Planing the Plan | Ana White

house plans, house planning, build home, blueprint, draft, architect

Where would you start the ultimate DIY Project . . . times two? Do you buy land, pick a plan, or just grab your shovel and go?

Before I start any project, I always sit down and make a list of the objectives for the project. For example, if I was to make an entertainment center, I would list out the items I need to store in it, the width of my television, the "look" that I need for the space, who is going to use it, and of course, the available budget and so on.

So as I start to plan this Momplex, a DIY Duplex for our mothers, which is who knows how many times more complex than an entertainment center, before I spend hours in Google Sketchup drawing it, before we spend thousands of dollars on a lot, I made time to write down a list of objectives for the Momplex. Thought I would share, so you all know exactly what we are trying to accomplish with the Momplex.

Efficient

This one is at the top of our list. We hope that the Moms will be living in the Momplex for many years. And the last thing we want is for our mothers to be held helpless to high heating or utility bills. With heating bills in Alaska running upwards of $1000 a month in cold seasons in our local community, and our own electric bill hovering around $200 per month, efficiency is ultra important. We want Mom to be happy in the Momplex, not held hostage because she can't afford to leave it!

We've got a few ideas to conserve energy and create a more efficient Momplex. Each unit will be as small as reasonable possible (less square footage to heat equals a lower heating bill), and we are researching several different methods to increase the R Value (level of insulation) of the Momplex. We are also looking into alternative methods for energy, preferably renewable sources. And of course, we'll be super interested in appliances, doors and windows that are extra efficient.

Low Maintenance

So this one is at the top of the Ram's list. He knows who is going to be plowing the snow, fixing pipes and painting the porches, and is going to do his best to minimize the number of maintenance tasks for the Momplex. We'll be considering everything from the common wind directions to avoid drifting driveways, to using low maintenance siding and decking, to even putting the Momplex directly on a concrete slab (looking forward to learning how to stamp concrete!) to minimize flooring maintenance over many years. We hope that a visit to Mom's is something we look forward to!

Green

We hear a ton of talk these days about "green" building. But what exactly does that mean? Basically, building green means:

Efficiently uses energy, water and other resources
Occupants health and construction workers health is protected
Reduction of waste, pollution and environmental degradition

We already have the efficiency part as top priority, check.

Our moms are healthy energetic ladies, and we'd like to keep them that way. Energetic grandma = more babysitting. Pretty self explanatory. So as we plan the Momplex, and make decisions along the way, we'll be taking extra efforts to improve the indoor air quality. This is especially important in Alaska, where homes are sealed tight during winter months. Simple decisions like building the kitchen cabinets using formaldehyde free plywood and using low VOC paints could keep Mom healthier for many more years - not to mention the health of the construction workers (that would be me and the Ram). So if you have any fresh ideas on keeping the air fresh in the Momplex, let us know!

I like to say my mom is the greenest person I know. The woman wastes nothing. Nothing. From potting plants in discarded containers to catching rainwater, my mom is an amazing example of Green. She's instilled that in me too, to reduce waste and find unlikely uses for what others might think of as trash. In honor of mom, we'll take green beyond that, and include things like using sustainable materials when possible, look for locally grown materials, and shop brands dedicated to green goodness.

Suitable for Seniors

The other day, I told my mom that we were going to make the Momplex easy for her to live in. That each unit would have a garage, with an automatic garage door opener, and she can just drive into the garage, and walk right into the kitchen.

Guess what she said?

"My! You think I'm handicap already?" And then she went on to tell us how hard work makes you stronger and healthier. True, mom, very true. I couldn't agree more. But we hope mom lives in the Momplex for many many years, and at some point, she may need a walker or a wheelchair. So though mom is obviously very healthy and vivacious now, and probably still will be at ninety, we must consider things like wide doorways, large bathrooms and minimal stairs in the event that Mom's health does change. Some ideas I like are single story, raised dishwashers, a walk in shower with a seat, easy to clean floors, walkout patios, Sausha's Washer/Dryer Pedestals, and yes, a garage with a garage door opener. Sorry mom.

Sized Appropriately

We already know that the Momplex is going to be as small as reasonably possible, and a single story for efficiency and safety. But with 13 children (not including spouses), and the number of grandchildren growing exponentially, as well as extended family and lots of friends that are pretty much family, between the two moms, quite a party can happen on any given Sunday morning. So although each unit needs to be small and efficient, the floor plan must be open and spacious.

We will also build the furniture, taking great care to maximize storage whenever possible. I like the idea of a dining nook with storage seats, bathroom vanities with storage hutches, closets that are more efficient, and lots of built-ins.

We'd like to also uses other spaces creatively, for example, that garage my mom thinks she doesn't need could be finished out and used for the grandkid's playroom when the car's not there. And we'd like to take advantage of the outdoor space as much as possible - perhaps creating a community space with a children's playground, barbeque area . . . sounds like the perfect spot to drop the kids off and pick them up at dinner time . . . hint hint mom :) It's not so much about square footage - it's about a good floor plan, maximizing outdoor spaces, and using spaces well and creatively.

Budget

I will go into more details on how we are paying for the Momplex, and how much we can afford in a later post, but like all projects, there is a budget. But I feel like that budget can be stretched though creative means and DIYing whenever possible. Just by doing all the work ourselves is going to save us an estimated $100,000. Furnishing it with handmade furniture, vanities, closets, built-ins and kitchen cabinets could save us another $20,000. These things do add up!

And to keep us honest to that budget, I'm planning on keeping a public tally right here on the blog of how much we spend. That way, when it's all said and done, we can tally up how much one can save by owner building a home.

So now the fun part, considering all these objectives, it's time to find a lot, draw up a plan, and start building! We welcome any advice, useful links, or tips from you to help us build the best possible Momplex.

Momplex

Comments

Kerry Stafford (not verified)

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 08:23