This book would be considered by some the Bible of housebuilding.
Building a home, or perhaps considering it? Boy, have you come to the right place!
Digging through some old books, I recently came across this gem, Building Your New House, a book by Mary and George Catlin that some would consider to be THE BIBLE of housebuilding.
Then again, others might bark, "That book was written in 1946, the building codes have all changed, it’s crap, throw it out." How rude. And that throw-away-society attitude is why some people miss some of these timeless pearls of wisdom.
From Mary and George (an excerpt from the foreword): "It is with the hope that we can help you make wise decisions in building your home that we have written this book. Experience is a good teacher, but it is less costly if it is someone else’s experience."
See, that is pure gold. Probably saved you thousands already.
Continuing on...
"Besides, few families build more than one house in a lifetime, so you don’t have a chance to profit by former building experience."
The lesson here? Exactly! Do your homework, the due diligence, so you don’t end up spending maybe $50,000 or $100,000 more than originally intended, especially if it is way more than you can afford! The last thing you want to be, in your new dream home, is "house poor."
Those costs can climb so insidiously, and quickly. Remember, this misery is self-inflicted, so don’t be "up-sold" beyond your ability to pay and keep a firm Scottish grip on your cash. You’re welcome.
Mary and George confirm that if you’re able to build your home yourself, yes, you can save a lot of money. However, I can confirm from watching certain "Banjo pickin’" types build their own home that if you fuel your blood, sweat and tears with excess alcohol while doing so, you’ll be lucky if there’s even one truly square corner in your home. Of course, if that doesn’t matter to you, down the hatch Boobie, gotta’ get that shingling done before the game comes on! Yeehaw!
Now, if you’re not only building your own home, but designing it as well, it’s unquestionably a good idea to run those plans by a pro, to weed out rookie design flaws that may have a negative impact on the enjoyment of your castle.
An example from Mary and George: "A major design fault is having the bathroom open off the living room, the resultant lack of privacy being just one of the drawbacks."
I’ll say. I mean, I don’t think they’ve built a fan strong enough to protect the people in the living room from being overcome should cousin Wally drop by New Year’s morning and head into the washroom for a quick-but-lethal visit pre-passing out on the couch.
Bad, bad, bad design. And we can all probably recall a restaurant or cabin where that same design has nearly killed us. Gag.
But I think we get the picture. No washroom directly off living areas, and that certainly includes any dining area. I mean Wally... for the love... of... God...
It is wise, however, to have that bathroom fan venting into the bedroom where the relatives stay when they come for a visit. You can always have a secret bypass installed that vents Wally-World outdoors when you are visitor-free. Ugly, but brilliant.
Truth be told, yes, this book is crammed with now useless and out-of-date information and advice. There are, however, some pearls, some timeless truths that will never be out of date.
For example: "This book is, first and last, practical. Building a house is practical business. Though dreams are fun, living is actual. Satisfaction in a home depends on the way it stands up under trying conditions, and the extent to which it simplifies, rather than complicates, life."
See, that’s good, as is this: "What really counts in a house? Its contribution to happy living." Excellent.
And if I may venture an opinion, allow me to reiterate the following. Whether buying a car, building a house or going for implants of some sort (men or women), live within your means. Excessive debt is a killer, and a huge source of anxiety.
Mind you, if we could buy at 1946 prices on today’s pay scale, you could build a palace and have money enough left over to vacation at a Trump hotel. Or NOT...
Check the following estimate again, courtesy of Mary and George: "According to these figures, a six-room bungalow 26 by 40 feet would require approximately 9,000 face bricks and 9,000 common bricks for an eight-inch wall, at a total cost of $387. Labour and mortar, approximately $504, total cost for the main walls of the residence, $891."
These days that would get you something closer to 12 bricks, a tub of pre-mixed mortar and a DIY pamphlet in any language but the one you speak.
Good luck.
Comments or feedback, love to hear from you!
lmustard1948@gmail.com
