Small Houses Part 3 (Milbridge: income, standard of living, codes)

[roadrat]

Originally Posted by AustinB

In this case. if all the other property owners of the subdivision were ok with changes, then it would have to go before the town again to be approved.

I'm no longer interested in the property. Sadly these kinds of restrictions are everywhere in southern and Mid Maine.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by roadrat

I don't believe that it's a town ordinance, It looks like the land was part of a large farm in the past, and when the owners or more likely there heirs took over and decided to sell they broke it up into lots and added the restriction as a way to keep out the riff raff, and increase the value.
There were several other restrictions, No farm animals of any kind, even chickens, No out buildings, No garages unless they are attached to the main dwelling, You can park a camper on the land but it can't be occupied, etc

Here's a link to the discloser
https://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/main...an=81024&cid=1

I ran into something similar in Camden maybe 5 years ago - it was a real nice lot, in a real nice neighborhood, and it was offered for quite an attractive price.... then I discovered the restrictions:
- the lot was being sold by a builder who had several lots on the street, and you needed to work with that builder - that might be no bargain
- the house needed to be at least 2,400 sq ft above ground
- the siding had to be either brick, cedar clapboard or cedar shakes
- assorted other esthetic requirements I don't recall now

...I didn't buy it, and I don't recall exactly what the address was, but with even with all this buyer demand and the attractive price, I see that he's still got at least one of the lots left, and there were never more than a handful, so it's been slow going, but I guess he's not in a hurry.

I think he was doing that as you say "to keep the riffraff out", and also to keep the property values high there. Definitely need to do your due diligence before buying land - there's more unknowns and more risks there than when just buying an existing house.

[OutdoorLover]

So this is just a 1-bedroom house, and it's not the simplest possible shape - a box. That said, I think it's got a lot going for it. It's nice looking, small, but not too small at 841 sq ft and still a relatively simple shape. It has a decent sized bedroom and bedroom closet, modest but big-enough sitting room, dining area and laundry room, and they put the laundry appliances on an outside wall as they should be. There are nice porches both front and rear that aren't too small to be usable - you've got some decent depth @ 7ft4in. In short, this little place offers a lot of living for 841 sq ft. A lot of these smaller designs - I can't even figure out where you're going to put a modest sized dining or sitting group of furniture - no such problems here.

https://www.architecturaldesigns.com...ottage-44022td

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

So this is just a 1-bedroom house, and it's not the simplest possible shape - a box. That said, I think it's got a lot going for it. It's nice looking, small, but not too small at 841 sq ft and still a relatively simple shape. It has a decent sized bedroom and bedroom closet, modest but big-enough sitting room, dining area and laundry room, and they put the laundry appliances on an outside wall as they should be. There are nice porches both front and rear that aren't too small to be usable - you've got some decent depth @ 7ft4in. In short, this little place offers a lot of living for 841 sq ft. A lot of these smaller designs - I can't even figure out where you're going to put a modest sized dining or sitting group of furniture - no such problems here.

https://www.architecturaldesigns.com...ottage-44022td

I must agree with all that you have said.

I have a complaint about the heating system design, but it is minor.

I am certain that most people would love living in such a house.

[rodentraiser]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

So this is just a 1-bedroom house, and it's not the simplest possible shape - a box. That said, I think it's got a lot going for it. It's nice looking, small, but not too small at 841 sq ft and still a relatively simple shape. It has a decent sized bedroom and bedroom closet, modest but big-enough sitting room, dining area and laundry room, and they put the laundry appliances on an outside wall as they should be. There are nice porches both front and rear that aren't too small to be usable - you've got some decent depth @ 7ft4in. In short, this little place offers a lot of living for 841 sq ft. A lot of these smaller designs - I can't even figure out where you're going to put a modest sized dining or sitting group of furniture - no such problems here.

https://www.architecturaldesigns.com...ottage-44022td

I like that one but I would move the kitchen wall over so I could have a larger kitchen and a smaller dining area. I don't have large groups over so no need for a large dining room.

[Seguinite]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

So this is just a 1-bedroom house, and it's not the simplest possible shape - a box. That said, I think it's got a lot going for it. It's nice looking, small, but not too small at 841 sq ft and still a relatively simple shape. It has a decent sized bedroom and bedroom closet, modest but big-enough sitting room, dining area and laundry room, and they put the laundry appliances on an outside wall as they should be. There are nice porches both front and rear that aren't too small to be usable - you've got some decent depth @ 7ft4in. In short, this little place offers a lot of living for 841 sq ft. A lot of these smaller designs - I can't even figure out where you're going to put a modest sized dining or sitting group of furniture - no such problems here.

https://www.architecturaldesigns.com...ottage-44022td

That's cute. Having recently downsized to a bit 1000sf, what I saw immediately was the lack of closet space anywhere other than the bedroom. I suppose you take a piece of that and put a closet directly in front of the entry.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Seguinite

That's cute. Having recently downsized to a bit 1000sf, what I saw immediately was the lack of closet space anywhere other than the bedroom. I suppose you take a piece of that and put a closet directly in front of the entry.

I thought the same thing. There's also room for some sort of storage in the bathroom.

[recycled]

I live in a 50 sq meter / 520 sq ft 1 BR apartment, so no problem for me living in a small space. The 840 sq ft cottage is a pretty good design with 1 exception IMO - the kitchen does not have any windows to the outside. I like having good natural light in the kitchen. My apartment has a nearly 3' wide x 4' tall north facing kitchen window and it is great. Maybe a skylight for the kitchen would help. I see how they use the utility room as the back porch entrance and mud room, which is not a bad idea. I agree with rodentraiser that the relatively large size of the dining room is overkill for a small cottage. I would also get rid of separate shower and tub, and just have a tub-sized shower stall.

[FaberumHyperboreus]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

There is a vigorous market for Amish made prefab homes or shells. Some people buy the shell and do their own insulating. wiring and interior walls.

I just bought one of them. They are made with 2x4 walls, therefore the best insulation I can put
is an R-15.

I am curious if anybody know how good/bad is that level of insulation in northern Maine winter ?
Can you stay comfortable with only 3.5" of insulation ? Any recommendation ?


Thank you,
Faber

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by FaberumHyperboreus

I just bought one of them. They are made with 2x4 walls, therefore the best insulation I can put
is an R-15.

I am curious if anybody know how good/bad is that level of insulation in northern Maine winter ?
Can you stay comfortable with only 3.5" of insulation ? Any recommendation ?


Thank you,
Faber

If you're in an area where MUBEC codes are being enforced, my understanding is that they follow the IECC 2015 insulation requirements for new residential buildings, which for framed wood walls, look like:

• R20 in walls + R5 continuous external
• R13 in walls + R10 continuous external

This continuous external insulation is e.g. rigid foam or mineral wool panels.
See:
https://www.ase.org/sites/ase.org/fi..._2015_iecc.pdf