Hi Everybody!

Hi Everybody! Been MIA for awhile Rate Topic:

#1 Survivor35

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Posted 30 November 2007 - 04:06 AM

Hi everybody!! I've been out of the loop for several months now, life has been absolutely insane... I'm back in school and on deans list, which is great, and I just broke ground on my first home as well.... I need advice on that. I'm sure I'm not the first to build from ground up, or at least have to do extensive remods. What are some of the best tips you can give me? Obviously, shower and grab bars, lowered sink and flat top cooktop.... all the obvious. But does anyone have any neat little ideas that they have found to make life a bit easier? Just stuff that you come across over time that you find absolutely helpful? Or tips for things I should make my builder aware of?

Any input would be great!!

"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows that you are actually scared to death"Chrissy
T-6 incomplete para

#2 nomis

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Posted 30 November 2007 - 04:37 AM

That's pleasing to hear things are happening for you.
Building from ground up is an exciting project.
How are you going to clear your head for studies with all that planning buzzing around?
Fantastic. You deserve it.

Stephen Hawking, physicist, cosmologist and something of a dreamer:
Although I cannot move and I have to speak through a computer, in my mind I am free.

#3 dave420atya

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Posted 30 November 2007 - 04:39 AM

Well , welcome back aboard . Congrats on building your house. .The only advise I have is the obvious ,wide doors and no thick carpet . Good luck on your new home I hope all goes well with it .

got a light?

#4 kashley

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Posted 30 November 2007 - 05:34 AM

Survivor35, on Nov 29 2007, 10:06 PM, said:

Congrats on the dean's list and the house. Make sure you are there when the pour the concrete and do the ramp. On both our houses the driveway was steeper than it was suppose to be and the ramps had to be chipped out and re-done. They thought in the garage they could just make it swoosh the trowl (sp?) up into the house it was like a keg ramp. *laugh* You have the cutest daughter!

#5 KarenFerguson

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Posted 30 November 2007 - 05:48 AM

Glad to here life is good for you!

Hubby & I are in the process of remodeling our home as well. We've finished the master bath and are almost finished with the kitchen. Most of the stuff you mentioned we put in (except the grab bars). In the bath we have a roll in shower (all concrete and modern) with a built-in shower bench for me. We also have two roll under sinks for us. That's been wonderful.

In the kitchen the counters are lowered to 33" and we have open space under the sink and stove top (which is a flat electric one). When picking out sinks be aware of how deep they are. We had to find one that wasn't too deep so we could both get our knees under it.

As far as the rest of the house goes - 2'8" doors work fine (I know every one says put in 3' ones but really 2'8" or even 2'6" work great - unless you have a really wide chair). Also, remember hard wood floors (or tile) are awesome & your arms will thank you.

Hope the remodeling goes well!

Hubby's website: www.basketcasecomix.com
My Blog: www.inanemusings.wordpress.com

#6 juls

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Posted 01 December 2007 - 02:06 AM

Hey girl..nice to see you back!!

Andy's a builder so he'd know more then me but we've built a couple of houses from scratch now which means we learn from our mistakes each time (we've just bought another block on the Marina..i'll have to write and tell ya about it) so i'll ask Andy when he gets back from camping..see if he can think of anything that might help..
You should be so proud of yourself :cheers:

#7 Survivor35

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Posted 01 December 2007 - 02:59 AM

JULS!!! I've been MIA everywhere, even Myspace, lol. Yeah, talk to Andy and let me know any wise tips... I miss you guys so much, there were, like, 14 pages of unread posts when I got on last night... I'm still filtering. I've missed you guys!!

"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows that you are actually scared to death"Chrissy
T-6 incomplete para

#8 smokymtn memories

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Posted 01 December 2007 - 04:17 PM

Good news Survivor35, and don't stay away so long!

#9 Elzeen

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Posted 01 December 2007 - 07:11 PM

Here are a few things I've found helpful that I dont see discussed here yet:
- Raised electrical outlets so you don't have to bend over so far to plug things in
- Multiple accessible egress points in case of fire/other disaster
- Lowered hanging rods in closets so you can reach your clothes without gymnastics

Good luck with your new home and school!