Building my own home, part one... the beginning.

My plan is to move back to Louisiana and live on the land that I was most happiest in life. The home I lived in isn't available anymore, but the folks who own the land have agreed to allow me to move onto the land their late son lived on. They enjoyed my living there and look at me as family. They have agreed to charge me a very small monthly lot fee and there is water, septic tank, electricity and phone hook ups all there. I asked if i could put up a small building and they agreed. I have drafted scale plans for a small 700 sq ft cabin type home that is very nice. I will do the majority of work myself and ask for help only when I need help lifting framed walls so that I can tack them into place. I will do the electrical, plumbing, roofing, and everything else.

I am going to have to put this thing together on a shoe string budget and will likely need to accumulate building materials. I have broken the materials list into two categories: materials needed to frame the home from the ground up creating a livable structure that will keep the weather off of me while I live there and continue to build. The second list is comprised of materials needed to finish the home off. Things such as toilet, sinks, tub, pvc piping, faucets, electrical wiring and various electrical extras needed to run appliances such as an a/c, refrigerator, small stove, small washing machine, ceiling fan, and 5 plug boxes throughout the small structure.

If I am able to pull this off I will post pictures as I go. This has been my life long dream and sadly, in my dreams my Brother helped me build it and I shared it with someone I would spend the rest of my life with. I guess if it works out and I do get to build it I'll share it with Sunny and Daisy May, who have been my faithful, loyal and trusted friends for the past 11 years.


The first list

List of building materials:

Framing lumber (enough to create a walled and roofed shell with sub floor/floor)

-osb (Oriented strand board, which is far less expensive than plywood) (4x8x3/4) quantity of 78 pieces

-2x8x8 (pressure treated) quantity of 90 pieces

-2x4x8 (pressure treated) quantity of 200 pieces

-FGUR20 ASTM 30 Lb. Felt Quality Roof Deck Protection quantity of 3 rolls

-Black Fiberglass Mineral Surfaced quantity of 6 rolls

-Grip-Rite 2d, 1 In. 5-Lb Electro-Galvanized Roofing Nails quantity of 1 box

-Grip Rite 16d, 3-1/4 In. 30-Lb Bucket Coated Sinker Nails quantity of 60 pounds (two buckets)

-Grip Rite 1-1/4 In. Coarse Drywall Bucket 25 Lb quantity of 50 pounds (two boxes)

-Deck Mate 1 Pound 2-1/2 In. Green Premium Exterior Screws quantity of 5 pounds (five boxes)

-Exterior latex paint, OD (olive drab) quantity of 5 gallons

With lots of prayer, dreaming, hard work, and help from friends I just may be able to make this happen. Stay tuned.