You probably can't find it because the first half of the build was under my old user name, flgargoyle. For some reason, that username simply stopped working, so I started a new account under my current name. About half of the first part was when I was still trying different designs, so scroll through about halfway to see actual building. The outside of the house isn't framed in the conventional sense, with ICF walls and a framed roof. I also have a more 'technical' thread on another forum if you are interested.

Here's a link: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2617258/picture-a-small-house-and-a-barn

Thank you, and yes I would like to see the more technical thread too.

Here ya go- http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=12170.0

If you have any questions, I love to talk about this stuff!

Good! Because I have a lot of questions, but I'll reread your thread first.

Ok, I've read the first thread and am re-amazed with your skill. I wish we could build our own, but with dh working 60-70 hours every week, it just wouldn't work.

Which plan did you end up building? The last one posted on that thread shows the front door in the center. I love how simple and efficient it is.

We are also considering steel framing. Where did you buy yours, and how do you like it now? Any problem with that or the roof and your cell phones?

On the other forum, you posted plans with a lift from basement to main floor. Did you put that in? How does it work? We've talked about doing some kind of lift from our main floor into the attic for some of the heavy/bulky things but haven't decided how we would keep it from being an air leak into the main floor when the upper is still an attic.

I'm surprised that none of the threads seem to have the final floorplan! It is a simple rectangle with a small attache garage and a deep, wide front porch. The plan works well for our two person home. The basement is the same size, fully insulated, and has windows and a door out the back (walk-out), so there is plenty of room to expand. Near future plans are to build a bedroom and bath in the basement. The bath is already roughed in, so it's not that big a project. Plan is attached below-

The steel framing was nice to work with, and resulted in perfectly straight walls that will stay straight. The drywall was completed two years ago, and there hasn't been a nail-pop yet. I got the steel framing from a drywall supplier- it is heavier gauge, and significantly cheaper than the big box stores. It was actually cheaper than standard 2X4's. More work, though; both the ICF and steel studs require fastening trim with screws instead of just shooting nails. No issues with the cell phones, even though we have a metal roof, steel studs, and 2 tons of rebar in the walls. We lose reception in the basement, though.

Nice plan! Did you design it yourself or find it somewhere? I really like that you have the master closet separated from the bedroom. Since dh gets up several hours before I do, the closet and bathroom lights/noise are a big factor in our plans too.

The design is a combination of my own ideas, plus a lot of input from folks here on GW. The closet is working out well, and I like having the laundry right there, too.

Did you buy a tractor to do landscaping and fencing? Dh is chomping at the bit to buy a tractor but I really don't see the need for that expense.

Funny; I'm shopping for a tractor right now. Our needs are probably a bit different than many with acreage. Most of our land is heavily wooded, and we'll keep it that way. My main uses for a tractor are to maintain our gravel driveway, and drag trees out of the woods as I thin them. Our church has a firewood program to help local families, and I want to thin out my woods. I'll fell the trees and drag them out in the open, and the guys will cut them up and haul them away. Win-win-win!

We're currently negotiating with our neighbor to buy more road frontage from him, as we have very little. The land in question is directly in front of our house, so we'd like to own it so no one builds in front of us. We have a nice distant mountain view from our front porch, and we'd like to keep it. If we get the land, I'm going to use the tractor to turn it into a nice pasture. Right now, it's a weedy, brushy mess. I'm concentrating on getting a usable older tractor with a front end loader. I'll be getting topsoil trucked in, so need a way to move it around, and the loader will help me unload and move the heavy stuff I have a habit of dragging home. I'm getting too old to do this stuff by hand!

I'm looking at diesel tractors, as gas engines develop problems when they sit for months, like mine will. Probably 40-50 hp., 30 years old or so, and under $10K, as money is still tight. I just hope I can avoid buying a 'money pit'. I'm sure I could hire out the work, but over the years, it will pay to have a tractor, and around here, it's really hard to get people to show up and do the work.

We used to have an older Massey Ferguson when we owned 5 acres. It had a front end loader and box blade so dh could keep our gravel drive smooth. We had it for about 10 years and it was old when we got it. Never had a problem with it not starting but the brakes were another story. Dh nearly went off the edge of a creekbed one time because they wouldn't grab.