All Forum Posts by: Kurt F.

@Ram Wagle -- all the advice so far has been positive on building your own home.  Certainly nothing wrong with doing so, and the above advice points you in the right direction if you go that route.

Not sure if you have a realtor helping you with your search?

The reason I ask -- the house plan you posted is common.  Given what you've outlined in your needs, your're not asking for the extraordinary -- the floor plan posted is typical/basic. 

If you could catch a builder in process in a new development, you may be able to adjust the plans of an upcoming build to fit your needs -- you might have a realtor help locate such a builder and situation.  This is done quite a bit as well, and if you can negotiate a price you like, you save yourself the time and effort of the long process of building on your own. 

This is a house?  No idea what code you're under, but in general you'll follow this or something similar: 

 IRC 2012, E4101.2 Installation. Appliances and equipment shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions. Electrically heated appliances and equipment shall be installed with the required clearances to combustible materials.

And, most manufacturers will require 5' on a top discharge unit.

Most installers hate enclosing them even with this clearance -- makes the units work harder.

Keep them in the wide open. 

@Mike Wood -- so, curious...what is your process when you do granite?  Do you use the prefab section and pay an installer?

Granite is one of those materials that I don't think lends itself to DIY all that well -- or even to inexperienced handymen or contractors).  There are the interesting stories of people doing just that (see the link posted above), but they also don't quote the value of the time spent.   I can't imagine that it ultimately pays to DIY a granite fab/install...

Even if someone gives me a free piece of granite, there is a still lot of work ahead, and I'd still pay someone (with expertise and experience) to install it.     

Right, it is one number, but I've used their online quote center -- I compared some quotes and was able to back out the numbers I mentioned.  You can do the same as a a check.  

I'd also get some ballpark construction cost estimates.  There might be great value in adding a bedroom, but as I'm sure @Jim Adrian would probably tell you, the cost do do so can be shocking, because there is no economy of scale. The "general conditions / mobilization" costs, etc., become proportionately more significant when building only 150 SF or so.  

Having your own people "own people" is probably key -- you'd be able to find remnant chunks at any stone yard kind of place.  Kind of a stinker job though -- can your people measure, handle,  fabricate, cut holes, create edges, deliver and install?  If yes, maybe you can save some money.

If I'm doing math right, it looks like Home Depot typically charges 10 - 12 bucks a square foot for the measure/fab/install.  Reasonable, probably, but then they get you on the material cost.  You're trying to do the vice-versa.  Good luck with it.   

@Account Closed  Heh.  I have a feeling it's the exact opposite.  In any case, some fabulous word pictures you created. 

@Account Closed -- I will agree that you are indeed terrible at descriptions.  What you have for available space is an alcove, and not a room.  You described a room.

You might lead with the photo next time.  

So, after all that, your question seems to boil down to:  "Can I build a kitchenette in a 12 foot long alcove?"

Uh, yeah.

^ ^ Think you missed the point.  You're describing a general upgrade and charging commensurately more rent, which is fine.  The point was that you can't charge more rent for mere code compliance - regardless of your market.

"After you've properly insulated the building (attic insulation, plus plumbing pipes, walls, windows, etc.) then you can market the property as being insulated in accordance with current industry standards. This extra value may even garner you extra in rent."

Careful there.  There is no "industry standard", there are codes.  As @Jim Adrian noted, it's the IECC -- by reference -- in Chicago's building code.  

And charging extra rent for meeting code?  No.