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Spend 3 months watching YouTube, you'll probably learn more tips than many contractors know. Then 3 months practicing small mock-ups - building forms, frames, s

Spend 3 months watching YouTube, you'll probably learn more tips than many contractors know. Then 3 months practicing small mock-ups - building forms, frames, stairs, windows, roofs, installing insulation, vapor barriers, sheeting, drywall. A fancy shed isn't a bad place to start. Plan on hiring a plumber, electrician, and HVAC specialist. Probably another 3-6 months to figure out all the paperwork.

Igelau 5y ago
> 3 months practicing small mock-ups Each mock-up slightly bigger than the last, until one day...
- orthoxerox 5y ago
  If you make each mock-up twice as big you'll spend at most double the amount.
otikik 5y ago
The channel "Essential Craftsman" is finishing building a spec house. It's an American-style house, with timber framing. The host, Scott Wadsworth, knows a lot about contracting, and gives a lot of details and advice. The playlist currently has 126 videos. It's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGCC-_Cuhhw&list=PLRZePj70B4IwyNn1ABhJWmBPeX1hGhyLi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGCC-_Cuhhw&list=PLRZePj70B4... My impression after watching most of it: It might be "easy" to build your own house once you are an experienced contractor. If that's not you, then it's going to be a second job, or even a third job (building and learning). You will need to hire and manage subcontractors - the kind of job the contractor does. If you like that sort of thing and that's how you want to spend your time, go for it. I personally think that my time would be better spent finding a better job in tech and getting a promotion, so I can hire a professional to do all that.
- d0gsg0w00f 5y ago
  As a former builder and current handyman (now cloud architect) I can wholeheartedly recommend this channel. That guy knows his stuff. My only warning is that he's a perfectionist and purest. If you do things his way without any experience it will take you 10x as long.
  - Steltek 5y ago
    Is he really though? His non-spec-house videos talk about allowable tolerances and he free hands beveled cuts on a Skilsaw. Granted, those free hand cuts look better than my 90deg ones done with a saw guide but still, would a "perfectionist" do that? I'm specifically thinking of that weird looking shed video. I think he only really goes over the top with concrete.
    - d0gsg0w00f 5y ago
      Framing he's not too bad but I was cringing watching him perfect the sill anchor bolt placement on the spec house. His finish work is finicky. I'm thinking of those craftsman columns on the spec house. Most people would just caulk and be happy with it.
      - throwaway984393 5y ago
        For framing I love Larry Haun's videos and technique. There's nothing like watching a master just blaze through a project and make it look dead easy, while also explaining it simply. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh6cMQnWGwA&list=PLv8J8XldbK3_l5e8jGe5CCuFuvVGtkgYO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh6cMQnWGwA&list=PLv8J8XldbK...

Igelau 5y ago

> 3 months practicing small mock-ups Each mock-up slightly bigger than the last, until one day...

orthoxerox 5y ago
If you make each mock-up twice as big you'll spend at most double the amount.

otikik 5y ago

The channel "Essential Craftsman" is finishing building a spec house. It's an American-style house, with timber framing. The host, Scott Wadsworth, knows a lot about contracting, and gives a lot of details and advice. The playlist currently has 126 videos. It's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGCC-_Cuhhw&list=PLRZePj70B4IwyNn1ABhJWmBPeX1hGhyLi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGCC-_Cuhhw&list=PLRZePj70B4... My impression after watching most of it: It might be "easy" to build your own house once you are an experienced contractor. If that's not you, then it's going to be a second job, or even a third job (building and learning). You will need to hire and manage subcontractors - the kind of job the contractor does. If you like that sort of thing and that's how you want to spend your time, go for it. I personally think that my time would be better spent finding a better job in tech and getting a promotion, so I can hire a professional to do all that.

d0gsg0w00f 5y ago
As a former builder and current handyman (now cloud architect) I can wholeheartedly recommend this channel. That guy knows his stuff. My only warning is that he's a perfectionist and purest. If you do things his way without any experience it will take you 10x as long.
- Steltek 5y ago
  Is he really though? His non-spec-house videos talk about allowable tolerances and he free hands beveled cuts on a Skilsaw. Granted, those free hand cuts look better than my 90deg ones done with a saw guide but still, would a "perfectionist" do that? I'm specifically thinking of that weird looking shed video. I think he only really goes over the top with concrete.
  - d0gsg0w00f 5y ago
    Framing he's not too bad but I was cringing watching him perfect the sill anchor bolt placement on the spec house. His finish work is finicky. I'm thinking of those craftsman columns on the spec house. Most people would just caulk and be happy with it.
    - throwaway984393 5y ago
      For framing I love Larry Haun's videos and technique. There's nothing like watching a master just blaze through a project and make it look dead easy, while also explaining it simply. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh6cMQnWGwA&list=PLv8J8XldbK3_l5e8jGe5CCuFuvVGtkgYO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh6cMQnWGwA&list=PLv8J8XldbK...