ChainsawGrandpa
03-14-2005, 08:32 AM
Thanks to those who offered the use of their pier forms.
As it turns out, I need to go a full 30" below grade. These
things will be deep! The good news is that yesterday I was
given full sheets of 3/4" plywood for my pier forms. I was
told; "just get them out of here"! As we were talking, the
property owner was lamenting about all the 2 x 4's he was
left to burn, and still had a large stack left. I was also
given all the 2 x 4's I wanted. The end result is that my
forms for the pier block are totally free. No dollars needed
except for a little gas. Already have the nails and screws.
This is just so much more pleasant than the way I used to
build...have the truck drop large amount of expensive, new
materials, and then work fast because the bank was breathing
down your neck.
Yes, everything I'm doing is for cash, and the initial costs can
be a little staggering, but much better than the option of zero
down, zero closing costs, a low 5 year ARM, full retail price,
and making payments for 30 years. Right now that is what is
being offered on new homes where my parents live in Arizona.
One method is easy convenient, brainless, and hurts in the
long run. The other requires up front cash (but not too much
cash), and labor, but rewards in the satisfation of doing it
yourself, self suffeciency, and a far better home with no mortgage
and lots of land with distant neighbors.
-Rick
As it turns out, I need to go a full 30" below grade. These
things will be deep! The good news is that yesterday I was
given full sheets of 3/4" plywood for my pier forms. I was
told; "just get them out of here"! As we were talking, the
property owner was lamenting about all the 2 x 4's he was
left to burn, and still had a large stack left. I was also
given all the 2 x 4's I wanted. The end result is that my
forms for the pier block are totally free. No dollars needed
except for a little gas. Already have the nails and screws.
This is just so much more pleasant than the way I used to
build...have the truck drop large amount of expensive, new
materials, and then work fast because the bank was breathing
down your neck.
Yes, everything I'm doing is for cash, and the initial costs can
be a little staggering, but much better than the option of zero
down, zero closing costs, a low 5 year ARM, full retail price,
and making payments for 30 years. Right now that is what is
being offered on new homes where my parents live in Arizona.
One method is easy convenient, brainless, and hurts in the
long run. The other requires up front cash (but not too much
cash), and labor, but rewards in the satisfation of doing it
yourself, self suffeciency, and a far better home with no mortgage
and lots of land with distant neighbors.
-Rick