Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics General Stuff The journey of the cabin to a real house

Both Larry and I were surprised about the kitchen's corner window. Larry thought engineering would require a beam or post. They put header beams in and that was it.

Larry was suprised about the new openings for the existing house as well...simple header beams will suffice.

Yes. Got to reinforce that box. I used to see diagonals in every wall, but I guess that was before plywood shear panels. I also used to see a short 2x4 firebreak between every pair of studs, but not so much any more. Those made it a bitch to install new Romex for later modifications.

As of this writing, I am still permits. The last checkoff is a HUGE one. In 2019 Washington State began to require a Rainwater Runoff Plan. All new construction with 2000 sq feet of hard surface (roof, driveway, walkways, decks) will require this new plan.

I have to hire an engineer to draft a rainwater runoff plan for the expansion. The finished project will be basically exactly as seen in the photos below...and I will be putting this basin underneath the 40' x 18' driveway in place on my lot. Estimated cost to build $25K. Estimated cost to get engineering plans is $2.5K.

Good grief!

We've got those rules too.

Looks like a sort of dry-well arrangement under the driveway? Smart!

I can't do the 2019 Western Washington Rainwater runoff plan. It's just too much. The final straw was having to have a soil study done. Currently the driveway is 40'x18' - all cement. I was going to put the rainwater runoff tank under the driveway. Then I started reviewing the application paperwork and I saw that I needed a soil test. At this point, I am done.

I'm not rich. I live paycheck-to-paycheck. All I want is a nice, comfortable home to live in, and a little side money for when I retire - ergo the rental unit under the kitchen - either monthly studio rental or Air B 'n' B.



Currently, the hard surface of the expansion that I submitted to the Building Department is 2200 sq feet of hard surface. The trigger for the Rainwater runoff plan is 2000 sq feet of hard surface. So I am going to make the entire 40'x18 driveway a lawn with two 1.5' x 40' pathways made of pavers (so that they drain into the soil.) This will reduce the current plan of 2200 sq feet of hard surface down to 1440 sq feet of hard surface - which will be under the 2000 sq foot requirement for the mandatory rainwater plan.



Waiting to hear-back from the Building Department. This is the last check-off before I get permitted to build.

The next task is getting funded.

Sounds almost as if they're treating you like you're some developer.

It's just not me, everyone in the entire state has to do this if they add-on or start from scratch and the hard surface is 2000 sq feet or more.

i have a meeting with Larry tomorrow - he's the architect, and now my General Contractor. I told Larry, phase 1 needs to be completed in 9 months. Phase 1 is the kitchen with the rental unit underneath with its own private entry.

I can fund the expansion loan for one year, but after that, I need the rental unit to pay the phase 1 expansion loan, and then I can plan for phase 2 to be completed.



Phase 2 will be the crowning jewel of the expansion, the proverbial cherry on the sundae.