DIY Network

WEB-EXTRA Contractor Profile: Rick and Paula Ziebarth; Timberframe House From "Be Your Own Contractor: Vacation Homes" episode DBCV-102

Rick and Paula Ziebarth.

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Following below is some additional information on the timberframe house and the homeowners featured in this episode of DIY's Be Your Own Contractor: Vacation Homes.

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Owner/Builders

Rick and Paula Ziebarth. Rick is a commercial pilot. Rick and Paula have two teenage boys.

Home Specifics

2200 square foot timber frame home. The timber frame construction is enveloped in structured insulated panels or SIPS

Location

Put-In-Bay, Ohio-- which is on South Bass Island in the middle of Lake Erie. It is a 20-minute ferry ride from the Ohio coast and 40 miles east of Toledo, Ohio. The home is not only on an island in the middle of Lake Erie, but it is also right by the island’s small airport’s runway.

Why build on this island?

Rick: "I had been working up there during summer months for past 10 years giving biplane tours and always hated leaving the island. This island is a nice getaway close to our home in Powell, Ohio, only 110 miles plus 20 minute ferry ride -- or 30 minute flight in single engine aircraft. The Area has beautiful scenery; friendly people; fun, resort type atmosphere.
Paula: "It's a nice resort location, you can have some fun here in the summertime. There are a lot of things to do. I also love the fact that this is a great place if you're a bird watcher. There's many different kinds of birds that come through here, and, and I enjoy watching the birds, and I also do blue birding, where I help the birds with their nesting and things".

Why act as their own contractor?

Rick: Originally when I started this project, I envisioned actually hiring a general contractor to do the project for me. However, I had difficulty in finding a builder on the island and the few that were willing to take on the project were going to exceed my budget constraints due to unknowns for island factors. Therefore, that's where I began the research of what it would take to be my own contractor and run my own show, and to complete the project myself.

Why build a timberframe home?

Rick: When we originally decided to build a home on the island, we were drawn to a log home, and I did a lot of research on log homes, and while attending a home show we came upon the concept of a timber frame. And I was immediately drawn to it. And after doing further research, I realized that that was the type of home that I wanted to build.

Involvement in the construction

Rick helped with electrical wiring installation and light construction. He did this because he says: "Well, it just sounded like fun, and I knew I could learn something by helping the electric subcontractor. And I did!"

Interesting facts

When Rick decided he was going to build this house by himself, he went to the library and began checking out and reading books on how best to be your own contractor. He poured over the books, scouring many for as much insight as possible.

Rick gives bi-plane tours of the island in the summer for fun when he is staying at his vacation home, which is very convenient because of his home’s close proximity to the island’s tiny airport.

The bedrooms of the home are actually on first floor and the main living area is on second floor to maximize the view of the airport and Lake Erie.

Challenges:

Rick:

• "The largest single challenge in getting my project complete was the fact that this house was built on an island. And that had a lot of considerations that had to be done, because there isn't a building labor force on the island. I did use some local people to assist me. I did some contracts with the concrete work and the electrical work. But I had to go off island to transport materials and to bring in skilled labor to erect the home, and to help me complete it."

• "I had to be gone most of the time and the vast majority of communications took place on cell phones."

• "The project was time consuming, and on rare occasions, was a bit aggravating."

Advice:

• Rick: : "The single most important piece of advice that I could give is to lay the groundwork, do your homework, and not be intimidated, or not be of the opinion that you cannot do this. I started from ground zero, and I was very happy with the process."

• Paula: "I think it's very important that you do discuss all the details and decisions as a couple, because it's something you're going to live with for a long time. Rick has a set of things that he really likes, and I have a set of things that I really like. And when you mesh the two together, it actually makes your choices easier, because you only have a few things that you both like. So it actually made that whole process much easier, when you work together as a couple."

• Rick : "When it comes to dealing with subcontractors, I think the most important thing is to screen your subcontractors carefully, and to give them your expectations, and make sure that there's an open dialogue between the two, and open communication, that any problems are communicated immediately, and that you work to resolve them as a team as soon as possible."

• Paula: "Don't be afraid to do it. It's something that I would definitely do again. I don't regret it, even though I had some reservations at the beginning of the project. The communication is key."

• Rick : "In my opinion, the biggest advantage is, if you do it right and you manage it properly, you will save money. This project would not have been able to be accomplished at the budget that I had set, had I hired out to a conventional homebuilder. And the educational value that I got in doing the project is something I really can't put a price on."
  

RESOURCES :

Additional information on timber-frame construction:

Riverbend Timber Framing
Website: www.riverbendtf.com

Moonstone Timber Frame
Website: www.moonstonetimberframe.com

Wind River Timberframes
Website: www.windriver-timberframes.com

GUESTS :

Rick and Paula Ziebarth, homeowners
Columbus, Ohio