1. What you need to about building your own home! Yes, Some day you might have to build something!!!

2. There are many steps Land Planning Testing Buying Planning Building Planning Permits Buying Building

3. Land Planning Surveying: What are the boundaries? Acres Right Aways (Can people drive through your land?) Including water, electric, or oil and gas companies Are their Rights to the Land? Mineral Personal Industrial

4. Land Planning Different Tests Soil Is it okay to build there? Over a landfill/ cemetery/ polluted soils/ solid rock Possible Problems Run off, erosion, flooding…etc.= high insurance Drain, piping, dig a ditch. Can you profit off your land? Selling timber Selling minerals

5. After… Land planning You buy the land. Get approved permits. Apply for Building permits= Area Specific

6. Permits Blue prints: square footage and layout plan Meets codes: specific to regions and areas California vs Pennsylvania Commercial: 5/8’’ dry wall for fire safety Residential: All decisions should be thought out and finalized regarding the outdoors. http://peakstoprairies.org/p2bande/construction/contrguide/section12.c fm http://peakstoprairies.org/p2bande/construction/contrguide/section12.c fm http://www.lyco.org/lyc- loyalsock/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=437545&lyc_loyalsockNav=|10307| http://www.lyco.org/lyc- loyalsock/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=437545&lyc_loyalsockNav=|10307 http://www.lyco.org/lyc- loyalsock/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=437552&lyc_loyalsockNav=|10308 http://www.lyco.org/lyc- loyalsock/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=437552&lyc_loyalsockNav=|10308

7. Web sites Checklist http://peakstoprairies.org/p2bande/construction/contr guide/section12.cfm http://peakstoprairies.org/p2bande/construction/contr guide/section12.cfm Codes http://www.lyco.org/lyc- loyalsock/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=437545&lyc_loyals ockNav=|10307| http://www.lyco.org/lyc- loyalsock/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=437545&lyc_loyals ockNav=|10307 http://www.lyco.org/lyc- loyalsock/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=437552&lyc_loyals ockNav=|10308 http://www.lyco.org/lyc- loyalsock/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=437552&lyc_loyals ockNav=|10308 Inspections http:/www.lyco.org/lyc- loyalsock/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=438021 http:/www.lyco.org/lyc- loyalsock/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=438021

8. Who should obtain building permits and when should they do it? To find out whether you will need building permits, contact your local building department. Some municipalities require permits for just about anything; others require permits for only major remodeling projects. The person who takes out the permit is considered liable for the work, so follow the usual custom of having the architect or the contractor obtain it. As a homeowner, you don't want to be responsible if the work doesn't conform to standards or codes, but you need to know which permits are required and make sure they are obtained. http://public.findlaw.com/abaflg/flg-4.html

9. Neat Website http://www.pabuilders.org/associations/4 216/files/2008_building_permits.html http://www.pabuilders.org/associations/4 216/files/2008_building_permits.html http://www.pabuilders.org/displaycommo n.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=224 http://www.pabuilders.org/displaycommo n.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=224

10. Site Preparation Decide on Foundation: Slab Crawl space Full basement: livable or storage Posts Importance: Pipes for Water, Sewage, and pos. Electric Size and Location

11. How are you going to get water? Septics? What type of waste treatment? Septic tank Sewage Treatment Plant How are you going to get your water? Well / Drill? Spring? Town Water system?

12. Site Preparation moving to actually Building Hire a contractor or Do It Yourself: Dig a footer For basements or crawlspaces Dig below the frost line : 36 – 48 inches deep

13. Building Steps After footer Lay block depending on type of foundation Pour floor for full basement Decide on flooring for first floor of building Depending on number of stories and size you will have to have choose different floor joists.

14. Flooring / Joist Size How you would choose: Span Stories Use/ Traffic Example: 2 story: 2’ X 12’ floor joists If you start with one size you will have to use the same throughout. You would then want to lay your ply wood flooring for the entire surface. Want to make sure you laydown liquid nail or some type of adhesive before you lay down plywood = decreasing squeaks

15. Walls 1 st decide on how much insulation do you want 2” X 4”or 2”X 6” Only exterior walls in 2 X 6 Interior is 2 X4 Height? Standard wall height sold at lumber stores ~ 96” Build walls: making sure to brace them

16. Next for Walls: Run boards around top of all walls Stagger joints : Top sill plate If one story house: Run rafters for roof Ply wood the roof rafters