From: fredch@phx.mcd.mot.com (Fred Christiansen)
Subject: An Owner-Builder's Tale, ch.1
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, Technical Systems Operations
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 19:22:49 GMT

Tho't I'd share with y'all how it's been going so far.

I could hardly get any friends at work to cut down the citrus trees
(needed 24 of 96 out) for free firewood.  So, I hired an out-of-work
friend to take out 10 at $25 each.  I tho't that a pretty fair wage.
He took his wood and left all the trimmings (argh!).  So I ran a
one-liner ad in the paper for $1.  Zingo, 14 were gone just like that!
Live and learn.  This was in April, btw.  In May, a friend brought
his backhoe and dug the stumps out.  No charge.  Gave me 12 ft of steel
24" diam culvert for free, too (he has a heavy equipment business).

In June, I hired a subcontractor friend to build a bridge over my irrigation
ditch.  Did not require a permit.  Standing up to concrete trucks fine.

By the first of July, I had the floorplan and site plan finished.  Used
MacDraft CAD program on a Mac at work.  Unfortunately, I could not find
a plotter and a Mac connected anywhere in town.  So, I had to pay a draftsmen
$500 to draw that plus foundation and connection detail drawings.  The truss
plans were just a copy of what the truss manufacturer gave me.  4 pages, total.

Getting the building permit was a bit of a pain and took longer than I tho't
it should.  Perhaps largely a function of caseload and vacation plans, etc.
The guys were actually reasonably helpful question-and-answer-wise and they
made only 3 tweaks to my plans and did not require a resubmit.  But, they
were awful slow in getting to things.  I happened to be in at the Permit
office checking on progress the 3rd week since plan log-in.  The fellow had
seen me before and mentioned things were plain just going slowly, why they
were even working overtime for someone who had paid $100 extra for an
expedited review.  At first I smelled rotten fish ($ under the table for a
favor?).  Then he said I could petition his boss and, if accepted, make the
check out to the City of Phoenix.  That sounded cleaner.  I made my petition.
One hour later it was OK'd.  I went back and paid my $100.  The fellow
started reviewing it right away.  I had my permit the next day, July 31st.
$189 for plan review, $100 for expedited, $350 for water connect, $600 for
water development fee, $400 for the building permit.

The concrete guy said he'd come Tuesday, Aug 4, latest Wednesday.  Wednesday
became Thursday, Friday, Monday.  Finally dug the footings on Tuesday, 11th.
Complained about the heat the whole time when I came to check on progress.
So, I bought him and the other guy some cold GatorAde.  That seemed to
help.  Later called to say I could request the inspection next day, but he
called me too late for that.  Inspected on Thursday.  Poured the footings
that afternoon.  Next Monday he set up the stem wall forms.  Called me early
enough.  Inspected Tuesday.  Poured the stems that afternoon.  Stripped the
forms on Friday.  I checked the block-outs for the slab turn-downs for doors
(concrete slabs are typical here):
      |=== slab ===|
      |xxx ABC  xxx|
      |    fill    |
     ===          ===
And found that he was off on two of them.  I can reasonably chisel out
to something close, but not quite to what I want.  I have to grant that I
asked for the doors to be located slightly differently than the plans and
perhaps I did not communicate my changes adequately.

Monday, 24th, it rained (tropical storm Lester).  Tuesday, the plumber had a
guy trench.  Wednesday the rough plumbing (water connect, soil, vent) went in.
Thursday inspected.  One red tag.  The tag was for something that the
plumber forgot to install, perhaps because it was added to the plumber's
plans by the city.  It was on the approved plans but not the originals.
Clearly the plumber failed to check plans that are on-site.  I had mentioned
it to him verbally 2.5 weeks before.  Both plumber and concrete guy could
not come Friday so did *not* get the trenching backfilled (the plumbing fix is
above-slab).  Plumber will come tomorrow before the re-inspect.  In the
meantime, I had to shovel dirt for some time to cover the copper to
lessen its eye-catchiness.  Some of the copper is 1/2" and some 3/4" (it's
a 125 foot run from the water meter).

During July & Aug, I have gotten quotes on lumber, windows, doors, trusses,
stucco (sub), mechanical & HVAC (sub), septic (sub), electrical wiring (sub),
roofing, cabinetry, locks, and I'm working on plumbing fixtures.  Insulation,
drywall (may sub tape & texture), texture, paint, appliances, flooring, fans,
lighting fixtures, telephone, cable, and security is yet to go.  I have found
that the 'phone and the fax have saved me a lot of running around.  I've been
able to get 5 to 10 quotes on nearly everything and sometimes thereby
stumbled upon a serendipity.

I have 3 good friends in the construction business whom I have known for 10
years.  Through them, I got several good recommendations for subs.  So far,
only the mechanical and HVAC guys are total strangers to me.

For what it's worth:  There are numerous homes going up in the area where
we rent.  I often stop to watch the guys work.  Invariably, it's amazing
to watch their speed.  Sometimes, tho, their workmanship leaves something to
be desired.  ('Course, someone may say the same of mine as things progress.)
-- 
Fred Christiansen, Motorola, 2900 S Diablo Way, Tempe, AZ 85282  "Canajun, eh?"
fredch@phx.mcd.mot.com  ||  uunet!phx.mcd.mot.com!fredch  ||  +1 602-438-3464
  On Attitude & the Immune System:  A sound heart is the life of the flesh:
    but envy the rottenness of the bones.  Prov 14:30
-- 
Fred Christiansen, Motorola, 2900 S Diablo Way, Tempe, AZ 85282  "Canajun, eh?"
fredch@phx.mcd.mot.com  ||  uunet!phx.mcd.mot.com!fredch  ||  +1 602-438-3464
  On Attitude & the Immune System:  A sound heart is the life of the flesh:
    but envy the rottenness of the bones.  Prov 14:30