Replies

1. 
   Cloud_Hidden | Dec 29, 2001 06:50pm | #1

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   Not an answer to your question, but one more thing to worry about. Our covenants had a 20' rear setback. The county had the same. Had house all laid out and sited in principle. Go to pull permits, only to find out I had to clear zoning with the CITY first, be/c even though we weren't a city property, we fell within a voodoo area that would allow them to annex us someday. City setback is 25'--remember, I'm NOT in the city--and that's what we had to follow. Forced a change in porch design because the 5' shift forward put us right against a beautiful tree we wanted to keep. (And we kept it until the summer of completion, when it was obvious that some part of another of the construction work was killing it. Darn.)

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Dec 29, 2001 06:57pm | #2

   *harvest... if you leave it up to the foundation sub ... you could be in big trouble..there should be a benchmark referenced on your septic plan...you need both horizontal & vertical control...you have to tell the excavator where to dig and how deep.. or if he's good.. show him the benchmark and let him provide his own control...if you can accurately do the layout with the info you have.. and figure bottom of footing and top of wall, then go ahead and do it... if not.. someone else has to...if you don't know the capabilities of your subs... i'd get the surveyor / engineer who designed the septic to provide the control... if you have time to set batterboards and string lines, this is the best.... then you can visualize exactly how it's going to be sited...once you dig the hole, you're either in good shape or you're screwed... so get it right...

1. 
   Jason | Dec 30, 2001 02:11am | #3

   *I'm with Mike on this. On every house, I spend about $250-$300 to have a local surverying group come out and set the benchmark, back foundation wall and one side wall with actual stakes and excavation stakes. My excavation contractor is real, real good...so good that within the first couple shovels he's on the spot for depth and can continue, according to all the funky lasers and receivers he's got set to the benchmark. I don't pretend to understand how all of their equipment works, nor do I want to. That's why the small amount I pay up front means I get the elevation control and house outline correct the first time. Spend a few bucks here and save yourself a lot of worry.

1. 
   harvest_builders | Dec 30, 2001 04:10am | #4

   *thanks for the advice. much rather spend <500 help.

1. 
   blue_eyed_devil_ | Dec 30, 2001 04:17am | #5

   *Harvest, get a written contract that includes a signed copy of your plans. On the plans, include a benchmark and all of the necessary dimensions to get your house placed accurate for width, depth and height. Get it checked after the foundation is in. If it's wrong, let the sub fix it before you frame it.blue

2. 
   CaseyR_ | Dec 31, 2001 10:45pm | #6

   *A couple of weeks ago I ran into an old acquaintance who had just built a new house and pole barn in Western Washington. Turns out that just after finishing everything, someone came by and told him that he built everything on government land. Turns out his property wasn't quite where he thought it was. He obtained all the proper permits, but no one caught the error. The government isn't interested in swapping land. The house is moveable but the pole barn, the septic field, and the well present a bit more of a problem. I would guess that a bit of surveying would have been at least slightly cheaper...

3. 
   Bucksnort_Billy | Jan 01, 2002 12:21am | #7

   *Harvest, another vote for the survyor, and after the footings are poured, they will also pin the corners of the foundation. Eliminates the batter boards and string, if you have a good mason...Good luck,and, happy new year to all...

4. 
   Jason | Jan 01, 2002 12:46am | #8

   *You know, I didn't want to say anything earlier; but I must admit that every time we start a new house, particularly on old farm land, I sit there and think...."hope were on the right lot". Surveryors alleviate a lot of that concern.

5. 
   jcallahan | Jan 01, 2002 02:13am | #9

   *Another vote for a good surveyor. Having your home on YOUR property is a good thing and having accurate elevations doesn't hurt either when laying out your septic and grading around your home so water runs away from it and not into it.

2. 
   harvest_builders | Jan 01, 2002 02:13am | #10

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   i read earlier in some post that everyone participating started out knowing little or nothing about building. that is certainly where i find myself. have a beautiful lot and am almost ready to start construction. well and septic field have already been located so i know where the house can be placed. if i can mark the corners at approximately where i want the house to be do i need a surveyor to stake it out exactly or is this something the foundation contractor traditionally does. i am aware of the setback requirements and have set the house accordingly. thanks for any advice you can give me. i'm sure i'll have more questions as things progress.