I want to build a house!

I've put on roofs, installed steel I-Beams, windows, doors, etc... I am pretty handy and would like to build my own home. I would have the foundation and flat work done by a contractor, but would like to take over from there. Can anyone recommend a good book that would take me through the steps in the right order and point out the things I need to know. For example, is the sill plate installed flush with the outer edge of the foundation wall, or set in far enough to make the sheathing flush. I know that the outer floor joist, using conventional lumber, is also the rim joist for that side but what if you're using floor trusses? Please don't recommend a book on how to be your own general contractor, I've read most of those.
Thanks
dunno

 

Dunno,

If you don't know enough, you may want to do a search on the web for whatever you feel that you are in need of. Books are available at HD, Lowes, library and good book stores.

Take a look at these for starters,

http://www.mcvicker.com/resguide/toc.htm

http://www.constructionbook.com/xq/A...x/default2.htm

http://www.b4ubuild.com/resources/schedule/6kproj.shtml

http://www.building-cost.net/

http://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/jlc.../product/SF499

Hope this helps!

 

Books can help, but one of the nice things about building yourself is that you can do things differently. Most often houses are built so that each sub can come in, do their thing and leave, and many subs don't like to work while any other sub is in the house. If you are doing everything yourself it sometimes makes sense to do things in a different order. I built my house by myself three years ago and did some things "differntly". It was a lot of work, but the house was done 3 months sooner than I had planned and under budget.

As for the sill plate... I should have offset mine to stick out from the foundation wall. I forgot the thickness of my stone veneer on the foundation ... Nobody ever said building it myself would be easy.