michigan plans

[Lightfoot]

I'm new to the forum and have a question. My wife and I are planning to retire next Summer and move from California to Michigan. We are interested in taking the class but have a question regarding the plans they offer.

Do they have plans available to members that meet code for the state of Michigan? I realize plans are just a small part of the puzzle and I might be over thinking things.

[thoner7]

You should be fine.

[Chaplain45]

Welcome to the forum. We have some members who are currently building in southern Michigan. I think you will be well pleased.

[Lightfoot]

Ha, my wife says I worry too much. I've been a commercial electrician for the last 21 years and it's all about planning planning planning.

If we stay in California we will probably be able to retire the day we die. If we head to Michigan, where my wife is from, we can retire next summer barring a major housing crisis, N. Korea nuke etc etc. We would prefer the UP but would settle for as far south as perhaps Gaylord.

[loghousenut]

If I was retiring to UP, or anywhere else in Michigan, I'd take the class and definitely use the LHBA plans.

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[Lightfoot]

The upcoming class falls on my dads 99th birthday. With luck, there is another class in 2018 as stated

[project]

The upcoming class falls on my dads 99th birthday. With luck, there is another class in 2018 as stated

I had to wait 3 years to take the class because of my work schedule. It was frustrating to say the least but eventually worked out.

[loghousenut]

The upcoming class falls on my dads 99th birthday. With luck, there is another class in 2018 as stated

Won't Dad be 100 then?

Better go this year, it'd be a shame to miss a milestone like 100 years!




PS... Hug the ole boy for me.

I suppose there will be other classes.

[ivanshayka]

Should not have any problems. I'm in Traverse City area, but building out of town in Benzie Co. very easy to work with.

[Upers]

Got mine approved in the UP - Iron County - pretty easy to work with

[Lightfoot]

I'm laughing at myself here. I have read through at least 100 threads so far with multiple offshoots based on members comments. I've got so many links saved, hydronics, rocket mass heaters, roofing options, foundation options, etc, etc, it's starting to get stupid.

Somewhere around page 50 or so I found a comment by a particular member that had me digging on yet another tangent which brought up a question for those in Michigan. I'll keep digging around the DNR and USFS websites to see if I can find more info.

Red, white and jack pine seem to be the dominant building tree for the state. Wooded land is running around $1,000/acre, with accompanying buildings at times as a free (sic) bonus. Has past logging killed options of harvesting mature logs or is it more of a cat and mouse game for where one buys land? It's been so long since I lived there (1989/90) that I just don't remember.

[ivanshayka]

When you are buying, try acquiring land with enough logs (around 100 standing pine trees, red or white) to build a home, regardless if the land been logged or not. When purchasing, walk the land, hug the trees, check out the neighborhood and type of people around, to see if it even close enough to what you are looking for. Taking a class is another option you should consider to do before or after the land purchase (note: it is recommended that you take the class before you purchase your land).

I'm not sure if this answers your question.

[Lightfoot]

Ivans, I take whatever info I can get. Thank you for the response. Big trees take time to grow. I'm just curious if past logging throughout the state has reduced usable sized timber as a whole. How tall would a tree tend to be to allow a usable taper over a 30-40 feet span?

[allen84]

Big trees take time to grow. I'm just curious if past logging throughout the state has reduced usable sized timber as a whole.

I just had all the "marketable hardwood" logged from 20 acres of my land (Middle Tennessee, most was cut from probably +/-5 acres right in the middle) There is still a lot of hardwood trees that I could use to build and they didn't take any of the species I plan to use. I guess it really all depends on how picky you want to be about the logs you build with.

And another way of looking at it... If you can find land you like at the right price without the trees, go find trees.

[ivanshayka]

The whole state was logged from 1880s to 1940s. In late 40s may be early 50s, Michigan governor flew over the state and was appalled at the deforestation. So, he initiated a program where you could get free red and white pine seedlings. The pine rows (plantations) you see in northern MI are from the 50s and 60s. They are good enough for me, 11" to 14". Tapper depends on the tree, usually 3" to 4" over 35'.

So, the answer for your question if the logging reduced the usable logs in the state, answer is yes. But, it did not totally eliminated it. There are plenty of acreage with big (and sometimes huge) pines. But are you willing to move few miles from where you want to build it?

[RobnettAcres]

We are building in southern Michigan. Has been very easy to get permits and start working. All the zoning and building people are very nice (and curious to see the final product!) I don't think you should have any problems building here in Michigan :-)


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[996r916sps]

Hi,
I took the class back in 2009. I purchased my property in the Bear Lake, Michigan area. I'd like to connect with local Michigan builders to share pics and info.

Thanks, Andre

[Upers]

Andre,

Ivan is your guy - he is close - but if you want to visit the UP - let me know