The New House

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Valkman, Jul 21, 2006.


  1. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Seems like we've been working forever to get this started, and 11 days ago the builders broke ground on our new place in Pahrump. It's a 1 1/4 acre lot, 200' x 300', on a corner and on Rebel Rd.! :D

    First, the big hole from the first day. This builder does everything above and beyond code like 2x6" exterior walls and building up 5' of gravel under the foundation at 95% compaction (code is 92%).

    [​IMG]

    Yesterday we went back and was amazed by the progress - not only had the gravel for the house and forms for the concrete been done but also the digging, compacting and forms for the shop! We met the nearest neighbor behind us (the house with the wooden fence in the first pic) and he said his builder was so bad it took them 7 months to do what ours did in 10 days. His house took like 2 years to finish and he's had major problems, like having to have the electric panel ripped out and replaced for $4k because the subcontrator wasn't even licensed.

    Le Grand Knife-Making Shop:

    [​IMG]

    View from the back patio of the house, facing West - supposed to be killer sunsets here:

    [​IMG]

    A little bit to the left of that:

    [​IMG]

    Here's the house from the front - it sure doesn't look like 2959 sq. ft. at this stage! ;)

    [​IMG]

    Pahrump has it's own underground aquifer so unlike Vegas it doesn't have to get it's water elsewhere. We'll have a well and a septic tank and we'll plant some trees.

    Hey there's the wife Denise! :eek:

    [​IMG]

    We're pretty excited about this now - the only problem is the housing market in Vegas is dead. We have to sell our place and just cut the price $26k and not a call has come in. My neighbor moved to Pahrump 4 or 5 months ago and his house sits with no one looking at it - he's been paying 2 mortages!
     
  2. CRC

    CRC Survivor of Tidal Waves | RIP 7-24-2015 Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Very Exciting News Valkman!!!!!


    YAY! :) :) :) :) :)





    2959 sq feet? hmmmmmmmmm....

    oh wait! :eek: I got it!





    Ahhhhhh....you're building a mother in law suite for me.....! I bet you wanted it to be a surprise......It's ok...I'll act surprised....:D

    You're the BEST...you and your lovely bride!
     
  3. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Yep, the shop will instantly convert to a "guest house" - just add sleeping bags or cots. :p
     
  4. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Congrats Valkman.
     
  5. CRC

    CRC Survivor of Tidal Waves | RIP 7-24-2015 Moderator Emeritus Founding Member



    "Guest " house??

    Oh! You mean for when I have company....gotcha... :cool:


    :p
     
  6. Tracy

    Tracy Insatiably Curious Moderator Founding Member

    Congratulations on the beginning of your new home (and shop!)!!

    One of my dearest friends just had a home built there ('bout 10 miles N from you).

    Beautiful area!
     
  7. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Thanks - one thing I'm looking forward too is this is higher elevation and it cools off more at night than Vegas. It never gets below 80 here in the summer!
     
  8. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Got space for my bike trailer in the drive? Have sleeping bag, will travel. Man, that looks good!! How far to the mountains?
     
  9. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Oh yea - it's not huge like Melbo's place but there's lots of room! :)
     
  10. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    Wow. Looks like my kind of work....

    Congrats!!

    Keep us updated
     
  11. Bear

    Bear Monkey+++ Founding Member Iron Monkey

    Looks great!.... You need a basement to keep things cool... er.. and um for other things too....;)
     
  12. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Bear! You have to come visit! :D
     
  13. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Yeah!! Bears do dig holes, don't they?:D

    He has a point, tho', and the time to do it is before the slab is poured. It'll add bux to the build that may be hard to explain/justify. For a "future" built in hot tub, maybe? Never mind the piping for now, we'll do it later, and put a wood floor over it, please, until we save up the bux.:lol:
     
  14. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Yea, not too many basements around here. I wish I had access to equipment to make a underground bunker or two - maybe a underground shooting range!
     
  15. Bear

    Bear Monkey+++ Founding Member Iron Monkey

    Yeah... underground swimming pool... Bears like to swim too!;)

    Dig a nice trench before they plant the grass on the property and then talk to Melbo about dropping in a nice long 6 - 10 foot diameter pipe.... maybe 25 yards... then you have a nice range for your other activities.... :D

    two or three exits and entrances.... even though us bears get by with just one most of the time...:lol:

    Yup.. let me know if you need help digging...:)
     
  16. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Awesome, looks like you are going to have a wonderful view! I am glad to hear you are building the shop now, instead of later. Sometimes later never gets here. Congrats! I hope your other house sells soon.
     
  17. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Thanks E.L. - it's expensive but the alternative is me doing all the work and I wouldn't have a shop for some time after we moved in. Plus I'm not able to do all that anymore! I just want to add a mill and maybe a 220V compressor to what I have and see what comes out. :)
     
  18. Valkman

    Valkman Knifemaker Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Visited the site today and the pads are done and ready for framing!

    The house:

    [​IMG]

    The shop:

    [​IMG]

    Me pumped up about the shop:

    [​IMG]

    No, those legs don't often see Mr. Sun! :D Note the Kimber on the hip - nice living in a free state.

    That's a pretty funny pic my wife took! :unsure:
     
  19. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    You need the sun even worse than me. We need to import you some trees. Pads look good!
     
  20. TailorMadeHell

    TailorMadeHell Lurking Shadow Creature

    Too bad there isn't some strange old coot with billions of dollars that is just giving it away. We could be like Habitat For Humanity. Start up a travelling team of constructors and call ourselves Habitat for Preparedness. :D

    Could get equipment and stuff and make house calls. Oh well.

    Coming along nicely there Valkman. Can't wait to see the house sitting there. Pads are nice and all, just can't beat a house. :D
     
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