Building a home

**notyoueither** · May 10, 2011, 13:14

Originally Posted by SpencerH

I agree with Rah. My first thought was no, spend the money on increasing the R value. I did a quick bing-chek though and found that somewhere between 30 to 40 years the shingles change from the older 3 flap style to another style that is more wind resistant. I still wouldnt do it though.

Wind resistant?

You might want to ask some other homeowners in and around Calgary about this, Asher. Especially if you are up high and have no wind breaks.

**Asher** · May 10, 2011, 13:31

Indeed. Will ask about that. Thanks.

**Provost Harrison** · May 10, 2011, 17:32

Originally Posted by Asher

Indeed. Absurd!

Thinking of wallmounting a TV in the great room (the room off the kitchen), above the fireplace. Not the best location for dedicated TV watching, but the emphasis of that room is more social than anything else.

Planning on putting a 65-70" TV in the upstairs bonus room.

So you want a cinema, basically?

Not a bad idea...although that size is massive. I wouldn't mind one myself to go in the living area, would be nice

**Asher** · May 10, 2011, 17:58

Originally Posted by Provost Harrison

So you want a cinema, basically?

Not a bad idea...although that size is massive. I wouldn't mind one myself to go in the living area, would be nice

The 65-70" is big, but not the home theatre.

That'll have a >100" projector. Someday.

**MRT144** · May 10, 2011, 18:19

Originally Posted by Asher

The 65-70" is big, but not the home theatre.

That'll have a >100" projector. Someday.

When can the wife and I come visit?

**Asher** · May 10, 2011, 18:59

If you're serious, whenever it's built. We'll have a guest room, most Apolytoners would be welcome.

**MRT144** · May 10, 2011, 19:01

Originally Posted by Asher

If you're serious, whenever it's built. We'll have a guest room, most Apolytoners would be welcome.

Most. HAHAHAHAHAH

But yeah, if we are gonna go to Banff I figure it'd be fun to take a short jaunt out to you.

**Asher** · May 10, 2011, 23:49

Best media room sofa ever, amiright?

http://www.leons.ca/shared/product/p...dItemId=257167

**Hauldren Collider** · May 11, 2011, 00:20

Not actually a huge fan of the cupholder seat things. I'd rather put cups and stuff on a coffee table and have the whole space on the couch be an actual place to sit.

Still pretty awesome

Just looked at the floorplan, noticed that the builder doesn't know how to spell Shenandoah...

**SpencerH** · May 11, 2011, 08:36

Originally Posted by Asher

But we're on a hill -- I'm on the top, they're quite a bit below...

One good thing about being on a hill is that you have immunity from floods. The bad part is that your house can function as a dam for rain water, snow melt, etc and that can lead to problems. I know Calgary is pretty dry so this may not be a big problem but someone (preferably the architects) should have considered the issue. Prior to the latest tornados, we had some very heavy rain (~4" in an hour) and for a week after I was vacuuming up water from the garage every 2-4 hours. No harm was done since it was only the garage (and I have a sump pump if it gets bad) but it's something to consider.

**Asher** · May 11, 2011, 09:46

There's going to be "weeping tile" installed around the foundation connected directly to a storm sewer. That should cover that problem, right?

**Asher** · May 11, 2011, 09:47

Originally Posted by Hauldren Collider

Not actually a huge fan of the cupholder seat things. I'd rather put cups and stuff on a coffee table and have the whole space on the couch be an actual place to sit.

Still pretty awesome

Just looked at the floorplan, noticed that the builder doesn't know how to spell Shenandoah...

I just assumed Shane designed it and he was being funny.

**rah** · May 11, 2011, 10:39

Originally Posted by Asher

There's going to be "weeping tile" installed around the foundation connected directly to a storm sewer. That should cover that problem, right?

If it's installed at the foundation footing and the foundations walls are sealed, then yes, this should cover the problem.

**Asher** · May 15, 2011, 16:32

Oh man, so many ****ing choices. I wish I was a designy gay.

Does anyone have suggesting for exterior house colors?

Gotta choose them first.

The neighbourhood has strict architectural controls, so we've got a rather limited colour pallette to choose from (typically earth tones, but there's also some blues, reds, greens, whites...).

I need to choose the main siding colour, the trim colour, the garage door colour, and the front door colour. The shingles will be black asphalt.
Screen shot 2011-05-15 at 2.30.11 PM.png

(And I hate those colours in the sample pic. I am not a fan of dark brown.) (Also, my garage door does have lots of windows instead of just solid in the second-from-the-top row on it)

**Asher** · May 15, 2011, 16:35

As for the interior... the white kitchen is starting to grow on me. It's very bright, I love it a lot in person.

I do think it could use some contrast of some kind...but what would that be? I've seen pictures of another house that went pretty dark with the same layout, and I think it looks awful...

**Hauldren Collider** · May 15, 2011, 16:35

Is your SO a designy gay?

**Asher** · May 15, 2011, 16:36

No. He's an engineer.

**Asher** · May 15, 2011, 16:37

The sales lady chuckled when she heard us discussing the colours. Very analytical questions rather than designy...

- Which one will fade the best? The bolder the colour the more obvious the fading, right?
- Which one would be best for resale value? Probably want something neutral.
- Which siding material is the most durable and resistant to hail damage?
- Light colours probably show dirt more...

**SpencerH** · May 15, 2011, 19:09

I realize this is Canada we're talking about but it's the Soviets haven't taken over yet. Hmmm, maybe I've been away too long. **** the neighbors! Repaint in pink and purple. You'll have to dismantle that double sized garage door that faces the street anyway since I hate those ugly things. Viva la revolution!

**Asher** · May 15, 2011, 19:46

We actually were considering another neighbourhood which has all garages facing the rear, to a lane. Some beautiful houses. But unfortunately, I'd never see it since I always drive in from a scuzzy lane to the back of the house...

**SpencerH** · May 16, 2011, 08:21

A much better choice, tastewise. You can always drive by the front yard when you want to. I'm definitely leaning toward the first house style. It's classic (north) american. I'd like to see it in the grey combo now

**Asher** · May 16, 2011, 10:36

Yeah, I like how it looks better on the exterior at least.

There were other considerations as well -- the neighbourhood with all of those houses is a bit farther out of the way, with a much lower average house price, and is in a valley instead of on hills. They also don't seem to "sub-zone" the neighbourhood well. Normally the "laned homes" section of the neighbourhood is sort of segregated as it's lower-value houses, but in that neighbourhood (since every house is a lane), you can have $200,000 homes next to $800K-$1M homes. I don't want to buy a nice house like in the first pic there (which is ~2200sqft + basement) to have some guy go build a 1000 sq foot bungalow next door and park his RV in a huge parking pad on his lot...which is what you see a lot with the laned homes.

**Asher** · May 16, 2011, 10:41

If you're curious, here's a photo gallery of the interior of that top house:
http://www.sterlinghomesgroup.com/ph...sx?ModelID=143

And the floorplan: http://www.sterlinghomesgroup.com/ph...sx?ModelID=143

This would've been our pick in the other neighbourhood.

**onodera** · May 16, 2011, 13:56

Originally Posted by Asher

Oh man, so many ****ing choices. I wish I was a designy gay.

Does anyone have suggesting for exterior house colors?

Gotta choose them first.

The neighbourhood has strict architectural controls, so we've got a rather limited colour pallette to choose from (typically earth tones, but there's also some blues, reds, greens, whites...).

Can you replace siding with plaster? Tan plaster with glazed terra cotta decorations looks really good. That garage door really makes it look ugly, though. Is the lot too narrow to have the garage next to the house?

**Asher** · May 16, 2011, 14:00

Originally Posted by onodera

Can you replace siding with plaster? Tan plaster with glazed terra cotta decorations looks really good. That garage door really makes it look ugly, though. Is the lot too narrow to have the garage next to the house?

Yes, the lot is way too narrow for that. It has to go at the front of the house, there is no back lane (behind the house is greenspace and pathways).

The door we'll be getting looks much nicer as there is detailing on it and windows, so it's not just a steel door.

There is a stucco option (which is what I assume you meant by plaster?), but it's a $30,000 option which I will certainly not be paying for.

**onodera** · May 16, 2011, 15:32

Damn, 30K is steep. Just how much do houses cost there? I could have a similar one built for 100-150K here, with foamed concrete walls. The land costs extra and much more, of course

**MRT144** · May 16, 2011, 16:54

Originally Posted by Asher

Best media room sofa ever, amiright?

http://www.leons.ca/shared/product/p...dItemId=257167

I feel like I'm on the USS Entertainmentprize

**Asher** · May 16, 2011, 17:48

Originally Posted by onodera

Damn, 30K is steep. Just how much do houses cost there? I could have a similar one built for 100-150K here, with foamed concrete walls. The land costs extra and much more, of course

The plot alone is $180K.

With taxes, house, etc the total is north of $500,000.

**Flubber** · May 16, 2011, 18:06

Originally Posted by onodera

Can you replace siding with plaster? Tan plaster with glazed terra cotta decorations looks really good. That garage door really makes it look ugly, though. Is the lot too narrow to have the garage next to the house?

I have the front attached garage and while i don't love the look, the functionality cannot be beat. The downside of most of the 'lane" neighborhoods with rear garages is the need to wade through snow and cold with groceries etc etc. I love on a cold day being able to jump in my car without going outside. My lot was also not wide enough to put the gragae alongside (house was 44ish at its widest while the lot was 51 at the front)

Asher, did you decide not to go with Morrison after? I haven't followed closely this thread buit I thought I saw mentions of Sterling???

**Asher** · May 16, 2011, 18:07

Morrison had one lot left in the neighbourhood that could fit the house I wanted, and it was awful. It was a back-to-front lot with utility boxes in the front yard, and a steep hill in the back. And it was still $165K for the lot.