Avoid Costly Owner Builder Mistakes

Owner builder mistakes are a major concern when building a kit home and onstruction mistakes are very common, even with a fully supplied and sometimes pre-assembled kit home.

On my first owner build, I didn't really understand how many opportunities there were to make blunders: some small, others large. Even though building a kit home is a great choice for the amateur builder, they are still complex projects. Fixing mistakes can be a weekly or even daily event.

Avoiding them in the first place, even better.

As an Owner Builder, I have found building kit homes one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.  But I'd like to share what I have learnt over the years, from my experience and from other owner builders, and give you tips and strategies to fix and avoid common mistakes.

When I first started my project there was great motivation and ideas on how to proceed, but I was secretly terrified of making some catastrophic mistake through lack of relevant information or bad advice? Kit home providers are rarely forthcoming with pro-active advice, so you won't hear from them until you have trouble with the build and ask for help.

Here are 5 common owner builder mistakes

Mistake 1:

• Pour all concrete pier holes at once

Why worry?:

• Foundations are the most important part of the structure. Do it wrong and you will have to pull it down and or or dig it up and start again  

To fix it:

• A concrete truck will pour a couple of dozen pier holes with concrete in 45 minutes. It is okay if you have 5 helpers, but if not, have one third poured each day. New builders of kit homes should pay the extra delivery cost and avoid a heart attack in trying to get every pier set, leveled, finished and domed before it 'goes off'.

Mistake 2:

• Embark on tile roof installation, installing dry-wall (gyprock) and laying slabs without previous experience

Why worry?:

• Cracked slabs invite termites, imperfect gyprock walls are an eyesore, and a leaking roof will destroy your ceiling structure. 

To fix it:

• All three of these tasks are usually performed by experienced professionals. Do not attempt them without good skills and or experience and prior tech learning. Up-skill in these areas first or get your wallet out.

Mistake 3:

• Not enough props on the wall frames

Why worry?:

• A non aligned wall, whether internal or external, will radically change how and where the roofing and cladding is affixed to it. Aesthetically, the house will look crooked.  
  

To fix it:

• Solid props ensure wall frames remain plumb throughout the roofing process. Roof truss weight will easily shift wall frame top plates when they are moved into position and fastened. Use adequate exterior and internal props and do not remove them until the roof is tied down and complete.

Mistake 4:

• Nail/screw, but forget to glue down the floor sheeting on raised floors
  

Why worry?:

• Raised floor sheeting is subject to many changes in weight due to furniture and appliance movement, foundation movement, even temperature changes. Nailed sheeting will lift and eventually squeak badly and annoyingly. 

To fix it:

• Nailed, or even screwed down tongue and groove particle floor sheeting on a raised floor system requires builder grade glue under all sheets on all joists, including butt ends, before fastening.

Mistake 5:

• Fail to plumb the door jambs

Why worry?:

• Interior prefabricated frames arrive pre-plumbed, but by the time they are pushed up and nailed down they can be well out of plumb. And just because the king studs are vertical does not mean the trimmer studs and lintel trimmers are plumb. Hanging a door will be virtually impossible in an out of square doorway.
  

To fix it:

• Before fixing end studs, ascertain if the frame is square as major adjustment may be necessary before anchoring.
  

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Truly there are no more satisfying phrases that you can utter than...

‘I built my own home'.

It’s something that has never left me, the feeling of incredible accomplishment that comes from knowing I put together a dwelling and that I was the one who made it what it is.

Can you avoid owner builder mistakes? The answer is YES.

Absolutely you Can !!!!

Just take the time to see what is in this great ebook..

Within these pages you will find tips, strategies, logical steps, and due diligence to achieve a trouble free owner build. Construction mistakes are explained in plain language for the amateur builder to progress with piece of mind and and a solid self built home.

Yes but..what's really inside??

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Inside this book you'll discover tips on...

• Groundwork: choosing plans, budgeting, pc choice, kit provider negotiation, and skills
• Site selection and preparation: home sites, neighbours, excavation and security
• Kit design: sustainability, bathrooms, electrics, kitchens, floor-plan and dimensions
• Compliance and due diligence: rules, legals, approvals, safety and insurance
• Project management: project logs, planning, advice and protection of assets
• Common building mistakes: involving frames, piers, insulation, pests, wet areas and finishing.

So why did I write this book?

I've learnt there are many areas a new builder of kit homes can falter, from negotiating with the kit provider to selecting house foundations. So, to help other owner builders avoid and fix construction mistakes before they become costly time killers, I have written this book.

This is an instructive read that provides insights, logical ideas, and practical tips that clear the way to

an enjoyable building experience.

Here's the intro cut from this essential owner builder mistakes ebook

"It’s a great choice; building a kit home and taking the challenge to owner build it. There are few greater experiences than creating a home to live in by your own hand. Myths of owner building kit homes abound and revolve around successful outcomes versus abject failure. The fact is, in the building industry, mistakes are always made. Some say the difference between a handyman and a builder is that a builder is skilled at covering mistakes. Owner builder success can mean many things. Firstly, that the home is built on time: that is, in a realistic time frame, secondly, the home is built to budget: a realistic budget, and lastly, the home is built to a reasonable level of quality and passes authority inspection and compliance. One of the more popular myths is that owner building is easy, that putting together a budget to build a house is relatively simple, or that owner building is the budget option of building a new home. When talking about kit homes it is important to understand that they are not prefabricated homes. Prefab homes are completely pre-built and delivered in quarters or even halves to the site and dropped on the footings. Kit homes are a set of pre-cut and numbered materials that need planning and construction. Kit homes have the same set of strict guidelines as any other type of home, however built. They are not necessarily cheaper to build although they may be more cost effective. One of the greatest myths, however, is
that kit homes all look the same. The truth is, kit home providers have many and varied designs that can be equal or better than many regularly built modern homes. Mistakes can be made, however…big mistakes. Importantly, they can all be avoided with some good planning, research and advice, but don’t be fooled into thinking it will be a trouble free experience. The aim should be to reduce the number of mistakes and then reduce the impact of those remaining mistakes, so they have minimal effect on the outcome.
This book explains how to avoid 50 common kit home owner builder mistakes in themes of preparation, site selection, kit design, compliance, project management, delegating tasks and a final list of more common building mistakes. All have corresponding tips to keep the owner builder on task, out of trouble and well on the way to building a great kit home."

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Now normally you would pay well over $30 for this valuable e-book

You can get it for

$10.95

After payment you will receive an instant Email with your Download Link.

Avoid owner builder mistakes and

'Build the Home of your Dreams'

Don't delay.
Whether you are contemplating building a kit home
or about to start, take advantage of this
ebook offer before you start.

If you need to contact me for further information or download advice before you buy click here

After purchase you will receive an instant email from eJunkie that will contain your download link.

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If you need my help with your download please contact me HERE

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