Building the 2008 HGTV Dream Hometag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2008:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home/702007-11-13T22:34:16ZFollow the construction of the 2008 HGTV Dream Home, from breaking ground to the finishing touches.Movable Type 3.33Controlled Chaostag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.20262007-11-13T15:41:46Z2007-11-13T22:34:16ZContractors and builders are all familiar with the last moments of a big project. But for the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Fla., there was a little more chaos, requiring a little more control....Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
Contractors and builders are all familiar with the last moments of a big project. But for the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Fla., there was a little more chaos, requiring a little more control.
Controlled Flow Picks Up the Pace Of Building and
Controlling the Uncontrollable: Scheduling
Ever had an experience when you had to overcome unexpected challenges? Send us a comment about it or other end-of-project advice.]]>
Down to the Wire, Down to the Crewstag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.20242007-10-30T15:28:27Z2007-11-13T15:42:12ZAt first, the builder's crews and subs working on the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Fla., saw it as just another job. But as it began to sink in that someone was going to win this fine home, they...Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
At first, the builder's crews and subs working on the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Fla., saw it as just another job. But as it began to sink in that someone was going to win this fine home, they got more psyched about being involved.
Click here for a lot more information about working with subs.]]>
New Skills Save The Daytag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.18752007-10-16T16:38:35Z2007-10-16T16:40:31ZEver had to move a crew at the last minute to a task they've never done before? It can salvage the schedule -- or sabotage it....Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
Ever had to move a crew at the last minute to a task they've never done before? It can salvage the schedule -- or sabotage it.
His crew had to be willing to learn;
Juan had to adjust his schedule and others' to add instruction time and ongoing QC;
He had to be an effective teacher in a high-pressure situation;
His crew had to pull off quality, detailed work fast.
They ripped it. They tackled the huge staircase, they learned to return shoe rails with a 45, they added extra accents to the window trim and extended the jams. They saved the schedule.
"These guys had to come from using a hammer and a skill saw on a shell," says Juan, "to going inside and learning how to use a biscuit cutter, a joiner, and how to plane it down to the right size. That's been the best part of this job for me."
The key, he adds, is having people who like their work and who respond to new instruction by wanting to learn even more.
Check out this article on teaching new skills. And this related article on:
delegating.
What do you think? Tell us about your experiences with OTJ instruction. Have you had any experiences like Juan's, when it saved you? Or any disasters with it that taught you a valuable lesson?]]>
Stuck on the HGTV Dream Home Stretchtag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.18552007-10-04T22:30:22Z2007-10-10T15:28:34ZIn the construction business? Then you've got material delivery issues. Consider yourself lucky that you don't have to contend with "The Stretch," as the locals call the 18-mile section of Overseas Highway that spans Dade and Monroe Counties heading down...Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
In the construction business? Then you've got material delivery issues. Consider yourself lucky that you don't have to contend with "The Stretch," as the locals call the 18-mile section of Overseas Highway that spans Dade and Monroe Counties heading down the Florida Keys.
this related article on material flow.]]>
At Their Mercytag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.18542007-09-20T22:27:27Z2007-10-10T15:29:32ZThe last two months of building a home -- particularly one on a fast-track schedule like the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Fla. -- can bring a certain dread to the builder: Now I'm at the mercy of my...Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
Now I'm at the mercy of my subs.]]>
This link has other tips about project coordination.]]>
Tower Turned Lighthousetag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.18532007-09-06T22:22:26Z2007-10-10T15:30:04ZTopped with wrap-around windows and housing the staircase for the three floors, the tower of the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Fla., is its most striking feature....Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
Topped with wrap-around windows and housing the staircase for the three floors, the tower of the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Fla., is its most striking feature.
original concept, because the builder knew how to approach making that change in plans:
* He had a good sense for the aesthetics of the design;
* He recognized an opportunity to enhance that theme;
* He effectively communicated his ideas to the client and his supervisors;
* They collaborated on making the change.
