Introduction - (continued from book Working for Subs)

(below is an excerpt from the book's Introduction:)

In order to erect a home as a solo builder and realize the most cost savings you will want to acquire some working knowledge of local, state, national building codes, and energy codes, the permitting process, your local real estate, storm water requirements, population movements, environmental (“green”) concerns, some structural design, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry & framing, roofing, drywall, room finishes, kitchen design, fenestration (window & door) sizing and placement, painting, energy conservation, color selection, weatherproofing, fireplaces, concrete formation, landscaping, grading, solar & wind and other siting effects, lighting placement sizing, etc. These are just a few of the disciplines with which you should become familiar.

It is not necessary to be able to perform each task at a professional level; that is what subcontractors do. However, in order to hire and direct subcontractors, design or visualize components, and inspect to assure the final completeness of a home, a homebuilder must understand the basics of each discipline. The more expertise the homebuilder acquires the more expense he /she will avoid in the construction process.

Many states allow an individual to build one home per year for his/her own use without having to obtain a building license. The self-home builder will need to contact the local building department to determine this requirement.

The building code books used in your city and /or county may be also be obtained by simply visiting the building department (“Code Enforcement” or whatever your municipality chooses to call this division.) Call and ask an inspector what codes are required to build a home? Several county agencies sell the publications themselves. This book is based on the author's experience and on codes in Tennessee, Colorado, and Florida. The codes are continually changing and must be updated prior to every job.

The author has built homes from lot acquisition to final permit in as little as three months, but a comfortable pace for the first-time builder may require six months or more. There are many claims for title of the fastest house built, one in less than four hours including pouring a slab.ⁱ Your home construction schedule will be affected by many variables: weather, subcontractor availability and their experience, materials' scarcity, your own expertise, governmental regulations, and other unforeseen circumstances. This book attempts to help you to anticipate and prepare for, or to avoid many of these obstacles.

Most municipalities issue building permits for an ample one-year period, which can usually be renewed. One year is too long a time to drag out the process, for you will find that costs and effort will increase if you do not remain consistently diligent on the construction. These costs can manifest themselves as additional permit expense, weathering and wear on materials, theft and vandalism, price escalations, scarcity of materials and labor, changes in code requirements, etc.

i Claim of fastest house built by Habitat for Humanity in three hours, twenty six minutes. http://www.habitat.org/newsroom/2002archive/insitedoc002185.aspx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-H1toqMB lM.