Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi, I want to ask for your opinion.
Is suitable to build a house as a girl?
I want to build my house and I like this kind of work (It makes me a good feeling when I see finished work)
There shouldn't be anything to heavy to lift, most things are up to 40-50lbs what I can handle and knowledge and experience I have.

Women are homemakers, so why not?

I don't see a problem, what kind of house do you figure to build?

Do what you feel :)

Don't worry if something is supposably male or female. Don't restrict yourself. If building things gives you satisfaction and happiness - then do it.

Good luck building your home.

-L

I ask because building a house is seen as a job for "big strong guys"
Virginia M: I want to build a brick house in style of turn of 19/20 century (http://img2.houseplans.com/plans/e/322-120e-1111.jpg), something like that picture with approx 5000 sq-ft is my dream - I'll see if local authorities allow me to build this bug house here

There are lots of female builders. What is the issue? Lifting heavy stuff is done mechanically by both boys and girls. Just check the licence details. Otherwise it will be demolished depending upon country etc

Cindy

It's suitable to do ANYTHING as a girl .. that was one of the things for which our feminist mothers rightly and proudly fought.

Sadly, no one thought to say that it should also be suitable to do anything as a boy ... but that's a whole other story ...

Be aware that you'll get a lot of attention at Lowes as you become a regular customer. And 25 lbs is very heavy if you have to continually lift and carry it, which you do every day in general contruction!

Cindy as always is spot on. Building regs are stringent in economically advanced countries and get planning permission from your local council.

One dream of mine is to build a home on a tropical island somewhere in the south seas, the isolation, kayaking on the ocean, awesome.

Don't see why not.  One of the first people I met after coming out more than 25 years ago was a woman owned a construction company and was so good at what she did that she was even indicted on some contract-related issues on a highway project...so if women can build highways, no reason they cannot build a house ;)

Quote from: Medusa on April 28, 2011, 04:35:25 AM
I ask because building a house is seen as a job for "big strong guys"
Virginia M: I want to build a brick house in style of turn of 19/20 century (http://img2.houseplans.com/plans/e/322-120e-1111.jpg), something like that picture with approx 5000 sq-ft is my dream - I'll see if local authorities allow me to build this bug house here

Let's see, I ride a Harley and so does my wife. She also changes her own oil. Women can do whatever they want. Don't get caught up in stereotypes.

Personally I'd build it as a house-shaped house. Hard to build shaped like a girl!! :laugh:

Why not, there is lots of machinery to help with the heavy stuff these days. There is a 2 storey place near here that was put up by a guy in a wheelchair, solo. 

I am looking at relocating and will probably end up with a place partly done, and do the interior fit-out myself, similar to my current place. (Done to lock-up stage by the builder.) I will give the plastering (dry wall to the Yanks) a miss this time as my back is stuffed, but painting is a piece of cake in comparison.

Here you can't legally do plumbing or electrical if you are not licenced, but everything else is ok.

If you have never built before, be aware it will probably take 3 times as long as estimated, and cost up to twice as much as the initial estimate.  The end result is worth it though. Have fun.

Karen.

As a General Building Contractor, who has built many houses, I must say something useful here. If you are a closeted cross-dresser, (which I am) when meeting the crew in the morning, be sure your lipstick is completely removed before taking that first sip of coffee at the restaurant.
All the more important if the coffee mug is white and last nights lipstick was red.  :embarrassed:

Of course it's suitable!  You just have to dress like a frontierswoman.  In a bonnet.

And of course, I'm being a sarcastic fool.  ;)

In all seriousness, I see nothing wrong with doing anything you did (or wanted to do) before transition, including building a house!  Transition should liberate our souls to do whatever we dream, not put up barriers against what we love.

I've already said it in another thread, I personally know of at least three transwomen in the construction trades and many more cis-women. The idea that women don't build houses is an outdated stereotype that doesn't hold true. Those barriers were knocked down a long time ago so there is no excuse to not follow your dreams.

When I was working, one of my best customers was a woman Contractor.  She did it all, carpenter, plumbing, etc.  Also here in Oregon, they have a program for women to get into the trades.

I enjoy working out in the yard, lately I've been raking leaves, digging and raking dirt, laying down grass seed, planting flowers, lifting heavy stuff, probably not the best thing for me to be doing considering at the moment I'm not on hormones and I don't exactly want any more muscle definition than I already have, but I enjoy physical work. Nothing wrong with a girl enjoying and doing hard physical work, woman can do anything, just as a man can if he wants (except give birth), just make sure you don't hurt yourself.

Quote from: Megan Joanne on April 28, 2011, 10:14:15 AM
woman can do anything, just as a man can if he wants (except give birth)

Some men physically give birth all the time, some FtM's give birth.  Also some men might not give birth physically but they are just as important in that child's life.  One day all men will be able to physically give birth.

I think building your own house is wonderful, if a very challenging task, assuming you weren't already in the profession. My only concern if did it would be time. I would use friends and family and/or hire some help because the time to build a large home alone is pretty daunting. I would probably lose progress to weather and other duties, the house might take years :(

Building codes are mostly established at that country level, the more rural the fewer there are, the more urban the more stringent.  But back in the high hippie days lots of freaks built houses in the hills around here and up to the North and there is some fantastic stuff that resulted.  Typically they would contract out the foundation and you do need a licensed electrician, but lots of stuff other than that people can - and do - do for themselves.

