Lessons Learned from Last Update

1 :: Cameras
Make sure you have cameras up. Had a worker for a contractor steal from me. Thankfully, he was a career criminal and had taken 50k worth of items across multiple properties and other businesses. This made him a prime target for my local county and two other municipalities. However, another city police were one of the "more enlightened" sort and decided he should be allowed to take some of his stolen merchandise before the warrants went into effect.

Simply - he has multiple warrants out for his arrest but has some of the stolen property in his possession while he runs.

Cameras - make sure you have cameras setup, it can and could be the difference between a major headache and a colossal loss.



2 :: Documentation
Probably the most overlooked item that I have yet to see on any post or vid - documentation. Documentation that you need to keep for inspections, truss layout, reinforcement schematics with structural engineering signoff/seal, validation of performance factors. Make sure you are keeping up with your documentation and storing them appropriately.

Sorry no story here but I need to do better about storing the documents.



3 :: Drainage Membrane/Below Grade Drainage Planes
They do nothing. They are an oversold piece of merchandise that only does one thing - protect your below grade water sealing membrane from damage while you backfill. That's it. Don't waste money on these, find something cheap to protect your water membrane and move on.




4 :: Exterior
With ICF there are several major brands that will not warranty or even sell some products for ICF applications. I'm dealing with multiple contractors who are struggling to find vendors who will warranty and one who won't even sell the materials due to the construction being ICF. I'm now faced with the option of installing what we want without a warranty or expending many more resources for receiving a warranty.

Point number 3. Use Form a Drain and cover your membrane with fan fold insulation that they use under vinyl siding. It's cheap and effective. I've had idiots backfill with shale and wonder why they had a leak.

Yeah that would have been cheaper, easier and more robust. I wish I grabbed form a drain but I started right when the product was coming out and missed the opportunity. Great suggestions.

Diving in here kinda late. So it's like looking at a house fire and telling a person "you shoulda put it out with water!"
But you should plan ahead for draining your primary construction area as you cut up your dirt works.
It slows the formation of "the mud bog" and sets the stage for final rocking of the site before concrete is laid down.

Dilettant - yes, I figured this out later - managed to setup drainage and would have been helpful early on - hard lesson learned. Although, I hope to never be doing this again.


Rough in Plumbing almost done (sanitation only) - waiting for the tub/bath combo - had to wait a month for the supplier to get some in - still waiting. Won't be in until June 15...

A/C guys are waiting to go - as soon as sanitation plumbing is done they are ready to start.

Exterior is almost finalized - negotiating on the installation method and materials.


Having to drill in vent holes for the gas water heaters - had initially planned on electrical but that fell through when I realized later how much power they draw.






Building out the main water fitting with shutoff, regulator, and first fitting to go to branch for spigots before hitting filters. Regarding filters - any recommendations. Looking to do both a water filter and softener (looking at the citrus ones since we don't want the salt).




Slowly cleaning up the crawl and prepping to pressure wash it all clean.

Pressure washing - trying to get it all done in a weekend. Barely made it. But what a difference.

Poured the pads for the A/C Units and graded for the patio. Gravel setout but not graded.

Next up - trying to hit Mechanical, Plumbing, and Electrical by September.... possible, but unlikely.


Tried these shutoff manifolds - not too many manufacturers for PEX A













Not to sure on the plastic, but the pipes are a polymer anyway, so?













Really like PEX A - I know it is a pain to get into due to the tool costs. But I have yet had to use a joint of any type - all runs are single tube!

Here is another screw up - I may have mentioned more than once I should have went ahead and dug out a basement. My crawl is 48".... it's just four inches shy of getting the largest filtration systems... had to double up to get the flow rate I wanted...











Got worried the main line sagging on it's own weight would be a bad idea long term. Used some scrap to build a couple arm supports.

Running the PEX has been one of the easier jobs on the build thus far - highly recommend people do their own plumbing. It will be done nicer and with more care than a pro.

Something to note - tried both the hot melt and sawzall for removing foam for placing drop ears - go with the saw. Messier, but 10x faster and no fumes. Cut you an outline and use a putty knife or butcher blade to wedge out the pieces.

Predrill for a few screws and the drop ears mount in solid to the concrete.

Shower roughed in










First attempt at sweating on fittings













Last bit of rough in complete

Main connected up but not cut on. Connected an electric air pump and set the pressure, ran out for lunch and came back - not even a half psi drop. Just need to get ready for inspection for the sanitation and I'll be moving on to electrical




Main items learned from this experience:

- Double up on the PFTE tape and the CORRECT plumbers dope. Made the mistake of using the grey instead of the white initially and had to refit one of the connections with the white - worked like a charm.
- Use quality fittings, bought some cheap-o Amazon fittings - took one look and saw they were junk. Might be good for a garage or shop but not a home.
- Use Propane instead of MAP gas for sweating pipe for beginners

Moving along nicely....what are your plans for the exterior...need to get that covered for winter...

That looks like a very strong house...impressed.