Hi, my name is Taylor. I’m a builder here in the coastal bend, of South Texas, of icf custom homes.I am currently working on the roof framing of my second home working independently.
I have a small american crew of mostly surfers. If you got a tight shcedule, don’t hire a surfer. We build the icf walls and frame the structure and do the siding if that’s the application.
I am also GC’s these past to jobs in addition to being 23′ off the ground with a saw, nail gun, and full bags. I’m also only twenty four.I got a wife and a 1 yr old baby as you’ll see.
anyways I’m going to post a few pics of the progress and try to keep up with it. This one has been fun so far, doing double step ceilings for the first time and 26′ 51/2″ plumb to plumb rafters and long
hips and such.Got it covered.
What I can’t learn on breaktime I can read about it in a book. I also used to have an excellent teacher. but he disowned me when I started on my own.
Here we go………………………RTC
Replies
take a look and tell me what ya thinkk of my building.
RTC
It's very white.
Couldn't Sleep?thx for the mail--check yurs
Edited 7/29/2006 2:56 am ET by basswood
ya'll are real nice....................
You up feeding the baby?
Didn't know there was any surfing down there. Learn something every day.
House looks good.
Are you doing that for a builder or for the owner? What's a yard of concrete cost down there and why did you get a blowout?
Yeah we get pretty good surf here, just not very consistent. Went spearfishing last week at our new jetties. Lot of big snook and large snapper.pretty cool.
The blowout was pretty much unexplained it was NUDURA block and it just broke the plastic.Wet batch of concrete could be to blame.
I am the builder/contractor and lead framer/icf. It is a custom for some clients. Lots of work..............RTC
Edited 7/29/2006 2:25 pm ET by RTC
What's the story behind the arson?
Problably some kids in the neighborhood. They left behind a bottle of lighter fluid problably after the fire got bright and they took off running.................RTC
Do you always keep your site this clean, or was it just for the pictures...?
Was the blowout in a window buck, or on a corner - how do you brace these?
What is the market like for ICF homes in your area? - I've given some thought to marketing them locally.
I try to have the site clean everyday ,it makes work much more effecient.
The blowout was by a corner. no bracing is required but some people run 2' strips of ply up the corners.
The market for icf is starting to take off down here especially with the hurricane devestations of last year. people drive by and see us building and they say " oh, I want one".
So, you're 24, a GC, got a new baby, a wife, and you're doing the framing on one of the cleanest looking job sites I've ever seen?
Your the man, brother. You've got the world by the tail, if your business head is good (which I have no reason to doubt).
Please keep us posted with pics and the best of luck to you.
Are we there, yet?
http://grantlogan.net/
nice work, but it looks like you need some support under your strong backs, especially in the single step picture, the strong back ends over the last joist but is not supported by the beam. I always run what I call wall ties from the wall or beam to the last joist and make sure my strong backs sit directly on top of these, it really helps support the weight. What part of south texas are you in ? I'm up in north houston, waiting for some good waves also...
your'e right . I had my rookie but those on. Theryr'e right on a fe and wrong on a few.We'll fix em..................RTC
I'm down on North Padre.
Thank you very much. It ain't easy, but it's rewarding.......................RTC
Looks nice! Clean work, what type (brand) of ICFs?
Bet Boss Hog could make life a-lot more enjoyable, with a truss package for that Casa!
Trusses would have been nice but with all the stepped ceilings, I decided to stick frame it..............RTC
NUDURA ICF they come in 8' lenghts as opposed to the normal 4'. 18" tall compared to 16" and they fold flat for shipping. 6" core.
Edited 7/30/2006 12:56 am ET by RTC
Nice work.
Don't take any shortcuts on safety as many are tempted to do. The same goes for your employees. One mistake and you could lose everything you've worked so hard for.
Keep yourself adequately insured as well. I work in manufacturing, not construction, and read that something like over a thirty or so year career nearly every person is disabled and unable to work for some reason along the way. Not necessarily due to a work related injury, but all the normal troubles of life. Just in the last couple of years my guys have had shoulder surgery from a sports hobby, appendicitis, herniated disk, hernia, cut tendon in hand, and others. Sometime in your career you'll be unable to work for a while and you ought to be protected.
Keep up with the industry. Don't be afraid to keep learning. There are a lot of bad practices picked up in industry that only education and instruction from the people who really know can correct. Read lots of books, especially including a few that explain the building science behind why things are done a certain way.
The Journal of Light Construction is an excellent magazine, a good supplement to Fine Homebuilding. They each cover topics the other doesn't.
Thanks for the advice. I'll post more soon....RTC