The tower now flares out at the bottom, about 6 inches starting about 10 feet above ground, resembling a sturdy lighthouse. Builder Juan Dellanos once lived near an island lighthouse, and he thought the HGTV Dream Home's tower would benefit from that suggestive connection to the sea.
"I love lighthouses, and I know they always flare out at the bottom," says Juan. "I put that idea out there, they liked it, and I'm glad they did."
It worked. But it never would have happened, says Juan, if the parties hadn't already developed a trusting relationship built on communication and respect.
Enlighten us with examples, good and bad, of how you've handled design changes. Send us your wise advice.]]>
Dodging Delaystag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.18512007-08-23T22:01:02Z2007-10-10T15:30:50ZIn home building, agility counts--particularly if the house is the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Fla....Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
In home building, agility counts--particularly if the house is the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Fla.
When situations beyond HGTV Dream Home builder Juan Dellanos' control have popped up threatening to idle parts of his crew, he has taken quick, evasive action.
First off, the floor joists didn't arrive on time. Usually you wait on each floor to go in, then raise the exterior walls up to the next floor level. Juan decided not to wait, going ahead with scaffolding the whole house and building the walls three stories up while waiting for the floor joists to arrive.
Then the roof trusses needed to be re-engineered on site (it took 3 to 4 trusses to make one truss with the span and height needed), which was going to take about a week and a half. They faced losing a week of work while that was being done.
"That's when I got nervous," says Juan. "I said, let's split the crew up and put some of them on siding to get started on the outside of the house. You normally don't do that, but I'm glad I did. It helped keep us on schedule."
Quick thinking, often outside the box of how you always do things, can help builders and contractors dodge delays. How do you handle these snafus? Tell us how you've sidestepped delays with fast thinking.
Certified Stellartag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.15382007-08-09T21:07:56Z2007-08-09T21:08:40ZWhat's the best way to keep building inspections from slowing down your process? Build a Great House!...Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
What's the best way to keep building inspections from slowing down your process? Build a Great House!
That's the plan -- and the reality -- at the HGTV Dream Home construction site in Islamorada, Fla., where they've got a building inspector on site about every other day.
The local builder of the HGTV Dream Home, Juan Dellanos from Key Largo, knows the codes, he has seasoned crews who know how to build to them, and he has his dad, Juan Dellanos Sr., on site scheduling and running quality control on all building inspections. Juan Sr. verifies that all jobs are ready before calling in the inspectors.
The result has been a smooth process through many inspections. Developer/builder Mike Uhre tells me that the house has had no failures yet. "And that's pretty darn good," he says. "This is a stellar structure."
Inspectors examine every steel and concrete pour beforehand. They check tech specs and ratings on windows and exterior doors, and then they verify all aspects of their installation. They look at all framing before sheeting begins, including tie downs, spacing and fasteners. The roof has its own inspection regimen. They inspected the 16-inch concrete reinforced piles augured 3 feet into rock and integrated with the concrete footer, and all the steel-reinforced concrete beams and columns of the house.
"It's different from building in any other part of the country," says HGTV Dream Home House Planner Jack Thomasson. "The inspectors know what they're looking for, and they know that when they've got a good contractor like Juan, they don't have a problem educating him about something that has to be done."
Have you found an efficient way to streamline inspections? Do you have any horror stories about inspectors who caused unnecessary delays or changes? Let me know.
Transplanting the Dreamtag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.14962007-08-01T22:06:44Z2007-08-01T22:08:10ZHow do you approach the environmental decisions faced by builders and contractors every day? Does it only come down to a money/time calculation, or does conscientiousness factor in?...Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
How do you approach the environmental decisions faced by builders and contractors every day? Does it only come down to a money/time calculation, or does conscientiousness factor in?
