Post 6- Random thoughts (no pix)

So Dad thinks we should expand the width of the house a little.  I've learned in my old age that usually when I think something and my father thinks differently he ends up being right most of the time, so I'm forced to examine closely:  on the one hand I was thinking that the narrow design would create a more effective wind tunnel for natural (passive) air cooling and I've really been trying intentionally to stay as small as possible comfortably (I'm very pro-Tiny House), but on the other hand a bit more room would probably be welcomed by the rest of the family.

The good news is, the current design is very easily modifiable, it was done sectionally and based on centerlines which were pretty much the "bare minimum" that I felt like we needed for all the appliances, features I wanted, comforts, and living space for 4 (comfortably, I mean).  So, making it bigger doesn't mess anything at all up if we go that route: I'll just move the center lines and adjust accordingly if we decide to go that way.

Here's what the differences look like:
15' wide= 525/+255 (780 total) sq ft (bottom floor/+lofts, current plan) so going with an 18' width,
18' wide=630/+306 (936 total) sq ft, and going with a 20' width (front to back...depth, really), and
20' wide700/+340 (1040 total). 

That's a somewhat deceiving number on sq footage in the "+ lofts" because the middle will be high, and it will slope down to the floor on 2 sides, so it all won't be "livable" space, but what isn't will certainly be "storable" space.  They both should be plenty big enough to make into a loft bedroom or office.

I haven't broken down the cost differences yet, so one option may clearly make more sense than another one after we can look at that comparatively.

BUILDING NOTES: regardless of final size, layout of house will remain roughly the same.  Below are a few random notes on building.

• Exterior will be framed with 2x6 instead of 2x4's, and have an occasional beam thrown in there as well for structural strength and insulation.
• Pouring slab as a base/floor (to use as thermal mass for passive heating/cooling)
• Pass through between master bedroom and great room, should open both up, or be closable for privacy
• Both beds in the downstairs bedrooms will flip up into wall, to open those rooms up for other uses when not sleeping.
• All closets/shelving will be custom done and very "Ikea"-ish, trying to conserve space
• Will need to pour the slab a little deeper under the wall between masterbedroom and great room to account for weight of thermal mass in the rocket mass heater.
• R30 or better level of insulation is goal, should be easily attainable.  Passive/low energy heating and cooling should dramatically reduce the majority of bills.
• Hooking into city water/power initially, but plan to have "off grid" options installed within 3 years

If everything goes even close to according to plan, we should own everything outright, be living in the house, and have no bills (aside from the ones we choose, like internet) within 3 years.