I started using Google's SketchUp to try to make my plans beam from my head to the paper. It appears that this is a very much a 3D driven drawing program. Switching from AutoCad is taking some adjustment. This is not saying that SketchUp isn't good, it's just a different type of program. The absolute best thing about Google's program is that its free. It's very intuitive and the instructional videos have been described as "gold." I can't disagree.
I would not want to do professional type drawings on this program, but that is not what this is for. This is a program to draw in 3D. It is very good in the simplicity of use, but it does lack in some areas if you expect to do all the things AutoCad can.
I'll report more when I get a chance to fully test it out, but if you are looking for an easy to use and cheap solutions to putting your ideas on paper I will recommend this program
Disclaimer: Google hasn't given me anything for free that is not offered for free to the general public. Suck it FTC
Monday, April 12, 2010
Seriously Serious
The time has come that building a house needs to be much closer to the front of the prioity list than behind it. My wife and I are growing out of our little rental house and need more space. this is good news for the blog because the more I work on it, the more I can post about it. This certainly won't be an everyday thing, but it better not have another nine month sabbatical either. Otherwise it just will not get done.
To start off on the right foot (or rather re-start) there will be a post later today.
-Steve
To start off on the right foot (or rather re-start) there will be a post later today.
-Steve
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Energy
One thought on energy, It's expensive. I think global warming or climate change, while real, has about as much to do with how we live as sushi has to do with space travel. Power is not cheap however. And out here it is also unreliable. Therefore I'm looking into doing some supplemental power sources like a turbine or solar panels. More to follow on this at a later point.
-Steven Kipp
-Steven Kipp
Monday, June 22, 2009
Basement
The current idea for the basement is for a precast basement. This may be cheaper where I'm at. Concrete is extremely expensive here, but transportation of the pre-fabed units may be more. I have more research to do on the subject. My major impedance right now is having a plan for the house. After I have some idea of what I want I can then get bids for said basement.
-Steven Kipp
-Steven Kipp
Friday, May 29, 2009
Home Theater
The more I look into it the more I realize that the theater is going to have to be the point on which the rest of house revolves. It's not that I'm that into movies or music, but to do it right will take planning most of the house around it. And with a home theater my thoughts are do it right or it won't be worth the money you spend. "Do it right or go home," I like to say.
I'm also looking for a theme at the moment. I originally wanted to give it a star trek theme, specifically from "The Next Generation" show's bridge. I saw one done that way yesterday and it really turned me off. It was a beautiful replica, and it was well done, but it seems that the fact someone had already done it was enough for me to decide to pass on it. I would, however like to give it a sci-fi theme, more specifically something from space, but I don't know what yet.
The other thing that turned me off of the star trek bridge idea was that it was a round room. Terrible acoustics aside, the construction would be a bear. So do it right or go home.
I'll post some ideas soon, as I'd like to get this figured out.
-Steven Kipp
I'm also looking for a theme at the moment. I originally wanted to give it a star trek theme, specifically from "The Next Generation" show's bridge. I saw one done that way yesterday and it really turned me off. It was a beautiful replica, and it was well done, but it seems that the fact someone had already done it was enough for me to decide to pass on it. I would, however like to give it a sci-fi theme, more specifically something from space, but I don't know what yet.
The other thing that turned me off of the star trek bridge idea was that it was a round room. Terrible acoustics aside, the construction would be a bear. So do it right or go home.
I'll post some ideas soon, as I'd like to get this figured out.
-Steven Kipp
Friday, May 1, 2009
Where I'm at in the process
I thought I might post where this blog and this project meet.
Land and Building: Right now I have 10 acres, roughly square, of flat and undeveloped sage brush. I have a rough idea of the design of my house. It's going to be a ranch with a full basement and over sized two car garage attached. In the future (meaning after the house is built) I plan to put up a much larger unattached garage/shop. we have road access on the east and north side of the property.
Utilities: We're going to have city power, but that's it for city or public utilities. Our gas systems will be off of a propane tank, we need to drill a well and put in a septic system. I would like to put in a back-up generator, as the power out here can be spotty at times and with a well no power equals no water also.
Amenities: For heat I want two sources, Radiant heating and a wood-burning stove. We(my wife and I) would like a large master suite. We're going to need a library, a large kitchen and I want to put a movie theater in the basement. Were also going to need to put kid's rooms as we plan on having kids in the near future. I also want to put in some really good insulation to save on heating bills. There are other requirements, but I fear any more and I'm danger of rambling.
I've decided to wait on landscaping until the house is complete, and I may put off most of the basement also. This is to save on the loan amount, and because it won't be absolutely necessary to move in with those things complete.
One major restriction is that construction can be as shsrt as 3 months in the summer due to our climate here. The other restriction is that being 100 miles from darn near anything, almost everything will take extra time, shipping or cash.
That's where I'm at. All progress from here on out will be logged here at a hopefully regular rate.
-Steven Kipp
Land and Building: Right now I have 10 acres, roughly square, of flat and undeveloped sage brush. I have a rough idea of the design of my house. It's going to be a ranch with a full basement and over sized two car garage attached. In the future (meaning after the house is built) I plan to put up a much larger unattached garage/shop. we have road access on the east and north side of the property.
Utilities: We're going to have city power, but that's it for city or public utilities. Our gas systems will be off of a propane tank, we need to drill a well and put in a septic system. I would like to put in a back-up generator, as the power out here can be spotty at times and with a well no power equals no water also.
Amenities: For heat I want two sources, Radiant heating and a wood-burning stove. We(my wife and I) would like a large master suite. We're going to need a library, a large kitchen and I want to put a movie theater in the basement. Were also going to need to put kid's rooms as we plan on having kids in the near future. I also want to put in some really good insulation to save on heating bills. There are other requirements, but I fear any more and I'm danger of rambling.
I've decided to wait on landscaping until the house is complete, and I may put off most of the basement also. This is to save on the loan amount, and because it won't be absolutely necessary to move in with those things complete.
One major restriction is that construction can be as shsrt as 3 months in the summer due to our climate here. The other restriction is that being 100 miles from darn near anything, almost everything will take extra time, shipping or cash.
That's where I'm at. All progress from here on out will be logged here at a hopefully regular rate.
-Steven Kipp
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Welcome
I live in Big Piney Wyoming. There is lots and lots of land out here, but very few people building houses as contractors. I worked as a draftsman and studied architecture in high school in Denver. So I have a good idea on what it takes, but a good idea is far from knowing how to do it.
That is what this blog is going to be. I expect it to be more of a log of how I make my mistakes and how I miss mistakes, either by luck or by planning. I'm preying it will be interesting and entertaining to read, otherwise I my be blogging to myself for the foreseeable future.
One final welcome note is something on more welcome: Anyone is welcome to comment, offer advice, or even stories on their building projects. All I ask is to keep it somewhat relevant to the topic.
I hope you enjoy this blog as much as I enjoy taking on this large project.
That is what this blog is going to be. I expect it to be more of a log of how I make my mistakes and how I miss mistakes, either by luck or by planning. I'm preying it will be interesting and entertaining to read, otherwise I my be blogging to myself for the foreseeable future.
One final welcome note is something on more welcome: Anyone is welcome to comment, offer advice, or even stories on their building projects. All I ask is to keep it somewhat relevant to the topic.
I hope you enjoy this blog as much as I enjoy taking on this large project.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
