Category Archives: Accessible Home Building

Elevator is Finally Legal!

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Jo-Lynn Jansen

After what seemed an eternity, the Waupaca PacaLift elevator (winding drum type) is finally legal to use! Jim’s been able to get downstairs to his therapy room several times now although the length of his chair’s wheelbase is still presenting … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessible Home Building, Residential Elevator, Subcontractors Missing Commitments | Tagged Buying a Residential Elevator, owner builder subcontractor bids, universal design | 1 Comment

Getting the Most Precise Plumbing Bid – Hindsight is Always Better Than 20/20

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Jo-Lynn Jansen

NOTE: A random reader (bitter, superior-feeling “builder”) of this post left a highly abusive comment regards how a plumbing job SHOULD be done, calling me a bunch of unflattering names and saying that I didn’t deserve help from anyone for my “problems” because … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessible Home Building, Buying construction materials as Owner Builder, Construction Material Bargains, new construction plumbing problems, Owner Builder Challenges, Owner Builder vs. Contractor | Tagged construction management contract, New construction plumbing bid | Leave a comment

Gathering Up Speed

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Jo-Lynn Jansen

We’re getting there! The replacement island top was installed yesterday (Monday) afternoon and it’s really nice! I worked with the installer to figure out placement of the holes he needed to drill for my faucet, disposal air switch and instant … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessible Home Building, Buying construction materials as Owner Builder, Construction Material Bargains | Tagged back-up generator placement, caeserstone chocolate truffle quartz, caeserstone quartz, online ordering delays | Leave a comment

Nothing’s Ever Easy…

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Jo-Lynn Jansen

So here’s a picture of the oven/cooktop wall of cliqstudios cabinets in our future kitchen. Looks nice, right? Well… You can’t see it yet but directly above the 2-drawer base cabinets that will house the 5-burner gas cooktop will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessible Home Building, Cliqstudios cabinetry, Construction Progress, Finish Carpentry New Construction, Owner Builder Construction | Tagged accessible shower, drywall repairs, gas pipe relocation, HVAC errors | Leave a comment

Settling on Stone, Tile & Carpet Woes and Landscape Planning

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Jo-Lynn Jansen

Not much going on at the house yesterday — this was a planned quiet day of drying time for the final coat of mud on the sheetrock. Both furnaces are operating at full force and it is absolutely oppressive inside. … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessible Home Building, Construction Material Bargains, Construction Progress, Granite vs. Quartz counters | Tagged Building Material Costs, Designing Accessibility into Home, New Construction Labor Prices, Owner Builder Construction Bids, Owner Builder Construction Material Purchase, Owner Builder Construction Savings | 2 Comments

Choosing Subs and “Stuff”

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Jo-Lynn Jansen

OK, the decision’s been made: we’re going with Surge, Emmett’s finish carpenter for both the standard finish package and the hard flooring. He’ll be able to start next Thursday or Friday. First work to be done is to screw down … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessible Home Building, Construction Material Bargains, Construction Research, Finish Carpentry New Construction, Owner Builder Challenges, Owner Builder Construction | Tagged Building Material Costs, concrete flatwork driveway, construction material delivery timing, Owner Builder Bid Procurement Process, Owner Builder Construction Bids, Subcontractor scheduling | 2 Comments

Father’s Day Lull

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Jo-Lynn Jansen

Happy Father’s Day to all those dads out there! Jim wanted Mu Shu Pork for his special dinner so, for the first time in years (except last year, when I was in the hospital) I didn’t cook. I just drove … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessible Home Building, Buying construction materials as Owner Builder, Construction Inspections, Construction Material Bargains, Construction Progress, Quality Cabinetry | Tagged Building Accessible Home, Building Material Costs, Designing Accessibility into Home, Online Cabinetry, Owner Builder Bid Procurement Process | Leave a comment

Daylight Basement Floor Plan

Posted on May 22, 2011 by Jo-Lynn Jansen

I forgot all about putting this up here on the blog — my hand drawn basement floor plan that has been the cause of so many “opportunities”! Here’s where our elevator will lead! Basement Floorplan Final Of course, it says … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessible Floor Plan, Accessible Home Building | Tagged Accessible Plan Design, Building Accessible Home, Designing Accessibility into Home, Floor Plan Adjustments, Residential Elevator | Leave a comment

Busy Building Week — And it’s Only Tuesday!

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Jo-Lynn Jansen

The weather is absolutely gorgeous today — finally! — and it looks like it’s going to hold like this for quite a few days! That’s great news because they’re actually up on the roof laying the shingles today. It will … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessible Floor Plan, Accessible Home Building, Construction Inspections, Construction Progress, Lumber and Framing, Owner Builder Challenges, Shop and Save | Tagged Bargain construction material, bargain hunting, Building Accessible Home, Construction Inspections, Designing Accessibility into Home, House Plan Adjustments, owner builder bargains, owner builder subcontractor bids | Leave a comment

Moving Along

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Jo-Lynn Jansen

After the inspection that caused work to stop, the framers worked their buns off to try to catch up. The roof sheathing is finally done — the actual roof shingle should be started by mid next week. The weather has … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessible Home Building, Construction Inspections, Lumber and Framing, Owner Builder Challenges, Owner Builder Construction | Tagged Building Accessible Home, Building Material Costs, Construction Mistakes | Leave a comment