Maybe it's determining whether you make the effort to protect on-site tree roots from damaging construction traffic. Maybe it's deciding how to protect fragile coral from a new dock, which is what the developers/builders of the HGTV Dream Home recently faced.
Permitting for the dock required approval of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary authority. The developers' marine biologist did a benthic survey, laying out the footprint of the proposed dock underwater. They found that fan corals, purple corals, and others might -- and might not -- be affected by the dock or its pilings.
They could have argued about it, fought it, and worked toward a compromise. But they didn't. Led by the property owner and one of the developers, who is a lifelong Keys fisherman and passionate about all things environmental, they decided to take no chances and just relocate the protected coral.
The regulatory agencies were thrilled with their plans and environmental spirit. A NOAA representative in scuba gear and our own Jack Thomasson, HGTV Dream Home House Planner, participated in the relocation work. The coral was transplanted in an exacting process that the NOAA rep says is virtually 100% successful.
It takes a really good marine engineering team to get that job right. And it did take a good deal of time and money. It was worth it for the developers' conscience. And it'll be worth it to the HGTV Dream Home winner, who can walk down his or her 175-foot shared dock and know that no coral were harmed in its construction.
Hot Pacetag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.14322007-07-20T18:13:07Z2007-08-01T21:06:11ZIt was 102 degrees the other day at the 2008 HGTV Dream Home construction site in the Florida Keys. And you'd think the local construction crew would be working in shorts....
It was 102 degrees the other day at the 2008 HGTV Dream Home construction site in the Florida Keys. And you'd think the local construction crew would be working in shorts.
Nope. Instead, these veterans on builder Juan Dellanos' crew pretty much all wear long pants and long-sleeve white tee shirts. And they all have bandanas hanging down from the back of their hats (hard or soft) to keep the sun off their necks.
HGTV Dream Home House Planner Jack Thomasson says the crews know how many breaks they need to take and how often to drink water: very often. Even with sea breezes coming in from Florida Bay, it's still pretty steamy.
Taking precautions against the heat may make a tight deadline a little tighter. But shaving time on safety is not an option, whether taking a breather or double tethering your guys working on the 12-pitch roof -- made of hot metal, of course.
Sometimes the crew is a little ahead of schedule, sometimes a little behind. But the pace has heated up.
Jack and Construction Supervisor Mike Uhre tell me they're on target for the projected completion. "The deadline for the HGTV Dream Home isn't tighter than normal," says Jack, "but normal is tight."
Staying on schedule is tough for a lot of builders. Tell us: what works for you to keep things moving along.
Three Wheels Turningtag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.14312007-07-16T18:10:25Z2007-08-01T20:58:23ZIt's a crowded construction site at the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Florida, with a lot going on. Window installation's under way, the interior mechanical work's going in, miscellaneous framing is being done inside, they're working on the standing...Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
It's a crowded construction site at the 2008 HGTV Dream Home in Islamorada, Florida, with a lot going on. Window installation's under way, the interior mechanical work's going in, miscellaneous framing is being done inside, they're working on the standing seam metal roof, and they're getting a jump on the cement-board siding, with enough corner boards in to get the stucco going as well.
Basically, four parties make decisions about all things regarding the building of the HGTV Dream Home. There's HGTV Dream Home House Planner Jack Thomasson, the liaison between the builders and the HGTV design team; there's Mike Uhre, the construction supervisor; builder Juan Dellanos, and architect Rick Wissmach. The engineer is very familiar with the site; his office happens to be right across the street from the project.
Mike tells me that they are continually discussing things -- often little things they didn't see on paper until they started building them. For example, they've recently made some modifications to the kitchen to add more counter space.
"We're working through some things as we go along -- to make the Dream Home even better than we originally envisioned it," says Mike.
Adding some counter space is relatively easy, but not all changes are.
Comment below and tell us about some creative additions you’ve made to your house plans during construction.
