Economical Home Construction Methods? | Construction and DIY projects | Forums

Plus it gives you a chance to wear your super short shorts...

Foundations: Slab on grade seems to be the best bet because then you can just do a nice stain or polish on your slab to double as your flooring (see what KVR did).

Walls: 2x6 24" OC is what I plan to do next time. This allows you to use thicker batts or blow in the insulation and still meet standards. I believe that it's also good for a 2 story house (check this, don't have my chart). Single top plate is also permissible if you really want to cut costs - just make sure that you have your rafters line up directly on top of your studs for a clear load path to ground.

Roof - Skillion can be super cheap. If you have time go with the DIY pallets to trusses because of the price. If not, trusses aren't that expensive. 

Roofing - Depends if you want low construction cost or longer lifespan. If you're short on change use a good underlayment and go shingles. If you're more interested in longevity use a good underlayment and go galvalume. Standing seam or exposed fastener I have no real opinion on. I've done both and I would recommend exposed fastener if you ever want to add on and standing seam if you don't want to ever have any maintenance (screws have to be replaced at X years).

Plumbing - Have someone do the rough in (pre-slab) because this is set in stone. Depending on your skill you can do everything else accordingly.

Mechanical HVAC - Split ductless systems seem to be the most user friendly. If you want you may be able to do the ducting and have someone install a central system.

Electrical - DIY after you have someone wire up a main from the street

Shower pans and bath tubs where possible for speed. You can definitely go custom and DIY but it's more work and you sub it out it's more expensive.

Countertops (bathroom and kitchen) - Concrete or large tile, really easy and you can find several tutorials in these blogs

Cabinetry - Depends on your skill level. Easiest thing to do is design for standard sizes and buy accordingly from various suppliers. Most difficult but cheapest thing to do is make your own. 

Kitchen - Cabinetry on bottom (see above) and open shelves for above the countertops.

Windows - Get the next up from the bottom. The cheapest ones are the cheapest for a reason.

Exterior cladding - board and batten, hardiplank, or metal roofing.

That just about sums up everything that I learned. Don't skimp on materials (go PT and thicker where you don't need it but it's not a bad idea ((roof decking))), take your time to be organized, get several quotes.

Question on slabs: anyone ever done anything that looks like the following: edit - without the stacked block above the slab, just traditional 2x6 stick walls.

Most of my cement went to the stemwall and in a raised slab situation (for flooding and or land height variation) you can end up needing a significant amount of concrete for the beveled edges. I'll have to check with an engineer for final designs but it seems like a cheaper way to build the forms. You pour the footer, stack blocks, parge the outsides, then pour the slab. The end result is a monolithic slab. Still trying to see how to insulate the slab and work on termite protection.

I completely forgot that that was how you had done the doors. Thank you for confirming! For anyone doing a monolithic slab I would say this is a much better solution due to the ability to pack the soil on the inside and reduce your concrete needs significantly. Now to get a civil engineer's signature or to get my PE license...

(copied for those who aren't as familiar with your build)