HELP! Builder says porch might be a $$ problem
Christen Hellums
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (20)
Jennifer C
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Builder says gable "too tall"... wants to do a hip roof instead?
Comments (7)Everyone, Thanks very much for all the input. I took this feedback to him and he eventually agreed it might look better with a gable roof (I really truly think it does). Even though it is supposedly cheaper we do have brick all the way up the back -- and he was referring to the safety of his bricklayer. Regardless, it will now be a gable. Thank you again, I really appreciate the help! :-) -Steve This post was edited by othersteve on Tue, May 14, 13 at 9:30...See MoreWanted brick 'lattice'..builder says can't do it.
Comments (11)"There is no way that you could eradicate any pests that moved in /passed away under there. You leave an opening on one side to allow access. "...wouldn't a steel lintel be used above the lattice similar to a window/entry opening on a veneered wall or basement?" Thw span is much larger than a door or window.and is in two directions (side to side and towards and away friom the house. The concrete slab must be capable of supporting itself with only the piers having any load carrying to the footers. Imagine a patio slab raised up to form a deck on piers. The slab must now span between the piers itself without failing. At the very least the slab is going to need real rebar and not just 6 inch wire embedded. While concrete is very strong in compression, it is weak in tension. The steel rebar embedded takes up the tension load....See MoreHelp Builder saying too many windows for insulation code
Comments (26)While your grand 2 story windows are pretty, you do realize that there will be practical problems? I don't want to beat a dead horse about heating that room... ok well I will. Obviously the r-3 wall (what it will be with windows and the pack of studs in between, is going to be a huge heat loss. Combined with the heat rising, it will be a room that will take the majority of your heating needs. And it isn't just an energy use problem, but it becomes an issue with vastly different loads between this room and the rest of the house. Second, I know that Washington is not sunny NC, but it surely gets sunny at times. A SW facing wall of windows that you can't cover is going to be frustrating from the glare. I have a view wall facing SE and we need sunglasses inside at times but we can close the blinds. It isn't 2 stories either - just 10 ft ceilings with 14 ft wide window bank. Third, again while it isn't as sunny there, when it does get hot and is sunny, you will have a cooling problem. And mind you, it isn't just the energy use, it is the differential in the rooms. You may be turning the stat on 75 but have some rooms at 70 and freezing just to keep that room comfortable. It is very difficult to design a HVAC that can handle such different gains in different rooms. I have a study with a wall of west windows and have planted a tree to deal with the 4-6pm heat up. I rent mountain houses fairly often in the Asheville area and this type of wall is common. But it can be frustrating even just for a few day stay. The last one had tinted the windows and installed an electric awning outside. Blinds and drapes just don't fit well with these walls in the mountains. Honestly - they could be installed but no one wants to because it doesn't fit the "mountain" style. In that house, we had to sleep in double beds downstairs because the king upstairs was too hot from all the gain in the afternoon - and yes the house had a/c. Obviously not the best designed system and you will do better but the challenges are there. I have an oceanfront house (vacation rental) - I understand the need for view without compromise. But the 2 story huge windows you don't really see anything out of except sky and for a large portion of the time you are there, you might be staring at the sun. Yes - they look dramatic. But drama's appeal wears out and practicality does not....See MorePool builder says automatic cover is not worth the cost.
