thanks for the replies. I will try to touch on some of the questions: I am getting about 4 different load calcs, along with my own which include loading my Revit model into Autodeck Green Studio which analyzes everything and produces costs and loads. So once those start to get in, we can compare everything for similarities. For wells, we are building on about 1 acre. However we also need a septic in that space, so that eats up some. The house is modest size, with a footprint of around 58'x36'. There should be space for 2-3 tons worth of horizontal. THe guy digging my basement and septic can also dig trenches for the ground loops. However vertical wells cost around $2k in my area, depending on the depth of course. Most like to size up .5-1 tons worth of well around here. all windows will have coverings on them. I am toying with making the north glass triple pane. it would be roughly 800 for that upgrade for the north windows. According to the cost vs savings, that is a pay off of around 11 years....over high performance duel pane. not sure its worth it at all. I am way ahead to put in some nicer insulated shades instead of the glass. Looks nicer and is more efficient. Any thoughts on the more "DIY" approach? Meaning supply the products and just hire out the install? I have subs that can do vertical wells, grouting and hooking them up to the system for about $2k per well. I am not sure how many I need just yet, depending on the depth obviously. It looks like I can buy everything I need for 8k or less. Plus wells and install costs, I am probably around 15k or less, maybe.

Another Senior here. I "helped" in one of those basements every Monday. Mother filled the washer with hoses connected to the basement double-sink tap. She moved the wet clothes from the pre-soak sink (complete with built-in washboard) into the washer. It agitated then drained soapy water into one of the sinks. Then Mother had to refill the washer with clean water for the rinse agitation and feed the clothes through the wriger while the rinse water was pumped out. Clothes then went into a laundry basket and were carried upstairs to be hung on a whirl-a-gig clothesline. (Or they were hung on lines in the basement in rainy weather -- where they eventually became...not dry, merely less wet.) Tuesday was ironing day. That was also done in the basement with hand irons and on the mangle. My grandmother reluctantly gave up her stove-heated irons when electric steam irons came in. Virtually everything was cotton and had to be ironed. Top-load, front-load, whatever! Hooray for the end of that drudge labor! My back hurts just remembering that trek up the basement stairs with a load of wet wash. At age 50, my mother was engaged to be re-married to a man from her native New England. It all foundered when she asked if he wanted her to move her washer and dryer back East or to buy new ones there. He replied that if the sink-washboard-clothesline had been good enough for his mother and grandmother... Well, you get the picture.

carsonheim The cal door quote is unfinished solid maple. We were having everything site finished so it all would match but I'm thinking they offer primed doors for not much more. I hope you have as great an experience as we've had! I think it all depends on how devoted your crew is... our guys are just rock stars. They NEVER cut corners, even when I think they should! :) imjustagirl I do have some new pictures... site finishing has begun! I was planning on starting a new thread since this is getting long. Stay tuned.

If they told you 'no' try again. I copied this from another board- I called Kmart's customer service last night after reading the thread about the double coupons (where had I been????) and asked if my store was included in the double coupons. She said that all stores have now been included. I told her that my store didn't know anything about it (which wasn't entirely true but I wanted to know what the response would be). She told me that they should know by now because of a major issue with it and all stores were now included and the managers should have gotten the numerous emails telling them they are included. She said if I had any problems to have the store call customer service. She also gave me her name as a reference and said she logged my call. HTH