Recent News indicates new home construction is on the rise up to 4% from last month/quarter. Some of you know I'm building a new home and have found it really hard to get some materials for completion. You all know of the shortage of Drywall world wide, because of Hurricane Mitch and storms in Oklahoma... It seems there will be a price increase very soon when supplies dwindle down and hardware stores get resupplied. This increase will be about 14% according to my suppliers. I am very glad I purchased my costly items; lights and electrical outlets,switches and wire before I even started building... Currently we should be moved in by late August,finally... Just in time to stack all the food items in the pantry and get the kerosene barrels full. I realy hope those readers who are in my same situation get their drywall and related items for their new "bunker". Good Luck to all the new home owners, and the regulars here, stay safe be alert. I've enjoyed posting here since last Sept. You all have been very helpfull and considerate of others questions. I'll be watching from afar in my MTN "bunker". Furie...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), June 30, 1999

Answers

Building "boomlet" here on Kauai as well. I hear that it is difficult to find a contractor to build you a home before the first of the year.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 30, 1999.

Can't find a contractor? If you can read, you can build it yourself. I bought forclosed(broken into dump)house last march(98). There were no apliances or light fixtures. I destroyed the intrerior down to the studs. Fully insulated(it had 1.5 inches), rewired, sheet rocked, and rebuilt the kitchen. I used a contractor to rebuild the bathroom from the sub floor up to the ceiling. I Havn't learned to plumb satisfactory for my needs. The plumber installed the kitchen drains and ran new gas lines to oven and stovetop. I also used an electrican to hook the new power lines into the pannel. It was not a shocking experience for me.

If you want a house and can't find a contractor, get a book, draw your plan, pour the foundation and start to build the walls. Also, have your friends come over to help with the big stuff. They have a lot of information that they may have learned from their parents and co-workers. You have 6 months to go which is plenty of time to get a house closed in and sealed up. If you are in Hawaii, think about a concrete house. A hurricane will come, it is only a matter of time.

-- Ned P Zimmer (ned@nednet.com), June 30, 1999.