Carol Reed
In Memoriam
- Messages
- 5,533
- Location
- Coolidge, AZ
Since it is official, I will begin this thread and see how it goes.
The septic system has been approved. It will be a Presby System. http://presbyeco.com/ if you are interested. My lot is only ~5100 sqft, so a special system was required. To my knowledge, this will be the second of these systems to go in in San Diego county. The county is quite interested as are 8 of my neighbors with sub-standard lots size-wise. The company is eager to break into San Diego county because of the scarcity of land and the lack of sewer systems. So an engineer from the company, my civil engineer, and the county health department all got together via Skype and got my systems designed and approved. 21st century technology. You gotta love it!
The normal setback on my lot would have left me with ~110 sqft of legal building space - hardly enough for a pup tent! That was the observation of the county planner when I came in to apply for the variance. He was for the variance from the git-go but bureaucratic paperwork grinds out slowly here. They of course, are setting a precedent for the neighborhood and they know it. Speed is not on their agenda.
While the paperwork is not yet physically in my hand, the planner did give me the green light to 'proceed with the permitting process.' Get the plans done and in and we'll go from there. This will not be a speedy process either.
The house will be small ~700 sqft on two levels. The first level will be a walk out with garage entry and naturally be the shop area. The second story will be the living area, pretty much all open spaces with the only interior walls defining the bathroom and bedroom. As the design is drawn, I will post my drawings and you all can chime in. I am sure you will have a lot to teach me!
I want to build a passive energy, aging in place, cost-contained house. Other new' systems will be incorporated. The first is the house will be built of SIPS panels, rather than the customary 2x4 stick construction. My panel company also had to be on the approved list for the county. They consider this construction as prefabbed (which is stretching it) and their concerns include seismic stressing and wildfire safe materials. I am going with Premier Panels (http://premiersips.com/about-premier-sips/). They have built houses and commercial buildings in San Diego county and there are local contractors that are approved to put these things up.
The Premier company does all the engineered drawings for both the county and the manufacturing plant. No need for an architect. I have designed it. I may need some foundation drawings, but I can probably do those myself. I was given the name of a architectural draftsman if I didn't want to do them.
One other feature that I got a green light from the county on is the earth tube air system. (http://www.phius.org/NAPHC2012/Morosko_EarthAirTubes.pdf) This will also incorporate a solar chimney and computer operated clerestory windows. The air temperature here at 5-6' down is estimated at a stable 50-55º year-round. I only need to heat/cool air from that temperature and I have a constant air exchange rate in the house, so no radon issues.
So now the ball in my court. When I return from vacation, I will send my drawings and lists to the structural engineer. Then my job will be to find all the money necessary!
I do have a septic installer contractor who will also dig the foundation and the trench for the earth tube system. I will find other subs as I need them.
This is a complex, exciting project. Come along for the ride.
The goal is to be completed before the end of the first quarter next year (Easter). I would love for it to be sooner but there still is a lot of waiting before the first dirt gets moved. Tentatively planning the 2017 FWW Gathering at my new place next summer. Start saving your shekels.
The septic system has been approved. It will be a Presby System. http://presbyeco.com/ if you are interested. My lot is only ~5100 sqft, so a special system was required. To my knowledge, this will be the second of these systems to go in in San Diego county. The county is quite interested as are 8 of my neighbors with sub-standard lots size-wise. The company is eager to break into San Diego county because of the scarcity of land and the lack of sewer systems. So an engineer from the company, my civil engineer, and the county health department all got together via Skype and got my systems designed and approved. 21st century technology. You gotta love it!
The normal setback on my lot would have left me with ~110 sqft of legal building space - hardly enough for a pup tent! That was the observation of the county planner when I came in to apply for the variance. He was for the variance from the git-go but bureaucratic paperwork grinds out slowly here. They of course, are setting a precedent for the neighborhood and they know it. Speed is not on their agenda.
While the paperwork is not yet physically in my hand, the planner did give me the green light to 'proceed with the permitting process.' Get the plans done and in and we'll go from there. This will not be a speedy process either.
The house will be small ~700 sqft on two levels. The first level will be a walk out with garage entry and naturally be the shop area. The second story will be the living area, pretty much all open spaces with the only interior walls defining the bathroom and bedroom. As the design is drawn, I will post my drawings and you all can chime in. I am sure you will have a lot to teach me!
I want to build a passive energy, aging in place, cost-contained house. Other new' systems will be incorporated. The first is the house will be built of SIPS panels, rather than the customary 2x4 stick construction. My panel company also had to be on the approved list for the county. They consider this construction as prefabbed (which is stretching it) and their concerns include seismic stressing and wildfire safe materials. I am going with Premier Panels (http://premiersips.com/about-premier-sips/). They have built houses and commercial buildings in San Diego county and there are local contractors that are approved to put these things up.
The Premier company does all the engineered drawings for both the county and the manufacturing plant. No need for an architect. I have designed it. I may need some foundation drawings, but I can probably do those myself. I was given the name of a architectural draftsman if I didn't want to do them.
One other feature that I got a green light from the county on is the earth tube air system. (http://www.phius.org/NAPHC2012/Morosko_EarthAirTubes.pdf) This will also incorporate a solar chimney and computer operated clerestory windows. The air temperature here at 5-6' down is estimated at a stable 50-55º year-round. I only need to heat/cool air from that temperature and I have a constant air exchange rate in the house, so no radon issues.
So now the ball in my court. When I return from vacation, I will send my drawings and lists to the structural engineer. Then my job will be to find all the money necessary!
I do have a septic installer contractor who will also dig the foundation and the trench for the earth tube system. I will find other subs as I need them.
This is a complex, exciting project. Come along for the ride.
The goal is to be completed before the end of the first quarter next year (Easter). I would love for it to be sooner but there still is a lot of waiting before the first dirt gets moved. Tentatively planning the 2017 FWW Gathering at my new place next summer. Start saving your shekels.