Framing...

[Ecumenist]

My husband and I are going to be building a concrete home and are planning to do at least some of the work ourselves, with help from friends and family. Has anyone done framing and if so, how difficult is it? I have hung drywall and finished it as well but I want to know about framing. The home will have a concrete roof, and the floors between the floors. This is an ICF home and the plan is to have a full walk out basement and a drive under garage. This will be built on large acreage with a gentle slope. Any input will be appreciated. Also, if there's anyone who've built an ICF home, I would sure like to speak to them regarding their experience with the having the plans redrawn to conform to seismic guidelines,(the homesite is in the northwestern sacramento valley). Is there a way to get this done without having to pay 10K to an architectural engineer?

[bleedingheart]

1. sounds cool...but I know nothing...

I looked up and found this site and they have a forum for questions like your...

http://www.concrete-home.com/

some contractor here in PA built a huge house out of concrete and lives in it...he did this to show people how nice the homes can be...

[Ecumenist]

2. Thanks Bleeding heart,

Yes, they are VERY nice and they do not look like they're built out of concrete... I was surprised. They are good where it comes to conservation of energy and VERY quiet as well as strong structurally. The most important thing is that because we're moving to the country, grassfires are a real possibility here in the summer, as it VERY rarely rains in the summer through late fall in most of California. They have a 4 hour firewall.

[NMDemDist2]

3. ok this is too funny, you just showed up in my three favorite groups

:hug:

i think we must be group mind buddies or something :bounce:

[Ecumenist]

4. Great minds think alike...LOL!! nt

[Berserker]

5. You will not be able

to get around having a engineer look at your drawings. Nor should you want to.
Apparently you have drawings already. Submit them to the building inspections department and they will tell you what has to be done to bring the drawings up to code in your area.
Other wise you will not be able to get a permit to build. As for framing the walls you will have to check with your local building inspector to see what you will have to do to comply with code.

[amerikat]

6. Here's an online course in framing that looks pretty good.

It's not free but it's not expensive.
http://www.masterytech.com/productpage.php?product_id=dlmrbhf1

I've been doing a little framing recently.

See my post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=287x1985

Framing isn't very difficult if you have the right tools and some help.

[amerikat]

7. Check out this concrete home built 1908-1910

It's called "Fonthill" built by Henry Chapman Mercer. Do a google search to see the inside. Good luck with your new home.

[NMDemDist2]

8. is that tower leaning? or is it the pic?

I swear that tower on the left has a distinct list to it

[amerikat]

9. It's just the pic, I've seen this place first hand

and I can assure you it's straight.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Don't even think about skimping on professional counsel .....

You run a huge risk by not having an architect or engineer check your plans. Particularly with a non-conventional structure. Just one ill concieved part of techcnique could cause a building inspector to make you, quite literally, demolish already completed work. Or worse .... the whole place could come tumbling down.

Really .... gievn the cost to build a house, checking with a pro is money well spent.