross on a project together in the future. That would be fun.


Did the wet locations get waterproofed?

[OGStilts]

Yes. I won. I always win. :grin:

[OGStilts]

Finally have some finished photos to post.

http://www.blankandbaker.com/images/posts/AshPro001b.jpg

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[OGStilts]

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[OGStilts]

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[Mike(VA)]

Chad, that house looks great. I am particularly fond of the inside trim. :2thumbsup: