DIY General Contractor Building Custom Home During The Iowa Winters.

by Jim Patrick
(Homebuilding Questions Author)

Yes we really do build custom homes during the Iowa winters. Since I have been designing custom homes and coordinating there construction for over 30 years now, it is just second nature for me to work through the different conditions that present themselves when you decide to build through the winter.

This year has been no exception, with recent record 20 inch snow falls we have had more than a few obstacles to work around. But, as I am writing this article we are experiencing a winter thaw so the concrete crew is back on site today February 11, 2011 preparing to pour the garage floor.

We also have the Geothermal crew on site doing final pressure testing on the Radiant Floor Heating system being embedded in the concrete garage floor. So as you can see the process does not change much even in the most extreme conditions. I encourage anyone considering build a new home to read thoroughly through my web site to become familiar with every step of the process.

My design clients on this project are also acting as their own General Contractors. They are running a very successful project due in part to their commitment to understanding the process and due largely to their ability to coordinate well with all parties involved.

In spite of the record Iowa winter, this project is ahead of schedule, Because of budget saving these home owners have been able to add some nice upgrades to the home while staying on budget.

As you can see in my photos the construction crew is busy installing the exterior soffit system as well as the new siding. This home has reached the stage we refer to as Dried-In. At this point the electricians, plumbers, and heating people have moved in to complete their respective rough-in work before the insulators begin the process of installing the thermal barrier.

In this home we are using the latest in thermal protection. Roxul is a brand of Rock Wool insulation. This product is far more flame resistant than fiberglass. It offers an R-23 rating in a 2X6 wall as compared to R-19 in fiberglass and it cost about one third the price of foam insulation.

Be sure and sign up for my RSS feed to keep up on the progress of this and other projects I will be profiling in the coming months. There is so much to learn about the process of build and we will continue to bring you the 411 or latest info available.