Comments (18)Ponz, Interesting quandary! We are going through the same decision right now. We are planning a pool house and pool. Our issue is not related to the budget, but the design limits of a pool fit for a cover. We absolutely want to have a slide (tacky as they may look) BTW - you should look at SR Smith - their turbo twister looks awesome. Lucky for us we can tuck the slide at the back of the yard close to the block wall where it won't be the focal point of the pool. Also, if we were limited to a rectangle shape, the pool would have to be about 25% smaller. With this in mind, we could sacrifice the Baja shelf and spa, but we want it all (of course). I have asked a lot of people about the cover. I have a sister plus several close friends that have the cover. All of the people with a cover are happy with the cover and try to talk me into putting one in, however, everyone who I've talked to that have a pool without a cover love their pool. I have also asked people who were going to put the cover on and decided not to if they regret not putting a cover on - the answer was no. What does this tell me - everybody loves their pool. Good news considering the size of investment. Some things I have considered: *The tile located under the cover (where it is rolled up when fully retracted) always seem to turn a lovely shade of slime. This has happened after a few years with each pool I've seen. What this says to me is - maintenance! It kind of grosses DH and I out - I know I would be under there with a kitchen brush on a regular basis. *After a year or two the cover ends up looking really bad. My sister's is 5 years old - which is probably the average life of a cover - and it is faded and stained where water puddles on it. Again, you can probably scrub the puddle stains off - but again - maintenance. *This may be a Las Vegas thing only, but when the pool cover is on in the summer, and you open up the pool, some spots in the pool are so hot that it is unbearable to get in. We have actually added cool water to the pool to make it swimable. *Replacement cost. It is a hard number to believe, but my sister keeps throwing out $5k as the replacement cost for her cover and says it will need to be replaced every 5-7 years. Now I know I am probably going to stir a little reaction with this post from the cover lovers. I am not totally against them; I just think there are positives and negatives. The main reason I considered the cover is for the safety issues. I have resisted getting a pool until now (my 4 children are 4-12 yrs) because drowning risk scares me to death. DH and I do not feel comfortable that a fence can prevent a drowning. We are now pretty sure we will get a pool safety net. There is a time commitment involved, but the 100% safety rating is the piece of mind I am looking for. We have absolutely decided that safety is non-negotiable, so the net will be on each day after swimming and during all breaks from swimming if a non-swimmer is in the vicinity. We made our final decision based on the feedback that we received from friends without an auto cover, personal observation, and input from kids. Nieces that are in teens wish they had a more exciting pool, always seem to be at other friends pools with slides, diving boards, spas, etc. Son practically begged us not to get a rectangle pool. On a different subject, how much do you think you will spend on the pool house? We need one as the closest bathroom in the house is through the kitchen and down the hall (all over wood floors). Also, hate the look of pool equipment in a tuff shed or scattered all over the deck. As mentioned before, land is at a premium, we can only eek out about 8'X11' for the pool house. I'm curious if you have received a price for yours and how large you are planning. Good luck with all your decisions! Kim...See MoreDenita
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agodoc5md
4 years agobry911
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoCharles Ross Homes
4 years agothinkdesignlive
4 years agoJeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
4 years agoILoveRed
4 years agoremodeling1840
4 years agocpartist
4 years agoThe_Lane_Duo
4 years agoCharles Ross Homes
4 years agobry911
4 years agohomechef59
4 years agoremodeling1840
4 years agohomechef59
4 years agoremodeling1840
4 years agoremodeling1840
4 years agoshead
4 years ago
Related Stories
WORKING WITH PROS3 Reasons You Might Want a Designer's Help
See how a designer can turn your decorating and remodeling visions into reality, and how to collaborate best for a positive experience
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESGot a Problem? 5 Design Trends That Could Help
These popular looks can help you hide your TV, find a fresh tile style and more
Full StoryFUN HOUZZGuessing Game: What Might Our Living Rooms Say About Us?
Take a shot on your own or go straight to just-for-fun speculations about whose homes these could be
Full StoryHOUZZ PRODUCT NEWSHow Builders Can Help Clients Work as a Team
Build a collaborative atmosphere and ease homeowners into decisions to head off potential conflicts between them
Full StoryBEDROOMSGuessing Game: What Might Our Bedrooms Say About Us?
For entertainment only; actual accuracy may vary. Always don fun goggles and engage your imagination before playing!
Full StoryKIDS’ SPACESWho Says a Dining Room Has to Be a Dining Room?
Chucking the builder’s floor plan, a family reassigns rooms to work better for their needs
Full StoryINSIDE HOUZZThere’s a Party in the Backyard, Says a Houzz Landscaping Survey
Entertaining, growing edibles and solving problems are goals for homeowners planning to revamp their yards
Full StoryPHOTO FLIP50 Beautiful Ways With Porch Swings
Sit back, relax and say ‘ahhh’ with a photo roundup featuring this favorite summer lounge spot
Full StoryLIVING ROOMSA Living Room Miracle With $1,000 and a Little Help From Houzzers
Frustrated with competing focal points, Kimberlee Dray took her dilemma to the people and got her problem solved
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGPorch Life: Banish the Bugs
Don't let insects be the bane of your sweet tea and swing time. These screening and product ideas will help keep bugs at bay on the porch
Full Story
WestCoast Hopeful