We have the promise of a DEQ permit, assuming the measures the builder has outlined to protect the site during building are acceptable. So we will move to the next permit set, the township & county's construction, soil erosion, health and demolition permits. We hope they will not take more than two weeks.
So I emailed the bank just to let them know we are likely to move forward soon (they still remember us!); and we have the preliminary drawings from Porter SIPs. It's kind of neat, it comes in a "package" with the screws and sealants and all -- kind of like when I built dollhouses for my nieces (except much better insulated).
Another change is that the builder is proposing a concrete floor -- Lite deck. This is an insulated form onto which concrete is poured to make the floor. It has a high thermal mass and the concrete can be stained various colours. It's great for laying the radiant heat floors too.
I think we have settled on the U-shaped kitchen but are moving the bathroom wall a bit to be sure that a wheelchair can turn around in the bathroom.
Things are likely to accelerate over the coming few weeks.
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Showing posts with label DEQ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DEQ. Show all posts
DEQ & a cabinet quote
We had a message from the DEQ inspector ... saying they want more information. I sent the construction set and contact info for the engineer and designer. Talked briefly on the phone, but did not really get an indication of whether the permit is likely to be issued or not. Probably will have more contact later today.
Meanwhile, a quote on kitchen cabinets has come in from Van Beek's. Now my turn to ask for more information as I wasn't sure which of several layouts it was based upon. There is quite of range of prices out there. Ikea cabinets are cheapest, on the order of about $4000 less for our small kitchen, but they are not particularly green. Typically not as solid as many custom cabinets either.
We had a quote about six months ago from GreenMaker Supply in Chicago that was about $1500 less, but left out some items (i.e. there was space for a dishwasher that we are not going to have. More quotes may come in.
Meanwhile, a quote on kitchen cabinets has come in from Van Beek's. Now my turn to ask for more information as I wasn't sure which of several layouts it was based upon. There is quite of range of prices out there. Ikea cabinets are cheapest, on the order of about $4000 less for our small kitchen, but they are not particularly green. Typically not as solid as many custom cabinets either.
We had a quote about six months ago from GreenMaker Supply in Chicago that was about $1500 less, but left out some items (i.e. there was space for a dishwasher that we are not going to have. More quotes may come in.
Aligning ducks
Today I worked on the DEQ permit and sent emails regarding the loan.
The Department of Environmental Quality permit is required because we are close to the water. I think its great that they protect the water and wetlands. Since we are building on an existing site, and do not plan to disrupt the lakeside vegetation, I don't expect there will be a problem. Several of the other places on the lake cut the grass right down to the water's edge, but we have a buffer of cattails, pickerel weed, joe-pye weed, and sedges. The only gap is for a narrow dock and canoe launch. I like how the cattails change over the seasons, and we get muskrats and red-winged blackbirds and dragonflies hanging out in them. We often see birds, especially chickadees, picking at the heads for food and nesting material. It also harbours some dodder, a cool parasitic plant with no leaves, just a stem that twines around the cattails and uses their photosynthates.
Cattails
Dodder
A Blue Dasher perched on a cattail.
The Department of Environmental Quality permit is required because we are close to the water. I think its great that they protect the water and wetlands. Since we are building on an existing site, and do not plan to disrupt the lakeside vegetation, I don't expect there will be a problem. Several of the other places on the lake cut the grass right down to the water's edge, but we have a buffer of cattails, pickerel weed, joe-pye weed, and sedges. The only gap is for a narrow dock and canoe launch. I like how the cattails change over the seasons, and we get muskrats and red-winged blackbirds and dragonflies hanging out in them. We often see birds, especially chickadees, picking at the heads for food and nesting material. It also harbours some dodder, a cool parasitic plant with no leaves, just a stem that twines around the cattails and uses their photosynthates.
Cattails
Dodder
A Blue Dasher perched on a cattail.
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