Hi Kate, Sorry I don't have any technical know-how to share with you, but I wanted to applaud your idea. You might need an engineer on this one - and legally, for permit purposes, you might need an engineer on this one. And for the safety of you and your family, you might want an engineer on this one. But I would suggest that you not let the awkwardly-shaped architectural cistern be the only one you build. While you're at it, why not build another, just to have a capacious rain-water storage capability? It might make your home even more livable after the world runs out of oil! Good luck and good work combine to make your project great! Isabella

Yeah - that warranty amount sounds like it costs the warranty company nothing. They just have a negotiated discount with the HVAC installer. You need sizes to get help. I just had a new house done with 2 units which included all the ductwork/stats/grills etc. It cost me $10500 for Trane heat pumps at seer 15. They were 2 tons each. Heat pumps should be a little more than a/c. And of course the ductwork is not cheap. So shop around because you can do better. The common comment around here goes something like "I wouldn't use Goodman for a dog house"....

Meg- I did three coats of the stain plus one coat of poly by GF in satin. It says to wait 6 hours between coats, so took a few days, but the actual staining was accomplished in 20 minute sessions. I applied my stain with a foam brush and removed it with an old t-shirt I cut up in pieces. Those two things worked perfectly. You're just applying the stain and wiping it level, not c0mpletely off (wiping with the grain of the wood). If you have a Woodcraft store near you, they sell General Finishes, otherwise the GF website has info on where they sell their product. Hope that helps! I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have too!

Did they break ground yet? It is my understanding that you sign contracts, the builder puts it to attorney review which usually takes 2 weeks here. During this time, you go to the design center to pick the upgrades and while picking them, may have to put money down on them so that they can be ordered. I'm seeing a bunch of builders, KB Homes, Pulte, American West, Richmond, Summerlin, DRHorton, Lennar, Toll Brothers, Beazer, Engle, Centex with pricing jumping all over the place. Looking at those sites, some start off cheaper. It may be possible that they will move you to another cheaper location so that they don't lose you as a client and you don't lose your money. If they have not poured foundation or broken ground, it's possible they will change the model to a cheaper one if there is a cheaper one. I don't think all is lost. One never knows, depending on how far along this is. We just put a bid in on a house that the original people changed their minds by deciding to build on another lot. The house had granite in the kitchen, a faucet that was over $2,000 as well as things we didn't need. We were able to take some things out even though the sales lady wasn't sure if we could. We then figured out what the house was worth to us and placed a bid which was accepted. They may have pulled permits or poured foundation but also may be able to sell the house to someone else. There's another property that we were offered that we passed on. Last week it was being framed but still not sold. They are called quick move in homes and usually sell. Builders are hurting. Look at K. Hov's sale this weekend. While you may still qualify for a loan, you may not qualify for as much. They very well may work with you, so you should prepare for that. Getting into a community farther away with a less expensive base may be the only way you don't lose it all.