Uniting Michiganders

Hello,

I have recently begun speaking with a few members in Michigan and talking to them about the idea of using the buying power of a group to ad affordability to the fruition of our dream homes.

If you plan on building in the next 1-2 years (actually breaking ground)then please speak up. I am in the process of preparing a schedule of times/places that we could meet to share ideas, knowledge, and hope to streamline some of our needs in order to add increased savings.

I am NOT a builder, designer, or any other type of person who might make $$ from you. All I want is what you want, an affordable modern style home.

If you are interested please post and share the area you live in so that we might be able to schedule meetings in a central location. I live on the east side in Harrison Township. I would like to keep the Pontiac area, or Farmington hills area as a central location but depending on the proximity of those who post, that can change.

Regarding 1st meeting:


I know this comes as a late warning to most who are curious but the 1st meeting will take place at Novi Public Library Thursday August 4 .

Novi Public Library
45245 W. Ten Mile Road
Novi , MI 48375

Telephone: 248-349-0720 http://novi.lib.mi.us/aboutlib/hours.htm


This is at least a 1 hour drive for me but I know the potential savings and information sharing will be well worth it.

If you are interested in this process and not able to attend please feel free to post a message and I will make sure that you may participate as fuly as possible.

I have already contacted a company regarding windows. My contacts name is Dave and he specializes in commercial and residential, thermally broken aluminum frame windows. I looked in his shop and saw workers creating all different types of shapes and sizes. He says an order the size of mine warrants bfree low E-glass/b.

I will be sure to hold off on this order as long as possible so that others can take advantage of the free low e glass as well as any discount that will occur due to our high volume purchase. Even if your house will only use 10 windows do not hesitatate to speak up.

I am going to start acquiring bids on Shell builders (ICF, maybe SIPS) in order to get an idea of what the costs are there. I plan on installing my own cabinets, and perhaps plumbing, in order to add sweat equity. I would also like to personally sub out some trades because I know quite a few trustworthy companies that I have had past dealings with. As with all facets of construction, I am happy to share my information and interested in your take on the process.

bI am not looking to take charge of who installs what in your home. I am simply looking to find bids of quality companies and attempting to gain GROUP (not my individual) leverage discounts in order to 1. Save money, 2. Meet fellow enthusiasts, 3. Avoid mistakes by sharing the process with others./b

I am also going to speak with a geothermal company Thursday August 4th and will recieve a bid with multiple options (radiant, forced air, etc). I will check to see if they also do standard HVAC.

JB,

Regarding your message to me...

I, too, forgot Libraries closed early Fridays.

We can always do M-R since those days usually stay open late night.

Here are Farmington and Southfield locations, too:
http://www.farmlib.org/locus.html
http://www.sfldlib.org/general/geninfo.html

FH would take me ~40min and SF would take more (from Yspilanti after work). They're both somewhat close to I696.

I'll try to call you tomorrow.

PS. Well said above. Don't be shy to say you want to MAKE MONEY from others. I do to. We ALL could, because what we SAVE from leveraging IS MAKING MONEY.

If it is just the (2) of us Friday, then I'd rather hold off until next week so we can stay a little longer than an hour.

Hello,

Well I recieved my estimate for Aluminum Windows (thermal broken E glass and frames) and it is a conservative $71000.00 !! I have an area that is 16' high and 29' wide that is all glass (and that is only 1 room) so this is not a huge suprise. I still have to seek alternatives and contact the company that gave me the 70000-quote to see if there are methods by which to save $$$.

Tomorrow I travel out to Novi to get hvac quotes with multiple options (radiant, forced air, etc.). Perhaps a cardboard box with thermally broken saran-wrap will be a better option. I could go with the aluminum foil roofing as well.

Don't forget about the 18 tempered glass code issue. Tempered glass I believe is almost double cost of non.

Hi,

You know it is getting bad when you realize you have been working on your house for 12 hours and its 2 am on a weekend (when did i get so old?).

I have visited the geothermal boys and they are quoting me roughly at $37000 for 8.5 tons, radiant heat and forced air AC. Keep in mind my home is 32% glazing (windows) right now and may change but only slightly. This requires 2 units, a 5 ton and a 3.5 ton due to sqft and design. An estimated majority of heat (44%) is lost due to windows as well as cool (48%) due to same. Of course these estimates do not take into account that I have 4' eaves that will block out a large amount of the midday and summer sun.

