We recently completed building the plan "A River Runs Below It", near Sackville, N.B.
We have stuck pretty close to the original plan, but sized it up a foot on each dimension. We trimmed the house in painted wide, white finger-joint pine, rather than the unaffordable maple, and it looks super.
As we are an ocean-front property we decided to go with a wide-plank vinyl siding, but kept the banding inherent in the design siding, using metal faced wood in a shade a bit ligher than the siding. This bridges the contrast variation between the siding and the white vinyl windows, and looks spectacular.
We tried to build a designer home with authentic materials such as site-installed maple flooring with real-world, affordable price tags and are VERY pleased with the result. We especially like the completely open floor plan of the main floor. The lack of interior walls allows the outdoor brightness to pervade the house in a most pleasant way.
We have installed an air to air heat pump, as well as a zero-clearance fireplace for heating. With all of the south facing windows we gain about 6 degrees of temperature on a sunny winter day. Summertime cooling would be an issue in most locations, but as we are right on the Bay of Fundy, we have ample cool breezes even in summer. We only air-conditioned for about five hours all of last summer. To do so we needed to use the windows extensively but with someone home most days, this was not a problem. We are going without window coverings for now, due to their cost, but also because they would be unsightly. As the cold weather is only getting going we will have to see how we do with all of the windows.
By the way, except for all of the windows, the house was very carefully built to R-2000 weather-tight standards. (The standard does not permit 72 windows in a house!)
We were astounded as to how much effort it took to get a house built, both in knowing our own minds, and in sourcing materials, and in keeping a close eye on the builder to ensure he was building what we wanted. I think that having architect plans such as we purchased from Better Homes and Gardens all those years ago was essemtial to keeping all parties on the same page.
Posts: 6 | Location: Sackville, New Brunswick | Registered: 15 November 2005
We completed building "A River Runs Below It" about 3 months. Like you the house fits us perfectly. I posted pictures several months ago. It would be interesting to see how each of us take a stock house plan and customize it to our own tastes and needs. If you have photos please post them.
Rich
Posts: 5 | Location: Lansing MI | Registered: 04 March 2005
Hi Is it possible to send me some images of your new house? I've always thought of building "A River Runs Below It" house. Can you share some of your experiences? Thanks and Happy New Years! Tony tscal@frontiernet.com
Well we had one winter already. I have totalled up the utility bills for the year, which come to $2000.00. With a bit of math I estimate that we are paying $525.00 annually to heat the house, despite all the windows. We really like the air to air heat pump system. We had researched geothermal which would have provided even greater savings, but at a price tag of $35K it was twice what air to air costs. Obviously the ROI would be a longtime in coming!
Electricity in our area sells for 9.6¢ a kilowatt hour.
Posts: 6 | Location: Sackville, New Brunswick | Registered: 15 November 2005
