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The 2-Day Housebuilding & Remodeling Class is held at the Holiday Inn in Sacramento on Saturdays & Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. See scheduled dates below.

The Owner Builder Center has pre-arranged discounted hotel rates with the Holiday Inn Sacramento I-80. Please click here to make reservations.

Did you know that by managing the construction or remodeling of your home you should save at least 20%. Well maybe save is not the correct term, usually when we tell somebody that instead of costing $100,000 their project will only cost $80,000 they say "Oh great, now I can have Granite countertops and a workshop". So maybe we should say "by managing your project you can afford 20% more stuff".

Learn how to manage the construction or remodeling of your home and save 20% or more by acting as the "Owner Contractor". Managing the construction or remodeling of your own home will not only save you money, but give you a better end product as well. Attend this informative class and learn how.

This two day housebuilding class covers all aspects of the owner built or owner managed project and is designed to give owner builders the know-how to act as owner contractors. The emphasis is on the actual construction process, the language and standard procedures necessary for understanding and communicating effectively with contractors and other construction professionals. Learn how to coordinate the various subcontractors, the typical costs to expect and how to write an effective contract.

All aspects of developing a site plan, grading plan and plotting your home on your lot to it's best advantage will be covered. Coordination and installing public and private utilities is explained.

Slab or raised stem wall, which is best and which costs more? Different soil conditions call for different methods of anchoring your new home into the ground. We will discuss all of your foundation options including costs and what to expect from the foundation subcontractor.

Conventional sawn lumber creates many problems for building a floor. Manufactured building components offer cost effective solutions to build a better quality floor.

2x4 & 2x6 Stud wall construction, metal stud framing, timber joinery, penalized walls, and solid timber wall framing will all be examined including costs, pros and cons.

The style of your roof will effect the cost of framing your home more than any other single item. Understanding the compromise between architectural style and cost of construction will allow you to make better informed decisions.

Decisions, decisions... choosing which type of windows can be an overwhelming job in itself. We will cut through all the sales hype and explain exactly what you need to understand to make a good decision. Exterior finishes will be examined including cost-benefits.

A plumber designs your plumbing system himself. You need to understand what constitutes a quality design so you can specify how you want your plumbing installed. This is information that is not on a typical building plan and must be designated by the contractor/owner.

75% of homes built in America use "Composition" roofing. Students are often surprised to find out that tile roofing is only about 35% more expensive than a comp roof. We will look at all the various materials available and discuss their costs an features.

Here is another phase of the work that allows the subcontractor much latitude in decision making. You will benefit by knowing the protocols and what the subcontractor is thinking. Standard wiring procedures, low voltage systems such as telephone, cable, stereo speakers and security systems will be explained including related costs.

Everybody is energy conscious these days. Many of the "energy saving" systems that are available have no cost benefit. Don't be a sucker; You can design a very energy efficient system for your new home and not spend a crazy amount of money doing it.

Much of what you think you know about insulation has been presented to you by the folks who are selling you their product. Ok, call me a cynic, but there is much that they are not telling you about how energy is exchanged between the inside and outside of the home. We will give you the straight information about insulation and offer some suggestions that will make your home energy conserving.

Finish carpentry, doors, shelving, window stools, hardware, baseboards and cabinets. Learn about hardwood vs. softwood and what to expect from a finish carpenter.

Various counter tip materials including ceramic tile, Solid surface composite materials, Granite, culture marble and laminated plastic will all be discussed.

This class will familiarize you with obtaining building permits and the coordination of the various trades and inspections. What codes are enforced and what inspections are needed.

Each class cannot exceed 75 participants. If you wish to participate in a class that is currently full, please call us and we will check if there have been any cancellations.