One of Eighttag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.12642007-06-18T16:13:22Z2007-07-18T14:53:10ZWant to see the site of the 2008 Dream Home? Go to Google Maps, or some other service, enter Islamorada, Florida and Founders Park. The home site is on the water (west side of the island facing Florida Bay) and...Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
Want to see the site of the 2008 Dream Home? Go to Google Maps, or some other service, enter Islamorada, Florida and Founders Park. The home site is on the water (west side of the island facing Florida Bay) and just south of the park. In fact, the site's entrance road required an easement along the side of park property.
It's a tucked-away site, not visible from U.S. 1, which is called the Overseas Highway down there and is not only the main drag it's the only drag. They've got their site plan approved after addressing such issues as buffering, parking, and storm water and wastewater management. They have their permits.
The Dream Home is one of eight homes approved for the site. There were eight homes on the site previously, and these new homes are considered "replacement homes." That's no small deal because it exempts the development from the guidelines of the Buildable Rate of Growth ordinance in Monroe County.
Hoop Towntag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.12422007-06-14T16:08:14Z2007-06-27T16:21:35ZYou think you have regulatory problems, overburdened with inspections and regs that slow you down and defeat your best-laid planning? Builders of the Dream Home in Islamorada, Florida, face the toughest regulatory environment in the country: the Florida Keys....Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
You think you have regulatory problems, overburdened with inspections and regs that slow you down and defeat your best-laid planning? Builders of the Dream Home in Islamorada, Florida, face the toughest regulatory environment in the country: the Florida Keys.
When I asked an employee of the Monroe County Building Department if builders had any special regulatory issues to follow, she burst out laughing and said, "Let's just say that builders have to jump through a lot of hoops around here."
Those hoops address two basic issues: the fragile natural environment of the Keys, which abounds with endangered species, and hurricanes.
Fortunately, the Dream Home site is on a shoreline that has already been altered, so they won't have to deal with turtle nesting rules, sea grass bed protection, or the many other environmental concerns that bring to Keys job site the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Environmental Protection, and other federal agencies.
Then there's the Florida layer, the Monroe County layer, and the Village of Islamorada layer. Monroe County is right up there with Miami-Dade in having the strictest building codes in the country.
Islamorada is a state-designated Area of Critical Concern, so all construction, particularly residential, happens under a microscope -- and a hot sun, too.
A Treasure of a Locationtag:blogs.hgtvpro.com,2007:/hgtvpro/building_2008_dream_home//70.12332007-06-13T11:52:05Z2007-07-18T14:59:23ZSituating the 2008 Dream Home in sea-level Islamorada, Florida, seems just about the exact opposite location from last year's Winter Park, Colorado, Dream Home, built more than a mile high in the Rockies. But really, the two places are similar....Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff
Situating the 2008 Dream Home in sea-level Islamorada, Florida, seems just about the exact opposite location from last year's Winter Park, Colorado, Dream Home, built more than a mile high in the Rockies. But really, the two places are similar.
Winter Park is a happily simple Colorado ski-town very unlike the more famous and glitzy Vail and Aspen. Likewise, Islamorada is a laid-back Florida Keys town, less self-absorbed and flamboyant than the more fashionable Key West. It's a jewel of a location in a paradise setting.
Islamorada means Purple Island, although no one really knows why the Spanish named it such in the early 1500s. Its fresh water wells drew early explorers and pirates. For about 200 years, Spanish galleons loaded with the silver and gold of Mexico and Peru sailed just off Islamorada's eastern shore on their way from Havana to Spain.
Pirates often waited in the waters of the Keys to chase the treasure ships aground. But storms brought down many more ships, often overloaded with gold. Then wreckers, salvagers, raced to locate the wreck before shifting sands covered it up. They only salvaged a fraction of the wrecks, and experts say there's more sunken treasure off this coast than anywhere else in the world.
If a construction worker were going to find a gold doubloon on a job site, the 2008 Dream Home would be the best bet.