Architect Steve Giannetti shares his tips on saving money on building your own home.
French doors - We used standard T.M. Cobb French doors, which are about half the cost of custom doors.
Pine floors - We used 10-inch pine shelving boards, nailed and glued to the plywood subfloor, for the look of old floors.
Eaves – There are 2 by 4s for the eaves’ overhangs. They are inexpensive and old-fashioned looking.
Interior doors - The interior doors are standard French doors with sandblasted glass in them for an inexpensive, unique look that lets the light in.
Patios - The front porch is concrete with some beach shells cast into the surface and lightly sandblasted for an Old World look.
Paving - All the paving and site walls around the home are broken concrete reused from the old driveway.
Insulation - Denim insulation was installed in all the walls and ceilings, and a foil liner under the roof to keep the attic cool.
Skylights - An operable skylight in the middle of the house provides natural light and, when open, natural ventilation that keeps the house cool all summer.
Tile - We used only one kind of white 3- by 6-inch tile in the house and Carrera marble to keep costs down and maintain consistency.
French doors - We used standard T.M. Cobb French doors, which are about half the cost of custom doors.Pine floors - We used 10-inch pine shelving boards, nailed and glued to the plywood subfloor, for the look of old floors.
Eaves – There are 2 by 4s for the eaves’ overhangs. They are inexpensive and old-fashioned looking.
Interior doors - The interior doors are standard French doors with sandblasted glass in them for an inexpensive, unique look that lets the light in.
Patios - The front porch is concrete with some beach shells cast into the surface and lightly sandblasted for an Old World look.
Paving - All the paving and site walls around the home are broken concrete reused from the old driveway.
Insulation - Denim insulation was installed in all the walls and ceilings, and a foil liner under the roof to keep the attic cool.
Skylights - An operable skylight in the middle of the house provides natural light and, when open, natural ventilation that keeps the house cool all summer.
Tile - We used only one kind of white 3- by 6-inch tile in the house and Carrera marble to keep costs down and maintain consistency.
