The Krahmer house, dried in for winter

[bkrahmer]

Not a minute too soon, I got the house dried in. I've worked on the house full-time since June 28th, mostly by myself. This is the result...

http://www.krahmer.com/house/images/house_images/thumbs/house%20183.jpg

Larger version (http://www.krahmer.com/house/images/house_images/house%20183.jpg)

[Rich]

Right on..

[Cole]

Looks Good!!! Great Job.

[RRG]

Very Nice!

[steeve]

looks good... so how much dit it run you up to now $$$...

[bkrahmer]

Thanks for the good words, guys!

I'm slightly disappointed at the placement of the bay windows. I should have centered them vertically with the door. Thank god I didn't align the top with the top of the door. I ended up making the bay window roofs 8/12. I'm thinking of adding inverted roofs to the bottom of them in the spring, with a steep pitch (16/12 or something.) Opinions?

so how much dit it run you up to now $$$...

Honestly, I couldn't tell you. I haven't been tracking it. I probably will do that when I get done.

--
It's not a good day unless I've wrecked at least $1000 worth of lumber.

[that_guy]

Great Job!... Please update the pictures once you're done.

...Constructive criticism.... I hate to tell you but IMHO, you installed the Tyvek wrap upside down. We're you hanging from the roof when you did that?... I know it's easy to make that mistake, it's happened to me. .... ;-)

Just kidding! You should rightfully take pride in what you've accomplished.

[Tom R]

bkrah,

I think the window 'placement' is just fine. If you placed them based on the door, - - you'd lose (or at least limit) valuable 'wall-space' (and therefore, options) inside. Personally, I wouldn't go with the inverted roof idea in your particular case, - - as your door is already being 'over-powered' (size-wise, projection-wise), by your windows. But I would box out the window bottoms with 2X3's, then insulate, then plywood underneath, then 1X4 fascia (don't know if you're wrapping or painting). Lay it out in such a way that the fascia ends up about 1/16" or 1/8" 'in' from the bottom front edge of the window (this way it appears flush, but there's no water problems down the road).

If you'd like the whole 'look' a little lower yet, - - go with a 2X4 'box', - - and a 1X6 fascia.

Once the exterior is done, you can decide if you think you'd like to add corbels underneath, - - though I don't think in your case your windows should take any more 'attention' away from the front door.

Also, I would go 'wide' with the trim package around the door, - - to bring it back out to the forefront.

[Tom R]

Oh, yeah, - - and you could 'liven' up the doghouse dormers simply by adding 'pork chops'. Maybe somewhere around 3" X 3" or 4" X 4" on the triangular 'legs'. Well worth a little bit of extra time for the look that's achieved. They'll look real sharp the way they'll fall in line with the top plane of the windows.

[Tom R]

Speaking of 'over-powering' bay windows, - - I can't quite tell from the angle which yours are (I'm guessing 45's), - - but I prefer 30 degree angle bay's over 45's, - - they have a 'lesser' projection, - - and tend to look 'added-in', - - rather than 'added-on'.

[dhill]

Great looking place, bk. How many square feet do you have there? The placement of the windows to the door wasn't noticeable to me until you pointed it out. Put a porch light on the wall on the side of the longest span. It'll disguise the discrepancy :).

[bkrahmer]

> Great looking place, bk.

Thanks!

> How many square feet do you have there?

It will be about 3000 when it's all said and done.

> The placement of the windows to the door wasn't noticeable to me until you pointed it out.

D, I think you are talking horizontally. That wasn't a mistake. The stairway and door are off-center on purpose. I was talking vertically. BTW, that picture is taken from the other side of the yard. The way everyone will see it is coming down the driveway. From that perspective, it's nearly impossible to tell that the door is off-center. Optical illusions are kewl.. :)

[dhill]

Well, what do I know about balance? I stick to what I said originally, it all looks great. 3000 sf? That's a big house. The pic doesn't reveal it. Did you break the interior up with many walls or hallways or do you have a lot of open space?

[bkrahmer]

That's a big house. The pic doesn't reveal it.
Yeah, I like the proportions. The exposed exterior area of the house is pretty efficient as well. Less area for cold to steal the heat

You can see the blueprints at this page, near the bottom.
http://www.krahmer.com/house/blueprints.htm

[VALENT]

Hey, Bkrahmer, that looks good. You must be proud. And ready for a rest. Where are you located?

[bkrahmer]

Thanks, Valent. I'm up near Sandpoint, ID. Had a week off, and am ready to get back to work on her tomorrow.

[dhill]

Hey, Krahmer, how's the house coming?

[bkrahmer]

Oh, it's coming along... :) Slowly but surely. I got my LP tank in yesterday, hope to have the well hooked up to the house this week, plumbing is (hopefully) done. Waiting for the water to do a pressure test. Got our fireplace framed in about two days ago. Should be ready for electrical inspection on tuesday. Should have the radiant done in a couple days. Planning on insulating next weekend, and have drywall (for the main floor only) scheduled for the 18th.

Working at HD, from Dec 20th to Feb 19th, really killed me. I worked on the plumbing that entire time. The job was taking too much time, not to mention that my plumbing system is pretty complicated, and I'm just a bad plumber.

It'll get there. The outside still looks the same, but obviously the interior is going through rapid changes.

thanks for the interest.

[dhill]

I hear you. It's taken me an entire year to build my house. I'm expecting to have it tape and bedded this weekend (about the only job I'm not doing for myself). But I can assure you, as slow as progress seems, you're closing in fast for final completion. Once that sheetrock is hung, it's like, wow, here's a house. Post some more pics when you can. I'd like to see how you're coming along.
Dusty

[cire1]

Hey looks awesome but one very important thing. The tyvek doesn't work when its installed upside-down! :wink: :lol:

[VALENT]

Its not upside down if you flip the house over.

[Tom R]

It should be fine, - - he did it while standing on his head. :lol: