How to build a house alone [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#261

Post by DrPhish » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 7:48 PM UTC

icebraining wrote: post #53

kafquaesque wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cool to see this! Most people will never build their own home these days (even with the cost savings).

A problem is that you can't get a mortgage to build it yourself. Being cheaper in the end doesn't help you if you don't have the money right now.

A mortgage is not a requirement to building a house, but making that tradeoff will induce a number of constraints and require non-standard ways of living for a while that may be more than you or your family find acceptable. The main ones are being uncomfortable in the short term, and probably living in a rural setting where land is less expensive.

Here is a link to a book that lays out a very good strategy:

https://books.google.ca/books/about/Mortgage_Free.html?id=U8...

(warning: although I read this book and considered it's approach, I used a slightly different strategy towards home ownership without a mortgage that allowed me to purchase existing homes)

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#262

Post by badpun » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 7:54 PM UTC

eloff wrote: post #222

badpun wrote: post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Leadership is about making people genuinely want to do things. Jesus, Napoleon, Lenin, Steve Jobs - they were leaders. Managing, on the other hand, is about handling employees, who are doing what you tell them to do only because you pay them.

No, they were managers. They just understood that good management is being a leader. Trying to micromanage and compel people to do what you want is inefficient compared to inspiring people to want the same things as you, and helping them coach them so they grow into more effective, productive versions of themselves.

> Trying to micromanage and compel people to do what you want is inefficient compared to inspiring people to want the same things as you,

I generally agree, but I have never ever seen that in a business world. What the business owner wants - maximum profit - is in a direct conflict with employee wants (maximum salary for an easy and/or fullfilling job), so I can't see them ever wanting the same thing.

In general, people are willing to forgo their immediate interest (high pay, interesting tasks) only if they believe they're doing something for a greater good, and that does not happen in companies. Even if you're crunching on some innovative product that will make the world better (which is the claim that is often used to motivate people in startups), the main reason for the crunch is that you're trying to beat X other companies that are also working on the same innovation. So, even in such case, you're mostly killing yourself to make the owners rich, as the world will be a better place regardless of whether it's your company or your competitor that manages to win the race to the market.

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#263

Post by mythrwy » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 8:01 PM UTC

gcheong wrote: post #212

There was a time when you could mail order a house kit from Sears ( http://www.arts-crafts.com/archive/sears/ ). I wonder if at some point the economics would make sense to produce something similar again.

There are still home kits for order (just not Sears).

https://www.budgethomekits.com/plans

https://coventryloghomes.com/

http://newpanelhomes.com/

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#264

Post by raintrees » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 8:23 PM UTC

For those considering something like this, I would recommend the book Working Alone by John Carroll. He describes how to use clamps, ad-hoc frames and jigs to deal with sheets of plywood, roof beams, etc. without the benefit of a second pair of hands. Using his techniques I built a stand alone 10x12 storage structure (biggest that does not require a permit) that is the driest building on my property to this day.

http://www.raintreeshouse.com/ournewoldhouse/TheStorageShed....

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#265

Post by newnewpdro » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 8:34 PM UTC

lostlogin wrote: post #252

newnewpdro wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are from periods of major DIY home rennovation projects. Remodeling the kitchen, replacing the windows, installing tile and hardwood floors, all sorts of fun and hugely educational experiences. These were times of pleasure, excitement, and productive collaboration for the entire family. When I see comments like these it makes me wonder what sort of dysfunctoinal marriages people…

But was it a fun memory for your parents? I remember renovations being exciting too but the reality of looking after children with an unsafe house, no proper kitchen or bathroom etc, gets old really fast.

Good question, and I can't speak on their behalf.

All I can say is it didn't drive them to divorce, and they're still together to this day.

I like to believe living in a home surrounded by the fruits of those past projects has played a positive part in their staying together, especially long after the kids left the nest. But that's nothing more than romantic speculation on my part.

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#266

Post by dangerboysteve » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 8:43 PM UTC

pascalxus wrote: post #241

mrleiter wrote: post #16

Back in the 50s, my great grandfather built the house where my mother and my grandmother grew up in all by himself. It took him 6 years, but he had no help. He started digging into the ground with a shovel. He was a carpenter and bricklayer and used his spare time and skill to do it. This house is still standing and my grandmother still lives in it. This is him with his wife, my great grandmother: https://i.imgur.com…

That's impressive. The good old days. I wish this was still possible today. Unfortunately, with every last screw, bolt and wooden panel dictated by regulation, it seems it's not possible anymore.

I helped a friend tear down an old house so he could build a new one himself. He had the odd person lending a hand at times but it was a one man job for the most part. He had no prior experience, read some books and watched YouTube videos. He would get compliments from building inspectors on his work. The house turned out wonderful.

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#267

Post by coryfklein » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 9:03 PM UTC

AdamTReineke wrote: post #240

coryfklein wrote: post #238

If I'm buying a house and discover that the owner built it all by himself, I would immediately begin looking elsewhere.

Depending on where you are, that's what building codes and inspections are for. They make sure everything is done correctly.

They will ensure that the life-saving features of the home have been accounted for, but building codes don't account for some guy's weird opinion about which way a closet door faces, whether there are enough power outlets in a room, or if the final kitchen layout makes any sense.

Most professional home builders are really organizations with checks and balances against making bizarre decisions that may go unchecked when a single dude has ultimate control over the construction, floor plan, and whatever other minor details may drive me nuts after living there 12 months.

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#268

Post by purplezooey » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 9:16 PM UTC

lotsofpulp wrote: post #96

purplezooey wrote: post #17

This is completely badass. Construction is so overpriced and hard to get done. He's just jumping in and doing it. Good for him. Probably would cost $500,000 to build.

It's not overpriced. I've never heard a parent tell their child to grow up and become good with their hands and work in construction. If you're smart, you're filtered out to doctor/lawyer/programmer/engineer, who are getting paid six figures for office work. If you want talented people to work with their hands, in the heat and cold and rain, risk injury that could cause them permanent damage or render them unable to…

Most of the money goes to the owners, not the workers. Toll Brothers for example.

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#269

Post by pascalxus » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 9:31 PM UTC

pascalxus wrote: post #243

dqpb wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the economy is working properly there shouldn't be cost savings by doing it yourself. That's the whole point of division of labor.

Well, the economy is not working properly: there's so much overhead with each step of capitalism involved in buying a home. This is just one aspect: Take for example taxes: 33% is a double whammy. If you build it yourself, it's like making your own bed: you don't pay 1/3 of the labor cost for making your own bed. But, if you pay someone to make a home for you: First your take home pay is cut by 1/3 by your income tax…

as another example, look at the difference in cost between what someone charges and what they actually earn. For example: here in the bay area, a plumber will charge 180$ but, after expenses and taxes, he's left with about 20-30$/hr.

Re: How to build a house alone [video]

#270

Post by cgh » Fri, Apr 20, 2018, 9:32 PM UTC

hobofan wrote: post #21

adventured wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US has, for practical purposes, an unlimited supply of cost effective, renewable timber (domestically + Canada). It makes tremendous economic sense. Also consider the renewable + cost + timber supply factor, when it comes to population. Germany's population has barely increased since 1970. The US population has increased by ~55% in that time, adding over 100 million people. Rarely building new structures for a st…

That only answers one half of the question, doesn't it? Germany should also have the same unlimited supply of timber (it has the same percentage of forests of their land area), so why don't Germans build wood houses?

Germany has less than 5% of Canada's land area and more than double the population. You could pretty much drop the entire country into a Canadian forest.