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Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

imkylelambert.com

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Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#221

Post by blitzar »

oblio wrote: post #220
blitzar wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But I am a dad with a young kid, he was 1 when I built the office. I didn't want to spend my limited free time on this project. I am very glad that the grainy 40 year old photos of me at that sort of age with my father are us digging a hole together or me crawling around on a freshly poured slab of concrete - rather than at a soft play venue.

What are you going on about? What memories with a 1 year old? Besides the fact that it's almost impossible to actively access memories from when you're 1 year old, a 1 year old shouldn't be anywhere near a construction site. There are much better and safer uses of time together with a 1 year old that don't revolve on hoping they'd see a grainy (or nom grainy) photos 40 years later.

> memories

I did not reference memories anywhere at any time. I did not imply or state that I had memories of such, could access memories of such nor suggest it was possible in any way.

My handprints however are still in that concrete slab to this day.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#222

Post by oblio »

blitzar wrote: post #221
oblio wrote: post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are you going on about? What memories with a 1 year old? Besides the fact that it's almost impossible to actively access memories from when you're 1 year old, a 1 year old shouldn't be anywhere near a construction site. There are much better and safer uses of time together with a 1 year old that don't revolve on hoping they'd see a grainy (or nom grainy) photos 40 years later.

> memories I did not reference memories anywhere at any time. I did not imply or state that I had memories of such, could access memories of such nor suggest it was possible in any way. My handprints however are still in that concrete slab to this day.

Doesn't really matter. Why would it be better to be around a construction site that at a soft play center? Since you cannot remember anything voluntarily, anyway?

I understand the choice of a different activity for a 4 year old or something, or even for a very calm and prudent 2 year old.

Just for the photo? Who cares? You could have had the same grainy photo at the soft play center and it would have been as nostalgic.

I hate these ill intentioned judgemental comments like yours.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#223

Post by cjdupreez »

These are some of the best posts on Hacker News - thank you for sharing! Overall a beautiful WFH office. I think the physical separation from your home is pretty underrated these days. Being able to turn off the lights, shut the door and walk to your house is the best way to disconnect physically and mentally.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#224

Post by n4r9 »

oblio wrote: post #222
blitzar wrote: post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> memories I did not reference memories anywhere at any time. I did not imply or state that I had memories of such, could access memories of such nor suggest it was possible in any way. My handprints however are still in that concrete slab to this day.

Doesn't really matter. Why would it be better to be around a construction site that at a soft play center? Since you cannot remember anything voluntarily, anyway? I understand the choice of a different activity for a 4 year old or something, or even for a very calm and prudent 2 year old. Just for the photo? Who cares? You could have had the same grainy photo at the soft play center and it would have been as nostalgi…

You both have valid points.

One one hand, "implicit memory" [0] begins at birth and being around one's father building impressive things is a huge bonding experience. Research seems to say that even at 1yo these things imprint on our brains.

On the other hand, it shouldn't get to a point where a 1yo is crawling into freshly laid concrete. There are safer ways to do it.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implicit_memory

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#225

Post by oscillonoscope »

lelanthran wrote: post #215
bombcar wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's getting downvoted, but he's not wrong - however, finding someone who specializes in doing this would be hard, and knowing how to word it so you can use "standard crews" would itself be $2-3k for a GC. This is the danger of "cheap projects" - they can grow legs before you know it, and you end up paying half the cost of increasing the square footage of the house (or the garage).

Some things are deceptively complex (foundations and roof trusses come to mind) and the cost if you get it wrong can easily double the total cost of your build 6 months after you think you are done. Walls, floors, ceilings and everything in between them are both less complex and cheaper to fix than foundations or trusses.

It's a shed, you can just compact gravel and put it on pavers

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#226

Post by ghaff »

rootusrootus wrote: post #205
ghaff wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Home inspections are pretty normal when you buy a property. I have no idea what work on my >200 year-old house was permitted. While the latest batch was, I'm guessing a great deal wasn't. But I don't actually know. And, if you're buying a >200 year old house, you know that along with a lot of other things.

Inspections are common but mostly just a surface examination. They cannot, for example, inspect electrical wiring. They can recommend you hire an electrical inspector. I just sold a 120 year old house. “I don’t know” is a valid answer to the disclosure requirement but it better be true.

Or have plausible deniability.

When I've have had some new windows installed a couple of times, the installer tacked on a lead mitigation fee which was fine because they knew there was probably lead paint buried somewhere but I don't actually specifically know about lead paint buried under layers of newer paint and the like and most of the interior has been reworked to a significant degree.

If you personally really care, don't buy an old house. (Also, when I had the latest round of rework after a kitchen fire, my electrician replaced a bunch of remaining knob and tube wiring which probably dated to whenever the house was electrified.)

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#227

Post by oblio »

n4r9 wrote: post #224
oblio wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't really matter. Why would it be better to be around a construction site that at a soft play center? Since you cannot remember anything voluntarily, anyway? I understand the choice of a different activity for a 4 year old or something, or even for a very calm and prudent 2 year old. Just for the photo? Who cares? You could have had the same grainy photo at the soft play center and it would have been as nostalgi…

You both have valid points. One one hand, "implicit memory" [0] begins at birth and being around one's father building impressive things is a huge bonding experience. Research seems to say that even at 1yo these things imprint on our brains. On the other hand, it shouldn't get to a point where a 1yo is crawling into freshly laid concrete. There are safer ways to do it. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implicit_memor…

There are more than enough years past the first one for the "father to build impressive things", though.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#228

Post by krn1p4n1c »

pwg wrote: post #195
lstodd wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pulling in the electrical connection is actually simpler. So you might as well do that yourself too.

It is, but you'd be surprised at the number of folks who will DIY stuff, but won't DIY anything electrical.

Insurance won't cover it if you're found to have non-code electrical as the source of a fire. Electricians are expensive, but it's worth having one inspect your work to correct/teach you the approved install method.

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#229

Post by sokoloff »

oblio wrote: post #222
blitzar wrote: post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> memories I did not reference memories anywhere at any time. I did not imply or state that I had memories of such, could access memories of such nor suggest it was possible in any way. My handprints however are still in that concrete slab to this day.

Doesn't really matter. Why would it be better to be around a construction site that at a soft play center? Since you cannot remember anything voluntarily, anyway? I understand the choice of a different activity for a 4 year old or something, or even for a very calm and prudent 2 year old. Just for the photo? Who cares? You could have had the same grainy photo at the soft play center and it would have been as nostalgi…

> I hate these ill intentioned judgemental comments like yours.

Do you have a mirror handy by any chance?

Re: Building a backyard office, the build and cost breakdown

#230

Post by lstodd »

krn1p4n1c wrote: post #228
pwg wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is, but you'd be surprised at the number of folks who will DIY stuff, but won't DIY anything electrical.

Insurance won't cover it if you're found to have non-code electrical as the source of a fire. Electricians are expensive, but it's worth having one inspect your work to correct/teach you the approved install method.

So you do it according to the code or better. No cheaping out on components, no shoddy work. Insurance won't revive you or your loved cat either.
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