Update

We're moving right along with the plans. 


Demolition should be sometime this week - I'll post the day, in case you want to watch. We plan to set up across the street & make an event of it!
A couple of things have been decided since my last post.


First...
My concern over the wet lot has prompted the builder to consider some different options. He now plans to bring in some fill dirt - so that we can change the grade of the property. He has also asked us to consider building the house on a concrete slab. I know this is hardly a novel idea - but in Richmond , it is far from common. I've looked into it - and it does seem to be the norm in many other states across the country. It would mean - no crawl space, so the air handlers would be moved to the attic. Also the venting would all be done overhead - rather than below the floor. All of these changes are reasonable - if it means that I will not have to worry about moisture issues & air quality in our new home.
My youngest child has such allergy & asthma issues, that mold is always a concern.
I was already considering conditioning the crawl space, so the additional cost to use a slab, is minimal.


Also...
I am also considering the tankless water heater - to save some space in the garage. Right now we have (2) 50 gallon water heaters - and we have had no trouble keeping up with showers for 6. I am a bit concerned that the tankless system will not be able to keep up with the constant showers & laundry. The builder has recommended that we add a 6 gallon holding tank to the system. This way - there is a bit of reserve so that you do not have the delay waiting for the hot water to fill the pipes. Sounds logical to me - but if you have any experience with this, and would be willing to share, I'd appreciate it.


Getting to the details...
I found some bamboo flooring at a decent price the other day - so we went ahead and bought that. Luckily my husband a warehouse available - or else the idea of buying ahead, when we see opportunities, would be impossible. 3100sq ft of bamboo flooring - is a lot of boxes!
It is not as dark as I had hoped it would be - but...we saved about $4000 - so I can get over it.
Someone has offered free fill dirt this week - so I think the plan is to move forward quickly - so that we can take advantage of that cost savings. Every dollar saved = a dollar earned & ...free is good.
More later - Have a great day!


I've started a pinterest board for little house design ideas - I'll see if I can add a link.


 http://pinterest.com/northforkknots/little-house-ideas/

Now it needs to come down ASAP

My poor little house! It just looks sad. 
I am eager to get it down - to put it out of it's misery. 


I had a "gentleman" contact me - to inquire about the slate roof. He said that he was working on a "small shed project" and that he would appreciate some of the slate - if we were not going to use it. I explained to him that I had already offered the materials of the house to the school - but, that I would let him know if there were any left once the school had taken what they needed.  Once St. Chris had taken all that they were going to take - I gave him the go ahead to get the slate that he "needed"


Well - when I went by the little house today, I was surprised to see 2 pallets of slate already full and all kinds of debris all over the yard! There were 3 men on my roof - who were clearly roofers,( not homeowners with small shed projects.)
When I asked about what they thought they should be doing - they said that the "gentleman" had told them to remove everything. 
He was not there - nor was he planning to return anytime today. He had just given them an address.
There was slate flying every which way - metal from the flashing and the gutters thrown about. Windows were broken- siding was ripped off. It looked disgusting.


When I called the cell number that the crew gave me - the recording said ---------roofing company.
According to the men on my roof - this is what they do all of the time.


I felt /feel foolish. 


Had he asked for every scrap /shred/molecule of the house - I probably would have said yes. What am I doing with it anyway? 
But...he didn't.  He asked for "some slate for a small shed project."


I know that you are thinking - shame on me - and you are right. 
But...
At my core - I am a very generous spirit. It bothers me, tremendously, that someone would take advantage of that.
Now the sight of my  little house just makes me sad. 
I look forward to taking it down as soon as possible.


Oh and by the way, Mr. "gentleman" roofer - Richmond may be a city - but it's as small town as a city can get. It's certainly not the kind of place where you can participate in unethical business practices and think it will go unnoticed. 


Karma, my "friend", is a very powerful thing.

There's no turning back now!

I'm starting to feel sorry for the little house!

I decided to offer our school the opportunity to salvage whatever they wanted from the little house. 

It seemed like a good idea at the time - and habitat for humanity would not accept any of it, unless I delivered it to them. 

I was hoping that there might be something that the school could use - slate from the roof, AC units, the furnace, etc.

Well,I guess they have started the stripping process because, it looks terrible! The roof slate has been thrown all over the yard. The gutters were ripped off, the windows were left wide open - with a ladder  on the ground right beside them. I'm worried about kids/teens getting in to the little house. It looks miserable!

I have vacant house insurance - but...I am still concerned about liability.

I want to have the materials used - if someone needs them - but...I guess I just don't want the little house degraded by the process. I know that does not make any sense - but...somehow, it made me sad to see it in such a state.

The builder met us out there today - to lay out the driveway, and determine the exact location of the house. He agreed to move the front of the house back 10' from it's current location. The further back we go - the more privacy we will have in the back yard. If we go farther back - we will lose the view of the fields and the school - so I think 10' is the max.

He said that the demolition will most likely be done within a week and a half. I just want some notice - so that I can be sure to be there.

I am not sure how I have become so attached to the little house - but I have. I definitely want to be there when they take it down. In fact - I want my whole family to be there. I'm not sure what day or time it will be yet - but, I'll post it once I know. You are welcome to come watch too - if you are free. 

I hope that it will not be during school hours - but, if it is, I am going to have to pull the kids out for it. This is part of our family history - and I don't want them to miss it!

All the details.....Phew!

Well, we are excited to be moving forward - but, there are so many things to consider. 
How many panes should the windows have? Would a six panel door look too colonial? 
Do we need to have the standing seam roof on the whole house - or can we just do the front?


And the list goes on!
How to accomplish the farm house look - on a house in the city - is proving to be a struggle.
I'm working in it
I'll post, as I come to any conclusions - and eventually photograph the end result.
Of course, there is a distinct possibility that I may have lost my mind before this little house ever gets built!
Here is the proposed site layout.
I am a little concerned that the front loop is going to be very tight - but...I guess we will soon find out!

The New Little House

Well - in the end, we opted for a combination of the designs. It has added a bit to our budget - but, I think the outcome will be worth it.

 We are planning to use metal on the gable, the porch roof and the water table across the bottom of the gable. 

Too bad we can't find a source for the metal roof,  without costing a fortune.  I'd love for the whole roof to be metal, but that would add about $20k to our bill.

We were just out in Montana , and we saw metal everywhere. Even trailers had metal on the roof! 

There must be a less expensive way to accomplish that metal/farmhouse roof look - but I've yet to find it.

 If any of you have ideas - or suggestions on the roofing material, please let me know! Thank you.

Final - (or at least almost Final) - Plans

Once again - we have been caught up with the details - and struggled to come to any solid conclusions. We are getting there though. Here are the latest plans. Thanks for the feedback on the porches. I was surprised by how many different opinions I received. 
Ultimately - budget limitations trump aesthetic preferences, so....here you go.