P.S. out of the 10 best carps I know and work with 3 are women, one of which places in the top 3.

Medusa,

You should check out Charlie Dimmock, she's a builder / presenter on a TV show here in the UK.

She's considered very glam, but does plenty of the heavy stuff herself!

Siobhan.

If you want to build a house, build it...the gender police aren't going to suddenly swoop from the sky and revoke your girl card. I've said it numerous times before but it always bares repeating, anything you do is automatically feminine, because you're female and you're doing it.

Simples

LOL... When I worked doing construction, sometimes guys would comment that I worked like a woman... I didn't appreciate it then but I can look back and laugh now  :laugh:

The time I remember best is when a guy made the "You work like a girl" comment during a field meeting in front of the whole crew  :o  The Foreman spoke up and said "Yeah, and she's the one that has stay overtime to do all the pick up work after you go home... Somebody has to fix your F- ups"  :laugh:

Sounds like a great idea to me.  I have worked on many new constructed houses and there isn't anything that a girl can' t do on the job that the guys can do.  Look into modular construction.  Could save you a lot of time and money as most of the house is built for you and then put on the foundation.  You get to finish the inside.

I dont build houses, but I do build cars.I didnt learn how too till after I transitioned.
http://scirocco.menloparkrandd.com (http://scirocco.menloparkrandd.com)

Just because you identify as female doesn't mean you have to give up on skills you've learned.
Have fun and look great! (hehehe)

I designed, drew up the plans and built my house in 1986.  It's 4BR, 4BA, 2500 Sq/Ft with a full basement.  With help, it took me 8 months.  I contracted out the concrete, framing, HVAC, roofing, siding, drywall taping and carpeting.  I did the survey (for locating the house on the lot), electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, fireplaces, trim carpentry, tile work, painting & staining and some inside framing for the fireplaces.

I'd work 8 hours on my regular job (electrician) and then go to the house for another 6-8 hours, M-F.  On weekends I'd put in 10-14 hours per day.  When I started I weighed around 150.  When I was done I weighed 128.  Once we moved in I couldn't sit still for months.  I was so used to long days a regular 8 hour day just wasn't enough.  I was wired.

As far as physical strength, what you need all depends on how much you plan to take on yourself.  I did some crazy things, like screwing up 4'x12' sheets of 1/2" drywall on the ceiling by myself.  But if you use your head and contract out the work you can't do yourself, physical strength isn't all that important.  Stamina is though.  It's a lot of work!

If you act as general contractor and you don't know anyone in the trades, do your homework and get references for everyone you sub-contract to.  Don't pay anyone in full until the job is done.  Never pay more upfront than the cost of the materials on site.  Watch for overages in materials by getting a detailed list of all materials shipped to your house.  Some subs charge materials to one home and take them for personal use.

Get insurance!  This is a must!  Don't even think of building without it.  Even if one person helps you out, it's worth the money.  Accidents happen.

It's a major undertaking but it can be done as long as you plan well and don't overestimate your capabilities.

*checks the year* Yes.

In 1985 Monica Raymond announced to family and friends that she was dropping out of college to build a house.  Some asked, "What makes you think you can build a house?"  It had never occurred to her she couldn't. 

She replied, "People build houses.  I'm a person; therefore I can build a house."

It took her many years but once finished it became her proudest accomplishment.  Recently, she decided to put her carpentry skills to work building furniture.  She almost quit because she was floundering.  Then she took a two week woodworking course.  She now builds furniture in her home shop in N.H.

Here's an article about her return to the woodworking school that inspired her to keep going:

http://woodschool.org/pdf/NH%20Woodworkers_Fall09_EnchantedRealm.pdf (http://woodschool.org/pdf/NH%20Woodworkers_Fall09_EnchantedRealm.pdf)

What does the OP even mean to ask? You know you don't need permission from anyone else.

Is it masculine to build a house? Yes.

Are women allowed to do masculine things? Yes.

Do they often? Not really.

Do they sometimes? Sure.

Do you want to know if it will bring your gender identity into question? Who knows. But honestly, it's nothing new, it seems like a lot of the people around here have married a wife, or fathered children, or been in the army, or grown a beard or etc. etc. I think it's sorta odd but *shrug* do what you want. The question itself is probably just a reflection of buried insecurities.

Enjoyed the link Julie Marie  :)

The only thing to stop you is thinking you can't!!   ???

If you can do it,
and if you want to do it,
do it.

Susan Kay

Quote from: Medusa on April 28, 2011, 03:48:28 AM
Hi, I want to ask for your opinion.
Is suitable to build a house as a girl?
I want to build my house and I like this kind of work (It makes me a good feeling when I see finished work)
There shouldn't be anything to heavy to lift, most things are up to 40-50lbs what I can handle and knowledge and experience I have.

there's no rule that says you can't. it's your own house, so you have the right to build it.

there's no rule that says you can't. it's your own house, so you have the right to build it.

There are a hella lotta rules, regulations and laws - not about who should build it - but rather, how it should be built.  In ruralish places it's pretty much pro-forma, but in big cities the steps are so complex and complicated you almost have to be a contractor with an office staff to keep up on it.