I also have visited PELLA windows whose IMPERVIA line is a fiberglass (very efficient frame!!) frame with some limitations. The limits now are on some models (double hung and more) as well as shapes (no round, or odd geometrical shapes YET).

I might be able to work around this if the price is right. I have also noted a Canadian company but am worried about the distance to accountability.

From what I have noted the Pella Impervia offers 3'X5' hung windows at 255.00 each (not counting any discount for large orders etc). So as I do the math... they are MUCH cheaper than aluminum, come in ANY color, and are of better quality than aluminum as well. This is getting easier as I type. :zz:

Well I have sooo many commitments and need to sleep. I will be going on vacation this upcoming week so as I set uo the week for bids (builders, windows, HVAC) I will be relaxing on the beach watching my crazy dogs attack strangers:cool:

If you are new to the thread and want to join in GREAT!! do so.

If you (Uncleho or Brook) have anything you wanna know/add also, feel free. I know I have to get some #'s to you Uncleho but you may have to wait til the following Sunday if I can not get the time to get to you soon

Bye:grin:

Pella impervia does not offer a wide enough selection with shpes and types, I would have to mix/match their product-line to get what I want. A sales guy at Pella has offered to take me to a home that has mixed and he says it looks great. I might take him up on the offer in a week.

I might have a problem with the window area because of structural concerns anyhow. So, I have finished my design and it is being viewed by an engineer who will complete all specs and tell me what options I have (if I need to change stuff).

I am actually disappointed to see how few people hit this site. I guess we are far and few. Well if you are new and want to get together on saving some $ on your home project let me know. Since I have entered my Masters-program my time is precious so I will be in and out about once every 1-2 weeks to check on the site.

I guess at this rate, I will build MAYBE by late October or if not by then I will push it off til spring 06. That gives us more time to recruit more people.


Til later,

You still active in here?  Just wanted you to know i'm appreciating reading the work, as well as the prices, starting from scratch i have NO idea what things cost, you're helping alot with ballpark figures.

HOw's it going?

--Alex

I'm hoping someone will see this..

My husband and I are about to buy a modern home that will need some work. We'd like to maintain it's style and the most pressing and immediate need is windows. There are some large sheets of frosted or obscure glass near the front door and a number of awning windows.

Does anyone know where I can get replacement windows locally with anodized aluminum frames without spending a million dollars?

-Thanks

My company manufactures thermally broken aluminum windows and doors, including anodize finish.  We are located in Michigan, and also provide doors and windows for many residential and commercial projects throughout the country.  We have provided and do provide windows and doors for many of the modern homes you see around the Detroit area such as Bloomfield Hills, etc., so it's a market we know very well.

Feel free to contact me if you need any assistance.

Hans

It has been a long and bumpy road but it is at an end. I have finished designing and building my home.  I am sharing some of the images at

www.mrbutka.net/house/house.html

I cant begin to tell you how frustrating it was trying to babysit a bunch of "grown" men to get the job done.  From the start I hired a buidler but that only added to my babysitting detail.

The house has 52 windows, is solar passive, has a thermal mass (concrete floor) of 18" and a full walkout basement (no poles!).  We did go geothermal, and a mixture of eifs/steel/cedar exterior. 

I would be glad to share a list of contractors NOT to use and a few who were great. Iif you are in the Oakland County/Macomb County area you might find it useful.

Good luck to all of you!

Jason,

Good to hear you got it finished. Sorry to hear you had to babysit grown men.

I would LOVE your list! Can you please email it to me at uncleho@netzero.net??? Good, Bad, and Ugly would help. It is sucky to have to say this, but I hope the recession weeds out the wannabe/lame/unprofessional contractors and leaves more the long term, good ones as I will be in need of them when I return to MI.

Thanks!

BTW... how do your neighbors like the style? And where are you exactly? I wouldn't mind doing a drive by one day in the future and getting a looksy.

Also... post more pics, man! You can't go through all that grief without showing more of it.